Cebu City is located on the eastern shore of the island of Cebu, and is the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Thus Cebu claims to be the oldest City in the Philippines, a claim justifiably dismissed by the City of Butuan who's archeological record dates back to as early as 300 AD. It would be more accurate to say that Cebu is the oldest "Spanish established" city. Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port, and is home to more than 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies. Cebu is second only to Manila in registering the largest number of international flights in the Philippines, and is a significant center of commerce, trade, and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao region. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has a population of 798,809 people. Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay has a total population of about 2 million people. Adding in the smaller adjoining towns the population exceeds 3 million. The island of Cebu is the most densely populated island in the Philippines.

Before being colonized by Spain in the 16 Century, Cebu was a trading center with a pagan and Muslim population. On April 7, 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon, the native chieftain of Cebu, who together with his wife, and about 700 native islanders, were baptized by the Spaniards on April 14, 1521. Magellan, however, failed to successfully claim the Philippine Islands for the crown of Spain, having been slain by Datu (chief) Lapu Lapu in neighboring Mactan Island on April 27, 1521 in the Battle of Mactan. A monument of this local, historic, hero exists in Mactan Park on Mactan Island.

On April 27, 1565, Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel López de Legazpi, together with Augustinian Friar Andrés de Urdaneta, sailing from Mexico, landed in Cebu. The Spaniards established settlements, trade flourished, and they renamed the city on January 1, 1571, from San Miguel (Saint Michael) to Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesús (Village of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). During this six year period of exploration, and conquest by the Spaniards, Cebu City was the capital of the Spanish East Indies. Cebu City became a charter city in 1936.

The city's most famous landmark is Magellan's Cross. This cross, now housed in a chapel, was supposedly planted by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521. It was encased in hollow tindalo wood in 1835 upon the order of the Augustinian Bishop Santos Gómez Marañon to prevent devotees from taking it home chip by chip. The same bishop restored the kiosk, located at Magellan street between City Hall, and Colegio del Santo Niño. Revered by Filipinos, the Cross of Magellan is a symbol of the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines. A few steps away from the Magellan's Cross is the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (Church of the Holy Child), an Augustinian church which was elevated to the rank of minor basilica in 1965 during the 400th year celebrations of Christianity in the Philippines, held in Cebu. The church, which was the first to be established in the islands, is built of hewn stone, and features the country's oldest relic, the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu (Holy Child of Cebu).

When the Spaniards arrived in Cebu, the chronicler Antonio Pigafetta, sailing under convoy with the Magellan expedition, offered the image of the Santo Niño as a baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon. The natives likewise honored the Santo Niño de Cebu in their indigenous Sinulog ritual. Once the Santo Niño church was built in the 1500s, the Christian natives started performing the Sinulog ritual in front of the church with the devotees offering candles and the native dancers shouting "Viva Pit Señor!" (Hail Mister). This ritual has been preserved and grown over the years to become a week long festival that includes a feast and dance competition as well as a processional parade marking the transfer of the Santo Niño image to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

There are a number of shopping establishments in the city, the most popular of which are the SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, Robinsons Plaza and multiple Gaisano Malls in Talisay, Cebu City, Mandaue and Mactan Island. Recent development and on-going expansion of SM & Ayala's existing malls have truly made these equal to, if not rivals of, many North American and European Malls, with Ayala offering the most high-end shops.

Cebu has a number of cultural landmarks we will visit including the Statue of Lapu Lapu in Mactan park, Fort San Pedro which is the oldest and smallest Spanish fort in the country, built on the orders of Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565, the Basilica del Santo Niño, and the Taoist Temple. Mactan Park also offers a number of small crafts kiosks that are sure to be of interest and have you coming back to the hotel with some souvenirs. We will also take a general touring ride by the City Port area and up into the nearby mountains that offer a number of panoramic views of the city and port. Like any other large city, Cebu is definitely not without its night life and any taxi driver will be more than happy to take you to whatever type of establishment you prefer. Cebu, however, is not exactly known for its pristine beaches, being the largest shipping port in the Philippines. Although there are some ok areas to go snorkeling on Mactan island, my suggestion is to focus your attention in Cebu to seeing what a large, modern, Filipino city is all about.