Cebu

Cebu
—  Province  —

Seal
Map of the Philippines with Cebu highlighted
Coordinates:
Country  Philippines
Region Central Visayas (Region VII)
Founded April 27, 1565
Capital Cebu City
Government
 - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
Area
 - Total 4,932.79 km2 (1,904.6 sq mi)
Area rank 22nd out of 80
Population (2007)
 - Total 2,439,005
 - Rank 5th out of 80
 - Density 494.4/km2 (1,280.6/sq mi)
 - Density rank 7th out of 80
Divisions
 - Independent cities 3
 - Component cities 3
 - Municipalities 47
 - Barangays 1,066
including independent cities: 1,203
 - Districts 1st to 6th districts of Cebu (shared with Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities)
including independent cities: 1st and 2nd districts of Cebu City
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code
Spoken languages Cebuano and English

Cebu (Cebuano:Sugbo) is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands. Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometers from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighbouring, smaller islands, which include Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands. Cebu has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus and coastal plains. It also has rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths of the island. Cebu's highest mountains are over 1000 meters high. Flat tracts of land can be found in the towns of Bogo, San Remigio, Medellin and Daanbantayan at the northern region of the province. Its capital is Cebu City, the oldest city in the Philippines which forms part of the Cebu Metropolitan Area together with four neighboring cities which include Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Talisay City and eight other municipalities. Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Mactan island, is the second busiest airport in the Philippines.

Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas. The United Kingdom based Condé Nast Traveler Magazine named Cebu the seventh best island destination in the Indian Ocean-Asia region in 2007,[1] eighth best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, seventh in 2004 and in 2009.

Contents

Demography

Main articles: Cebuano people and Cebuano language

Cebu has a population of about 3,500,000 people.[2] Its largest city recorded a total population of 798,000 people.[3] Cebuano is the official language spoken in Cebu and it is also spoken in most areas of the central Philippines, including Bohol, western Leyte, Negros Oriental. Some provinces of Mindanao that principally speaks Cebuano are: Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, to include Davao City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, and Sarangani. Moreover, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi uses Cebuano as secondary dialect.[4] There are about 20,000,000 speakers of Cebuano.[5] English and Tagalog is used in education, media, commerce and government. Cebuano is related to other Visayan languages, such as Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Waray-Waray. In the Camotes Islands a language related to Waray-Waray called Porohanon is spoken and in Santa Rosa, Bantayan Visayan is also spoken. Other notable languages spoken by its foreign minority ethnic groups includes Spanish, Chinese and among others.

Religion

See also: Religion in the Philippines

The majority of its population are Roman Catholic[6], there are also some followers of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

The image of Santo Niño de Cebú (Holy Child Jesus of Cebu), the oldest Christian image in the Philippines, is enshrined and venerated at the Basilica of Santo Niño. According to Philippine historical documents, the statue of the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) was given by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of the Rajah of Cebu. The friendship is depicted in Cebu's cultural event, the Sinulog where street parades and loud drum beats preceded by a Christian mass is celebrated. Cebu has a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and has several major churches, including the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Santo Rosario Parish Church, San José-Recoletos Church, Sacred Heart Church, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rule, National Shrine of Saint Joseph, Archdiocesanm Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Cebu and other Christian churches, as well as several other non-Catholic churches, mosque and temples.

Climate

Surrounded by neighbouring islands, Cebu does not get that many Typhoons hitting their way. Apart from the devastation that was brought about by Typhoon Frank in 2008, only Typhoon Ruping came close to what one can call a direct hit in Cebu from a Typhoon- to think this was way back in 1990.

Though Cebu has been classified officially to have two climates Dry and Wet, Rainfall is usually not that high in the Region, with average rainfall hitting around 100 millimeters per month. Wet season usually comes in June and December, while the dry season comes in January until May. Rainfall is highest in June and July. Cebu's temperatures can reach a high of 36 degree celsius during March to May, to as low as 18 degrees at the mountains during the cooler season from October to January. Between January and May, the temperature can get pretty hot. The average temperature in Cebu is around 24 to 32 degree celsius, and does not fluctuate much with the exception of the months of May, when it hits all year high temperatures. Cebu has a very humid environment with averages of 70-80 percent[7].

History

See also: History of the Philippines

Between the 13th and 16th century Cebu then known as Zubu[8] (or Sugbo) was an island inhabited by Hindu, animist and Muslim[9] tribal groups ruled by Rajahs and Datus.[10] It was a kingdom of the defunct Rajahnate of Cebu.

The Rajahnate of Cebu was a native kingdom which used to exist in Cebu prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. It was founded by Sri 'Lumay' otherwise known as 'Rajamuda Lumaya', a native prince of the Chola dynasty which had invaded Sumatra in Indonesia. He was sent by the Maharajah to establish a base for expeditionary forces to subdue the local kingdoms, but he rebelled and established his own independent Rajahnate instead. This rajahnate waged war against the 'magalos' or (Slave traders) of Maguindanao and had an alliance with the Butuan Rajahnate before it was weakened by the insurrection of Datu (chieftain or king) Lapu-Lapu who converted to Islam and swore allegiance to Sultan Kiram.[11]

The arrival of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 established a period of Spanish exploration and colonization.[12][13]

A map showing the route of the Magellan expedition circumnavigating the world.

Losing favor for his plan of reaching the Spice Islands from king Manuel I of Portugal, by sailing west from Europe, Magellan offered his services to king Charles I of Spain. On September 20, 1519, Magellan led five ships with a crew of 250 people from the Spanish fort of Sanlúcar de Barrameda enroute to Southeast Asia via the Americas and Pacific Ocean. They reached the Philippines on March 16, 1521. Rajah Kolambu the king of Mazaua told them to sail for Cebu, where they could trade and have provisions.

Pigafetta's illustrations of Cebuanos during the expedition.

Arriving in Cebu City, Magellan, with Enrique of Malacca as translator, befriended Rajah Humabon the Rajah or King of Cebu and persuaded the natives of allegiance to Charles I of Spain. Humabon and his wife were given Christian names and baptized as Carlos and Juana. The Santo Niño was presented to the native queen of Cebu, as a symbol of peace and friendship between the Spaniards and the Cebuanos. On April 14, Magellan erected a large wooden cross on the shores of Cebu. Afterwards, about 700 islanders were baptized.

Magellan soon heard of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a native king in nearby Mactan Island, a rival of the Rajahs of Cebu. It was thought that Humabon and Lapu-Lapu had been fighting for control of the flourishing trade in the area. On April 27, the Battle of Mactan occurred where the Spaniards were defeated and Magellan killed by Lapu-Lapu[14] in Mactan Island. According to Italian historian and chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's body was never recovered despite efforts to trade for it with spice and jewels. Magellan's second in command, Juan Sebastián Elcano took his place as captain of the expedition and sailed their fleet back to Spain, circumnavigating the world.

Survivors of the Magellan expedition brought tales of a savage island in the East Indies with them when they returned to Spain. Consequently, several Spanish expeditions were sent to the islands but all ended in failure. In 1564, Spanish explorers led by Miguel López de Legazpi sailing from Mexico arrived in 1565 and established a colony.[15] The Spaniards fought the King Rajah Tupas and occupied his territories. The Spaniards established settlements, trade flourished and renamed the island to "Villa del Santíssimo Nombre de Jesús" (Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). Cebu became the first European settlement established by the Spanish Cortés in the Philippines. In 1595, the Universidad de San Carlos (University of San Carlos) was established and in 1860, Cebu opened its forts to foreign trade. The first printing house ("Imprenta de Escondrillas y Cia") was established in 1873 and in 1880, the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (College of the Immaculate Conception) was established and the first periodical The Bulletin of Cebu ("El Boletin de Cebú") began publishing in 1886. In 1898, the island was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War. In 1901, Cebu was governed by the United States for a brief period, however it became a charter province in February 24, 1937 and was governed independently by Filipino politicians.

Cebu, being one of the most densely populated island in the Philippines, served as a Japanese base during their occupation in World War II which began with the landing of Japanese soldiers in April 1942. Almost three years later in March 1945, combined Filipino and American forces landed and reoccupied the island during the liberation of the Philippines. Cebuano rebel soldiers led by an American, James Cushing is credited for the establishment of the Koga Papers which is said to have changed the American plans to retake the Philippines from Japanese occupation in 1944, by helping the United States and the Philippine Army enter Cebu in 1945. The following year the island achieved independence from colonial rule in 1946.

Infrastructure and electricity

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Mactan Island has regular direct flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Busan-Gimhae and Seoul-Incheon (South Korea), Tokyo-Narita (Japan), and Doha (Qatar).

With the number of weekly international flights to and from Mactan International Airport is increasing, a new international terminal has been proposed. The Cebu International Port is the largest shipping hub in Visayas and Mindanao island groups. Cebu also has several business districts attracting different industries. Among them is the Cebu Business Park, a prime business and financial center in Cebu City. Nearby is the Asiatown Information Technology Park, built on what was once the location of the Lahug Airport (Cebu's old airport prior to Mactan International Airport), another business district that caters mostly to businesses related to the information technology industry such as software development, telecommunications, engineering research and development centers, business process outsourcing, including a number of call centers and other industrial businesses.

South of the city is the South Road Properties Special Economic Zone, a large reclaimed property. It is a prime real estate zone that will house a business district, a tourism zone and an industrial area patterned after the Mactan Export Processing Zone on nearby Mactan Island. The new South Coastal Highway, which stretches from Cebu City to Talisay passes through the property. A 1.2-kilometer tunnel, which passes beneath Plaza Independencia is currently being constructed at the highway's entrance in Cebu City to connect it with Sergio Osmeña Avenue which traverses the North Reclamation Area.

The city receives its electricity from an interconnection grid with the Leyte and Negros Geothermal Power Plants which also powers majority of the Visayan Islands. There are also coal fired power plants. Distribution of electricity is provided by the Visayas Electric Company. Telecommunication facilities in the city are abundant provided by some of the country's largest telecommunication companies. Connections to the internet are also available.

Economy

See also: Economy of the Philippines
Cebu City is the largest city and economic hub of the province.

About 80% of its domestic shipping is located in Cebu. The island has the most domestic air and shipping and cargo vessels in the Philippines. The island also has a major industrial, commercial, trade and educational system. Its extensive international port facilities, its accessibility to Asia and the rest of the world has led more than a hundred firms, with multinational companies like Jp Morgan Chase, Mitsumi, Pentax Corp., Marine Colloids, Fairchild Semiconductor, Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Muramoto Audio-Visual, Lexmark International, Asahi Optical, Teradyne, NEC Technologies, Timex, Olympus Optical, United Technologies, Maithland-Smith, Taiyo Yuden and other companies to established manufacturing industries on the islands, leading the whole country in exports with growth rates for the past 5 years averaged close to 20% higher than that of the entire country. Government support and incentives provide a major development for its growth.

Cebu's labor force is oriented towards non-agricultural lines and is rated one of the most productive work force in the country. High domestic and foreign tourist arrivals, geographic location, accessibility and natural resources have fueled the development growth of Cebu with an excellent industrial record and now the fastest growing economy in the Philippines.

Cebu is home to some national and international corporations like AAA Commercial Broker & Consultancy Inc, Ayala Corporation, JobsDB.com, Gaisano Group of Companies, Aboitiz Group of Companies, WG&A, Norkis Group of Companies, Bigfoot International, Affiliated Computer Services (A Xerox Company), Lexmark Philippines Inc., Lhuillier Jewellers and among others. Its international port (cargo and container) is currently one of the busiest in the country. Homegrown brands in the city have expanded throughout the past years finding success in the national and even in the international market like Penshoppe, Oxygen, Loalde and Island Souvenirs. Other homegrown brands that have expanded outside the city and province include BO's Coffee Club, Julie's Bakeshop, Orange Brutus, Mother's Fried Chicken and other businesses.

Due to its burgeoning furniture-making industry, Cebu has been named as the furniture capital of the Philippines. The Department of Trade and Industry in Cebu is aiming to develop this aspect of Cebu's economy by specifically targeting small to medium enterprises or SMEs whose products are considered export quality. Cebu is also becoming an IT hub as many companies, either local or international, are establishing their headquarters in Cebu. The city has become a site for various call centers and BPOs. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an organization of Cebu's businesses, are hedging the city's growth and economy on information and communications technology, with the aim of making it a premier ICT investment, software and e-services hub in Southeast Asia. Shipbuilding companies in Cebu have manufactured bulk carriers of up to 70,000 metric tons deadweight (DWT) and double hulled fastcrafts as well.

The Cebu International Convention Centre serves as a landmark in recognition of Mandaue City’s involvement in the international trade. As venue of the 12th ASEAN summit, the city continues to establish an important role in international industrial relation, becoming the core of development and strengthening its role as the growth center of the province of Cebu.

Education

The Philippine elementary school begins in grade 1 to grade 6. The high school program takes four years to finish, taken after graduating from elementary school. Cebu is the main educational institute in the central region of the country. It has several large universities each with a number of college branches throughout Cebu City and more than a dozen other schools and universities specializing in various courses such as Medicine, Engineering, Nautical courses, Nursing, Law, Computer and IT and other professions.

The most prominent of these universities are the University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines Cebu College, Cebu Normal University, University of San José-Recoletos, University of Cebu, Southwestern University, Indiana Aerospace University and University of the Visayas. Its newest university, Cebu Doctors' University (formerly Cebu Doctors' College) was elevated to university status on November 2004. It is located in the Cebu Boardwalk in nearby Mandaue City. Cebu's first film school, The International Academy of Film and Television was established on Mactan Island in 2004.

Media

Cebu has television and cable stations namely: Cebu Television Channel 28, Real Cebu Television (RCTV - 36) and the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN 47) (a religious station partly owned and endorsed by the Archdiocese of Cebu). Cebu! Television Channel 28 and the Real Cebu Television (RCTV - 36) are only seen on cable television and CCTN operates an UHF frequency on channel 47 on free TV. It can also be accessed through Skycable's channel 56.

Despite having these local stations, Cebuanos prefer to watch the Philippines' two dominant television networks namely: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and GMA Network Inc. While national newspapers have presence in the island, Cebu has English-language local newspapers: The Freeman, Sun-Star - Cebu and Cebu Daily News, while there are also Cebuano language newspapers, SunStar SuperBalita owned by Sun Star and Banat News owned by The Freeman. Each of the local newspapers sell for about 10 peso a copy, which is much cheaper than their national counterparts.

Government

Cebu Provincial Capitol building in Cebu City.

Cebu is subdivided into 6 component cities and 47 municipalities, of which the three cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue are independent cities that are not under provincial supervision.

Congressional districts

Cities

The cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue are often grouped with the province, but are governed independently.

In 2007 the towns of Bogo, Carcar and Naga became cities. They, along with 13 other cities in the country, were demoted back to municipalities the following year by the Philippine Supreme Court, citing that these 16 cities did not pass the requirements of cityhood.[16] However, on December 22, 2009, acting on said appeal, the Court reversed its earlier ruling as it ruled that "at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators."[17] As such, the cityhood status of Bogo, Carcar and Naga, are effectively restored.

August 27, 2007 the cities of Bogo, Carcar and Naga is now plain old municipalities again. It shares the fate of 13 other cities, after the Supreme Court reinstated a 2008 decision declaring as “unconstitutional" the cityhood laws converting 16 municipalities into cities.

A previous law required towns aspiring to become cities to earn at least P100 million annually, which none of the 16 did.

Voting 7-6, with two justices not taking part, the SC reinstated its Nov. 18, 2008 decision declaring as unconstitutional the Republic Acts (RAs) converting 16 municipalities into cities.[18]

Municipalities

  • Alcantara
  • Alcoy
  • Alegria
  • Aloguinsan
  • Argao
  • Asturias
  • Badian
  • Balamban
  • Bantayan
  • Barili
  • Boljoon
  • Borbon
  • Bogo
  • Carmen
  • Carcar
  • Catmon
  • Compostela
  • Consolacion
  • Cordova
  • Daanbantayan
  • Dalaguete
  • Dumanjug
  • Ginatilan
  • Liloan
  • Madridejos
  • Malabuyoc
  • Medellin
  • Minglanilla
  • Moalboal
  • Naga
  • Oslob
  • Pilar
  • Pinamungahan
  • Poro
  • Ronda
  • Samboan
  • San Fernando
  • San Francisco
  • San Remigio
  • Santa Fe
  • Santander
  • Sibonga
  • Sogod
  • Tabogon
  • Tabuelan
  • Tuburan
  • Tudela

Landmark

This is a list of traditional landmarks:[19]

Cebu Heritage Monument.
Magellans' Cross.

Festivals

This is a list of traditional festivities:[20]

Festivals throughout the province of Cebu which made it world-famous as the "Isalnd of Festivals":

Only six towns in Cebu (Asturias, Compotela, Pilar, Tudela, Tabogon, and Medellin) have no festivals.

References

  1. ↑ "Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Top Islands". http://www.concierge.com/bestof/readerschoice/top_islands/topislands_asia. 
  2. ↑ "Cebu has the biggest population among provinces". Sun Star Network Online. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/statistic/net/2008/04/18/cebu.has.biggest.population.among.provinces.html. Retrieved April 18, 2008. 
  3. ↑ "Cebu: The most populated province in the Philippines". Philippine government (Result from the 2000 census population and housing, NSO). http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2002/pro2157tx.html. Retrieved September 23, 2002. 
  4. ↑ Resil Mojares, Cebuano Literature: A Survey of Bibliography with Finding List (Cebu City: University of San Carlos, 1975), p. 5.
  5. ↑ "Languages Cebuano language of Philippines". Ethnologue.com. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ceb. 
  6. ↑ "Cebu - Paradise: Culture and Lifestyle". www.cebu.gov.ph. http://www.cebu.gov.ph/?getid=2&getsubid=24&infolinkids=26&GetBodyName=Culture%20and%20Lifestyle&rightpdisable=0. 
  7. ↑ "Guide to Cebu-Weather in Cebu www.guidetocebu.com". http://www.guidetocebu.com/information/weather.html. 
  8. ↑ "Welcome to Cebu- history". www.sinulog.ph. http://www.sinulog.ph/sugbu/history.html. 
  9. ↑ "Cebu's history". www.plantationbay.com. http://www.plantationbay.com/cebu.asp. 
  10. ↑ "Cebu - History". www.cebu.gov.ph. http://www.cebu.gov.ph/?getid=2&getsubid=5&infolinkids=6&GetBodyName=History&rightpdisable=0. 
  11. ↑ Jovito Abellana, Aginid, Bayok sa Atong Tawarik, 1952
  12. ↑ "Philippine History-Spanish Colonization". www.philippinecountry.com. http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/spanish_colonization.html. Retrieved 2006. 
  13. ↑ "Philippine history, part2 The first Spanish expedition of 1521". http://www.information.ph/history_02.html. 
  14. ↑ "Cebu - History". www,cebu.gov.ph. http://www.cebu.gov.ph?getid=2&getsubid=5&infolinkids=6&GetBodyName=History&rightpdisable=0. 
  15. ↑ "Philippine history, part3 The Spanish colonization". http://www.information.ph/history_02B.html. 
  16. ↑ Napallacan, Jhunex (2008-11-21). "Cities’ demotion worries DepEd execs". Cebu Daily News. Inquirer.net. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20081121-173541/Cities-demotion-worries-DepEd-execs. Retrieved 2008-11-27. 
  17. ↑ SC reverses self, upholds creation of 16 cities
  18. ↑ http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2010/august/28/nation1.isx&d=2010/august/28
  19. ↑ "Welcome to Cebu - historical landmark". www.sinulog.ph. http://www.sinulog.ph/sugbu/historical_landmarks.html. 
  20. ↑ "Cebu Philippines Festivals, Fiestas and Cultural Event". eTravel Pilipinas - Discover the Wonders of Island Paradise. http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/events_festivals/cebu_festival.htm. 
  21. ↑ Toledo City Government Official Website

External links

Component local government units of Cebu
Municipalities: Alcantara • Alcoy • Alegria • Aloguinsan • Argao • Asturias • Badian • Balamban • Bantayan • Barili • Bogo • Boljoon • Borbon • Carcar • Carmen • Catmon • Compostela • Consolacion • Cordova • Daanbantayan • Dalaguete • Dumanjug • Ginatilan • Liloan • Madridejos • Malabuyoc • Medellin • Minglanilla • Moalboal • Naga • Oslob • Pilar • Pinamungahan • Poro • Ronda • Samboan • San Fernando • San Francisco • San Remigio • Santa Fe • Santander • Sibonga • Sogod • Tabogon • Tabuelan • Tuburan • Tudela

Component cities: Danao • Talisay • Toledo 

Highly urbanized cities: Cebu • Lapu-Lapu • Mandaue

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