TITAY’S IN LILOAN
Titay’s Rosquillos: A Century of Cebuano Sweetness
For Filipinos, no journey feels complete without pasalubong—that heartfelt practice of bringing home something special from wherever you’ve been. It’s more than a gift; it’s a piece of the place itself, shared with those waiting at home.
Nestled in Liloan, Cebu, one name has defined this tradition for generations: Titay’s Rosquillos. What began as a modest kitchen endeavor has grown into one of the island’s most beloved culinary institutions, its shelves lined with treats that have sustained both residents and visitors for more than a hundred years. These baked creations are woven into the very fabric of Cebu’s food heritage, stirring nostalgia in longtime locals and leaving lasting impressions on travelers fortunate enough to discover them.
The story traces back to the dawn of the twentieth century, when a young and devoted baker named Margarita “Titay” Frasco ran a small shop. With every bottle of soda she sold, she would slip in a few freshly made biscuits—simple, unbranded, and made with care. Word of these complimentary delights traveled fast, drawing people from neighboring areas who came as much for the soda as for the unexpected bonus waiting in their bags.
The biscuit remained nameless until a pivotal moment: the provincial governor’s visit to Liloan. Intrigued by the unfamiliar snack, he inquired about its name. Titay had none to give. Observing its distinctive, refined ring-like form, the governor christened it “Rosquillos”—a name that would stick for generations.
As decades passed, the Frasco legacy continued under Corazon Frasco, who expanded the family’s reach far beyond their hometown. Malls and markets across Cebu became new homes for Titay’s offerings, and the menu grew to include breads and an array of homemade pastries. Demand soared, cementing Titay’s as a staple in every Cebu souvenir shop. Yet at the heart of it all remained the original Rosquillos—a delicate balance of flour, eggs, and milk, bound by a closely guarded recipe that has transcended time and taste, winning over Cebuanos across every generation and walk of life.
BANTAYAN SA HARI
Bantayan sa Hari: Liloan’s Forgotten Sentinel
Along Liloan’s coastline stands the weathered remains of Bantayan sa Hari, a relic from another era that continues to bear witness to the town’s seafaring past.
Constructed circa 1857, this stone watchtower once served as an early warning system against maritime threats. Its necessity arose from a dark chapter in the early 1600s, when Moro invaders shifted their campaigns northward after meeting stiff resistance from communities in southern Cebu. Having failed to break the defenses of the south, these seafaring marauders set their sights on the more vulnerable northern settlements.
Liloan became one of their targets. The assaults were devastating—not only were livestock and valuables plundered, but men, women, and children were also seized and forced into bondage. Faced with such terror, many townspeople abandoned their homes and sought refuge in Danao, hoping its distance from the shore would offer protection.
Today, little remains of the structure that once stood as the town’s first line of sight against approaching vessels. Decades of exposure to salt and storm have reduced Bantayan sa Hari to its foundation—crumbled stone and debris scattered where a tower once rose. Yet even in decay, it endures as a tangible reminder of the hardships endured by those who once looked to the horizon with fear, and of a coastal history that time has not fully erased.
MALINGIN ROCK
Malingin Rock: Barangay Mulao’s Hidden Geological Wonder
Tucked away in Barangay Mulao, Malingin Rock rewards those willing to make the journey. After navigating the trail, trekkers arrive at a landscape of remarkable stone formations that make every step worthwhile.
Just a short distance from the famed Ark Stone, another extraordinary natural sculpture commands attention. While the riverbed is littered with countless stones and boulders, Malingin Rock distinguishes itself through its near-perfect roundness and its distinctive brown hue, reminiscent of a chocolate treat.
What makes the site even more captivating is the small cascade that tumbles nearby. After hours of scrambling over massive rocks – sliding, leaping, and pulling themselves up rugged surfaces – visitors can let the cool waters ease their tired muscles in this natural pool.
Among the area’s most photographed features is the Stone Arch, sometimes referred to simply as the Malingin Rocks. This natural bridge, balanced atop two stone pillars, evokes the image of Noah’s Ark from holy scripture. Though no formal legend or documented oral tradition officially explains its origin, the biblical comparison has become a playful talking point that sparks curiosity among those who encounter it.
Adventure seekers and hiking aficionados will find his secluded treasure well worth the effort. Photographers are drawn to the dramatic interplay of stone, water, and open sky, while geology enthusiasts appreciate the rare formations carved by time and the elements. Whether you crave an adrenaline-filled expedition or a quiet communion with the raw beauty of nature, this riverside sanctuary offers an escape from the beaten path.
PAROLA IN LILOAN
Parola sa Liloan: A Century-Old Guardian of the Sea
Rising above the northern coast of Cebu, the Parola sa Liloan has cast its light across the waters for more than a hundred years. Built in 1904 under American colonial rule, this historic lighthouse remains one of the region’s most enduring maritime landmarks.
From the perch, the structure has guided countless vessels through the surrounding seas, its steady presence offering assurance to sailors navigating the coastline. Engineers of the era crafted it from indigenous materials, fashioning a tower strong enough to endure decades of salt-laden winds and tropical storms – a testament to the ingenuity of its time.
The lighthouse rises to roughly 72 feet, its cylindrical body built from coral stone and crowned by a lantern chamber that once contained the powerful light source. Coated in brilliant white, the tower reflects the sun’s rays against the deep blue of the sky and lush greenery that blankets the Cebuano landscape. As daylight softens into dusk, the Parola takes on an almost ethereal quality, its silhouette bathed in amber light that lends the scene an unmistakably romantic atmosphere.
For those who visit, this century-old beacon offers more than a glimpse into the past – it stands as a living monument to the island’s deep connection with the sea.
STONE ARK
Where the Mulao River cuts through the landscape, a remarkable geological formation awaits those determined enough to make the trek. Every challenging step over the river’s uneven terrain pays off upon reaching the legendary Stone Ark – a sculpture shaped entirely by the patient hand of nature.
At first glance, the Mulao River appears to be an ordinary waterway. Yet its course is strewn with massive boulders that transform the stream into something extraordinary. Rising above them all is the Ark Stone, the most iconic and frequently captured formation along the entire river. This colossal structure perches atop smaller stones in a way that seems to defy gravity, leaving visitors to puzzle over how such an enormous mass came to rest so perfectly balanced.
Long before Spanish influence reached these mountains, local inhabitants passed down an intriguing belief: the sound of a ship’s horn echoing through the peaks, far from any coastline. To explain both the phantom blasts and the peculiar positioning of the great rock, oral tradition holds that the formation functions as a vessel for invisible travelers – spirit beings who dock their stone ship in the river’s center before departing for distant realms.
The sheer scale of the boulders dwarfs everyone who stands beside them, offering a humbling perspective on nature’s magnitude. Those planning to visit should come prepared: the rock surfaces are slick with moisture and algae, making sturdy, gripping footwear essential for safe passage across this ancient riverbed.
SUBA BRIDGE
Suba Bridge: Where the Waters Whisper Liloan’s Name
Spanning the channel where swirling currents carve their ancient dance, Suba Bridge marks the very spot that christened this northern Cebu town. The word lilo—the whirlpool churning beneath its span—is the heartbeat from which Liloan drew its identity.
Long before concrete replaced timber, this crossing stood as the landing place of the settlement’s earliest settlers. Today, it serves as a vital link between Barangay Poblacion and Barangay Catarman, while also providing an alternate route connecting northern Cebu to Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. Yet beyond its function as infrastructure, the bridge frames one of the most visually arresting scenes in the municipality—an ideal vantage point for watching the moon ascend or the sun dissolve into the horizon.
The structure guards the mouth of Silot Bay, a hundred-hectare tidal lagoon whose bounty once nourished families as far inland as the mountain barangays. From the peaks overlooking Cebu City, the bay reveals itself as an almost perfectly circular sheet of water. Fed by the Camotes Sea through a narrow twenty-meter passage, its shallows nurture mangrove thickets, fishponds, and two petite islets. At low tide, broad mudflats emerge where residents harvest seashells, while sea urchins cluster in the brackish water. Herons and egrets descend to feed, adding white flashes to the green and blue palette.
Beneath the bridge, the lilo persists—untamed spirals of seawater that have flowed through centuries unchanged. The original wooden crossing that once berthed yachts carrying visitors from across the globe has given way to modern cement, but the current beneath remains the same force that defined the town’s name.
Silot Bay carries a tapestry of human experience. Soldiers have trained in its waters, gripping ropes strung above the surface during river-crossing drills. Children launch themselves from the bridge’s edge, surrendering to the pull of the tide with gleeful abandon. Lovers have lingered at sunset, while others struggling with heavier burdens have seen the waters as a final refuge. Tales persist of sunken vessels, of mysterious aquatic beings resembling mermaids, and of romances that defied convention. Yet for the majority, the bay at dusk offers something gentler—a place where exhaustion settles, where clarity replaces confusion, and where families gather for uncomplicated joy.
The bridge, then, is more than a crossing. It is a threshold between land and sea, between past and present, between the stories we inherit and the memories we make.
SAN FERNANDO EL REY PARISH
San Fernando El Rey Parish: Liloan’s Westward-Facing Sanctuary
When Spanish forces extended their reach across the Philippine archipelago, they left behind a landscape dotted with stone sanctuaries. While countless colonial-era churches still cradle congregations today, a handful carry whispers of the unexplained. Among them stands San Fernando Rey Parish in Liloan—a structure whose walls hold both sacred history and lingering mystery.
Built in 1847, this house of worship ranks among the most ancient buildings in the municipality. It takes its name from Saint Ferdinand, the monarch who wrested the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish control. Builders sourced the bulk of their materials from the quarries of Camotes Islands and Leyte, yet the delicate glass window shutters made the considerably longer journey from Barcelona, Spain.
What immediately sets this parish apart is its orientation. Unlike nearly every other church on Cebu, which traditionally gaze toward the sea, San Fernando Rey turns its face westward—away from the water entirely. Scholars speculate that the architects deliberately positioned the nave to shield worshippers from the blistering morning sun, ensuring that Mass-goers would not endure the tropical heat streaming through the doors. Another striking detail is its scale: despite Liloan’s modest population at the time—smaller even than neighboring Mandaue—the parishioners built a church that dwarfed Mandaue’s own.
The diocese officially elevated the chapel to parish standing on June 27, 1847, appointing Fr. Vicente Dorocel as its first shepherd. Though it gained parochial recognition in the late 1840s, actual construction of the permanent stone structure did not commence until January 1859, reaching completion two decades later in 1880.
Approaching the facade, visitors pass beneath a portico crowned by a vaulted ceiling and a pointed-arch gable that funnels toward the main arched doorway. Heavy piers anchor the entrance, with additional arched openings on both the left and right. Neatly kept gardens press against these flanks, softening the stone with greenery. On the epistle side, a pilaster bears the inscription “Año de 1847″—a quiet testament to the parish’s origins, rendered in channel lettering that has weathered nearly two centuries.