An Entirely New Plaza for Cebuanos

By: Carlo Cabatingan

What has been dubbed before as some place for maids and prostitutes has now been developed into an entirely new place to spend your weekends in a very romantic light, the Plaza Independencia sa Sugbo is one new makeover Cebuanos should take a good new look at.

Just in front of the Fort San Pedro, Plaza Independencia sa Sugbo can be considered as one historical site also, as it stood there for many generations now. The old plaza, as I can remember is very similar in atmosphere to that of Fuente Circle, except that it’s a rectangular lot free for the public. Unfortunately, over the years, the plaza was more popularly known for being a place where maids and their dates hang out every Sunday of the week. What made its image not that pleasing is the sight of people dating there displaying too much of public affection, where Cebuanos find it not so attractive at all.

The efforts of the city government to rehabilitate the place and make it seem newer to the public and tourists as well started through a deep excavation in the plaza with the news of exploration of possible porcelain items buried there from our Chinese ancestors during the colonial era. After that, it has been announced that a total makeover to the old plaza will make it look better attracting people back to the place where people gather before.

Taking a look at the new Plaza Independencia today will not dismay you, as you can claim for a cleaner, greener and wider public park made more tourist- and family-friendly.