Bagacay Point Lighthouse, Liloan, Cebu Province, Philippines. The Bagacay Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in the Philippines. Located in Liloan (Cebu Province), the lighthouse has played an important role in the maritime history of the country. Constructed in 1857, it was the second lighthouse to be built in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period after the Faro de la Isla de Corregidor, which was erected in 1836. Under American rule, by virtue of an executive order issued on 28 July 1903 by William Howard Taft, the first American Governor-General of the Philippines, the present octagonal tower in white painted masonry work was constructed and its light lit on the first of April 1905. The tower stands at a height of approximately 22 m from where a powerful beam of light provides safety and guidance for ships up to 17 nautical miles away. During World War II, the Bagacay Point Lighthouse played a crucial role in guiding Allied ships through the treacherous waters of the Cebu Strait. After the war, the lighthouse once again took up its original role and purpose of guiding merchant ships.

Today, the Bagacay Point Lighthouse remains an important landmark in the province of Cebu and is maintained by the Philippine Coast Guard. It is a popular tourist attraction and a favourite spot for photographers who come to capture its stunning panoramic views of the sea and the surrounding countryside. Many wedding pictures have been taken here and undoubtedly will continue to be taken here. In 2018, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the Bagacay Point Lighthouse as a National Historical Landmark, thus recognizing the lighthouse as a significant cultural and historical site that represents the country’s rich maritime heritage. (Photograph taken 13 March 2022 by Dr. Erik Van Wellen, Maverick Enterprise, Antwerpen, Belgium.)