Cebu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cebu Sugbo
Province
Clockwise from the top: Osmeña Peak, Kawasan Falls, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Malapascua Island, Campinsa Hills, Cantabugon, Aloguinsan, Magellan Monument
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The Gateway to a Thousand Journeys
Anthem: Sugbo (Cebu)
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Country	Philippines
Island Group	Visayas
Region	Central Visayas
Founded	6 August 1569
Capital and largest city	Cebu City
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Area
• Total (province)	4,943.72 km2 (1,908.78 sq mi)
Area rank	20th out of 81
	excludes independent cities
Highest elevation (Osmeña Peak)	1,072 m (3,517 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total (province)	3,325,385
• Rank	5th out of 81
• Density	672.6483/km2 (1,742.1512/sq mi)
• Density rank	7th out of 81
• Voter (2019)	3,082,621
• Language	Cebuano Forohanon Bantayanon
	Population data excludes independent cities
Divisions
• Independent cities	3 Highly urbanized cities of: Cebu City Lapu-Lapu Mandaue
• Component cities	6 Bogo Carcar Danao Naga Talisay Toledo
• Municipalities	44 MultiReplace: Unpaired argument: 6 = *Toledo
• Barangay	1,066 +  137 including independent cities 1,203
• Districts	Legislative districts of Cebu Legislative districts of Cebu City Legislative district of Lapu-Lapu Legislative district of Mandaue
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6000–6053
IDD : area code	+63 (0)32
ISO 3166 code	PH-CEB
Income class	1st class
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
Patron	Santo Niño de Cebu
Website	www.cebu.gov.ph

Cebu (pronounced seb-OO; local name Sugbo) is a province in the Philippines. It is part of the Central Visayas region. The province includes a main island and 167 smaller islands. The coastal areas of Cebu are known for having many different kinds of marine life.

Cebu City is the capital and largest city. It is often called "the Queen City of the South." It is the oldest city and was the first capital of the Philippines. Cebu City, along with Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City, are independent cities. This means they are not directly controlled by the provincial government.

The Cebu Metropolitan Area (or Metro Cebu) is the third largest metropolitan area in the Philippines. Cebu City is a major center for business, trade, education, and industry in the Visayas region. Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines. It has become a global center for business services, tourism, shipping, and furniture making. Mactan–Cebu International Airport, located on Mactan Island, is the second busiest airport in the Philippines.

Cebu has the most cities and towns combined of any province in the Philippines, with 53 in total. It has 9 cities, which is the second highest number after Negros Occidental.

What's in a Name? The Story of Cebu

It is not fully clear if the island was named sugbó or if that was the name of the settlement where Ferdinand Magellan's crew arrived in 1521. The capital city is also called Cebu City.

The name might come from an old Philippine word *sug(e)bu. This word means "to bathe" or "to walk into the water." In the Cebuano language, sugbú means "to dive into water." You can find similar words in other Philippine languages like Tagalog and Hiligaynon. For example, there's a town in Batangas called Nasugbu, which might have the same root word.

The modern name "Cebu" probably comes from how the first Europeans heard the name in the 1500s and 1600s. They first wrote it as Zubu or Çubu. The spelling changed over time because most people in the Visayas could not read or write in the 1500s and 1600s.

Cebu's Past: A Journey Through Time

Early History: The Rajahnate of Cebu

A map of Cebu Island in 1521, showing the historical kingdom of Cebu in blue.

Before the Spanish arrived, Cebu was home to a native kingdom called the Rajahnate of Cebu. It was started by a prince named Sri Lumay, also known as Rajamuda Lumaya. He was part Malay and part Tamil. He came from the Chola dynasty in India, which had invaded Sumatra in Indonesia. The Maharajah sent him to set up a base to control local kingdoms. But Sri Lumay decided to rebel and create his own independent kingdom.

The capital of this kingdom was Singhapala. This name means "Lion City" in Tamil-Sanskrit, just like the modern city-state of Singapore. The Spanish writer Antonio Pigafetta later mispronounced Singhapala as Cingopola.

Spanish Rule: A New Era Begins

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

Magellan's Arrival in 1521

The arrival of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the start of Spanish exploration and colonization in the Philippines.

Magellan had a plan to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west from Europe. When his home country, Portugal, didn't support his idea, he offered his services to King Charles I of Spain. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail with five ships and 250 people from Spain. They reached the Philippines on March 16, 1521.

In Cebu, Magellan and his translator, Enrique of Malacca, became friends with Rajah Humabon, a local chief. Magellan convinced the local people to become allies with the Spanish. On April 14, Magellan put up a large wooden cross on the shores of Cebu. Soon after, Humabon and about 400 islanders were baptized as Christians.

Magellan then heard about Datu Lapu-Lapu, a chief on nearby Mactan Island. Lapu-Lapu was a rival of Humabon. On April 27, the Battle of Mactan took place. The Spanish were defeated, and Magellan was killed by the people of Mactan. According to the historian Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's body was never found. Magellan's second-in-command, Juan Sebastián Elcano, took over the expedition and sailed the fleet back to Spain, completing the first trip around the world.

A drawing from the Boxer Codex (around 1590) showing tattooed men from the Visayas, called timawa. Cebu was one of the islands where "painted people" (meaning tattooed) lived.

After Magellan's expedition, other Spanish groups tried to reach the islands, but they all failed.

Legazpi's Expedition and Settlement

On April 27, 1565, Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in Cebu. He wanted to make peace but was also ready for a fight, remembering what happened to Magellan. A messenger told the Spanish that Tupas, a local chief, and ten other chiefs would come for talks or to prepare for battle. Legazpi tried to assure the natives that the Spanish had good intentions, but the natives were already armed. Both sides exchanged taunts from offshore.

Legazpi used his cannons, which confused the natives and made them run into the woods. This cleared the way for the Spanish to land. While looking for valuable items, Juan de Camuz found an image of the Child Jesus. This was likely the one Magellan had given to the chief's wife in 1521. A church was later built on this spot, which became the Minor Basilica of the Holy Child.

Twelve days later, on May 8, a fort was built. The natives often attacked during construction, but the Europeans' superior weapons always pushed them back. Eventually, the natives gave in. Legazpi made an agreement with Tupas. After some discussions, the Spanish pardoned the chief and included the natives in their plans. The crew left Cebu on June 1, 1565. By the 1700s, Cebu had 625 Spanish families and 28,112 native families.

American Rule: A New Chapter

In 1898, after the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War, Cebu was given to the United States. For a short time in 1901, the United States governed Cebu. However, on February 24, 1937, Cebu became a chartered city and was governed by Filipino politicians.

Japanese Occupation During World War II

Cebu was a major Japanese base during their occupation in World War II. Japanese soldiers landed in April 1942. Filipino and American forces worked together to fight against the Japanese Imperial forces. Cebuano guerrilla groups, led by an American named James M. Cushing, were very important. They helped the combined United States and Philippine Commonwealth Army forces enter Cebu in 1945. Almost three years later, in March 1945, these combined forces landed and took back the island. The following year, in 1946, the island gained independence from colonial rule.

Philippine Independence: Modern Cebu

Standing Up to Dictatorship

Cebu became a key center for opposing the Marcos dictatorship. This was clear when a group called Pusyon Bisaya won against Marcos's party in Region VII.

Some Cebuanos who were arrested when Martial Law was declared on September 23, 1972, included writer Resil Mojares and lawyer Democrito Barcenas. They were held at Camp Sergio Osmeña.

A Redemptorist Priest named Fr. Rudy Romano, who spoke out against Marcos, disappeared on June 11, 1985. He was last seen in Tisa, Labangon, Cebu City. His colleague, Levi Ybañez, also disappeared the same day. Ribomapil Holganza Sr., another leader of the opposition, was arrested with his son on Christmas Day, 1983, but was later released.

Cebu's Role in the People Power Revolution

Cebu played a big part in the events leading up to the 1986 People Power revolution, which led to Marcos leaving power. On February 22, 1986, the opposition started a Civil Disobedience Campaign from Fuente Osmeña circle in Cebu City. The Carmelite Monastery in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, became a safe place for opposition candidates Corazon Aquino and Salvador Laurel during the first day of the People Power revolution.

Contemporary Cebu: Recent Events

In 2007, the towns of Bogo, Carcar, and Naga became cities. Their city status was challenged twice but was finally confirmed as constitutional on February 15, 2011.

In February 2012, Cebu felt the effects of a strong earthquake (magnitude 6.7) from the nearby island of Negros. It was the biggest quake in the area in 90 years. Buildings shook, but there was no major damage or loss of life on Cebu Island. This earthquake was caused by a fault line that had not been recorded before.

In October 2013, Cebu and Bohol were hit by a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake. It killed 222 people and caused some buildings, including 5 historical churches, to collapse. There were over 700 aftershocks. A month later, the northern part of the province was badly hit by Typhoon Haiyan.

In December 2021, Typhoon Rai caused widespread damage across the province. The government declared a "state of calamity."

Cebu's Landscape: Mountains, Coasts, and Islands

Cebu Island

Sugbo
Geography
Location	Visayas
Archipelago	Philippines
Adjacent bodies of water	Camotes Sea Visayan Sea Cebu Strait Tañon Strait
Area	4,467.5 km2 (1,724.9 sq mi)
Length	196 km (121.8 mi)
Width	32 km (19.9 mi)
Coastline	513.9 km (319.32 mi)
Highest elevation	1,097 m (3,599 ft)
Administration
Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Cebu
Demographics
Demonym	Cebuanos (masculine) / Cebuanas (feminine)
Population	Expression error: Missing operand for +. (2020 census)
Pop. density	Expression error: Unexpected < operator. /km2 (Expression error: Unexpected < operator. /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Visayans (Cebuanos)

Cebu is located east of Negros and west of Leyte and Bohol islands. The province includes Cebu Island and 167 smaller islands. These include Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes Islands.

The highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue are independent cities. This means they are not under the province's direct control. However, they are often grouped with the province for geographical and statistical reasons.

The province's land area is about 4,944 square kilometers. If you include the three independent cities, the total area is about 5,342 square kilometers.

Cebu is special because of its central location. It is close to unique tourist spots and has diverse plants, animals, and geological wonders. It is also generally safe from major earthquakes and typhoons.

Cebu Island: A Closer Look

A satellite image of Cebu island taken by Sentinel-2 in 2016.

Cebu Island is the 126th largest island in the world. It is long and narrow, stretching 196 kilometers from north to south. At its widest point, it is 32 kilometers across. The island has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus, and coastal plains. It also features rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges that run along its northern and southern parts.

Cebu's highest mountains are over 1,000 meters high. Flat areas can be found in the city of Bogo and in the towns of San Remigio, Medellin, and Daanbantayan in the northern part of the province.

The island's area is 4,468 square kilometers. It is the 9th largest island in the Philippines. Over 5.2 million people live on Cebu Island, with about 2.9 million in Metro Cebu. Cebu is surrounded by beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and rich fishing grounds.

Coal was first found in Cebu around 1837. There were 15 coal locations across the island. Some mining happened near Mount Uling in Naga, but the main operations were at Licos and Camansi, west of Compostela and Danao. Mining stopped around 1895 due to conflicts. A survey in 1906 showed that the Compostela-Danao coalfield had about six million tons of usable coal.

Cebu's Weather: Tropical and Sunny

The climate in Cebu is tropical. It has two seasons: dry and wet. Most of the year is dry and sunny, with some rain from June to December. Cebu province usually experiences typhoons once a year or sometimes none at all.

Northern Cebu gets more rainfall and typhoons than southern Cebu because it has a different climate. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit Northern Cebu in 2013, causing 73 deaths and injuring 348 people. While most typhoons affect northern Cebu, central urban areas are sometimes hit. For example, Typhoon Mike (Ruping), one of the worst typhoons, hit central Cebu in 1990. Thirty-one years later, Typhoon Rai struck the central and southern parts of the province.

Cebu's temperatures can reach a high of 36°C (97°F) from March to May. In the mountains during the wet season, temperatures can drop to 18°C (64°F). The average temperature is around 24°C to 34°C (75°F to 93°F). It does not change much, except in May, which is the hottest month. Cebu usually has 70–80% humidity.

Animals of Cebu: Unique Species

The Black Shama (locally called Siloy) is a bird found only in Cebu. It is endangered. It has been seen in urban areas like Cebu City but is mostly found in the Nug-as rainforest of Alcoy. It can also be found in Casili, Consolacion, and the mountainous areas of the Trans Central Highway. This bird was featured on Cebu's official stamp in 1992.

Cebu is home to several unique animal species. These include the Cebu Flowerpecker (Dicaeum quadricolor), the Cebu Slender Skink (Brachymeles cebuensis), the Uling Goby (Sicyopus cebuensis), and the Black Shama (Copsychus cebuensis).

There is also a special type of butterfly, Idea leuconoe, that is only found in Cebu. The subspecies I. l. jumaloni lives near Kawasan Falls in Badian. It is known as the Kawasan Paper Kite Butterfly. This butterfly is named after Julian Jumalon, a Cebuano expert on butterflies. It can also be seen in the Nug-as rainforest.

Plants of Cebu: Forest Patches

Cebu has only small areas of forest left. The main tree species found in these remaining forests are:

• Mount Lantoy: Carallia brachiata and introduced trees like Tectona grandis, Swietenia macrophylla, Gmelina arborea, and Casuarina equisetifolia.
• Palinipinon Mountains: Carallia brachiata and introduced Swietenia macrophylla.
• Nug-as forest: Ficus species, Artocarpus blancoi, Macaranga grandifolia, and Cinnamomum cebuense.
• Mount Lanaya: Carallia brachiata.
• Mount Tabunan: Trevesia burckii, Voacanga globosa, Heptapleurum actinophyllum, Pouteria villamilii, and Palaquium luzoniense.

How Cebu is Divided: Cities and Towns

The province of Cebu has 3 highly urbanized cities: Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue. It also has 6 component cities: Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Naga, Talisay, and Toledo. In addition, there are 44 municipalities. This makes a total of 53 local government units.

People of Cebu: Culture and Language

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Cebu City. Barangay Basak Pardo was once a separate town but is now part of Cebu City.

The Basílica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu is the first church built in the Philippines. The Holy See named it the "Mother and Head... of all Churches of the Philippine Islands."

In 2020, the population of Cebu province was 3,325,385 people. This means there were about 670 people per square kilometer. If you include the independent cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue, the total population is 5,151,274 people. The population density then becomes 964 people per square kilometer.

The population in the Central Visayas region is mostly young. About 37% of the people are under 10 years old. The number of people aged 15-64 has been increasing. The population is almost equally split between males and females. However, the male population has been growing faster than the female population.

In 2010, the average age of people in Cebu province was 23.0 years old. This means half the population was younger than 23.0 years. This is higher than the average age of 20.8 years recorded in 2000.

Languages Spoken in Cebu

The main language spoken in Cebu is Cebuano language. This language is also used in other parts of Central Visayas, most of Eastern Visayas, and many provinces in Mindanao.

In the Camotes Islands, especially in Poro, people speak a different Visayan language called Porohanon. This language has influences from Masbateño and Waray-Waray. Some residents in the Bantayan islands also speak Bantayanon, which is related to Waray-Waray.

Chinese Filipinos in Cebu often speak Philippine Hokkien among themselves. Mandarin is also taught in Chinese schools for Chinese Filipinos.

Religion in Cebu

Catholicism: The Heart of Faith

The original image of Santo Niño de Cebú, a statue of the Child Jesus given by Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana and the Cebuanos after the First Baptism. It is now kept at the Minor Basilica.

Most people in Cebu are Roman Catholic, making up about 95% of Cebuanos. There are also followers of other religions like Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The Iglesia ni Cristo also has a growing number of members in the province.

Cebu is considered the center of the Catholic faith in the Philippines. This is because it was the first Christian city, the first capital of the Spanish East Indies, and where Christianity began in the country. Pope John Paul II even called Cebu the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines during his visit in 1981. With over 3 million followers, Cebu province has the most Roman Catholics of any province in the Philippines.

The statue of Santo Niño de Cebú (Holy Child of Cebu) is the oldest Christian image in the Philippines. It is kept and honored at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. Historical records say that Ferdinand Magellan gave the Santo Niño statue to Queen Humamay (also called Hara Amihan or Queen Juana), the wife of Rajah Humabon (also called Rajah Carlos), the ruler of Cebu.

The acceptance of Christianity by the Cebuanos is shown in Cebu's cultural event, the Sinulog festival. This festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January with street parades and loud drum beats, after a Christian Mass. Cebu has a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and many important churches. These include the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño de Cebu, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, and other Christian churches, as well as mosques and temples.

How Cebu is Governed

Cebu Provincial Capitol is where the government of Cebu province is located.

Gov. Gwen Garcia in 2011

Vice Gov. Hilario Davide in 2013

• Governor: Gwendolyn Garcia (PDP–Laban/One Cebu/HNP)
• Vice Governor: Hilario P. Davide III (LP/BAKUD)

Past Governors of Cebu

Representatives in Congress

Cebu's Economy: A Booming Province

Cebu City, though independent from Cebu Province, is the largest city and economic center of the island.

The term "Ceboom" (Cebu + boom) describes the province's fast economic growth. Cebu has many beautiful islands, white sand beaches, luxury hotels, and diving spots. This has made tourism a big industry. Many local and foreign tourists visit Cebu, making it a gateway to the central and southern Philippines. This is because of its central location, easy access, and natural beauty. Cebu also hosts many national and international events each year.

About 80% of shipping companies and shipbuilders in the Philippines are in Cebu. Shipbuilding companies in Cebu have built large cargo ships and fast boats. Cebu's shipbuilding industry helps make the Philippines the 5th largest shipbuilding country in the world.

Cebu's large ports and its location near Asian shipping and air routes have attracted many international companies. These companies have set up offices or factories on the main island and in Mactan. They are often found in special economic zones like the Mactan Economic Processing Zone 1 (MEPZ-1) and MEPZ-2. Cebu is also known as the furniture capital of the Philippines due to its growing furniture-making industry. Other things Cebu exports include fashion accessories, guitars, dried mangoes, and electronic parts.

The real estate industry is the fastest-growing sector in Cebu. In 2012, its revenue grew by 18.8%. With strong economic signs and high investor confidence, more condominium projects and large supermarkets are being built. By 2015, 100 more commercial and residential buildings were expected to be finished, with another 170 to 200 by 2017. Also, 64 new large supermarkets are planned for Cebu.

In 2013, Cebu was ranked 8th worldwide in the "Top 100 BPO Destinations Report" by Tholons, a global advisory firm. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to make Cebu a top place for information and communications technology (ICT) and e-services in Southeast Asia. Data from Neda 7 showed that out of 98 BPO and IT companies in Cebu, 32 offer voice services and 66 offer non-voice services. Of the 95,000 people working in this industry, more than half (50,000) are in the non-voice sector. In 2012, IT-BPO revenues in Cebu grew by 26.9%, reaching $484 million.

Cebu's economy also relies on mining and quarrying in Toledo, Naga, Alcoy, and Danao.

Cebu is even home to a company that makes ice rinks. These rinks are designed and built in Cebu by Ice Rink Supply and then shipped worldwide.

Tourism is a very important industry for the province. In 2019, Cebu welcomed 1.4 million foreign tourists. It is one of the most visited places in the country by both local and international visitors. This is because it combines natural countryside beauty with city attractions, including historical sites and modern buildings. Cebu Island has been listed among Condé Nast Traveler's World's Best Islands three times: in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

Cebu's Infrastructure: Connecting the Island

Terminal 2 building of the Mactan–Cebu International Airport.

The CCLEX Bridge, finished in 2022, is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the Philippines.

The Mactan–Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Mactan Island is the main airport for flights to and from Cebu City and other islands in the Visayas region. In the last 15 years, the number of international passengers at MCIA has grown by 21% each year. The airport is the second busiest in the Philippines for both passengers and cargo. A new terminal is being planned, expected to cost $240 million. The new terminal will handle international flights, while the old one will be for domestic flights.

The MCIA Authority also suggested creating a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. This would transport airport passengers to and from MCIA and different parts of Cebu. This line would be part of the planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System in Metro Cebu.

The Port of Cebu is the largest shipping center in the Visayas region.

Cebu Pacific Air is an airline owned by the Cebu-based Gokongwei family. In 2008, Cebu Pacific was named the world's fastest-growing airline. In 2007, it carried almost 5.5 million passengers, a 57.4% increase from 2006. By 2011, Cebu Pacific had flown its 50 millionth passenger. The airline reached 100 million passengers in 2015. Cebu Pacific also started international long-haul flights to the Middle East and Australia, and flights to Guam began in early 2016.

Important business areas include the Cebu Business Park and the Cebu IT Park. These areas host companies related to information technology, such as software development, telecommunications, and business process outsourcing. In 2013, Ayala Land Inc. announced plans for another business park in Cebu City. This is due to the strong performance of real estate investments in Cebu.

The city's 300-hectare reclaimed land forms the South Road Properties. This area is a mixed-use development south of the city. It includes entertainment, leisure, residential, and business processing industries. It is home to SM Seaside City Cebu, one of the largest malls in the world. It also features Filinvest's Citta di Mare and Il Corso, and the University of the Philippines – Cebu campus.

On Mactan Island, Megaworld Corporation's Mactan Newtown is a 25-hectare business park. It is located near Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa. This project will have high-tech offices, shops, residential towers, and leisure facilities with a beach resort.

Mactan Island is connected to mainland Cebu by the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Media in Cebu

Cebu has a local television station called Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN).

Even with local stations, Cebuanos often watch national television networks. These include ABS-CBN, People's Television Network, IBC, TV5, CNN Philippines, and GMA Network.

While national newspapers are available, Cebu also has local English-language newspapers. These are The Freeman, SunStar Cebu, and Cebu Daily News. There are also Cebuano-language newspapers: SunStar SuperBalita and Banat News. Local newspapers are usually cheaper than national ones.

Education in Cebu

In the Philippines, elementary school is from Grades 1 to 6. High school takes six years, from Grades 7 to 12. Cebu is a major education hub in the Visayas. It has eleven large universities with many branches, mostly in Cebu City. There are also many other schools and universities that specialize in fields like Medicine, Engineering, Nautical courses, Nursing, Law, and Computer Science.

The most well-known universities are (in alphabetical order):

• Cebu Doctors University
• Cebu Institute of Technology–University
• Cebu Normal University
• Cebu Technological University
• Southwestern University
• University of Cebu
• University of San Carlos
• University of San Jose–Recoletos
• University of Southern Philippines Foundation
• University of the Philippines Cebu
• University of the Visayas
• UV Gullas College of Medicine

Other notable schools include: Asian College of Technology (in Cebu City and Talisay), Benedicto College, Cebu Eastern College, Cebu Institute of Medicine, The International Academy of Film and Television (established in Mactan in 2004), Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine, and Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology.

Cebu is home to one fully accredited international school, Cebu International School. It is a K–12 school that was founded in 1924. Cebu is also a center for medical education, attracting many international students to its medical schools like Cebu Doctors University and Cebu Institute of Medicine.

Tourism in Cebu

Places to Visit

Cebu City is an important cultural center in the Philippines. You can clearly see the influence of Spanish and Roman Catholic culture. There are also many historically important places all over the province.

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  Magellan's Cross, Cebu City

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  Bagacay Point Lighthouse, Liloan

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  Bounty Beach, Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan

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  Boljoon Church, Boljoon

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  Carcar Museum (formerly Carcar Dispensary), Carcar

Delicious Food of Cebu

Cebu is famous for its many local dishes from different towns. Many of these foods have roots in pre-colonial times or are influenced by Spanish or Chinese cooking.

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  Liempo is a type of lechon made from pork belly. In Cebu, it's often served in Balamban.

• 

  Rosquillos are Philippine cookies that come from Liloan.

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  The Corazon Rosquillos are a special heart-shaped cookie from Titay's.

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  Chicharon is a common Filipino snack made from crispy fried pork rinds. In Cebu, it's often found in Carcar.

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  Ampaw is a Cebuano snack made from fried white rice coated in syrup, often with peanuts. It comes from Carcar.

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  Pusô is rice cooked inside a woven pouch made from palm leaves. It's common throughout the Visayas.

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  Humbà is a braised pork dish from the Visayas. In Cebu, it's mainly served in Ronda.

• 

  Otap is an oval-shaped puff pastry cookie that comes from Cebu.

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  Masareal is a Cebuano sweet treat made from ground peanuts, coconut syrup, and water. It comes from Mandaue.

• 

  Pintos, also known as Binaki, is a sweet steamed corn tamales served in both Bukidnon and Cebu, especially in Bogo.

• 

  Tubâ is a type of Philippine coconut wine or "toddy" found in the Visayas. In Cebu, it's found in Borbon and Argao.

Important Dates and Celebrations

One of the floats in the Good Friday procession during Semana Santa in Bantayan. It shows St. Longinus piercing the side of Body of Christ. Bantayan's Holy Week celebrations are considered the grandest in the Visayas. Bantayan is also the only town in the Philippines where fasting is not strictly followed during Holy Week.

Cebu Provincial Charter Day

The province celebrates its founding day every August 6th. This is a special non-working holiday across the entire province, including the three independent cities.

During this monthly celebration, the province hosts various events to promote unity among Cebuanos. As part of the anniversary, the capitol holds the Tabo sa Kapitolyo. This is a trade fair that showcases products, delicacies, and specialties from every city and town in the province. The province also hosts the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals. This event highlights all the festivals from Cebu's towns, showing their culture, history, traditions, and way of life.

Semana Santa sa Bantayan

The Semana Santa of Bantayan is the local Holy Week celebration in Bantayan town. It is known as the grandest Holy Week celebration in the Visayas. The event features realistic floats showing the Passion and Death of Jesus. These floats are paraded throughout the town.

One unique thing about Bantayan's Holy Week is that the traditional Lenten fast is not strictly followed. This is because the town received a special permission, called the “Bantayan Indult,” from Pope Leo XII in 1824. This permission allows people to eat meat on fasting days. The original document is kept at the Bantayan Museum.

There are different ideas why this permission was given. One likely reason is that people in the town usually avoided fishing during Holy Week. At that time, all forms of work, including fishing, were forbidden. Without fish, the only allowed meat for fasting, Bantayanons had to eat other meats. Also, local beliefs said that evil powers were stronger on Good Friday. Fishermen feared going out to sea on that day.

Even though the original permission has expired, Bantayanons still practice eating forbidden meat during Holy Week. It has become a part of their Lenten traditions.

Gabii sa Kabilin

Gabii sa Kabilin means "Heritage Night." It is an event started by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated in 2007. The goal is to help preserve Cebu's rich history, culture, and heritage. It encourages the public to visit Cebu's museums and historical buildings. For one night, these places open their doors for everyone to learn about Cebu's past and cultural legacy. While most participating locations are in Cebu City, some are from other parts of the province. Museo Sugbo, the provincial museum, and the National Museum of the Philippines of Cebu are among the museums that take part.

Festivals of Cebu

Sinulog

Sinulog's annual maritime procession.

A typical Sinulog Festival Queen with the image of the Child Jesus, known as Santo Niño, dancing with her group from Plaridel, Misamis Occidental during the festival in Cebu.

A Sinulog Festival Queen with the Child Jesus, along with her group from Toledo City.

The Sinulog Festival is the biggest festival in the Philippines. It is held every third Sunday of January. It honors the Child Jesus (Santo Niño), who is seen as the Lord and Protector of Cebu. The Sinulog is a traditional dance ritual that existed before the Spanish arrived. Dancers move two steps forward and one step backward to the beat of drums. This movement looks like the current (sulog) of Cebu's old Pahina River, which is where the name Sinulog comes from.

The Sinulog Festival lasts for nine days, ending with the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day before the parade, a Fluvial Procession is held at dawn. A statue of the Santo Niño is carried on a boat from Mandaue City to Cebu City. The boat is decorated with many flowers and candles. The procession ends at the Basilica, where the Christianization of the Philippines in Cebu is re-enacted. In the afternoon, a more serious procession takes place along the city's main streets. This can last for hours because of the large crowds.

When the Spanish arrived in Cebu, the explorer Antonio Pigafetta, who was with Magellan, gave a wooden statue of the Santo Niño as a baptismal gift. He gave it to Hara Amihan, the wife of Rajah Humabon, who was named Juana after her baptism. Rajah Humabon was renamed Carlos. According to tradition, Juana and the natives danced and worshipped the Santo Niño de Cebu using their traditional Sinulog dance.

Legend says that the Rajah's adviser, Baladhay, was sick in bed. The Rajah ordered his men to place Baladhay before the Santo Niño statue, hoping it would heal him. The next day, the whole Kingdom of Sugbo was woken up by an angry Baladhay. He was threatening the Child with a grass knife. He seemed to have fully recovered from his illness. When the Rajah asked why he was threatening the Child, Baladhay said the Child Jesus had playfully woken him up with a coconut stick. Annoyed, he grabbed his knife and swung it at the Child. But the Child simply dodged the knife by dancing. Because the Child was so quick, Baladhay had to dance with the Child to keep up. He also explained that the Child's dance looked like the river current. Baladhay is believed to be the first person to dance the Sinulog.

The Sinulog ritual continued after the Spanish colonized the Philippines. It still focused on worshipping the Santo Niño. Once the Santo Niño church was built in the 1500s, Catholic Filipinos started performing the Sinulog ritual in front of the church. Devotees offer candles and dancers shout "Viva Pit Señor!", which means "Trust in the Lord."

In the province, the festival is celebrated in both Cebu City and Carmen. The festival in Carmen is said to have started as a local version of the Ati-atihan Festival. It was later changed to "Sinulog sa Carmen." The Sinulog dance was first brought to Cebu City by a woman named Estelita Diola, known as "Titang Diola." Her family was skilled in the original Sinulog dance, and she learned it from her father. Because of her great work in spreading the Sinulog dance, she was called the "Heritage Keeper." The original Sinulog dance and her devotion to the Child Jesus through dancing continue today. Her former students now teach the youth of Cebu the original dance moves.

Sinulog has changed a lot from Titang Diola's original dance. Today, you can see the Sinulog danced daily at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño by candle vendors. Their version is called "Sinug" and is only for worship and prayer to bless the candles for the Holy Child. The Sinulog Festival dance performed by groups in the City Sports Center is still religious. Dancers often include personal prayers and thanks in their dance for the Child Jesus. Their performances are still focused on the Holy Child.

There are two main types of Sinulog dances in the festival: the "Sinulog-Based Category" and the "Free Interpretation Category." The Sinulog-Based Category is based on the Church Sinulog performed by candle vendors. The Free Interpretation Category allows for any interpretation of the Sinulog dance, as long as it is acceptable for the festival. In recent years, the festival has become more commercialized. This has made the festival and Cebu popular but has unfortunately made the religious aspect less prominent. Despite this, Sinulog remains a religious festival for the faithful. It is still a dance of prayer.

The Sinulog Foundation Incorporated (SFI) officially manages the festival. The foundation says that even though Sinulog has become very popular, it is still a religious festival because the Santo Niño is at its heart. The foundation has made this clear many times, such as changing the incorrect term "Sinulog Grand Mardi Gras" to "Sinulog Grand Parade." This was to show that the focus is on worship, not just celebration.

In the 1980s and 2000s, Cebu City authorities added the religious feast of Santo Niño de Cebu to the Sinulog Festival's cultural event. Even though it is a religious festival, Sinulog has become a celebration for all Cebuanos and Filipinos, no matter their faith. Besides its religious side, Sinulog is also known for its street parties. In 2012, Cebu introduced Life Dance, the biggest outdoor dance party in the Philippines. Sinulog street parties are a big attraction for young people. However, for many, especially the faithful, they are a growing problem that threatens the religious and serious nature of the festival.

In 2016, there was a bad stampede during the festival. Large groups of people, both worshippers and party-goers, were stuck in the uptown area. There were no clear exit routes and almost no crowd control until midnight. One teenage woman lost consciousness due to the crowded spaces. Because of this, the then Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña banned alcohol at future festivals during his term. This was to keep worshippers and spectators safe and to maintain the serious nature of the celebration.

The festival was stopped for two years (2021-2022). In 2024, for the first time, the festival had two major parades. The "Sinulog sa Lalawigan," which was originally a preliminary competition, became a Sinulog parade for provincial groups. They could not dance at the SRP venue again. The Sinulog sa Lalawigan was held at the CCSC, the old venue. Other groups from Cebu City and outside danced in the Sinulog parade on the third Sunday of January at SRP. On August 21, 2024, Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced that Sinulog Festival 2025 will return to CCSC.

Kadaugan sa Mactan

Kadaugan sa Mactan means "Victory in Mactan." This festival re-enacts the Battle of Mactan. It is celebrated on April 27. It shows the events before, during, and right after the defeat of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan by Lapu-lapu and his men. Most of the historical activities happen at the Mactan Shrine, where the Battle of Mactan took place.

During Kadaugan sa Mactan, Filipino celebrities, especially those from Cebu, are chosen to play the main characters like Lapu-lapu, his wife Reyna Bulakna, and Magellan. This is usually a week-long celebration. It ends with the Rampada Festival, a modern re-enactment of the victory celebration after the battle. This includes Latin and ballroom dance steps. Even though the Sinulog Festival is more popular now, Kadaugan was established as a festival of Cebu's culture and history long before Sinulog became well-known.

Pasigarbo sa Sugbo

Pasigarbo sa Sugbo means "Celebration in Cebu." This is a newer festival in Cebu, started in 2008. It was the idea of Cebu's first female governor, Gwendolyn Garcia. This festival is a major tourism effort to promote Cebu as a whole province. It celebrates Cebu's culture, faith, history, and ongoing progress. In this festival, each town in Cebu is encouraged to show off a theme, a product, a festival, or something unique from their area.

Even though it is not a religious festival itself, it emphasizes praise, thanksgiving, and worship to God. It also highlights devotion to the patron saints of each Cebu town. Unlike the Sinulog Festival, which has two main categories, Pasigarbo participants have more freedom in how they show their hometown's culture, faith, history, and products.

Since it started, the festival was held yearly at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue, around Cebu's Provincial Charter Day (August 6). However, it stopped after 2012. This was mainly due to the 2013 Bohol earthquake, which also affected Cebu, and a lack of support from the provincial government. This happened because Governor Garcia was no longer in office at the time.

Luckily, the festival was brought back in 2019, soon after Garcia returned as governor. Because the CICC was no longer usable, the 2019 Pasigarbo was held at the Cebu City Sports Complex, like the Sinulog Festival. Since its return, it has become a major provincial festival and a new important event in Cebu, along with Sinulog and Kadaugan sa Mactan. The festival was paused again in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned in 2022.

In 2022, the festival had a grand comeback. Festivals from all three independent cities (Sinulog Festival of Cebu City, Panagtagbo Festival of Mandaue City, and Garbo Festival of Lapu-lapu City) even participated, with Cebu and Lapu-lapu being guest performers. That year, the festival was moved to the Carcar City Sports Complex. This was because the Cebu City Sports Complex was being renovated. The move to Carcar City was initially well-received. However, the festival faced many technical problems on the day of the event.

One major problem was sound glitches during festival songs and in the Mayor's introduction videos. Governor Garcia publicly accused the sound and lights provider of "sabotaging" the festival. This accusation was partly because the company head's daughter was a contestant for festival queen and was initially crowned. This led to the awards ceremony being postponed and scores being re-tallied. As a result, the candidate from Carcar lost her crown, and the Kabkaban Festival group from Carcar lost their championship, dropping to 6th place. The new festival queen was from Cordova, and the new champion was the Sugat Kabanhawan Festival group from Minglanilla. The awards were given two months later at the Cebu Technological University-Dumanjug Campus.

This year, the festival returned to CCSC and was considered the "grandest" to date. New additions included larger processional carriages for patron saints. This year, Naga's Dagitab Festival won the ritual showdown category. The Kabkaban festival won the street dancing category, and their queen became this year's festival queen. A special award was given to the town of Dumanjug. This was for creating an impromptu float using props from their Bisnok Festival after their original float caught fire. They also gave a great performance despite the unexpected events.

Red Lantern Festival

This is another festival in Cebu City that celebrates Chinese New Year every year.

Panagtagbo sa Mandaue

This is a religious festival in Mandaue City that honors the Holy Family. It is closely linked to the religious activities of the Sinulog Festival. The festival's name is a Cebuano word meaning "gathering." This is because the festival celebrates the Translacion (transfer of a holy relic) of the Santo Niño de Cebu and Our Lady of Guadalupe to the National Shrine of St. Joseph, Mandaue's patron saint. It replaced the Mantawi Festival as Mandaue's official festival. The festival is celebrated on the Thursday before the Sinulog Festival. This day marks the start of the three-day "Fiesta Señor" activities.

Sugat Kabanhawan

Sugat Kabanhawan Festival dancers performing their street dance on Easter Sunday, 2019.

This is the Easter Festival of Minglanilla. It honors Jesus Christ as the "Risen Lord." It celebrates the mystery of the Resurrection of Jesus and the traditional belief that Christ appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her He had risen. The festival's name comes from Sugat (Cebuano) or Salubong (Filipino), which is a traditional practice during Easter Vigils. In this practice, an image of Christ is shown before an image of the Virgin Mary, who is covered in a black veil to show her sadness. Angels then lift the veil, showing the Virgin Mary's great joy at Jesus' Resurrection. The second part of the name is the Cebuano word for "resurrection," which fits the religious celebration. The festival focuses on the life of Jesus and Christian values. These themes are strongly included in the dancers' performances. This festival has earned Minglanilla the title "Easter Capital of Cebu." The festival was the champion of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo in 2023.

Kabkaban

The Kabkaban Festival is the local religious festival of Carcar City. It honors St. Catherine of Alexandria. The festival's name comes from Carcar's old name, which was taken from Kabkab (Kabkaban for plural). This is the local name for the Oakleaf Fern (Aglaomorpha quercifolia). The festival celebrates Carcar, its way of life, and its culture, faith, and musical history. Many of the dance steps in the Kabkaban dance are inspired by the Sinulog Festival and other Sinulog dances by the Sandiego Family, led by Val Sandiego. Val Sandiego is from Carcar and is considered the "Father of Kabkaban." The influence of his dance company is also seen in the costumes worn by Kabkaban Festival dancers. The Kabkaban festival is often a champion at Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, with three titles (2011, 2019, 2022) and the most festival queens and awards. The Kabkaban festival is celebrated from November 23 to 25, around the feast day of the town's patron saint.

La Torta

The La Torta Festival is Argao's food festival. It honors St. Michael the Archangel. It replaced Argao's previous festival, the "Pitlagong Festival," in 2011. It celebrates the Torta, a Cebuano tart-like cake. This cake is similar to Spanish cakes but is unique because it uses Tubâ or coconut wine to make it rise, instead of yeast. Since Argao is one of Cebu's Spanish towns (the other being Liloan), dancers in the La Torta Festival wear Spanish-inspired costumes, usually with a red theme. They perform Spanish or Spanish-inspired dance steps. It is celebrated on September 28 to 29, to match the feast of the archangels.

Dagitab

The Dagitab Festival is Naga's Christmas Festival. It honors St. Francis of Assisi. The name of the festival means "electric light." Naga is known for its lights, especially during the holidays. In December, Naga's streets, parks, and buildings are lit with bright lights of different colors. This marks the holiday season. These bright lights used to cause power outages. To fix this, Governor Gwen Garcia and the province of Cebu set up another electric company to supply power to the town. This led to more electricity and helped Naga become industrialized. The industrial growth is also a focus of the festival. Dancers in the Dagitab Festival wear LED lights in their lively performances. This brings holiday spirit and celebrates the city's progress. This festival has earned Naga the titles "Christmas Capital of Cebu" and "Industrial Hub of the South." Even though it honors St. Francis, whose feast day is October 4, the festival is celebrated on December 23, two days before Christmas Day. The festival was this year's Pasigarbo sa Sugbo champion.

Halad Inasal

Halad Inasal Festival dancers performing their street dance in 2019.

The Halad Inasal Festival is Talisay's food festival. It honors St. Teresa of Avila. The festival's name comes from the Cebuano words Halad, meaning "offering," and Inasal, which is the local term for Lechon or Philippine Roasted Pig. Cebu is famous for its Lechon Inasal, and Talisay is one of two towns known for it (the other being Carcar). The festival was formerly called the "Inasal Festival" but was renamed "Halad Inasal Festival" to highlight its religious meaning. In the Halad Inasal Festival, dancers carry freshly roasted and crispy Inasal in the streets of Talisay. They perform their dances and even bring the Inasal during their ritual showdown. There are also Humba cooking contests to promote the dish and find the best Humba each year. It is celebrated around October 15, the feast of St. Teresa, but not directly on that day, so it doesn't interfere with the town's religious activities.

Bonga

The Bonga Festival is the Harvest Festival of Sibonga. It honors the town's two patron saints, St. Philomena and Our Lady of the Pillar. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "fruit." It is a festival of thanksgiving for the abundant fruit harvest during the town's harvest season. It is celebrated on October 12, matching the feast of the town's original patroness, the Blessed Virgin. The festival has given the town the title "Fruit Basket of Cebu."

Rosquillos (Festival)

Rosquillos Festival dancers performing their street dance in Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2019.

The Rosquillos festival is the food festival of Liloan. It honors St. Ferdinand of Castille. It celebrates the Rosquillos, a Philippine ring-shaped cookie that started in Liloan. The cookie was created by Titay Frasco, who founded Titay's, the largest company selling Rosquillos in the Philippines. The Rosquillos festival has won one victory in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo (2012). It is celebrated on May 30.

Kagasangan

This is the sea festival of Moalboal. It honors St. John of Nepomuk. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano term for "coral reefs." It is a project started by the local government to protect the town's reefs. These reefs are important for livelihoods and eco-tourism. This is one of the well-known sea festivals in Cebu province. It is celebrated on May 16.

Utanon

Utanon Festival dancers in Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2019.

The Utanon Festival of Dalaguete is the town's harvest festival. It honors St. William the Hermit. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "vegetables." It is a festival of thanksgiving for the abundant harvest of vegetables in the town throughout the year. It is celebrated on February 10. The festival has helped the town be recognized as a producer of grain and vegetable crops, earning it the title "Salad Bowl of Cebu."

Siloy

The Siloy Festival is Alcoy's nature festival and eco-tourism project. It honors St. Rose of Lima. The festival's name comes from the local term for the Black Shama Bird (Copsychus Cebuensis). This is a local songbird found only in Cebu, with its last main home in Alcoy's rainforest. The festival aims to raise awareness about the Black Shama and its endangered status. It also helps preserve Cebu's unique Shama birds and protect Mother Earth. It is celebrated every August 23.

Palawod

The Palawod Festival Queen representing Bantayan with her group in Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2019.

The Palawod Festival is the sea festival of Bantayan. It honors Sts. Peter and Paul, who are the town's patron saints. The festival's name means "to voyage into deep waters." The Palawod dance has four basic steps: Sulo (Torch), Bugsay (Paddle), Silik (Fins), and Isda (Fish). These steps imitate the fishing practices of the Bantayanons. This is a festival of thanksgiving for the plentiful catch and the abundance of the sea. The Palawod festival was the first group in Pasigarbo sa Sugbo to win championships in a row. It is celebrated on June 29, connected with the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Tostado

The Tostado festival is the food festival of Santander. It honors St. Gabriel the Archangel. It celebrates the Tostado, a Cebuano shortbread cookie shaped like a flower. The local economy has grown a lot thanks to the Tostado cookie, which has created many jobs. This festival also celebrates the town's resources. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of April.

Isda

This is the sea festival and town fiesta of Madridejos. It honors the Immaculate Conception. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "fish." It celebrates the abundant catch and the many kinds of fish and other marine life in the area. It is celebrated on December 8, which is also the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Banig

This is the weaving festival of Badian. It honors St. James the Great. It celebrates the Banig, a hand-woven Philippine mat made from Pandanus leaves. These mats are commonly sold in Badian. It is celebrated on April 25.

Hinulawan

This is the town fiesta of Toledo. It honors St. John of Sahagun. The name of this festival combines two Cebuano words: Hinaguan, meaning "fruits of labor," and Bulawan, meaning "bright" or "golden." This was historically the old name of the town. Today, it is the name of a river in the town. The Hinulawan Festival celebrates the town's rich culture and history. It also celebrates the kind and welcoming nature of the Toledohanons. It falls on June 12, which is also Philippine Independence Day.

Toslob

Originally called the "Sadsad Festival," this is the local festival of Oslob. Like the Isda Festival, it honors the Immaculate Conception. The name of the festival is the Cebuano term for the act of "dipping." The festival's name refers to the story of how the town got its name. Two Spanish soldiers mistakenly identified the town after asking a couple what they were doing. The couple thought the soldiers were asking about the boiled bananas they were dipping in salted vinegar, so they said "Toslob." The soldiers misheard them and thought they said "Oslob." Since then, the town has been called by that name. The Toslob festival is a celebration of thanksgiving for the blessings received by the town. It is celebrated on December 8, which is also the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pamuhuan/Pinamuohan

This is the harvest festival of Pinamungajan. It honors St. Monica. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano word Pinamuhuan, which means "a worker's share of the harvest." It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the abundant harvest in the town. It is celebrated on August 27.

Lalin

This is the town fiesta of Asturias. It honors St. Roch. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano word that refers to the mixing of different cultures. The festival's name was taken from the old name of the town, which was Naghalin. The town was called "Naghalin" because it was a place where migrants settled and formed a community. This community soon grew into a town in Cebu. This festival is a celebration of thanksgiving for the blessings received by the town and its community. It is celebrated on August 16.

Panagsogod

This is the town fiesta of Sogod. It honors St. James the Great. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano word for "Beginning." It refers to the town being the "place of origin of the North and the South" or "where the North and the South meet." This is because Sogod's shoreline has half white sand from Northern Cebu and half black sand from the South. It is a celebration of happy endings and new beginnings each year. It is celebrated on April 25.

Sarok (Festival)

Sarok Festival dancers performing their street dance with their Sarok hats in 2024.

The Sarok Festival is the town fiesta of Consolacion. It honors St. Narcissus. It celebrates the Sarok, a Cebuano version of the Salakot. It is made of woven stalks from the Nito plant and/or dried leaves or Bamboo. It has a special six-petal flower design made from lighter leaves or thin bamboo wood plates at the top. It is celebrated every February 14 (on Valentines Day), to mark Consolacion's Founding Anniversary.

Panagbagat

This festival is the town fiesta of Poro. It replaced the "Tagbo" Festival as the official town fiesta. The festival is similar to Sinulog and also honors the Santo Niño. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "meeting" or "to meet." This comes from the history of Poro, where two warring tribes met in one spot to form a community, which eventually became the town of Poro. It is a celebration of unity among people from different backgrounds for a common purpose. It is celebrated on January 19.

Tubod

This is the town fiesta of Tuburan. It honors St. Anthony of Padua. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "Spring." It celebrates the 7 springs of Tuburan. These springs are said to be the tears of fairies who still cry today, waiting for their lovers to return. The springs have become Tuburan's main tourist attractions. It is celebrated on June 13.

Katubhan

This is the harvest festival of Medellin. It used to be Medellin's Sinulog Festival but was changed to focus on the town's main products: Sugarcane and Sugar. However, it still honors Santo Niño. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano term for "sugarcane plantation." It is a festival of thanksgiving to the Child Jesus for the abundant sugarcane harvest all year round. Sugarcane is so plentiful in the town that Medellin is known as "The Sugar Bowl of Cebu." It is celebrated every April 27.

Panuhog

This is the sea festival of Santa Fe. It replaced the "Puting Baybay" Festival as the official town fiesta. It was also formerly the town's Sinulog festival but was changed to its own distinct festival. Like Sinulog, it honors Santo Niño. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano word for "stringing things together." This refers to stringing shells found on the shorelines to make crafts and ornaments, like chandeliers, wind chimes, and bracelets. It celebrates the shell craft industry, which is one of the town's main industries. It is a thanksgiving to the Child Jesus for blessing the town with beautiful beaches and rich marine life. It is celebrated every October 2.

Lingaw-sadya

This is the town fiesta of Balamban. It honors St. Francis of Assisi. The name of the festival comes from two Cebuano words: lingaw, meaning "enjoyment," and sadya, meaning "happiness." It is a celebration that highlights Balamban as a center for mountain climbing and fun. It is meant to celebrate happy moments and good times each year. It is celebrated on October 3 to 4, around the feast of the town's patron saint.

Garbo

Garbo Festival dancers performing their street dance in 2022.

This is the town fiesta of Lapu-lapu. It honors Our Lady of the Rule, the Virgin Mary shown as a Black Madonna. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "pride." It celebrates everything that makes Oponganons proud. It is also a thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin for her help and for all the blessings received each year. It is celebrated around November 21, the feast day of the Virgin Mary.

Karansa

A Karansa Festival queen with dancers from her group holding pots, during their street dancing performance.

This is the pottery festival of Danao. It honors St. Thomas of Villanova. The name of the festival is a Cebuano term that means "an expression of joy and happiness among potters after a hard day's work." The festival mainly involves happy and playful dancing and prancing to the rhythm of music, drum beats, and occasional loud shouts. The dance has four basic steps: swaying (kiay), shaking (karag and kurug), and juddering (karahay). It is celebrated annually every third Sunday of September.

Soli-soli

This is the weaving festival of San Francisco. It honors St. Joseph. The festival's name refers to the local name for the Common Bulrush (Typha latifolia), a plant common in the town around Lake Danao and throughout Pacijan Island. The festival showcases how the people of San Francisco make a living by weaving Soli-soli grass into mats, decorations, handbags, and other crafts. There are three basic dance steps: hands and arms swaying sideways, harvesting and cutting movements, and a weaving motion. These steps imitate the process of weaving Soli-soli. It is celebrated every third Sunday of March, coinciding with the solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary.

Kinsan

This is the sea festival of Aloguinsan. It honors St. Raphael the Archangel. It celebrates the Dotted Grouper (Epinephelus epistictus), locally known as Kinsan. This fish is abundant in the town and is an important source of income for the town's fishermen. The festival includes lively street dancing and performances, as well as cooking contests for the best Kinsan dish. It is celebrated every second Sunday of June.

Binuyocan/Buyoc

This is the town fiesta of Malabuyoc. It honors St. Nicholas of Tolentino. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano word buyoc, which means "to bend down" or "bend over." A popular story says that long ago, Malabuyoc had many fruit trees like Mangoes, Lanzones, and Cacaos. The fruit grew so big and plentiful that the tree branches bent down from their weight. Because almost all the fruit tree branches were bending over due to the abundance of fruit, the place was called "Buyoc," and later "Malabuyoc." The municipality of Malabuyoc started the Binuyocan Festival on September 10, 2004. The festival celebrates the abundant fruit harvest in the town. It continues to be celebrated every September 10.

Humba (Festival)

The Humba Festival is the food festival of Ronda. It honors Our Lady of Sorrows. It replaced the Panginabuhi Festival as the town's official festival. The festival celebrates the Humba dish, a Visayan braised pork dish that is the town's famous delicacy. During the Humba festival, dancers include the Humba dish and its ingredients in their dances. There are also Humba cooking contests to promote the dish and find the best Humba each year. It is celebrated around September 14 or 15, coinciding with the feast of the Virgin Mary.

Haladaya

This is the historical festival of Daanbantayan. It celebrates Datu Daya, the ancient chief of the kingdom known as "Kandaya," which is now Daanbantayan. The name of the festival is a praise to Datu Daya, meaning "all hail Daya." It celebrates Datu Daya's leadership and bravery. Even though it is a historical festival, it is also considered a religious festival honoring St. Rose of Lima. It is celebrated every August 30, coinciding with the feast of the town's patron saint.

Bahandi

This is the town fiesta of Alcantara. It honors St. Augustine of Hippo. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "treasure." It is a thanksgiving for Alcantara's natural resources, which are its treasures. It is celebrated on August 27 to 28, coinciding with the feast of the town's patron saint.

Lapyahan

This is the sea festival of San Remigio. It honors St. John of Nepomuk. The name of the festival comes from the Cebuano term for "shorelines." It is a thanksgiving for the town's shoreline, which is the longest in Cebu province, and for the abundance of the sea. It is celebrated on May 16.

Hinatdan

This is the town fiesta of Ginatilan. It honors St. Gregory the Great. The festival's name Hinatdan is the Cebuano term for "getting things done." It is a celebration of the hard work, faith, and strength of the Ginatilanons. It is celebrated around the second week of March.

Dinagat

This is the sea festival of Cordova. It honors St. Roch. The name of the festival is a Cebuano word meaning "gathering from the sea." It refers to a fishing method where sea life is collected from the shoreline for food. The festival celebrates Cordova's rich and abundant marine life. Dancers in the Dinagat festival include sea life in their dances, especially moray eels, known locally as Bakasi. These eels are considered a delicacy in Cordova. This is why the Dinagat festival is also called the "Dinagat-Bakasi festival." It is celebrated on August 16.

Pintos (Festival)

This is the food festival of Bogo. It celebrates the Pintos, a sweet Philippine tamales that is Bogo's main delicacy. It honors St. Vincent Ferrer. The festival is a thanksgiving for Pintos as a major source of income and tourism for many people. Pintos is also included in the festival's dances. It is celebrated every May 26.

Tuba (Festival)

This is the town fiesta of Borbon. It honors St. Sebastian. It celebrates the Tubâ, a Visayan coconut wine (also called coconut toddy) commonly found in the town. The festival is a thanksgiving for Tuba as a source of livelihood and for the local toddy industry. It is celebrated every January 20.

Budbod Kabog

This is the food festival of Catmon. It honors St. William the Hermit. The name of the festival comes from Budbod, a type of rice cake or grain cake. It is made with Millet (locally known as Kabog) instead of the usual ingredient, rice. It is a festival of thanksgiving for the Budbod industry in the town. It is celebrated on February 10.

Bisnok

This is the food festival of Dumanjug. It honors St. Francis of Assisi. The festival's name is a mix of the words Bisayang Manok, which means traditional Visayan roasted chicken. This is the town's local delicacy. The festival dance imitates the process of roasting chicken, from preparing it to cooking it. It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the roasted chicken industry in the town, which has helped make it famous. It is celebrated on October 4.

Cassava (Festival)

This is the harvest festival of Tudela. It honors the Immaculate Conception. It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the abundant harvest of Cassava, the town's main crop. It is celebrated in the first two weeks of June.

Kawayan

This is the town fiesta of Alegria. It honors St. Francis Xavier. The festival's name is the Cebuano word for "Bamboo." It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the abundance of bamboo in the town and its many uses. It is celebrated annually on December 2–3.

Pausbaw

This is the harvest festival of Tabogon. It honors St. Isidore the Farmer. It replaced the Sanggi Festival as the town's official festival. The festival's name Pausbaw is the Cebuano term for "achieving progress for farmers with the help of carabaos." The festival is dedicated to the hard work of farmers who plow fields with the help of water buffalos. It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the town's abundant harvest. It is celebrated on May 20.

Dagayday

This is the town fiesta of Samboan. It honors St. Michael the Archangel. It replaced the Sak-sak Festival as the town's official festival. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "Waterfalls." It is a thanksgiving for the town's natural resources, which are its waterfalls. It is celebrated on September 28 to 29, coinciding with the feast of the archangels.

Ani-anihan

This is the harvest festival of Tabuelan. It honors St. John the Baptist. The festival's name is a Cebuano term that refers to the act of "harvesting." It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the abundant harvest in the town. It is celebrated on June 24.

Pamugsay

This is the sea festival of Pilar. It honors St. Francis Xavier. The name of the festival is a Cebuano term for "the act of paddling." The festival celebrates the rich and abundant marine life of Pilar. It is celebrated annually on December 2.

Queseo

This is the food festival of Compostela. It honors St. James the Great. The name of the festival is the Cebuano word for "Carabao White Cheese." There are seven main dance steps in the festival dance. These steps imitate the process of making Queseo. The dance steps are Limpyo (cleaning the carabao teat), Puga sa Gatas (milking the carabao), Sa-an (screening the milk with a mesh), Init kaldero (heating the cauldron), Huwad suka (pouring vinegar into milk and stirring it), Hulma (molding the cheese), and finally, Putos (wrapping the cheese with banana leaf strips). It is a celebration of the town's cheese-making livelihood. It is celebrated on July 25.

Panumod

This is the farm animal festival of Barili. It honors St. Anne. It replaced the Kaumahan Festival as the town's official festival. The festival's name is a Cebuano term for "livestock." Barili is known as the largest producer of livestock in the province. The town's public market, the Mantalongon Public Market, is where most of the town's livestock and domestic animals are sold. It is a celebration of thanksgiving for the town's abundant livestock. It is celebrated on July 26.

Sikoy-sikoy

This is the sea festival of San Fernando. It honors St. Isidore the Farmer. The name of the festival is a Cebuano word Sikoy, which is a fishing method using nets during rough tides. The festival celebrates the rich and abundant marine life of San Fernando, seen as blessings from God's love. It is celebrated every November 17–21.

Bolho

This is the town fiesta of Boljoon. It honors Our Lady of the Patronage. The name of the festival refers to the origin of the town's name, which is a Cebuano term for a large land cavity surrounded by mountains. This valley is believed to have been formed by a sudden mountain collapse. It is a celebration of the way of life of the Boljo-anons. It is celebrated around November 13, coinciding with the feast of the Virgin Mary.

International Connections

Cebu has hosted several important international events:

• In 2012, Cebu hosted two major Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and telecom events: the 12th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting (TELMIN) and the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Senior Officials Meeting (TELSOM).
• In 2012, Cebu hosted the 4th Dance Xchange, an international project by the National Dance Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
• Cebu was a member and hosted the 11th East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum in 2011.
• Cebu joined as a participating member of the Inter–Island Tourism Policy Forum (ITOP Forum) in 2011.
• Cebu hosted the 12th ASEAN Summit in 2007.

Sisterhood Agreements with Other Places

Cebu has agreements with other places around the world and within the Philippines to promote friendship and cooperation.

International Sisterhood Agreements

Existing Sisterhood Agreements

• Hainan, China
• Hawaii, United States of America

Domestic Sisterhood Agreements (within the Philippines)

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See also

In Spanish: Provincia de Cebú para niños

• List of people from Cebu