The Historical Philippine Cebu

Philippine Cebu is one of the most commercialized provinces in the Philippines and consists of Cebu Island and other 167 islands surrounding its geographical bounds.

Islands surrounding it include Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and Camotes Islands, each has its own share and tribute to the place's historical heritage.

The province has Cebu City as its capital and it is considered to be the oldest city in the country. This metropolis is part of the Cebu Metropolitan Area along with adjacent cities like Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Talisay City and with other eight municipalities.

Cebu is known for having not so wide outline, limestone plateaus and plains. Prevailing rolling hills and mountain ideal for hiking and trekking are found all over the place. The highest peak found in the province stretched to more than one thousand meters high.

The province is considered to be one of the highly developed states in the country because its capital city is the center and main hub of commerce, trade, education and industry in the central and southern islands of the Visayas.

Historically Rich Province

The province had the most Islamic and Animist tribes as its dwellers. It was known as Zubu or Sugbu during the 13th and 16th century. Its dwellers would trade goods with its neighboring islands which include Malaysia and Indonesia.

History made the province known not only to its dwellers and to the whole province but to the entire country and even discussed in schools all over the world in its history classes. History made an impact especially when the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer in 1521, is discussed. This is where and when everything started.

Spanish colonization took place for quite some time and ended in 1901. The province became a municipality then. And the rest is history. It was the survivors of the expedition of the Portuguese explorer who shared the tales. On February 24, 1937, the island became a province and this is during the American period.

The province also became the Japanese base during World War II when Japanese soldiers set their steps in the place in April of 1942. The place was only retrieved with the combination of Filipino and American forces in March 1945. In 1946, the province acquired its independence from colonial rule.

Beautiful Landmarks History Left Behind

Each landmark found in the place has its share or has its own story to share. Basilica Minore del Santo Nino is the 16th century church in the province's capital. It is situated at the very exact place where the image of Santo Nino, a sculpture of the Holy Child Jesus was established in 1565 by Spanish explorers. The image was preserved in a wooden box which was burned.

Fort San Pedro or the Fuerza de San Pedro on the other hand is a military defense structure built by Spanish and native laborers of the place under Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the Spanish Government. This historical landmark is situated in Plaza Independencia in the Pier Area.

Lapu-Lapu shrine is situated in Punta Engano in Mactan Island. It is about 20-meter bronze statue built in honor of the great Datu Lapu-Lapu who was brave enough to defend his place and defeated the Portuguese explorer in the Battle of Mactan in 1521.

These are just some of the few historical landmarks that everyone must not miss and visiting guests should visit when they are in Cebu. In addition, in Philippine Cebu are Cebu International Convention Center, Cebu Provincial Capitol, Magellan's Cross, Magellan Shrine, Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Taoist Temple.

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