At the heart of Central Philippines lies the island of Cebu. With a land area of 5,000 square kilometers, Cebu is an elongated island some 250 kilometers from North to South and 45 kilometers across at its widest point and some 600 kilometers south of Manila. The climate is warm, with temperatures ranging from 23 to 33ºC. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, except for the summer months from March to May, which are dry. Typhoon activity is minimal compared with other parts of the Philippine archipelago.
It’s capital, the City of Cebu, takes pride in being the Philippines’ oldest city. On 14 April 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, sailing in a Spanish-sponsored expedition, planted a cross to mark the spot where some 800 natives led by Rajah Humabon and his wife Queen Juana were baptized into Catholic faith. The original cross is now encased in a hollow hardwood cross and can be found in a roofed kiosk along Magallanes Street.
Many landmarks and abundant relics of the past attest to the richness of Cebu’s history. Colon Street, for instance, has the distinction of being the oldest street in the Philippines. Paved late in the 16th century, under the direction of the Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Colon now houses malls, office buildings, theaters as well as museums and monuments. Other places of historical importance include Fort San Pedro, the oldest fortress in the country, Liloan Lighthouse and the Bantayan sa Hari.
Cebu City is an international destination with flights from Tokyo, Seoul, Guam, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong landing and taking off at the Mactan International Airport daily. It is the gateway and the economic hub of Central and Southern Philippines. From the capital city of Manila, Cebu is just an hour away by plane. Cebu is an ideal jump-off point to other tourist attractions in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Being the second largest city and fastest growing economy in the Philippines, Cebu boasts of industrial complexes such as the Cebu Light Industry Park, Mactan Export Processing Zone, West Cebu Industrial Park and Cebu Civic and Trade Center- Information Technology (CCTC I.T.). It enjoys considerable success in producing goods for both local and international markets, with the largest markets being Japan and the USA. Cebu’s track record is impressive, with an export list consisting of watches, semiconductors, cameras, electrical equipment and other goods.
Cebu’s total exports exceed US$3.0 Billion. The exports are increasing with a growth rate averaging 20% over the past 5 years. While traditional manufacturing in the furniture and handicraft sectors continue to be part of Cebu’s economy, advanced, export oriented and foreign owned high technology industries have become the top export companies.
Special economic zones have been established to further encourage foreign investments and exports. These zones provide attractive tax and importation incentives. Among these zones, the Mactan Export Processing is regarded as one of the most successful in the Philippines and is now occupied by over two hundred manufacturing companies, including Asahi Pentax, TMX Phils, Fairchild, National Semiconductor, NEC, United Technologies and many other well-known foreign firms.
A number of international banks including the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank operate together with branches of every major Philippine bank.
In the midst of the hectic industrial and commercial activities in the city, Cebu’s pristine beaches and luxurious resorts beckon tourists from all parts of the world. The city has blossomed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location. Mactan island boasts of dozens of world-class resorts and hotels. The rest of Cebu’s 166 islands and islets are fringed with sandy beaches and sapphire-clear waters teeming with marine life perfect for scuba diving.
For the island-hopper, Cebu is an exciting playground for daring expeditions. Aqua sports top the list of activities to undertake. For scuba diving, the best dives are found in the islands of Mactan, Moalboal and Camotes. The calm waters surrounding Argao, Badian and Malapascua islands are ideal for kayaking. In Cebu’s hilly terrain, mountain sports have become very attractive. Rock climbing is excellent in Cantabaco and Malubog. For mountain trekkers, the 908-meter high Mount Manunggal is a steady climb to the peak for a magnificent view of the surrounding areas.
For the golfer, the Cebu Country Club, Club Filipino and the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club are conveniently accessible from the city center.
The fiesta is when life in these islands is celebrated in full pageantry, complete with a brilliant display of sights and sounds, scents and tastes. The Cebuano’s flair for showmanship and love for celebrations are manifested in the Sinulog, a colorful festival of pageant proportions observed every third Sunday of January.
Cebu is fast becoming the preferred Asian city for business and enjoyable living. Come and discover CEBU!
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