The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan center in the Philippine Islands, and known as the oldest city in the country.

The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu, and is the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port, and is home to more than 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippine Islands, and is a significant center of commerce, trade, and industry in the Visayas, and Mindanao region. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has a population of 798,809 people.

HISTORY

Cebu City is the center of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Naga. Metro Cebu has a total population of about 2 million people. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a twenty-minute drive away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City, 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 where Lapu-Lapu City and an aquarium attraction are located. Before being colonized by Spain in the 16 Century, Cebu was a trading center with a pagan and Muslim population.

On April 7, 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon, the native chieftain of Cebu, who together with his wife, and about 700 native islanders, were baptized by the Spaniards on April 14, 1521. Magellan, however, failed to successfully claim the Philippine Islands for the crown of Spain, having been slain in neighboring Mactan Island on April 27, 1521 in the Battle of Mactan.

On April 27, 1565, Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel López de Legazpi, together with Augustinian Friar Andrés de Urdaneta, sailing from Mexico, landed in Cebu. The Spaniards established settlements, trade flourished, and renamed the city on January 1, 1571, from San Miguel (Saint Michael) to Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesús (Village of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). During this six year period of exploration, and conquest by the Spaniards, Cebu City was the capital of the Spanish East Indies.

TOURISM

The largest gross national product of the Philippines is tourism, with ICT (Information Communication Technology) industries trailing a close second. Cebu is the primary destination for most visitor to the Philippines. The diving scene is very popular with the main destinations being Mactan's outer islands, Moalboal, Sumilon Island, Malapascual Island, Camotes Islands, Bantayan Island, and Olango Island. In these areas you can sea the largest variety of coral fish in the world with common sights such as lager head turtles, whale sharks, thresher sharks, and porpoises.

The sport angling seen has been a close kept secret within the Philippines. The Philippines lies within a migratory route of the most popular game fish and are not easy to find unless you know an experienced boat man, fishing guide or charter service. Although, with the governments recent developments in prohibiting ecologically unfriendly fishing techniques with the last decade, the game fishing scene has begun a sharp rise. Sport Angling enthusiasts from around the world are now coming to the Philippines to discover the last remaining raw fishing grounds of the world.

Visitors to the Philippines now have access to experienced chartering services such as Cebu Sport Fishing who has many partners within the archipelagos that can make your visit to our country a fun, exciting and memorable one.