Cebu City

Cebu City
Dakbayan sa Sugbu
Lungsod ng Cebu
Highly Urbanized City
City of Cebu

Seal
Nickname(s): Queen City of the South
First Capital of the Philippines
Oldest City in the Philippines

Map of Central Visayas with Cebu City highlighted
Cebu City
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°18′N 123°54′E / 10.3°N 123.9°E / 10.3; 123.9Coordinates: 10°18′N 123°54′E / 10.3°N 123.9°E / 10.3; 123.9
Country  Philippines
Region Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province Cebu (geographically only)
District 1st (North) and 2nd (South) districts of Cebu City
Founded
(as Spanish colony)
Reincorporated (as city)		 1565

24 February 1937
Barangays 80 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
 • Type Sangguniang Panlungsod
 • Mayor Tomas Osmeña
 • Vice Mayor Edgar Labella
 • City Council
 • Representative
 • Electorate 630,003 voters (2016)
Area[2]
 • City 315.00 km2 (121.62 sq mi)
 • Metro 1,062.88 km2 (410.38 sq mi)
Elevation 5 m (16 ft)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • City 922,611
 • Density 2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi)
 • Metro 2,849,213
Demonym(s) Cebuano
Cebuana
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 6000
PSGC 072217000
IDD : area code  +63 (0)32
Climate type Tropical climate
Income class 1st city income class
Revenue (₱) 4,386,168,199.41 (2016)
Native languages Cebuano
Tagalog
Website www.cebucity.gov.ph

Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cebu; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cebu), is a 1st class highly urbanized city of the island of Cebu in the Central Visayas Region, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 922,611 people, making it the fifth most populated city in the nation and the most populous in the Visayas.[3]

It is the seat of government and capital for the province of Cebu, but is governed independent and separate from it. The city is a significant center of commerce, trade and education in the Visayas.

Located on the mid-eastern side of Cebu Island, it is the center of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Carcar, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga and Talisay; and the municipalities (towns) of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla and San Fernando. Metro Cebu had a total population of 2,849,213 as of 2015, making it the second most populous metropolitan area of the nation after Metro Manila in Luzon.[4]

The city is the first Spanish settlement, the country's oldest city,[5] and the first capital of the Philippines. It is considered as the Fount of Christianity in the Far East. It is the "Second City" of the Philippines after Manila.[6][7][8][9]

Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port, and is home to about 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies.

Cebu City is bounded on the north by the town of Balamban and the city of Danao, to the west by the city of Toledo, on the east by the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue and the towns Of Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela. and on the south by the City of Talisay.

Etymology

The name "Cebu" came from the old Cebuano word sibu or sibo ("trade"), a shortened form of sinibuayng hingpit ("the place for trading"). It was originally applied to the harbors of the town of Sugbu, the ancient name for Cebu City. Sugbu, in turn, was derived from the Old Cebuano term for "scorched earth" or "great fire".[10][11]

History

Founding

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Cebu city was part of the island-rajahnate and trade center of Pulua Kang Dayang or Kangdaya (literally "[the islands] which belong to Daya"), now better known as the Rajahnate of Cebu. It was founded by a prince of the Hindu Chola dynasty of Sumatra, the half-Malay and half-Tamil, Sri Lumay. The name Sugbu (shortened form of Kang Sri Lumaying Sugbu, literally "that of Sri Lumay's great fire") refers to Sri Lumay's scorched earth tactics against Muslim Moro raiders (Magalos).[10][11]

Spanish period

Magellan's Cross
A 19th-century map of Cebu City

On 7 April 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon (also known as Sri Humabon or Rajah Humabara), the grandson of Sri Lumay, 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, who was fearful of foreign occupation. The last ruler of Sugbu, prior to Spanish colonization, was Rajah Humabon's nephew, Rajah Tupas (d. 1565).[10][11]

On 13 February 1565, Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel López de Legazpi together with Augustinian friars whose prior was Andrés de Urdaneta, arrived in Samar, taking possession of the island thereafter. They Christianized some natives and Spanish remnants in Cebu. Afterwards, the expedition visited Leyte, Cabalian, Mazaua, Camiguin and Bohol where the famous Sandugo or blood compact was performed between López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol on 16 March 1565. The Spanish arrived in Cebu on 15 April 1565. They then attempted to parley with the local ruler, Rajah Tupas, but found that he and the local population had abandoned the town. Rajah Tupas presented himself at their camp on 8 May, feast of the Apparition of Saint Michael the Archangel, when the island was taken possession of on behalf of the Spanish King. The Treaty of Cebu was formalized on 3 July 1565. López de Legazpi's party named the new city "Villa de San Miguel de Cebú" (later renamed "Ciudad del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús)." In 1567 the Cebu garrison was reinforced with the arrival of 2,100 soldiers from New Spain (Mexico).[lower-alpha 1] The growing colony was then fortified by Fort San Pedro.

Calle Colon, Cebu, The oldest street in the Philippines

By 1569 the Spanish settlement in Cebu had become important as a safe port for ships from Mexico and as a jumping-off point for further exploration of the archipelago. Small expeditions led by Juan de Salcedo went to Mindoro and Luzon, where he and Martín de Goiti played a leading role in the subjugation of the Kingdoms of Tundun and Seludong in 1570. One year later, López de Legazpi departed Cebu to discuss a peace pact with the defeated Rajahs. An agreement between the conquistadors and the Rajahs to form a city council paved the way for the establishment of a new settlement and the construction of the Christian walled city of Intramuros on the razed remains of Islamic Manila, then a vassal-state of the Sultanate of Brunei.

In 1571, the Spanish carried over infantry from Mexico, to raise an army of Christian Visayan warriors from Cebu and Iloilo as well as mercenaries from the Tagalog region, and assaulted the Sultanate of Brunei in what is known as the Castilian War. The war also started the Spanish–Moro Wars waged between the Christian Visayans and Muslim Mindanao, wherein Moros burned towns and conducted slave raids in the Visayas islands and selling the slaves to the Sultanates of the Malay Archipelago and the Visayans fought back by establishing Christian fort-cities in Mindanao, cities such as Zamboanga City.

On 14 August 1595, Pope Clement VIII created the diocese of Cebu as a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Manila.

On 3 April 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.[13] On 26 December 1898, the Spanish Governor, General Montero, evacuated his troops to Zamboanga, turning over government property to Pablo Mejia.[14] The next day, a provincial government was formed under Luis Flores as president, General Juan Climaco as military chief of staff, and Julio Llorente as mayor.

American occupation and World War II

Malacañang sa Sugbo, the presidential residence in the Visayas

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 (1935–46). On 21 February 1899, the USS Petrel (PG-2) deployed a landing party of 40 marines on the shores of Cebu.[15] Cebu's transfer to the Commonwealth government was signed by Luis Flores although others, most notably General Arcadio Maxilom and Juan Climaco, offered resistance until 1901.[16] Governor W. H. Taft visited Cebu on 17 April 1901, and appointed Julio Llorento as the first provincial governor.[17] Juan Climaco was elected to that office in January 1904.[17]

After having remained a town since its original founding in 1565, Cebu became a chartered city on 24 February 1937. Many other Philippine cities such as Dansalan (now Marawi), Iloilo City, and Bacolod City were also incorporated at that time (see Cities of the Philippines).

Along with the rest of the country, Cebu came under Japanese occupation during WW II. The Japanese encountered some opposition there from guerrillas and irregular forces led by Col. James Cushing and the Cebu Area Command. It was finally liberated with the Battle for Cebu City in March and April 1945. The military general headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 8th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, active from 3 January 1942 to 30 June 1946, was stationed in Cebu City during World War II.

Present day

Colon Street, the oldest national road in the Philippines, is the center of a dense and compact area in downtown Cebu City that was once the heart of Cebu City's shopping and business activity, with fashionable shops, restaurants and movie houses. In the early 1990s, much of this activity shifted to the more modern and more diverse business districts located in almost all of the urban areas of the city, including in what was considered residential and leisure neighborhoods. Colon also serves as a transit point for public utility jeepneys (PUJ) covering arterial routes within the city.

Geography

Cebu City has a land area of 315 square kilometres (122 sq mi). To the northeast of the city is Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion; to the west is Toledo City and the towns of Balamban and Asturias; to the south is Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla.

Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan island where Lapu-Lapu is located. Further east across the Cebu Strait is the island of Bohol.

Barangays

The city comprises 80 barangays. These are grouped into two congressional districts, with 46 barangays in the northern district and 34 in the southern district.[18][19][20][21] The three most populous are Guadalupe (> 61,000), Lahug (> 38,000), and Tisa (> 37,000).

NorthSouth
PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015[3] 2010[22]
072217001 Adlaon 0.4% 4,028 3,647 ▴ 1.91%
072217002 Agsungot 0.2% 2,290 1,981 ▴ 2.80%
072217003 Apas 2.7% 24,591 22,566 ▴ 1.65%
072217006 Bacayan 1.7% 15,919 14,021 ▴ 2.45%
072217007 Banilad 0.9% 7,890 9,903 ▾ −4.23%
072217010 Binaliw 0.4% 3,417 2,722 ▴ 4.42%
072217013 Budlaan 0.6% 5,316 5,100 ▴ 0.79%
072217017 Busay 1.4% 13,048 11,335 ▴ 2.72%
072217019 Cambinocot 0.3% 3,099 2,658 ▴ 2.97%
072217020 Capitol Site 1.2% 11,307 15,308 ▾ −5.61%
072217021 Carreta 1.4% 12,557 11,211 ▴ 2.18%
072217023 Cogon‑Ramos 0.4% 3,339 3,337 ▴ 0.01%
072217025 Day‑as 0.5% 4,817 4,851 ▾ −0.13%
072217028 Ermita 0.9% 8,451 8,291 ▴ 0.36%
072217030 Guba 0.5% 4,976 4,771 ▴ 0.80%
072217031 Hipodromo 1.0% 9,684 9,673 ▴ 0.02%
072217033 Kalubihan 0.1% 866 563 ▴ 8.54%
072217035 Kamagayan 0.2% 2,170 2,061 ▴ 0.99%
072217036 Kamputhaw (Camputhaw) 2.2% 20,030 21,765 ▾ −1.57%
072217037 Kasambagan 0.9% 8,428 8,389 ▴ 0.09%
072217041 Lahug 4.2% 38,584 35,157 ▴ 1.79%
072217042 Lorega‑San Miguel 1.3% 11,873 11,178 ▴ 1.16%
072217043 Lusaran 0.3% 2,931 2,530 ▴ 2.84%
072217044 Luz 2.0% 18,313 16,923 ▴ 1.51%
072217045 Mabini 0.2% 1,909 1,649 ▴ 2.83%
072217046 Mabolo 2.4% 22,008 21,842 ▴ 0.14%
072217048 Malubog 0.3% 2,568 2,441 ▴ 0.97%
072217050 Pahina Central 0.6% 5,258 5,227 ▴ 0.11%
072217054 Parian 0.2% 1,574 1,503 ▴ 0.88%
072217055 Paril 0.2% 1,479 1,412 ▴ 0.89%
072217057 Pit‑os 0.7% 6,244 5,185 ▴ 3.60%
072217059 Pulangbato 0.6% 5,988 5,539 ▴ 1.50%
072217064 Sambag I 1.5% 13,434 11,865 ▴ 2.39%
072217065 Sambag II 1.2% 11,223 13,526 ▾ −3.49%
072217066 San Antonio 0.2% 1,928 2,010 ▾ −0.79%
072217067 San Jose 0.7% 6,870 5,704 ▴ 3.60%
072217069 San Roque (Ciudad) 0.5% 4,444 4,870 ▾ −1.73%
072217070 Santa Cruz 0.3% 2,316 2,522 ▾ −1.61%
072217022 Santo Niño 0.1% 1,213 1,568 ▾ −4.77%
072217074 Sirao 0.4% 3,456 3,871 ▾ −2.14%
072217078 T. Padilla 0.8% 7,646 8,113 ▾ −1.12%
072217081 Talamban 3.5% 32,139 28,278 ▴ 2.47%
072217082 Taptap 0.2% 2,093 1,741 ▴ 3.57%
072217083 Tejero (Villa Gonzalo) 1.6% 14,496 15,204 ▾ −0.90%
072217084 Tinago 0.7% 6,743 6,554 ▴ 0.54%
072217087 Zapatera 0.3% 3,146 3,317 ▾ −1.00%
TOTAL – North 42.9% 396,099 383,882 0.60%
PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015[3] 2010[22]
072217004 Babag 0.5% 4,452 4,451 ▴ 0.00%
072217005 Basak Pardo 2.1% 19,415 17,756 ▴ 1.72%
072217008 Basak San Nicolas 3.8% 35,422 34,313 ▴ 0.61%
072217011 Bonbon 0.6% 5,632 5,014 ▴ 2.24%
072217014 Buhisan 1.6% 14,977 13,032 ▴ 2.68%
072217015 Bulacao (Bulacao Pardo) 3.3% 30,450 26,820 ▴ 2.45%
072217016 Buot-Taop (Buot‑Taup Pardo) 0.3% 2,475 2,203 ▴ 2.24%
072217018 Calamba 1.2% 11,177 12,417 ▾ −1.98%
072217024 Cogon Pardo 2.3% 21,276 7,805 ▴ 21.04%
072217027 Duljo Fatima 1.9% 17,664 16,387 ▴ 1.44%
072217029 Guadalupe 6.6% 61,238 60,400 ▴ 0.26%
072217032 Inayawan (Inayawan Pardo) 3.3% 30,707 28,329 ▴ 1.55%
072217034 Kalunasan 2.9% 26,756 22,737 ▴ 3.15%
072217038 Kinasang‑an (Kinasang‑an Pardo) 1.6% 15,185 14,382 ▴ 1.04%
072217040 Labangon 3.6% 33,477 31,643 ▴ 1.08%
072217049 Mambaling 3.5% 32,564 32,162 ▴ 0.24%
072217051 Pahina San Nicolas 0.3% 3,196 1,409 ▴ 16.88%
072217052 Pamutan 0.2% 1,862 1,807 ▴ 0.57%
072217056 Pasil 0.9% 8,593 8,591 ▴ 0.00%
072217053 Poblacion Pardo 1.4% 12,596 12,103 ▴ 0.76%
072217060 Pung‑ol Sibugay 0.3% 2,556 2,357 ▴ 1.56%
072217062 Punta Princesa 2.4% 22,369 22,270 ▴ 0.08%
072217063 Quiot (Quiot Pardo) 2.6% 24,200 21,659 ▴ 2.13%
072217068 San Nicolas Proper 0.7% 6,694 6,240 ▴ 1.35%
072217077 Sapangdaku 0.8% 7,594 6,904 ▴ 1.83%
072217071 Sawang Calero 0.9% 8,259 7,831 ▴ 1.02%
072217073 Sinsin 0.2% 2,161 2,111 ▴ 0.45%
072217075 Suba (Suba San Nicolas) 1.2% 11,026 9,628 ▴ 2.62%
072217076 Sudlon I 0.3% 2,777 2,461 ▴ 2.33%
072217088 Sudlon II 0.4% 3,913 3,579 ▴ 1.71%
072217079 Tabunan 0.2% 2,138 1,951 ▴ 1.76%
072217080 Tag-bao 0.2% 1,767 1,951 ▾ −1.87%
072217085 Tisa 4.1% 37,766 35,600 ▴ 1.13%
072217086 Toong (To‑ong Pardo) 0.5% 4,178 3,986 ▴ 0.90%
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
TOTAL – South 57.1% 526,512 482,289 1.68%
NB As per REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9905, Banawa-Englis was supposed to be the 81st barangay in the city after being carved out from barangays Guadalupe and Labangon, however the law lapsed after the needed plebiscite didn't pass.[23][24][25][26]

Climate

Cebu City has a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification. The city has a lengthy wet season and a short dry season, with only the months of March and April falling into the latter season. Average temperatures show little variance during the year with average daily temps ranging from 27 °C (81 °F) to 29 °C (84 °F). The city on averages experiences roughly 1,700 millimetres (67 in) of precipitation annually.

Climate data for Cebu City (Mactan International Airport) 1981–2010, extremes 1972–2012
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.5
(92.3)		 34.8
(94.6)		 33.9
(93)		 35.6
(96.1)		 37.0
(98.6)		 37.6
(99.7)		 35.3
(95.5)		 35.6
(96.1)		 35.2
(95.4)		 34.4
(93.9)		 33.8
(92.8)		 34.0
(93.2)		 37.6
(99.7)
Average high °C (°F) 29.8
(85.6)		 30.2
(86.4)		 31.1
(88)		 32.3
(90.1)		 32.8
(91)		 32.1
(89.8)		 31.5
(88.7)		 31.7
(89.1)		 31.8
(89.2)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.0
(87.8)		 30.2
(86.4)		 31.3
(88.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.8
(80.2)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27.8
(82)		 28.8
(83.8)		 29.3
(84.7)		 28.8
(83.8)		 28.2
(82.8)		 28.4
(83.1)		 28.3
(82.9)		 28.1
(82.6)		 27.8
(82)		 27.3
(81.1)		 28.1
(82.6)
Average low °C (°F) 23.9
(75)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.5
(76.1)		 25.4
(77.7)		 25.8
(78.4)		 25.4
(77.7)		 24.9
(76.8)		 25.0
(77)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 24.7
(76.5)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.8
(76.6)
Record low °C (°F) 19.8
(67.6)		 20.0
(68)		 19.4
(66.9)		 22.1
(71.8)		 22.0
(71.6)		 22.5
(72.5)		 20.8
(69.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 21.5
(70.7)		 21.6
(70.9)		 20.4
(68.7)		 20.0
(68)		 19.4
(66.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 105.2
(4.142)		 69.6
(2.74)		 58.6
(2.307)		 48.1
(1.894)		 95.0
(3.74)		 175.6
(6.913)		 192.9
(7.594)		 143.5
(5.65)		 179.6
(7.071)		 194.8
(7.669)		 161.9
(6.374)		 139.7
(5.5)		 1,564.5
(61.594)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 12 9 8 6 8 14 16 14 15 16 14 14 146
Average relative humidity (%) 83 81 79 77 78 81 82 81 82 83 83 84 81
Source: PAGASA[27][28]

Local government

Cebu City Hall

Being a highly urbanized city, Cebu City (along with Lapu-Lapu City) is independent from Cebu province. Its electorate do not vote for provincial officials. There were proposals during the time of Governor Emilio Mario Osmeña to establish an "administrative district" that would be independent from Cebu City. This would mean carving out Cebu City's Capitol Site barangay, where the provincial capitol and other provincial offices are located. The plan, however, did not go through and was even followed by other proposals like the transfer of the capital to Balamban.

Cebu City is governed by a mayor, vice mayor and sixteen councilors (eight representing the northern and eight representing the southern region). Each official is popularly elected to serve for a three-year term. The chief of the Association of Barangay Captains also serves in the city council. The day-to-day administration of the city is handled by a city administrator.[29][30]

Current city officials (2016-2019)
17th Congress

Demographics

Population census of Cebu City
YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 347,116—    
1975 413,025+3.55%
1980 490,281+3.49%
1990 610,417+2.22%
1995 662,299+1.54%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 718,821+1.77%
2007 799,762+1.48%
2010 866,171+2.95%
2015 922,611+1.21%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3] [22] [31] [32]
Language Generally Spoken at Home (2010)
Language Inhabitants
Cebuano
 
 913,324
Tagalog
 
 2,298
English
 
 1,356
Hiligaynon
 
 724
Others
 
 2,646

The population reached 799,762 people in 2007, and at the 2010 census, the city's population had grown to 866,171 in over 161,151 households.[3]


The most recent census data on ethnicity (based on the 2010 census) shows that the vast majority of the city's population speaks Cebuano.[33]

Religion

Christianity in the form of Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Cebu for about 80% of the population. The remainders are divided with various Protestant faiths such as Baptist, Methodists, Non-denominational, Iglesia Ni Cristo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist and other Christian groups. Other religions include Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Within the city is the Cebu Taoist Temple, a Taoist temple located in Beverly Hills.

Economy

Panoramic view of the Cebu Business Park

Ceboom, a portmanteau of Cebu and Boom, has been used to refer to the rapid economic development of both Cebu City and Cebu Province in the early 1990s.[34]

With Cebu city's proximity to many islands, beaches, hotel and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites, high domestic and foreign tourist arrivals have fueled the city's tourism industry. Due to its geographic location, accessibility by air, land and sea transportation, Cebu City has become the tourist gateway to Central and Southern Philippines. Its port, Port of Cebu, is the country's second largest port after Manila.[35]

Entrance to Cebu IT Park
Cebu South Road Properties
"The Terraces" at Ayala Center Cebu

The city is a major hub for the business process outsourcing industry of the Philippines. In 2013, Cebu ranked 8th worldwide in the "Top 100 BPO Destinations Report" by global advisory firm, Tholons.[36][37] In 2012, the growth in IT-BPO revenues in Cebu grew 26.9 percent at $484 million, while nationally, the industry grew 18.2 percent at $13 billion.[38]

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, formerly known as Cebu Pan Asian Holdings, is the first holding company from Cebu City publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. Ayala Corporation, through its subsidiary Cebu Holdings, Inc. and Cebu Property, both publicly in the PSE Index, developed the Cebu Park District where the mixed-used development zones of the Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park are located. Both master planned areas are host to regional headquarters for various companies in the banking, finance, IT and tourism sectors among others.

Shipbuilding companies in Cebu have manufactured bulk carriers of up to 70,000 metric tons deadweight (DWT) and double-hulled fast craft as well. This industry made the Philippines the 4th largest shipbuilding country in the world.[39]

With a revenue growth rate of 18.8 percent in 2012, the real estate industry is the fastest growing sector in Cebu. With the strong economic indicators and high investors' confidence level, more condominium projects and hypermarkets are being developed in the locality.[40]

The South Road Properties (SRP) is a 300-hectare (740-acre) prime property development project on a reclaimed land located a few metres off the coast of Cebu's central business district. It is a mixed-use development that will feature entertainment, leisure, residential and business-processing industries.[41] It is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and is funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation(JBIC).[42] Traversing the property is a 12-kilometre (7.5 mi), four-lane highway known as the Cebu Coastal Road that provides the motorists with a good view of Cebu's south coast and the nearby island of Bohol.

Ayala Center Cebu is a shopping mall at the Cebu Business Park. More than 85,000 people visit this mall every day, with the figure increasing to 135,000 daily on weekends.[43]

Culture

Procession during the Feast Day of the Santo Niño.
Devotees inside the Basilica del Santo Niño.

Cebu City is a significant cultural center in the Philippines. The imprint of Spanish and Roman Catholic culture is evident. The city's most famous landmark is Magellan's Cross. This cross, now housed in a chapel, is reputed to have been erected by Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão Magalhães) when he arrived in the Philippines in 1521.[44] It was encased in hollow tindalo wood in 1835 upon the order of the Augustinian Bishop Santos Gómez Marañon to prevent devotees from taking it home chip by chip. The same bishop restored the present template or kiosk, located at Magallanes Street between the City Hall and Colegio del Santo Niño. Revered by Filipinos, the Magellan's Cross is a symbol of Christianity in the Philippines.

A few steps away from Magellan's Cross is the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (Church of the Holy Child). This is an Augustinian church elevated to the rank of basilica in 1965 during the 400th anniversary celebrations of Christianity in the Philippines, held in Cebu. The church, which was the first to be established in the islands, is built of hewn stone and features the country's oldest relic, the figure of the Santo Niño de Cebú (Holy Child of Cebu).

This religious and cultural event is celebrated during the island's cultural festivities known as the Sinulog festival. Held every third Sunday of January, it celebrates the festival of the Santo Niño, who was formerly considered to be the patron saint of Cebu. (This patronage was later changed to that of Our Lady of Guadalupe after it was realised that the St. Niño could not be a patron saint because he was an image of Christ and not a saint.) The sinulog is a dance ritual of pre-Hispanic indigenous origin. The dancer moves two steps forward and one step backward to the rhythmic sound of drums. This movement resembles somewhat the current (sulog) of the river. Thus, the Cebuanos called it sinulog.

When the Spaniards arrived in Cebu, the Italian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta, sailing under convoy with the Magellan expedition, offered a baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon. She was later named Juana, the figure of the Santo Niño. The natives also honored the Santo Niño de Cebú in their indigenous sinulog ritual. This ritual was preserved but limited to honoring the Santo Niño. Once the Santo Niño church was built in the 16th century, the Christianized-Austronesian natives started performing the sinulog ritual in front of the church, the devotees offering candles and indigenous dancers shouting "Viva Pit Señor!"

In the 1980s and 2000s, the city authorities of Cebu added the religious feast of Santo Niño de Cebú during the Sinulog Festival to its cultural event.

Music

Cebu City is regarded as the birthplace of the BisRock genre. The term "Bisrock" was coined by Cebuano writer Januar E. Yap in 2002.[45] Notable Bisrock bands include Missing Filemon, Junior Kilat, Phylum, and Scrambled Eggs, among others. Filipino bands Urbandub and Cueshé also hail from Cebu, but mostly sing their songs in English, and in the latter's case, also in Tagalog.

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.

Lifedance and Sinulog Invasion are rave music festivals held in the city in the days before the Sinulog Festival. These music festivals are regarded as among the biggest music festivals in the country.[46]

The Cebu Pop Music Festival is an annual music festival, founded in 1980,[47] showcasing Cebuano language pop songs. Like Lifedance and Sinulog Invasion, the music festival is also held in the days before the Sinulog Festival.

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).

Sports

The Cebu City Sports Complex

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. is based in the city. Its member schools are located within the Metro Cebu area. It is often considered as the strongest collegiate league outside Metro Manila.

The city has an active boxing scene. ALA Gym, one of the most famous boxing gyms in the Philippines, is based in the city, at the Banilad district. In addition, ALA Gym's promotion arm, the ALA Promotions, organises the Pinoy Pride boxing series.

Global Cebu F.C. is currently the only professional sports team that is playing in the city. The team plays its home games at the Cebu City Sports Complex. Former professional sports teams include the Cebu City Chiefs, a rugby league team that participated in the Philippines National Rugby League and the Cebu Dragons, a rugby union team in the Philippine Rugby Football Union. The Cebu Gems were also another team that was based in Cebu City. The Gems played their home games at the Cebu Coliseum.

Tourism

Tourism is a thriving industry in Cebu. 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.

Views of Cebu City and its skyline can be seen from villages and numerous gated communities located on its mountainsides.

There is a significant number of Filipino-Spanish heritage buildings in Cebu City such as Fort San Pedro, Basilica del Santo Niño, Magellan's Cross, and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.[48] The city hosts the Museo Sugbo and Casa Gorordo Museum. The Cebu Taoist Temple is also situated within the city.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Artist impression of Osmeña Boulevard upon construction of a proposed bus rapid transit in Cebu City

The city is readily accessible by air via the Mactan–Cebu International Airport located in Lapu-Lapu City which has direct international flights to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, China, Taiwan, Dubai and South Korea, Charter flights to Russia and domestic destinations.[49][50] Many international and cargo airlines fly to Cebu. There are also direct transfer flights via the capital's Ninoy Aquino International Airport that readily connect the city to other destinations in the world.

The city is served by a domestic and international port which are handled by the Cebu Port Authority. Much of the city's waterfront is actually occupied by the port with around 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) of berthing space. The city is home to more than 80% of the country's island vessels traveling on domestic routes mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao.[35]

Transportation throughout the city and the metropolitan itself is provided by jeepneys, buses and taxis. The Cebu City Government conducted a 2012 feasibility study on implementing bus rapid transit (BRT) system that will ease the transportation of the residents in the city and throughout the entire Metro Cebu area.[51][52] Aimed to serve an estimated 330,000 passengers per day, the project would have a capacity of 176 buses running through 33 stations along Bulacao until Talamban with a link to South Road Properties.[53][54] The project is currently branded as TransCebu and is expected to be fully operational by 2017.[55] As of March 2017 it is already two years late, and the price has rocketed to ₱9.04 billion (US$180 million).[56]

Utilities

The city mostly gets its power from an interconnection grid with the Leyte Geothermal Power Plant, which also powers the majority of the Visayas.[57][58] Cebu is also powered by a coal-fired thermal plant with two units each generating 52.5-MW and 56.8-MW,[59] a 43.8-MW diesel power plant and 55-MW land-based gas turbine plants located at the Naga power complex which is planned to be rehabilitated and replaced with 150-MW coal units by 2016 and to be completed by 2019.[60]

Telecommunication facilities, broadband and wireless internet connections are available and are provided by some of the country's largest telecommunication companies.

In the 1998, the 15-hectare (37-acre) Inayawan Sanitary Landfill was constructed to ease garbage disposal within the city. After 15 years, the landfill reached its lifespan and the Talisay city government recently allowed Cebu to temporarily dump its garbage in its own 2-hectare (4.9-acre) landfill.[61][62] In 2015, Cebu appropriated a total of ₱2.5 million to close and rehabilitate the landfill at Inayawan.[63]

Education

Cebu City currently has eleven large universities each with a number of college branches throughout the city and more than a dozen other schools specialising in various courses. Among these schools is the University of San Carlos. It has five campuses around the metropolitan area. It is currently headed by the Society of the Divine Word.

The University of the Philippines Cebu, located at Camputhaw in the district near Lahug currently has eight courses and has plans of expansion and development. The U.P. Board of Regents elevated the status of U.P. Cebu as a constituent university of the University of the Philippines System on 27 October 2016.[64]

Another Catholic university in Cebu City is the University of San Jose – Recoletos which was established in 1947.[65] It is currently headed by the Augustinian Recollects and has two different campuses within the city, excluding a new campus outside the city located in the municipality of Balamban.

Cebu Normal University was established in 1902 as a provincial normal school, a branch of the Philippine Normal School. It became an independent institution in 1924, a chartered college in 1976, and a university in 1998.

The Cebu Doctors' University (formerly Cebu Doctors' College) was granted university status on November 2004. It is the only private school in the Philippines designated a university without having a basic education (pre-school – high school) curriculum; it caters mainly to courses related to the health services field. It was relocated to a nine-story main building in 2007 at the Cebu Boardwalk (now Dr. P.V. Larrazabal Jr. Avenue) in neighbouring Mandaue City, thus closing its old campus near the then Cebu Doctors' Hospital (now Cebu Doctors' University Hospital). As of 2016, the university now offers senior high school (grades 11 and 12)

The University of Cebu's campus in Banilad was opened in June 2002. Its main campus in Sanciangko street offers degree programs such as a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), HRM, Computer Engineering, BSED and others. Also located in the city is the University of the Visayas, established in 1919 and considered to be the first educational institution who was granted with a university status. It was granted an autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 2010 and currently offers basic education and a number of courses in the tertiary level including medical courses (Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Midwifery, and Health Care Services) which are housed in its campus in Banilad area.

Other noteworthy institutions in the city include Cebu Institute of Technology – University, Southwestern University, St. Theresa's College, University of Southern Philippines Foundation in Lahug and Mabini, Cebu Technological University (formerly the Cebu State College of Science and Technology), Cebu Institute of Medicine (together with its affiliated school Velez College), Cebu Eastern College, Cebu International School, Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu, Don Bosco Technical College–Cebu (DBTC), and the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion.

The upcoming Centro Escolar University – Cebu will be the fourth campus of the university after its Manila (Main), Malolos, and Makati campuses.[66]

Cebu City has 68 public elementary schools, 23 national high schools and 28 night high schools. These night high schools are operated by the city government.

The Cebu City Public Library and Information Center is the only public library in Cebu.

Sister cities

International (in alphabetical order of the names of the cities)
National

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ On orders of the King Philip II, 2,100 men arrived from Mexico.[12]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Municipal: Cebu City". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population | Philippine Statistics Authority". psa.gov.ph. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  5. ↑ "History of Cebu". Cebu City Tour. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Cebu & Philippines - International Eucharistic Congress 2016". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Cebu—Cradle of the Philippine Church and Seat of Far-East Christianity." International Eucharistic Congress 2016, December 4, 2014, accessed December 4, 2014, http://iec2016.ph/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Cebu%E2%80%94Cradle-of-the-Philippine-Church-and-Seat-of-Far-East-Christianity.pdf
  8. ↑ "Cebu Archdiocese Philippines - Archdiocese of Cebu Philippines - Ucanews". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  9. ↑ Aeon (29 December 2014). "'Cradle of Christianity' or 'Seat of Christianity' in the Far East?". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 Celestino C. Macachor (2011). "Searching for Kali in the Indigenous Chronicles of Jovito Abellana". Rapid Journal. 10 (2). Archived from the original on 2012-07-03.
  11. 1 2 3 Marivir Montebon, Retracing Our Roots – A Journey into Cebu’s Pre-Colonial Past, p.15
  12. ↑ "Spanish Expeditions to the Philippines". PHILIPPINE-HISTORY.ORG. 2005.
  13. ↑ "Cebu Provincial Government - The Official Portal of the Province of Cebu". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  14. ↑ Foreman 1906, p. 522.
  15. ↑ Foreman 1906, p. 523.
  16. ↑ Foreman 1906, p. 524.
  17. 1 2 Foreman 1906, p. 526.
  18. ↑ "CEBU CITY NORTH DISTRICT URBAN BARANGAYS". Cebu City Official Website. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "CEBU CITY NORTH DISTRICT RURAL BARANGAYS". Cebu City Official Website. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "CEBU CITY SOUTH DISTRICT URBAN BARANGAYS". Cebu City Official Website. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "CEBU CITY SOUTH DISTRICT RURAL BARANGAYS". Cebu City Official Website. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "Republic Act No. 9905". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  24. ↑ Cebu Daily News 2012.
  25. ↑ Inquirer, Tweeny M. Malinao. "Guadalupe votes to keep barangay intact".
  26. ↑ Sun Star 2012.
  27. ↑ "Mactan International Airport, Cebu City Climatological Normal Values". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  28. ↑ "Mactan International Airport, Cebu City Climatological Extremes". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  29. ↑ "Davide is acting Cebu City mayor Osmeña in US, Rama off to Korea". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  30. ↑ "Osmeñas leave for US amid prayer". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  31. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  32. ↑ Gonzales 2004.
  33. ↑ "Statistical Tables on Sample Variables from the results of 2010 Census of Population and Housing - Cebu".
  34. ↑ Cebu Daily News, Fernando Fajardo (11 January 2013). "Has 'Ceboom' returned?". Archived from the original on 13 January 2013.
  35. 1 2 Victorina Zosa (August 2004). "Philippine – Japan Economic Linkages: A Case Study of Cebu" (PDF). Discussion Paper Series No. 2004-33. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  36. ↑ "Cebu rises to 8th best site for BPOs". Sun Star Cebu. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Metro Manila, Cebu among top global BPO destinations". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Non-voice overtakes voice operation in Cebu". Sun Star Cebu. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Philippines Now the Fourth Largest Shipbuilding Country in the World". Manila Bulletin. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-04-28.
  40. ↑ "Real estate sector fastest growing industry in Cebu". Sun Star Cebu. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  41. ↑ "About South Road Properties". City Government of Cebu. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  42. ↑ "The Official Cebu City Government Forum". Republic of the Philippines: Cebu City Government. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  43. ↑ Philippine Daily Inquirer - Cebuanos develop shopping, leisure habits Archived February 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  44. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cebú". Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 592–593.
  45. ↑ "BISROCK: Where it all began". The Philippine Star. August 31, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  46. ↑ http://www.everythingcebu.com/attractions/festivals/top-sinulog-parties/
  47. ↑ Costanilla, Sam (September 11, 2016). "Costanilla: Cebu Pop Music Festival names top 12 songs". Sun.Star. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  48. ↑ Department of Tourism Philippines official website page on Cebu. Accessed 28 September 2009.
  49. ↑ Cebu Pacific Air (18 July 2006). "Cebu Pacific adds flights to Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban and Tagbilaran to meet demand".
  50. ↑ "Mactan Cebu airport to set aside P300M for expansion". Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  51. ↑ Mosqueda, M. W. (30 May 2014). "NEDA okays bus rapid transit system for Cebu". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  52. ↑ "Funding for Cebu Bus Rapid Transit system approved". Rappler. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  53. ↑ Agcaoili, L. (8 June 2015). "DOTC eyes consultant for P10.6-B bus rapid transit system in Cebu". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  54. ↑ "Gov't signs WB loan for Cebu bus rapid transit project". Rappler. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  55. ↑ Montalbo, C. M. (10 April 2015). "The dignity of travel: The Cebu BRT project". Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  56. ↑ Cebu Daily News 2017.
  57. ↑ Rivera, D. O (18 November 2013). "Yolanda-hit Leyte geothermal plant key to restoring power in Visayas". GMA News. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  58. ↑ Felicitas, P. D. H. (6 February 2014). "'Cebu still has ample supply'". Sun.Star. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  59. ↑ Lectura, L. (1 October 2014). "SPC is new owner and operator of Naga power plant in Cebu". Business Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  60. ↑ Garcia-Yap, A. (30 May 2015). "New P25-B power plant to rise in Naga in 2019". Inquirer. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  61. ↑ Quintas, K. B. (23 January 2015). "Talisay allows Cebu City to use its sanitary landfill". The Freeman. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  62. ↑ "Talisay OKs Cebu City to Use Sanitary Landfill". MetroCebu News. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  63. ↑ Quintas, K. M. (6 June 2015). "City allocates P2.5M for landfill closure, rehab". The Freeman. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  64. ↑ "UP Cebu is now UP's 8th Constituent University". Archived from the original on 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  65. ↑ "History". University of San Jose-Recoletos. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  66. ↑ "Centro Escolar University to set up Cebu campus". Inquirer News. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
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Sources

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  • Cebu Daily News, Jose Santino S. Bunachita (3 January 2017). "Road right-of-way costs up for BRT". Archived from the original on 27 February 2017.
  • Foreman, John (1906). The Philippine Islands. A political, geographical, ethnographical, social and commercial history of the Philippine Archipelago and its political dependencies, embracing the whole period of Spanish rule (3rd ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
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  • Sun Star (1 August 2012). "Wenceslao: Banawa-Englis dream shot down". Archived from the original on 1 August 2012.
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