Cebu is located in the central part of the Philippines along the eastern edge by the Pacific Ocean and east of Visayas. It is 140 miles long and 1,725 square miles and is surrounded by 167 smaller islands. Its long, narrow coastline makes it an attractive tourist spot. In fact, it has been named as one of the best island destinations in the Asian-Pacific island region. There are also rolling hills and mountains reaching 3,280 feet high.
History
Magellan’s ship, Victoria, landed on Cebu on 1520 but Magellan was killed in a battle between the Spanish and the natives of Mactan Island who fought over control of trade rights. Cebu is also where the Japanese set up a base during their occupation of the Philippines in World War II. The island was liberated from the Japanese in 1945 and became independent in 1946.People and Weather
The population of Cebu is 2,440,120. It is a young population with almost 30 percent consisting of children ten and under. Cebuano or Visayan is the dominant language spoken on Cebu. The weather averages around 75 to 90 degrees but humidity is only 70 to 80 percent. Temperatures can drop to 18 degrees in the mountains from October to January. Rain dominates the weather seven months out of the year from June to December.Tourism
The capital of Cebu is Cebu City, the oldest city in the country. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located near Cebu City and this is where most tourists fly in to the island. From there, tourists can visit any of the surrounding islands, making Cebu the top destination in the country for tourism. Tourists have their choice of beautiful beaches, diving, exploring mountains and caves, or bird watching. There are mountain biking tours, tours of famous churches, amusement parks, the famous Tumalog waterfalls, museums and golf.Shopping
Shopping in Cebu includes malls, public markets and specialty shops. Restaurants feature Asian and American food. Furniture making is a big industry in Cebu. In fact, Cebu has been named as the furniture capital of the Philippines. There are more than 140 furniture stores in Cebu. The furniture is commonly made of rattan and bamboo.Events
