Cebu: A brief history

It’s been quite some time now since I posted several information and backgrounds about attractions, establishments, culture and others in Cebu City. It didn’t occur to me, until now, about my TotallyCebu’s introductory article. Well, it’s better late than never right? Right now, I’m going to tell you about the brief history of Cebu. The keyword is “brief” since if I do something like the comprehensive article, it’s gonna take days for me to finish it and a lot of web pages that are need for the topic.

Today, Cebu has continues to become one of Asia’s, or even one of the world’s premiere business network. I assume you already read my past articles about certain improvements, innovations and other things that have occurred in Cebu these past few years. Along with that, there are things that haven’t changed much; there’s the Cebuano culture as well as the tourists spots/attractions that has maintained its beauty and longevity.

Brief history about Cebu

The history of Cebu would start in the early parts of the 13^th century. The former name, Sugbo, which is what the island was called, has already expanded the regions of pre-colonial Southeast Asia in terms of trade.

In the year 1521, a Portuguese sailor named Ferdinand Magellan came all the way from Spain to establish conquest of the island of Cebu, and eventually the whole Philippines. However, this dream was not realized courtesy of Mactan chieftain, Lapu-Lapu, who became the first-ever Filipino hero to thwart foreign dominance.

A second tier came back into the islands of Cebu, this time with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who also founded the first settlement known as Villa San Miguel on Cebu in the year 1565. Later on, however, the name was modified to Villa de Santissimo Nombre de Jesus, which is derived from the image of Santo Nino, or of the child Jesus found amongst the wrecked parts of a subjugated native village.

For 300 years, the Spaniards were able to infiltrate the whole country and later on, in 1860, the demand for products tobacco, hemp, and sugar cane provided opportunity in the countryside. Also, as the central region of the South, Cebu became the “bridge” in the entering and exiting of goods through its ports. By the middle of the 19^th century, Cebu has already established itself to become among the world’s traders. Along with this, several cities have established business structures, industrial buildings as well as the flourishing of the suburbs.

When the Americans came to aid, Cebu solidified itself into world-class innovation with its modern ports, equipments and facilities.