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Cebu
Columbia Encyclopedia entry: Cebu
Cebusāboo', island, 1,702 sq mi (4,408 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, the Philippines, between Leyte and Negros. The coastal plains are intensely cultivated and densely populated. The island was important agriculturally, but overpopulation and soil depletion have virtually halted production. There are coal and copper deposits. Fertilizer is made from local pyrite, and seaweed farming and processing is a growing industry. Magellan landed on the island in 1521; the remnants of the wooden cross he planted is a major tourist attraction. The island, with several small adjacent islands, comprises Cebu province, the capital of which is the city of Cebu (1990 pop. 610,417), the second (after Manila) most important harbor and city in the Philippines. With its excellent port, which handles both interisland and overseas shipping, it is the trade and manufacturing center of the Visayan Islands. The city has diverse light industry as well as some manufacturing. The first permanent Spanish settlement in the Philippines, it was founded in 1565 as San Miguel by López de Legaspi; it was capital of the Spanish colony until 1571. As a major Japanese base in World War II, it was largely destroyed by U.S. bombs. It has been rebuilt and today is a charming mixture of old and new, East and West. A Roman Catholic archdiocese, it has a bishop's palace, a cathedral, and a church with a jewel-encrusted gold statue of the Holy Child, said to have been given by Magellan. Cebu is the seat of the Univ. of San Carlos (1595), the Univ. of the Southern Philippines, the Univ. of the Visayas, Southwestern Univ., an institute of technology, several colleges, and many private schools.

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Wikipedia search results for: Cebu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands. Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometres from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighbouring smaller islands, that includes Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands. Cebu has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus and coastal plains. It also has predominant rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths of the island. Cebu's highest mountains are over 1000 metres high. Flat tracts of land can be found in the towns of...more »
Columbia Encyclopedia search results: Cebu
Results 1 - 7  of 7
  • Mactan

    Mactan, coral island (1990 pop. 168,525), 24 sq mi (62 sq km), Cebu prov., the Philippines, just off the coast of Cebu island. Magellan was killed by Chief Lapulapu there in 1521. The spot is ...

  • Osmeña, Sergio

    Osmeña, Sergio, 1878–1961, Filipino statesman, b. Cebu island. He served as provincial governor of Cebu and as first speaker (1907–22) of the Philippine assembly. After service in the Philippi...

  • Visayan Islands

    Visayan Islands, large island group (1990 pop. 13,794,991), c.24,000 sq mi (62,160 sq km), in and around the Visayan Sea, central Philippines. The group includes Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Masbate, N...

  • Dumaguete

    Dumaguete, city (1990 pop. 80,262), capital of Negros Oriental prov., SE Negros, the Philippines. A busy interisland-shipping port at the entrance to Tañon Strait (which separates the islands ...

  • Negros

    , island (1990 pop. 3,182,252), 4,905 sq mi (12,704 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, 4th largest of the Philippines, between Panay and Cebu. Although mountainous (Mt. Canloan, a volcano, ri...

  • Legaspi, Miguel López de

    Legaspi, Miguel López de, d. 1572, Spanish navigator, conqueror of the Philippines. In 1545 he went to Mexico and was later chosen by the viceroy to head an expedition for the conquest of the ...

  • Philippines, The

    Philippines, The, officially Republic of the Philippines, republic (2005 est. pop. 87,857,000), 115,830 sq mi (300,000 sq km), SW Pacific, in the Malay Archipelago off the SE Asia mainland. It...

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