Cebu is the capital of the province of the same name in the southern Philippines, and was the site of the first Spanish settlement in the country. The city has a population of approximately 700,000 residents, while the population of the metropolitan area exceeds two million.

The capital city, which ranks as the second-most important economic centre in the country, lies on Cebu Island’s eastern coast. Industry, shipping and tourism form its economic base. This is the main domestic shipping hub, being home to over 80 per cent of the shipping companies plying the waters of the Philippine Islands. Cebu Airport is also the main air transport facility outside of Manila for international air service to the Philippines.

One of the largest islands in the Philippine archipelago, Cebu is surrounded by countless smaller islands - many of which are of interest to tourists. Cebu Island is characterised by lush jungle vegetation, spectacular limestone cliffs and plateaus, long stretches of white sand beaches and sparkling, clear blue waters.

Many visitors are drawn to Cebu for scuba diving, and this features as one of the most popular activities on Cebu and Malapascua islands. Malapascua is without a doubt one of the finest dive spots in this part of the country, boasting colourful coral gardens and exotic marine life.

Tourists arrive in greater numbers each year to enjoy the natural wonders of this part of the country and the quality and range of accommodation options available. Cebu boasts some of the best hotels and resorts in the Philippines, with many of the finest located by the seashore. Additionally, there are dining and entertainment options that rate among the best in the country. This is a destination as well suited to honeymooners as it is to vacationing families and independent travellers.

In pre-Hispanic times, Cebu was a port settlement known as Sugbu. Traders from the Arab kingdoms, the East Indies, Thailand and China stopped at the port on their routes around the region. When the explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed here in 1521, he was welcomed by the ruler of Cebu, King Humabon. Not long afterwards, the king, queen and 400 of their subjects converted to Christianity. To commemorate the event, Magellan presented Queen Juana with a statue of the Child Jesus (Santo Nino), and planted a crucifix at the site of their conversion.

In 1865, the Spanish returned, led by Fray Andres de Urdaneta and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. This time, however, they destroyed local settlements and built fortified communities in their place. They named their main settlement Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus, in honour of the statue of the Child Jesus that survived the fires and devastation of the conquest.

For a period of six years, this new settlement was the capital of the Philippines. Augustinian clergy built the first church in the country here, as well as the first school. The demand for local agricultural products such as hemp, sugar cane and tobacco opened up the countryside to trade with the outside world. Owing to Cebu’s centralised location in the southern Philippines, local ports became important economically. By the latter part of the 19^th century, cities on Cebu were flourishing, and new communities began to develop around them.

The Cebuanos forced the Spanish off Cebu Island in 1898, but the Americans arrived the following year marking the beginning of a long period of occupation. The Americans met with local hostility, but by 1901 the US regime was in overall control of the archipelago. In that same year the province was officially named Cebu. More than three decades later in 1937, Cebu was elevated to city status.

During the American occupation, Cebu re-emerged as an important regional trade hub and its port facilities were significantly improved. The port’s strategic location led to it becoming a key base for the Japanese during WWII, which subsequently led to it being bombed heavily by US troops. Important battles of WWII were fought in the Antuanga area and Bagbag hills.

The country was liberated in 1946, and since that time Cebu has continued to grow and develop into a busy and important economic hub for the southern Philippines. This is a cosmopolitan area, having a mix of Filipinos and Chinese, with American and European influences also evident. Tourism is an important complement to Cebu’s main industrial and shipping economy.

Today, Cebu is a vast metropolitan complex comprising three separate cities and six municipalities. The infrastructure servicing the area includes a network of advanced communication facilities, an international airport, fine luxury hotels and coastal resorts, excellent dining options, shopping centres and entertainment venues.

Cebu’s tropical climate is tempered by the breezes that blow over the island from the Pacific Ocean. The temperature range over the year is from 26°C to 38°C. At night, temperatures dip. During the winter, temperatures can drop as low as 18°C at night. The winter season, which is the coolest period, runs from October to February. The summer season, which can be hot, stretches from late February through May. Overall, the highest temperatures are recorded in March and April.

The best time to visit Cebu is from December to May. Although the temperatures vary from cool in December to quite hot by April, this is the driest part of the year. Temperatures can reach 38°C to 40°C in mid-to-late summer. In the latter part of June, the rainy season begins, at times bringing torrential downpours. While the rains typically don’t last all day, they can make some roads impassable and therefore visitors should avoid visiting at this time.