Cebu is a province, an island, and a city. The city's historical and cultural importance makes it a major sightseeing destination; its location in the cener o the archipelago also makes it the country's shipping crossroad. The island offers fine beaches and scuba diving. The resorts of Mactan Island and the east coast cater to tourists, while Moalboal is one of the Philippines' most popular travelers' hangouts and Badian has one of the country's best resorts.

Residents of Cebu like to boast about their province and city: oldest university, church, and street in the country; more cathedrals and historical attractions than anywhere else; best beaches and the finest climate; coral reefs and aquamarine waters that rank among the tops in the country; freshest beer and rum (San Miguel and Tanduay are located here); most beautiful women; sweetest mangoes and creamiest guabanos.

Shaped somewhat like a giant snake that evenly divides the Visayas in half, Cebu is also an economic miracle that disproves the notion that prosperity never reaches the underdeveloped hinterlands. Credit for growth rates, which have recently far outstripped those in Manila, goes to Chinese-Filipino entrepreneurs, who comprise less than 15% of the population, but, as elsewhere throughout Asia, almost completely dominate the local economy.

HISTORY

Cebu was an important trading center, prosperous and well-populated, long before the Spanish "discovered" it. Gold was mined, Chinese traders resided here, and ships bringing merchandise from China, the East Indies, Arabia, and Siam paid tribute to the ruler of Zubu, or Sugbu, as the island was called, upon entering the harbor.

Magellan's expedition was well received by Rajah Humabon in 1521. Fragments of the wooden cross he planted to commemorate the conersion of Humabon and his people still remain in the center of Cebu City, while the basilica houses the statue of the Santo Nino given to Humabon's wife.

A monument on Mactan marks the spot where Magellan died as he made his ill-advised landing to control Chief Lapu-Lapu, who is now a Filipino hero. When Lapu-Lapu, who is now a Filipino hero. When Legazpi reached Cebu in 1565 he was met with hostility, but the Spaniard's prevailed. After sealing a blood compact with Rajah Tupas, Legazpi constructed a fortified settlement that would become Cebu City. Early on, it was called San Miguel, then Santissimo Nombre de Jesus.

The accompanying Augustinian priests, inspired by finding the Santo Nino left by Magellan, built the Philippine's first church and began the task of conversion. Cebu served as a base for the exploration and conquest of other islands. For six years, it was the capital of the new colony, but persistent food shortages forced Legazpi to move north to Panay, then Manila.

During the early colonial period, Cebu's coastal settlements suffered frequent raids by Muslim pirates. Cebu, nevertheless, remained an important provincial trading center and military base through the centuries. Spanish cultural influence was great here, with many towns named after places in Spain-Asturias, Santander, San Sebastian, Compostela, and Toledo.

A Spanish royal decree reopened Cebu's port to foreign shipping in 1860. In 1898, Cebuano revolutionaries forced Spanish troops to retreat to Fort San Pedro after a fierce street battle. Insurrection continued for about three years after the Americans occupied the island in 1899. They clashed with Filipinos around Toledo's church in 1900.

Cebu suffered heavy bomb damage during WWII. In March 1945, liberating US forces landed on the beaches of Talisay, and fierce battles took place on Antuanga and Babag hills. Among prominent Cebuanos was former president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines Sergio Osmena, who landed at Leyte with MacArthur in 1944. In 1957, President Ramon Magsaysay's death in a plane crash on Mt. Manuggal in Central Cebu was a traumatic event for Filipinos.

SCUBA DIVING

Cebu is the center for diving throughout the Visayan archipelago. Dive resorts with compressors, divemaster and fully equipped boats are located throughout the island, but those on Mactan near Cebu City are the most convenient. Diving at Mactan includes the coral reefs surrounding the Olangos and the double barrier reef at Caubyan Island.

Cebu's second largest dive site is at Moalboal on the southwestern coastline. Though shoreline corals were wiped out several years ago by a powerful typhoon, excellent reefs remain around the Pescadores and the luxurious Japanese-owned resort island of Badian. Moalboal has inexpensive accommodations.

Other diving is possible north of Cebu City and on Bantayan and Gato islands off the north-western tip of the island.

All of Cebu's major dive destinations offer shore and boat diving.

Information above are taken from " Philippines Handbook" by Carl Parkes, third edition.