Photographs of Oslob, Cebu by Mark L Chaves
I remember learning in primary school that Ferdinand Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the world. Actually, he didn’t. All Filipinos such as me know that Magellan died during that historic voyage in a place near Cebu, Philippines, March 1521.
Cebu is a 5,000 sq. km island in a region called the Visayas. Cebu City, was the first capital of the Philippines and is the country’s oldest city.
On the south end of the island, about four hours by bus from Cebu City, lies the village of Oslob Poblacion. Exactly 494 years, to the month, after Magellan met his fate, I stepped back-in-time onto the hot, dusty streets of Oslob. It is an enchanted place where one can still witness men in their outriggers fishing the rich offerings of the sea and women bringing their husbands’ catch to market or into their kitchens for the family supper.
© Mark L Chaves