Cebu City, Cebu

The Queen City of the South

Cebu City is the capital city of the province of Cebu and is the second city of the Philippines. It serves as the center of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Carcar, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Naga, and Talisay.

History

 

Cebu City Boat - Cebu City FerryOn April 7, 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon, the king of Cebu, together with his wife and about 700 native islanders. Magellan, however, was killed in the Battle of Mactan, and the remaining members of his expedition left Cebu soon after several of them were poisoned by Humabon due to threats of foreign occupation.

On April 3, 1898, local revolutionaries led by the Negrense Leon Kilat rose up against the Spanish colonial authorities and took control of the urban center after three days of fighting{. The uprising was only ended by the treacherous murder of Leon Kilat and the arrival of soldiers from Iloilo.

The signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the Spanish-American War provided for the cession of Cebu along with the rest of the Philippine islands to the United States until the formation of the Commonwealth Era (1935-1946). On February 21, 1899 the USS Petrel (PG-2) deployed a landing party of 45 men on the shores of Cebu. Cebu’s transfer to the Commonwealth government was signed by Luis Flores, although others, most notably, Gen. Arcadio Maxilom and Juan Climaco, offered resistance until 1901.

Cebu only became a chartered city in February 24, 1937. Many Philippine cities such as Dansalan (now Marawi), Iloilo City, and Bacolod City were only incorporated as such at that time (see Cities of the Philippines). Until then, Cebu City had never been more than a town since its original founding in 1565.

Population/ Language/ Religion / Area

As of 2010, the city had a total population of 866,171.

People here speaks Cebuano as their native language. However, it is easy to find for someone who can speak with you in English.

The city is surrounded by Mandaue and Consolacion in the northeast, Toledo, the towns of Balamban and Asturias in the west, Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla in the south.

Cebu City Mormon TempleCebu City religion has varied to many type of belief but the majority of its population are Roman Catholic other believe were known to be Protestant, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Inglesia ni Cristo, Jesus Miracle Crusade, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Taoist, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and many others.

The topography of Cebu City is rugged and mountainous with elevation reaching up to 900 meters above mean sea level. Flat lands are found only along the shorelines that extend a few kilometers inland. Cebu City’s flat land occupies about 23 square kilometers, representing eight (8%) percent of its total land area but it contains over 40 barangays and about two thirds of its population.

Products and Services

Cebu City Fuente CircleThe province of Cebu is especially well known because of the production of locally handmade acoustic guitars,  bandurrias (Filipino mandolins), banjos and ukuleles. Already for generations the Cebuanos have been making quality guitars. The guitar makers are considered to be among the world’s finest craftsmen. Maribago on Mactan island, is the center of Cebu’s guitar-making industry. Here you can watch the craftsmen at work.

Cebu City is also known for its call centers and many business establishment.

The city is also the Philippines’ main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country’s domestic shipping companies.

Business Opportunity

The increasing urbanization of the city now leads to the increasing use of its land for housing, commercial, industrial, institutional and other related activities. Farmlands remained only in the upland or hilly land areas of Cebu City. Presently the city’s upland areas and watersheds are mostly covered with grass and shrubs with patches of corn, coconuts, bananas, cassava and vegetables. Fruit trees are also planted, notably the exotic mango, which is an export product of Cebu.SM Cebu - Cebu City SM Philippines

Tourist Spots

 

The city derives significant income from tourism. It hosted the 1998 ASEAN Tourism Forum. The city also hosted the East Asian Tourism Forum on August 2002, in which the province of Cebu is a member and signatory.

Cebu City Temple - Mormon

There are a number of significant Spanish colonial buildings in Cebu City which includes the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, Fort San Pedro, Casa Gorordo Museum and Magellan’s Cross.

Cebu City Fort San Pedro

Cebu City Magellan's Cross
The Cebu Reggae Festival is a popular Filipino Reggae and Roots music festival, it now has become one of the Philippines’ largest annual Reggae Festivals. On Cebuano musical heritage, the Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum in V. Gullas St. (former Manalili) corner D. Jakosalem St. in Cebu City, holds musical memorabilia of Cebuano composers in the early 20th century, the likes of Ben Zubiri (composer of Matud Nila), Inting Rubi (Kasadya Ning Taknaa) and Minggoy Lopez (Rosas Pandan). The Cebu City Sports Complex exhibits sporting and festival events.

Away from the city is the Cebu Taoist Temple, a Taoist temple in Beverly Hills. Views of Cebu City can also be seen from villages and gated communities located on the mountains.

Cebu City Taoist Temple Tour

Ayala Center Cebu is a shopping mall at the Cebu Business Park. On average, more than 85,000 people visit this mall everyday, with the figure increasing to 135,000 on weekends.