`), 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.
Cebu
Island (pop., 2000 : 2,377,588) and (with adjacent islets) province, central Philippines. It is 139 mi (224 km) long and about 20 mi (32 km) wide, with an area of 1,707 sq mi (4,421 sq km). Its chief city is Cebu City. A mountain chain extends its entire length. It is separated from Bohol Island by Bohol Strait and from Negros Island by Tanon Strait. Visited by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, it was occupied by the Spanish in 1565. It is one of the Philippines' most densely populated islands; it produces coal and copper.
Cebu
an island in the central Philippines. Area, 4,400 sq km; approximately 5,100 sq km with the adjacent small islands that are part of Cebu Province. Length, approximately 220 km. Population, 634,000 (1970). Cebu is primarily mountainous, with elevations rising to 1,073 m. It is composed mainly of diorites and schists, with sandstones, argillaceous schists, and limestones lying underneath; there are occasional coral reefs along the coast. The island has deposits of copper ores and brown coal. The climate is subequatorial, with uniform humidity throughout the year and precipitation totaling approximately 1,500 mm annually. There are humid tropical forests in the mountains of central Cebu, with meadows predominating along the periphery. The coastal lowlands are planted with crops, the principal agricultural crop is corn, but sugarcane, rice, tobacco, and mangoes are also grown. Some fishing is done in the area. The main city is Cebu.
Cebu
a city and port (for exports) in the Philippines, on the eastern shore of the island of Cebu; the capital of Cebu Province. Population, 347,100 (1970). After Manila, Cebu is the Philippines’ most important economic and cultural center. It is a trade and distribution point for the eastern Visayan Islands and northern Mindanao. Agricultural products are processed in the city, and there is a large coconut-oil factory. An international airport is located on Mactan Island, which is connected with the city by an 800-m bridge. Educational institutions include the University of San Carlos, founded in 1595.
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