The island-province of Cebu sits in the centre of the Philippine
archipelago and is served by international and domestic charter
flights to and from its airport; Cebu is also a shipping
crossroads. It is therefore a good jumping-off point for island
hopping to the tropical islets of the central Visayas region.
Within easy reach are the caves and lagoons of Calanggaman and
Gato; the beaches of Argao, Oslop and Carmen; and the favourite
dive spots of Moalboal, Badian, Mactan and Olango.
The Cebu metropolitan area is the country's second biggest city,
and, along with its adjacent Maktan Island, has become a bustling
package tour destination, particularly for Japanese visitors. It
abounds with shopping malls, fast food outlets, casinos, golf
courses and all-inclusive resort hotels to cater for the
holidaymakers who come to enjoy the sandy beaches and glorious
balmy weather.
Cebu's main claim to fame is its colourful festival, held every
third Sunday in January, known as the Sinulog. The festival is a
religious celebration wherein various tribes in dazzling costumes
hold aloft images of the infant Jesus. The revellers wend their way
through the city streets from early morning to evening, singing and
dancing.
Cebu is also the country's oldest Spanish colonial city and has
several historic landmarks, including the original cross, planted
by Magellan in 1521 when he baptised the first group of Filipino
natives into the Catholic faith. The cross is now housed in a
roofed kiosk in Magallanes Street. Downtown Cebu is dominated by
Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines, dating from the
16th century and today lined with stores, shopping malls, office
buildings and movie theatres.






