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Queen
City of the South:
CEBU by tradition and by
accepted history is the seat of the first Christian
missionaries in the Philippines. Cebu is an island in Central
Visayas and is the second most modern island after Luzon where
the nation's capital Manila is located. Cebu is also popularly
called as the "Queen City of the South" and
is the oldest city and the second most busy metropolis in the
country.
The country's second busiest
port is located in Cebu and with its strategic central
location, the island's is at the crossroads of shipping trade
in the region. The country's second largest international
airport is also located in the island with flight services
reaching direct to Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and the
United States of America.
Some of the country's leading
corporations as well as banking institutions have made the
island as the Visayas region's center of trade and business
and the well-educated, English speaking locals are capable of
handling most of the most intricate and detailed requirements
of any visitor.
During the economic slump in
the eighties, Cebu was the only region in the entire
Philippines experiencing a positive economic growth and a
robust economy. A number of key nationally financed
infrastructure projects in the islands were prioritized and
Cebu is wired up to meet the demands of the world class
traveler in search of a distinctly old and friendly world that
is at tune with the rhythm of modern life.
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Cebu and its
Sub-cities
Cebu
is not only the business hub of the south but the cultural
and sports capital as well. With its history, Cebu has
established itself as the cultural capital of the Visayas
and Mindanao regions. Being a runner-up only to Manila for
years in this reputation, Cebu's arts & culture and
sports scene is nevertheless alive and definitely is on
the move.
Cebu
is home to the country's most popular cultural event
happening every 2nd week of January - the Sinulog
Festival. It is a weeklong celebration in honor to the
city's patron - Seņor
Santo Niņo, the most revered infant Jesus, considered
to many as most miraculous image. It culminates in a Grand
Parade on the third Sunday of pomp and pageantry along the
main thoroughfares of the capital featuring rhythmic
street dancing and elegantly decorated floats.
The
capital city of Cebu and its adjoining cities of Mandaue
and Lapu-Lapu
have combined energies to give the locals and visitors
alike reason to enjoy their extra time out to
discotheques, theatres, concert
halls, casinos,
girlie bars, pubs, cafes, sports clubs, and public
parks. The metropolis has over 30 movie theatres.
Some of the bigger theatres are occasionally used to hold
orchestral concert and other related events. Similarly, it
has a countless number of pubs and bars, and cafes that
mostly open up until the wee hours. The metropolitan Cebu
has two gaming casinos one of which is Asia's largest.
The
city has recently added a new world-class facility for big
international cultural events, the cavernous Cebu
International Convention Center, that is perfect
for stage plays and operas, concerts, and pageants.
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