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Cebu - Queen of the South

Cebu is the Manila of Visayas. With its modern structure, urbanized cities, and active economy, it has become one of the prime provinces in the country. But amidst the face of modernity, Cebu retained and maintained its unique color and atmosphere that makes it a premiere vacation and leisure destination in the Philippines.

Demographics

  1. Population - 3, 848, 919(as of 2007 Census)
  2. Land Area -5, 008. 4 sq. km
  3. Capital - Cebu City
  4. Language/Dialect- Cebuano, English, and Filipino
  5. Divisions

Cities (7)

  • Cebu
  • Lapu-Lapu
  • Mandaue
  • Carcar
  • Danao
  • Talisay
  • Toledo

Municipalities (49)

  • Alcántara
  • Alcoy
  • Alegria
  • Aloguinsan
  • Argao
  • Asturias
  • Badian
  • Balamban
  • Bantayan
  • Barili
  • Bogo
  • Boljoon
  • Borbon
  • Carmen
  • Catmon
  • Compostela
  • Consolacion
  • Cordova
  • Daanbantayan
  • Dalaguete
  • Dumanjug
  • Ginatilan
  • Liloan
Famous For ...

Magellan’s Cross
Location: Cebu City, Cebu
Planted in April 21, 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, it is the spot where the first Christian Filipinos, Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana and about 400 of their followers, were baptized by Fr. Pedro Valderema.

Image of Santo Niño
Venerated not only in Cebu but throughout the Philippines, the image of the Child Jesus in Cebu was a baptismal gift from Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana. The image is kept at the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño.

Sinulog Festival
The third Sunday of January serves as the official feast of the Child Jesus in Cebu. Streets are filled with dancers dressed in colorful costumes swaying to the beat of the drums.

Lapu-lapu and Mactan Island
Dubbed as the first Philippine hero, Rajah Lapu-lapu, together with the warriors of Mactan Island, defeated the Spanish soldiers, including Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in their battle in 1951.

Guitars
The Mactan District and Maribago District in Lapulapu City is filled with stores selling quality guitars of all sizes.

Delectable foods
Cebu has prided itself with delectable food that has captured the local and international taste buds.
1. Mangoes and Dried mangoes
2. Otap (thin cookie with sugar toppings)
3. Danggit (salted dry fish)

Places of Interest

Cultural

Casa Gorordo Museum
Location: Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City, Cebu
The museum was once the home of the first Filipino Bishop of Cebu, Juan Gorordo. Inside, there museum relics, paintings, antique household items and a courtyard.

Fort San Pedro National Museum
Location: Legazpi Extension, Cebu City, Cebu
Artifacts found in the museum came from the items found in fort and the Spanish galleon, San Diego, located within the deep sea of Fortune Island in Nasugbu, Batangas.

University of San Carlos Museum
Location: P. del Rosario St., Cebu City, Cebu
The artifacts and specimens found in the university are a product of four years of hard work by the Anthropological Department of universities in Central and Southern Philippines.

The Southwestern University Museum
Location: Urgello Private Road, Cebu City, Cebu
It exhibits excavated gold, trade beads, coins, iron-age potteries, rare trade wares, trade jars, jewlwery, santoses, church carvings and other church accessories from the pre historic times to the Spanish occupation.

Pres. Sergio Osmeña Memorabilia & Cap Art Gallery
Location: 60 Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
Serving as a remembrance of the contributions of the Grand Old Man of Cebu, the gallery contains an estimated 500 priced possessions of Pres. Sergio Osmeña donated by his friends and relatives.

Julian Jumalon's Butterfly Sanctuary and Art Gallery
Location: Brgy. Pardo, Cebu City, Cebu
The country's oldest butterfly collection and Butterfly Sanctuary with live immature- and adult-stage local butterflies in their natural settings. Also, there are mosaics with authentic butterfly wings as medium.

Historical

Fort San Pedro
Location: Pier Area, Cebu City, Cebu
The smallest, oldest tri-bastion fort in the country. This served as the nucleus of the Spanish settlement in the Philippines. It has a total inside area of 2,025 sq. meters, walls towering at 20 feet high and 8 feet thick, and the tower is 30 feet high from the ground. During the American and Japanese occupation, Fort San Pedro was used an army camp.

Heritage of Cebu Monument
Location: Colon St., Cebu City
Made by National Artist Edgardo Castrillo, the monumental sculptural tableau shows the most significant events in the history of Cebu; from the time of Rajah Humabon to the beatification of martyr Pedro Calunsod.

Magellan Marker
Location: Punta Engaño, Lapulapu City, Cebu
In honor of the contribution of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the marker was built in 1866 to mark the spot where Magellan died under the hands of Mactan chieftain Lapulapu on April 27, 1521.

Lapulapu Monument
Location: Punta Engaño, Lapulapu City, Cebu
The monument depicts the hero holding a bolo in one hand and a pestle on the other. Said weapons were believed to have been used during his combat with Magellan which the Filipino chieftain won in their battle on April 27, 1521.

University of San Carlos
Location: P. del Rosario St., Cebu City, Cebu
The oldest school in the country established in 1565. This was formerly called Colegio de San lldefonso, established by the Jesuits.

Man-made

Liloan Lighthouse
Location: Liloan, Cebu
Built by the American in 1904, the lighthouse guided sailors, fishermen, and large vessels during their voyages.

Marcelo Fernan Bridge
Location: Mactan Channel, Cebu
Named after former senator Marcelo Fernan, this modern cable stayed bridge spans across Mactan Channel connecting Cebu Island to Mactan Island. It was opened in Auggust 1999 to decongest the traffic from the older Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. The bridge has a total length of 1237 meters (4058.40 feet) with a center span of 185 meters (606.96 feet).

Mactan - Mandaue Bridge
Location: Mactan Channel, Cebu
Built in 1972, the 864-meter bridge was the first connection between the islands of Mactan and Cebu.

Cebu International Convention Center
Location: Mandaue City, Cebu
This 3-story structure was built by the Cebu Provincial Government for the 12th Asean Summit and 2nd East Asia Summit. With a gross floor area of 28,000 square meters, the convention center features an International Media Center, a large Plenary Hall, an Exhibition Hall, and several Meeting Rooms.

Natural

Malampascua Island
Location: Northern part of Cebu
The name of the island, Malampascua literally means, “Unfortunate Christmas”. It is said that it was Christmas Day when the Spaniards reach the island. Unfortunately the celebration was put on halt because a storm hit the island. The island is a good spot for swimming and snorkeling.

Camotes Island
Location: Across Danao City, Cebu
The island offers visitors a great way to interact with nature. Isolated from the city, the island is composed of 4 towns: Poro, San Francisco, Tudela, and Pilar.

Panagsama Beach
Location: Moalboal, Cebu
The beach served as the first dive site in the Philippines. It serves as home to an extraordinary array of coral, anemones, sponges, and a swarming host of brightly colored reef fish.

Religious

Basilica Minor del Santo Niño
Location: Cebu City, Cebu
This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565. Until today, the Basilica remains under the care of the Order of St. Augustine. It is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

Taoist Temple
Location: Beverly Hills Subdivision, Cebu City, Cebu
The temple is open for worshipers and non-worshippers of Taoism. The entrance to the temple is a replica of the Great Wall of China. The temple includes a chapel, a library, a souvenir shop and a wishing well. The spacious balconies offer a scenic view of the downtown Cebu. There is also a giant dragon statute at the hillside.

Chapel of the Last Supper
Location: Mandaue City, Cebu
Life-sized carvings of the Lord Jesus and his 12 apostles seated at a long table for the Last Supper dates back to 1601. This is the only one of its kind in the country.

Festivals

Sinulog Festival
Place: All over Cebu
Date: Third Sunday of January
The feast is in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Santo Niño de Cebu. Streets are filled with dancers dressed in colorful costumes swaying to the beat of the drums. There are other activities during the event such as trade fairs, competitions and a procession during the evening.

Kadaugan sa Mactan
Place: Lapulapu City, Cebu
Date: April 27
This one-day festival commemorates the Battle of Mactan between Lapulapu and Magellan. Townfolks re-enact the battle in sophisticated dances and lively music.

Nuestra Señora de Regla Fiesta
Place: Lapulapu City, Cebu
Date: November 20 - 21
Held to honor the patroness of Opon, the fiesta features food fair, carnival, procession, and a coronation of the Fiesta Queen highlight the festivity.

Carcar Fiesta
Place: Carcar City, Cebu
Date: November 24 - 25
Celebrated in honor of the town's patron, St. Catherine of Alexandria. Carcar town is noted for its old Spanish style houses in the quiet countryside setting. During fiestas, the residents would invite friends, relatives, and town visitors into their homes to taste popular local delicacies.