Cebu
Market scene, Cebu
The island of Cebu is located in the Visayas (the central region of the Philippines).
Formerly known as Zubu, Cebu was the first island visited by the Spanish explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, in 1521.
Cebu is a long, narrow island. It is 225 kilometers (140 miles) long, and is surrounded by 167 other, smaller islands,
The main city on the island is Cebu City. Cebu City is the oldest city in the Philippine Islands (it was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines). Cebu was also the capital of the Philippines, and indeed of all of the Spanish East Indies, for a number of years -- until it was decided to transfer the capital to the newly-built city of Manila in the northern island of Luzon. These days Cebu City is the second-largest metropolis in the Philippines after Manila.
Cebuano, the language of Cebu, was the largest native language of the Philippines until the 20th century when Tagalog, the language of the Manila area, was selected as the national language of Philippines and so taught in all the schools throughout the country.
Some of the tourist attractions of Cebu Island and Cebu City:
-- Magellan's Cross
-- University of San Carlos
-- Santo Niño Basilica
-- Fort San Pedro
-- Carbon Market
-- Taoist Temple, Cebu
-- Casa Gorordo
-- Lapu Lapu Statue, Mactan Island