Cebú
by Maria Clara Lapu
Nicknamed the "Queen City of the South," Cebu is the oldest city of the Philippines. It was the country's old capital for 6 years established by Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi during 1565. The city has been renamed multiple times by Legazpi in 1571 from "San Miguel" to "Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus". Cebú City continued to be the seat of government until 1595, when it became the nation's seat of power of the Roman Catholic faith.
Location: Cebú City is located at the center of Central Philippines (Visayas), on the island province of Cebú.
Physical Features: Cebú City is situated on the east side of Cebú island near Cebú Strait. To the west it is surrounded by mountains, while in the east across Mactan Strait is Mactan Island.
Symbols: Santo Niño de Cebú and Magellan's Cross.
Climate: Tropical climate. During the summer, from March to May, it is very hot. The rainy season is from June to November, with yearly monsoons during May to October.
History: Cebú or "Sugbu" was once a thriving fishing village 30,000 years ago, with trade routes to China, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebú on April 7, 1521. Upon arriving, Ferdinand met Rajah Humabon with his wife Hara Amihan and persuaded them to pledge allegiance to España (Spain). With the newly created alliance, Raja Humabon and Hara Amihan, along with 800 natives, were baptized into the Catholic faith and adopted the names "Carlos" and "Juana". Although successfully converting the natives of Sugbu to Catholicism, Ferdinand Magellan was unable to fully claim the Philippines for Spain and later died in the Battle of Mactan Island on April 27, 1521, fighting against indigenous tribal groups led by the Muslim chieftain Lapu-Lapu.
Magellan's crew then returned to Spain in 1522 and reported the islands and their savage natives. On April 27, 1565, Miguel López de Legazpi along with his crew and Spanish friars arrived in Cebú. Legazpi then established the first Spanish settlement of the Philippines named "San Miguel" and was later renamed on January 1, 1571 to "Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus". Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus remained the capital of the Spanish colony until 1595 when it was moved to Manila, reasons vary including food shortages plus due to the uncooperative natives. It was also during 1595 that Spanish Jesuits established the oldest University in the Philippines and Asia, "Colegio de San Ildefonso".
Even though the capital was moved, Cebú City remained an important settlement for the Spanish because of it's strategic location (at the center of Philippines with its surrounding islands) allowing for it to become a safe haven and thus the religious orders where governed in Cebú. The Cebuanos (native peoples of Cebú) were also very supportive and peaceful of the Spanish rule, only being active in the Philippine Revolution much later than their fellow Tagalogs in the capital of Manila.
Following the Spanish era of the Philippines, Cebu continued to be the home of many Mestizo's (Spanish-Filipino) with a booming Hispanic culture until the end of the Spanish era in 1898 with the arrival of the Japanese and Americans.
Sources
History of the Philippines - Wikipedia
TAGALOG 2006 MAIN PAGE
Cebu Province Official Website
Republic of Cebu - Wikipedia
Green Tea background by Lalita Ashoka
Background designed by Lara Vardhana
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Posted Aug 15, 2007 - 12:35 , Last Edited: Jun 20, 2008 - 02:33
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Featured August 25 , 2007
