THE 'reigning' QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH, CEBU CITY |
| Description | The City of Cebu (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo, Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cebu) is the capital city of Cebu and the second city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest city established by the Spaniards in the country. The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippines and is a significant centre of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao region. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has a population of about 798,809 people. Cebu City is the centre of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay. Metro Cebu has a total population of about 2 million people. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a twenty-minute drive away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, the towns of Balamban and Asturias, to the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City and an aquarium attraction are located Cebu or Iloilo - which is which? (TRADE FORUM By Chris Malazarte (The Freeman)) The former, being vested by legal title while the latter being vested by virtue of “fact” or common perception (not necessarily legally sanctioned). I would like to compare the claims of the Ilonggos as a right by virtue of legal title. History has it that Iloilo was granted the title the Queen’s City of the South NOT the Queen City of the South for her loyalty to the Queen of Spain during the time of the Spanish resistance. From then on, the Ilonggos took it to mean that Iloilo was really the Queen City of the South as she was the most economically progressive region outside the National Capital until the decline of the sugar industry after the post war era. The title was immediately “transferred” to Cebu as it was no longer inappropriate for Iloilo to assume the title because of her ailing economy. Thus, Cebu’s title as the Queen City of the South may have been acquired de facto by popular attribution from business and government leaders and by the Filipinos themselves who recognize Cebu’s well-deserved prosperity despite the fact that Cebu was less favored by most presidents for of its strong sense of independence. Cebu on the other hand should preserve that borrowed trust or might as well make no big deal about it. Cebu does not need a title to be noticed. The world has already noticed Cebu for what she is and for what she has to offer. Investors, tourists and leaders look up to Cebu not only as an economic hub but a destination to enjoy life. “The Island in the Pacific” seems to be a perfect fit for what truly Cebu is. |
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