Fort San Pedro: The Fortress of Cebu

Fort San Pedro or Fuerte de San Pedro is Cebu’s Military defense structure built by the Spaniards under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The Fort is described built of stone mortar with a terreplein where guns are mounted. The construction started on May 8, 1565 and was fully established 0n 1738. When Americans won the victory against Spain during the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, the Fort was given to the Cebuano rebels. This historical place did not only served as a defensive camp but also used as school rooms for many Cebuanos during the World War II.

After the wars that the Fort had been through, it became a ruin that only two towers were left recognizable. The people have planned and estimated the restoration and have been fulfilled and completed by Architect Leonardo Concepcion. It was jointly funded by the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry (now Department of Tourism, Cebu City Government, and the Cebu Zonta Club).

The restoration of Fort San Pedro required a lot of time before the whole stuff was completed because they want it to look like close to the original form to preserve its vintage look. The Fort was then turned over on February 1, 2008 from the Philippine Tourist Authority to the City Government.

Nowadays, Fort San Pedro is always on the list of itineraries of tourists whether local or foreign. People don’t want to miss the experience of knowing the history and culture of the Cebuanos during the colonization. Foreign tourists keep on coming back because they love to know more about Cebu’s history. Aside of showcasing our history, this attraction also helps our tourism industry grow in which it is a big factor for the city government to be developed and step ahead towards a better economy.