Cebu is a province in the Philippines, which is made up of Cebu, and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte, and Bohol islands. It is located on both sides by the straits of Bohol which lies between Cebu and Bohol and Tañon which lies between Cebu and Negros.
Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kms from north to south, surrounded by all 167 of it's neighbouring smaller islands, which includes Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes Islands. Cebu Island has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus, and coastal plains. It also has predominant rolling hills, and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern, and southern lengths of the island. Cebu's highest mountains reach over 1,000 meters. Its capital is Cebu City, which is the oldest city in the Philippines. It has an International airport named the Mactan-Cebu International Airport which is located on Mactan Island.
Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main center of commerce, trade, education, and industry in the central, and southern islands of the Visayas. It has five-star hotels, casinos, white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, convention centres, and shopping malls.
Between the 13th, and 16th century, Cebu, which was then known as Zubu (or Sugbo) was an island inhabited by Islamic and Animist tribes who traded with the neighbouring islands of Malaysia, and Indonesia. The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who was by then in the service of the Spanish King, Charles 1 arrived in 1521 with five ships and a crew of 250.
He befriended Rajah Humabon who was the native chieftain of Cebu, and persuaded the natives to give allegiance to Charles I of Spain. Rajah Humabon, and his wife were given Christian names, and baptized as Carlos, and Juana. The Santo Niño was presented to the native queen of Cebu as a symbol of peace and friendship between the Spaniards and the Cebuanos. On April 14, Magellan erected a large wooden cross on the shores of Cebu where about 700 native Cebuanos were baptized.
Magellan soon heard of a tribal chieftain named, Datu Lapu-Lapu, in nearby Mactan Island. It was thought that Rajah Humabon, and Datu Lapu-Lapu had been fighting for control of the flourishing trade in the area. On April 27, the Battle of Mactan occurred where the Spaniards were defeated, and Magellan killed by tribes in Mactan Island led by Lapu-Lapu. Magellan's second-in-command, took his place as captain of the expedition, and sailed their fleet back to Spain, circumnavigating the world.
Survivors of the Magellan expedition brought tales of this savage island with them when they returned to Spain. Spanish explorers led by Miguel López de Legazpi sailing from Mexico arrived in 1565, and established a colony after defeating the chieftain Rajah Tupas
Cebu served as a Japanese base during their occupation in World War II Almost three years later in March 1945, the island was liberated by Filipino and American forces.
