Nov 02 2008
Carcel de Cebu (Museo Sugbo)
Above: The main facade of the old Carcel de Cebu, now the Museo Sugbo.
Just along M.J. Cuenco Avenue is an interesting facility that ordinary people perhaps would not expect to house a museum. Surrounded at present by unsightly structures, this facility, commonly known to locals as the old Cebu Provincial Jail, was once a prison built in 1871 where criminals were incarcerated including the Katipuneros during the Philippine revolution and some guerillas during the Japanese occupation during World War II. It was designed in 1869 by Domingo de Escondrillas, a Spanish architect in Cebu who also designed the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva church in El Pardo, Cebu City.
Below: Old photos of the facade of the carcel. In the early American colonial period (second photo), a second storey was built at the main building. (Photos from Skyscrapercity Forums and eBay)
Then called the Carcel de Cebu, this facility was originally intended to be the main prison for the Visayas which accounts for its relatively large size at the time it was built. It was renovated in 1892 with the addition of more buildings behind the main structure. The second storey of the main building dates to the American colonial period judging from its architecture.
This prison continued to serve its purpose well into the 21st century until the provincial government built a bigger and more modern prison complex at Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City. This facility was then occupied by the Department of Education for a short period until the governor decided to convert it into a repository of Cebuano heritage & history, the Museo Sugbo (Cebu Museum).
Below: View of the main facade from across the street.
Below: Inside the complex.
Below: Some of the displays inside the museum.
January 20th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
i was there a moment ago..
iwas so shocked to see how nice is thier facilities….
everything is airconditioned…….everything is original…..
you should come and visit the museo sugbo..your pennies will never be wasted for you will enjoy everything..i swear……….
November 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Roger,
The signages should have been “LOCALS” and “TOURISTS.”
Although I think there might have been something wrong with the signages but there’s nothing wrong with giving discounts to locals or Filipino citizens since that’s a privilege that they ought to enjoy right in their homeland.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Dear Sirs.
Let me say that my first impression was ANYTHING but good, to be confronted with a sign reading NEW ENTRANCE FEES. Adults P30.00 Students/Senior Citizens P10.00. FOREIGNERS P75.00 Children P50.00 is nothing short of disgusting, I am a foreigner, Australian, operating a business in the Philippines more than 20 years. In all my years here I have never before seen such discrimination so blatantly displayed.
How would you feel if you arrived at my Resort and was confronted with a sign that read Entrance; Foreigners P30.00. Filipinos P75.00. I don’t think you would be very pleased.
However after discussion with Management the matter was resolved and I must say that I was very impressed with your displays and the knowledge of the staff.
I fully understand that it takes a lot of money to maintain such a facility, however may I suggest that you have a donation box and “ask” the generosity of the visitors to assist you “voluntarily” not “forcibly”.
If one had of been available, I would have given a Hundred pesos for each of us.
Maybe a lesson needs to be learned here, do not treat your Foreigners and Balikbayans like the Carabao that plows the field, as He is generally also the first you call on when you get stuck in the mud and need to be pulled out.
Regards and congratulations on your displays.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
[...] The church of St. Thomas of Villanova in El Pardo, Cebu City was built between 1880-93 following the design of Domingo de Escondrillas, a Spanish architect in Cebu who also designed the Carcel de Cebu. [...]
August 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
@bux
I agree bux!
Since Joseph’s grandfather used to be a prison guard here in the 1950s, perhaps he can provide photos of what the jail was during the 50s? And some tools/fixtures, etc. perhaps that they used way back then?