Cebu City: Queen City of the South

Cebu City is one of the most important cities inthat enjoyed trade relations with other Southeast
the Philippines. It is hailed as "The Queen City ofAsian countries. On April 7, 1521 the Portuguese
the South" due to its importance in trade, shippingexplorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the island.
and tourism in that part of the country.He was welcomed and befriended by Raja
GeographyHumabon, the king of Cebu. Humabon and his
Cebu City lies along the eastern shore of Cebupeople converted to Catholicism and became the
Province in the Visayan region. It has a total landfirst first Filipino Christians. But the people of
area of 291.2 square kilometers and a populationnearby Mactan Island were not so friendly, and
of some 800,000 people according to the latestMagellan was killed in battle by their king,
census. The city consists of 80 barangays dividedLapu-Lapu.
into two districts. The native dialect is Cebuano.In 1562, more than forty years after the death
Trade and Economyof Magellan, the Spaniards under Miguel Lopez de
While the cities of Manila and Makati are theLegaspi returned to the islands. Legaspi then
business centers of the northern Philippines, Cebuestablished a new Spanish colony with Cebu as its
is the trade capital of the south, Visayas andcapital.
Mindanao.Sights
Because of its location, it is only natural thatCebu City is a major tourist destination in the
business in Cebu would revolve around the seaPhilippines. Its best-known landmark is the Cross
and seafaring. The city is the country's largestof Magellan. Legend says that it was erected by
shipping hub, being home to 80% of all domesticthe explorer upon his landing on the island. It is
shipping lines. Seafood is abundant in the area, andsacred among Filipino Christians, who regard it as
in fact one type of fish was named after thethe symbol of the birth of their faith. In 1835, the
hero Lapu-Lapu (see below). Recently thelocal bishop ordered that the cross be moved to
outsourcing of companies to Asia has benefiteda wooden case and guarded in a chapel. This was
the Cebuano people. Many have found jobs in callto protect the cross from being vandalized by
centers since English is widely spoken.devotees who would chip away pieces at a time.
One of the Philippines' two international airports,Nearby is the Minor Basilica of the Holy Infant
Mactan-Cebu International Airport, is a half-hour(Basilica Minore de Santo Nino). The church is
drive from the city. Due to its strategic location,home to the country's first religious image, the
Cebu is often used as a hopping point bySanto Nino.
travelers to other tourist destinations in theEvery year in January, the famous Sinulog festival
region.takes place. Originally a dance ritual in which
Historydancers mimicked the motion of the river (sulog),
Even before the advent of Spanish rule, Cebuit is now performed in honor of the Infant Jesus.
was already a well-developed and prosperous city