Throwback: Simala Church

Circa 2022

The beautiful and majestic Simala Church, or the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist.

This was our first stop in our trip to Cebu last year. It was a long drive from the city but it was worth it. I was in awe from the very first time I saw the church. Unfortunately, the church itself was closed to the public when we went because it was still the pandemic. They only open when they will conduct a mass.

But even so, the castle-like architecture can still be appreciated from afar. And even though it was windy and drizzling, lots of people have made their way to the church. It’s a pretty popular pilgrimage site for Marian devotees because of the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. Oh, and when you visit here, make sure to stick to the dress code. Shorts and mini skirts are not allowed. My sister had to rent a malong from one of the vendors outside. They’re really strict about that, as they should be. A church is still a church and should be respected.

Anyway, you definitely need to see this place when you visit Cebu. It’s quite out of the way from the usual tourist destinations but it’s worth it.