cebu mactan airport
Posted in Cebu City on 06/13/2010 04:07 am by admincebu mactan airport
Cebu City: Queen City of the South
Cebu City is one of the most important cities in the Philippines. It was hailed as "The Queen City of the South" because of the importance its trade, shipping and tourism in that part of the country.
Geography
Cebu City lies along the eastern coast of Cebu Province in the Visayas. It with a total land area of 291.2 square kilometers and a population of some 800,000 people according to the latest census. The city is composed of 80 barangays divided into two district. Whose native language is Cebuano.
Trade and Economy
While the city of Manila and Makati is the business center of the northern Philippines, Cebu the trade capital of the south, Visayas and Mindanao.
Because of its location, it is only natural that business in Cebu will revolve around the sea and seafaring. The city is the country's largest shipping hub, being home to 80% of all domestic shipping lines. Seafood is plentiful in the area, and in fact a kind of fish is named after The hero Lapu-Lapu (see below). Recently outsourcing companies in Asia have benefited the Cebuano people. Many have found jobs in call centers because English is widely spoken.
One of the Philippines' two international airports, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, is a half-hour drive from city. Because of its strategic location, Cebu is often used as a hopping point by travelers to other tourist destinations in the region.
History
Even before the arrival of Spanish rule, Cebu has had a well developed and prosperous city enjoyed trade relations with other Southeast Asian country. On April 7, 1521 in the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the islands. He was welcomed and befriended by Humabon Raja, the king of Cebu. Humabon and his people to convert to Catholicism and became the first first Filipino Christians. But the people of nearby Mactan Island was not friendly, and Magellan was killed in battle by their king, Lapu-Lapu.
In 1562, more than 40 years after the death of Magellan, the Spaniards under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi returned to the island. Legaspi then established a new one flock Spanish birds of Cebu as its capital.
Scene
Cebu City is a major tourist destination in the Philippines. The best-known landmarks are the Cross of Magellan. Legend says that it was erected by the explorer on his landing on the island. It is holy to the Filipino Christians, regard it as a symbol of the birth of their faith. In 1835, the local bishop ordered that the cross was moved to a wooden case and kept in a chapel. This is to protect the cross from being vandalized in by devotees who will chip away piece at a time.
Close to the Minor Basilica of the Holy Infant (Basilica Minore de Santo Nino). The church is home in the nation's first religious image, the Santo Nino.
Each year in January, the famous Sinulog festival takes place. Originally a ritual dance in the sky that mimicked The motion of the river (sulog), it is now held in honor of the Infant Jesus.
About the Author
Peter Garant is writing
Cebu
articles for his site about the
Philippines
.
Drive from Cebu Mactan Airport north to Bogo, Cebu, Philippines
