Cebu City

Cebu City
Cebu City; Dakbayan sa Sugbo (Cebuano); Lungsod ng Cebu (Tagalog); Ciudad de Cebú (Spanish)
	— Highly-urbanized city —
City of Cebu
	(From top, left to right) : Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Magellan's Cross, Ayala Center Cebu, Globe Innove IT Plaza, Cebu Taoist Temple, Cebu City at night.
	; Seal
	; Seal
	Nickname(s): Hara nga Dakbayan sa Sugbo (Queen City of the South)
	Map of Cebu showing the location of Cebu City
	Cebu City Location in the Philippines
	Coordinates: 10°17′N 123°54′E / 10.283°N 123.900°ECoordinates: 10°17′N 123°54′E / 10.283°N 123.900°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province	Cebu (capital)
Districts	First (North) and Second (South) districts of Cebu City
Founded	1565 (as Spanish colony)
Reincorporated	February 24, 1937 (as city)
Barangays	80
	Government
• Type	democratic government
• Mayor	Michael Rama (UNA)
• Vice Mayor	Edgar Labella (UNA)
	Area
• Highly-urbanized city	315.0 km2 (121.6 sq mi)
• Metro	1,163.36 km2 (449.18 sq mi)
Elevation	17.0 m (55.8 ft)
	Population (2010)
• Highly-urbanized city	866,171
• Density	2,700/km2 (7,100/sq mi)
• Metro	2,551,100
• Metro density	2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code	6000
Dialing code	32
Legal class	Highly-urbanized city
Income class	1st
Website	www.cebucity.gov.ph

This article is about the city in the Philippines. For the province in the Philippines, see Cebu.

The City of Cebu (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo, Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cebu, Spanish: Ciudad de Cebú) is the capital city of the province of Cebu and is the "second city" of the Philippines. With a population of 866,171 as per the 2010 census, it is the fifth most populated city in the country.^[2] Cebu City is a significant center of commerce, trade and education in the Visayas region.

The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu island. It is the first Spanish settlement and the oldest city in the Philippines.^[3] Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies.^{[citation needed]}

It is the center of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Carcar, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay. Metro Cebu has a total population of about 2 million people. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, the towns of Balamban and Asturias, to the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island.

Etymology [edit]

The name Cebu came from the word sebu which means animal fat. Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, Cebu was a fishing village ruled by Rajah Humabon.^[4]

History [edit]

A 19th-century map of Cebu City.

On 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 February 13, 1565, Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel López de Legazpi together with Augustinian friar Andrés de Urdaneta arrived in Cebu, but left after clashing with hostile natives. The expedition visited Mazaua, Leyte, and Bohol where the famous Sandugo or blood compact was performed between López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565. The Spanish returned to Cebu on April 15, 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 May 8, and the Treaty of Cebu was formalized on July 3, 1565. López de Legazpi's party named the new city "Villa de San Miguel de Cebú" (later renamed "Villa del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús)." In 1567 the Cebu garrison was reinforced with the arrival of 2,100 soldiers from New Spain. The growing colony was then fortified with the Fuerte de San Pedro.

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 walled city of Intramuros on the razed remains of Seludong.

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

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.^[5]

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^{[citation needed]}.

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.

The city, along with the rest of the country came under Japanese occupation during WWII. The Japanese encountered some opposition there from guerrillas 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 Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was active on 1942 to 1946 and stationed in Cebu City during World War II.

Colon Street, the most highly-populated area in downtown Cebu City, was the site of fashionable shops, offices and movie houses. It was once the heart of Cebu City's shopping and business activity, but in recent years much of this activity has shifted inland to uptown areas. It is the oldest and the shortest national road in the Philippines. Colon also serves as transit point of public utility jeepney (PUJ) routes covering almost the entire places within the city.

Geography [edit]

Skyline of Cebu City

Cebu City has a land area of 291.2 square kilometres (112.4 sq mi) and about 55.9 square kilometres (21.6 sq mi) is classified as urban, while 235.2 square kilometres (90.8 sq mi) is classified as rural, although all barangays are classified as urban. 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 City is located. Further east across the Cebu Strait is the Island of Bohol.

Barangays [edit]

The city is politically subdivided into 80 barangays or barrios. These are grouped into two congressional districts, with 46 barangays or barrios in the northern district and 34 barangays or barrios in the southern district.

North district [edit]

Aerial view of Cebu City at night.

A city lights view of Cebu City taken at the "Tops" in Brgy. Busay.

Adlawon
Agsungot
Apas
Bacayan
Banilad
Binaliw
Budla-an
Busay
Cambinocot
Capitol Site
Carreta
Cogon Ramos
Day-as
Ermita
Guba
Hipodromo
Kalubihan
Kamagayan
Kamputhaw (Camputhaw)
Kasambagan
Lahug
Lorega San Miguel
Lusaran
Luz
Mabini
Mabolo
Malubog
Pahina Central
Pari-an
Paril
Pit-os
Pulangbato
Sambag 1
Sambag 2
San Antonio
San José
San Roque
Santa Cruz
Santo Niño
Sirao
T. Padilla
Talamban
Taptap
Tejero
Tinago
Zapatera

South district [edit]

Babag
Basak Pardo
Basak San Nicolas
Bonbon
Buhisan
Bulacao Pardo
Buot-Taup Pardo
Calamba
Cogon Pardo
Duljo-Fatima
Guadalupe
Inayawan
Kalunasan
Kinasang-an Pardo
Labangon
Mambaling
Pahina Central San Nicolas
Pamutan
Pasil
Poblacion Pardo
Pung-ol-Sibugay
Punta Princesa
Quiot Pardo
San Nicolas Proper
Sapangdaku
Sawang Calero
Sinsin
Suba San Nicolas
Sudlon I
Sudlon II
Tabunan
Tag-bao
Tisa
To-ong Pardo

Climate [edit]

Climate data for Cebu
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	29.9 (85.8)	30.2 (86.4)	31.2 (88.2)	32.3 (90.1)	33.0 (91.4)	32.1 (89.8)	31.7 (89.1)	31.9 (89.4)	31.7 (89.1)	31.6 (88.9)	31.2 (88.2)	30.3 (86.5)	31.43 (88.58)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26.8 (80.2)	27.0 (80.6)	27.8 (82)	28.8 (83.8)	29.4 (84.9)	28.7 (83.7)	28.3 (82.9)	28.4 (83.1)	28.3 (82.9)	28.1 (82.6)	27.9 (82.2)	27.3 (81.1)	28.07 (82.5)
Average low °C (°F)	23.8 (74.8)	23.7 (74.7)	24.4 (75.9)	25.4 (77.7)	25.9 (78.6)	25.3 (77.5)	24.9 (76.8)	25.0 (77)	24.8 (76.6)	24.7 (76.5)	24.7 (76.5)	24.2 (75.6)	24.73 (76.52)
Rainfall mm (inches)	78.1 (3.075)	62.3 (2.453)	41.5 (1.634)	29.1 (1.146)	54.8 (2.157)	149.9 (5.902)	157.0 (6.181)	136.5 (5.374)	167.3 (6.587)	148.4 (5.843)	131.4 (5.173)	103.8 (4.087)	1,260.1 (49.612)
Source: Hong Kong Observatory ^[6]

Demographics [edit]

Population Census
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	610,471	—
1995	662,299	1.64%
2000	718,821	1.65%
2007	799,762	1.54%
2010	866,171	2.69%
Census of Population in the Philippines

Around the 1960s, the population of the city was about 91,000. The population reached 799,762 people in 2007, and as of the 2010 Census, the city's population has grown to 866,171 in over 161,151 households.^[2]

Economy [edit]

Mid-rise office buildings in Cebu IT Park.

The city is a major hub for the business process outsourcing industry of the Philippines. In 2013, Cebu was ranked eighth worldwide in the "Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations Report" by global outsourcing advisory firm, Tholons.^[7]^[8]

The city has a robust industrial sector. Exports include furniture, fashion accessories, handicrafts, toys, housewares, electronics, airplanes and cargo ships. There are a number of major urban centers around Cebu. The city’s 300-hectare reclaimed South Road Properties is a mixed-use development that will feature entertainment, leisure, residential and business-processing industries.^[9] The Cebu Park District, a combination of Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park, hosts various regional headquarters for various companies in the banking, finance, IT and tourism sectors, among others.

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.^[10]

Culture [edit]

Procession during the Feast Day of the Santo Niño.

Cebu City is a significant cultural centre 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 planted by Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão Magalhães) when he arrived in the Philippines in 1521. 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 the present 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 the 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 year 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).

Devotees inside the Bascilica del Santo Niño.

This religious 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 the 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^{[citation needed]}. The Sinulog ritual was preserved but limited to honoring the Santo Niño. Once the Santo Niño church was built in the 16th century, the Christian Malay people started performing the Sinulog ritual in front of the church, the devotees offering candles and indigenous dancers shouting "Viva Pit Señor!"^{[citation needed]}.

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.

Government [edit]

The Cebu City Hall.

Cebu City is a highly-urbanized city, which makes itself independent from Cebu province despite being the seat of the provincial government centered at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Its voters do not vote for provincial officials. There were proposals however during the time of Governor Emilio Mario Osmeña to establish an "administrative district" that would be independent from Cebu City. This would literally mean carving out Cebu City's Barangay Capitol where the provincial capitol and other provincial offices are located. The plan however didn't push 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 and the President of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation also managed in the city council. The day to day administration of the city is handled by a city administrator.

Mike Rama is currently the Mayor of the city. Rama, formerly the City Vice Mayor from 2001 to 2010, was elected during the 2010 Philippine elections, meanwhile Joy Augustus G. Young is the current vice mayor.^[11]^[12]

Current city officials (2013-2016) [edit]

House of Representatives
- 1st District (North): Rep. Raul V. del Mar (Liberal)
- 2nd District (South): Rep. Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa (Liberal)

City Mayor: Hon. Michael "Mike" L. Rama (UNA/PDP-LABAN)
Vice Mayor: Hon. Edgardo "Edgar" C. Labella (UNA/PDP-LABAN)

Infrastructure [edit]

Panoramic view of Cebu City

Mactan-Cebu International Airport

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, Thailand, Japan, China, South Korea and domestic destinations.^[13]^[14] Many international and cargo airlines fly to Cebu. There are also direct transfer flights via the capital's Ninoy Aquino International Airport that readily connects the city to other destinations in the world. The city mostly gets its power from an interconnection grid with the Leyte Geothermal Power Plant which also powers the majority of the Visayas Islands. There are also coal-fired power plants, though these have been controversial due to their environmental impact. Another coal-fired power plant is nearing completion and is envisioned to make the city independent from the interconnection grid once completed.

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 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.

The Cebu South Road Properties (SRP)

The South Road Properties (SRP) is a 300-hectare 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.^[9] It is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and is funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation(JBIC).^[15] Traversing the property is a 12 kilometres, 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.

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

In the 1990s the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill was constructed to ease garbage disposal within the city. It is however nearing its lifespan although the Provincial Government is planning to build two sanitary landfills to serve both the northern and southern parts of Metro Cebu including Cebu City. In June 2005, the city fully implemented the segregation of wastes as mandated by law.

Mass transportation throughout the city and the metropolitan itself is provided by jeepneys, buses and taxis. The Cebu City Government conducted a feasibility study on implementing its Bus Rapid Transit System that will ease the transportation of the residents in the city and its neighboring cities like Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay. It has the same concept with the Metro Manila's Light Railway Transit System but it is more cost effective. This kind of mass transportation is popular in the Latin America and now it is implemented in the United States, Australia, and Indonesia. The project's first phase is expected to be operational in 2013. The remaining and additional phases is expected to be operational in 2015. The network will be passing to the Cebu Business Park, North Reclamation Area, South Road Properties, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Education [edit]

University of San Carlos

Cebu Normal University in Osmeña Boulevard

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

The University of the Philippines Cebu, located at Barangay Camputhaw in the district of Lahug in Cebu City currently has 8 courses and has plans of expansion and development. The U.P. Board of Regents elevated the status of U.P. Cebu as an autonomous unit of the University of the Philippines System on September 24, 2010.

The University of San Jose–Recoletos

Another catholic university in Cebu City is the University of San Jose–Recoletos which was established in 1947.^[16] It is currently headed by the Augustinian Recollects and has 2 different campuses within the city excluding a new campus outside the city located in the Municipality of Balamban.

Cebu Normal University was established in 1915 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 school in the Philippines declared as a university without having basic education (pre-school - high school) curriculum and catering mainly to courses related to the health services field. It was relocated to a nine-storey main building at the Cebu Boardwalk in neighboring Mandaue City thus closing its old campus near the then Cebu Doctors' Hospital (now Cebu Doctors' University Hospital).

The University of Cebu in Banilad opened in June 2002. The University of Cebu's main campus offers courses such as 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 university in Cebu, University of the Visayas is home to many local and national political figures. 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 includes the 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 (formerly Velez College), Cebu International School, 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.^[17]

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.

Tourism [edit]

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, site of the 1998 ASEAN Tourism Forum

Facade of the Cebu Taoist Temple

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.

There are a number of significant Spanish colonial buildings in Cebu City which includes the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro, Casa Gorordo Museum and Magellan's Cross.^[18]

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.^[19]

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.

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.^[20]

Sister cities [edit]

International
Bandung, Indonesia
Barcelona, Spain
Beersheba, Israel
Busan, South Korea
Chula Vista, California, United States
Guadalajara, Mexico
Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Xiamen, China
Kaoshiung, Taiwan
Kortrijk, Belgium
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Parramatta City, Australia
Salinas, California, United States
Seattle, Washington, United States
St. Petersburg, Russia
Valparaíso, Chile
Vladimir, Russia^[21]
Vladivostok, Russia ^[22]
Yeosu, South Korea