Brief History of Cebu

Between the 13th and 16th century, Cebu was an Island inhabited by Muslims, Hindus, and animist groups ruled by Rajas and Datus. It was a kingdom of the Rajahnate of Cebu, which use to exist prior to the coming of the Spaniards. The Rajahnate of Cebu was founded by a native prince of the Chola Dynasty known as Rajamuda Lumaya. He was sent supposedly by the Maharajah to establish a base for expeditionary forces to subdue the local kingdoms, but he rebelled and established his own independent Rajahnate instead.

The arrival of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 established a period of Spanish exploration and colonization.

On September 20, 1519, a flotilla of five ships namely, the Trinidad, the San Antonio, the Conception, the Victoria and the Santiago, with a crew of 250 men led by the Portugese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan, left the Spanish fort of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in what was to become the first voyage around the World. The Portugese Magellan switch allegiance to Spain after losing favor for his paln to reach the spice island from king Manuel I of Portugal. Magellan convinced King Charles I of Spain to support his voyage to the Spice Islands.

On March 16, 1521, the fleet of Magellan arrived in the Philippines in the Island of Homonhon (an island of Eastern Samar) after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Magellan’s crew manage to gather some food and stuff in Homonhom, which was at that time an uninhabited island. A native king of Limasawa, Datu Kulambo, guided them to Cebu where they can trade and have more provisions. On April 7, 1521, they arrived in the Port of Sugbo. Magellan’s scribe and chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, mistranscribe Cebu into Zubuth, Zugbu, Zubu, then finally Cebu.

In Cebu, the locals played gracious hosts to the foreigners. The natives were used to traders arriving ang engaging in business with them. Magellan befriended Raja Humabon ( King of Cebu) and his wife Hara Amihan. Later, the were persuaded allegiance to the King of Spain, then baptized as Christians and were given there Christian names Carlos and Juana. A mass was celebrated by Magellan’s chaplain, Fr. Pedro Valderrana, OSA . The Santo Niño was presented to the native queen of Cebu, as a symbol of peace and friendship between the Spaniards and the Cebuanos. On April 14, 1521, a large wooden crucifix,the symbol of Christianity, was erected by Magellan, claiming the land in the name of Christ. Centuries later, the same spot is synonymous with cebu, as the monument of Magellan’s Cross. Afterwards, about 700 islanders were baptized as Christians.

Magellan soon heard of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a native king in nearby Mactan Island, a rival of the Rajahs of Cebu.Magellan had wished to convert Lapu-Lapu to Christianity, as he had Humabon, a proposal of which Lapu-Lapu was dismissive. On the morning of April 27, 1521, Magellan sailed to Mactan with a small attack force. During the resulting battle against Lapu-Lapu’s troops, Magellan was hit by a bamboo spear and later surrounded and finished off with other weapons. Magellan’s body was never recovered despite efforts to trade for it with spice and jewels. Magellan’s second in command, Juan Sebastián Elcano took his place as captain of the expedition and sailed their fleet back to Spain, circumnavigating the world.

In 1564, Spanish explorers led by Miguel López de Legazpi sailing from Mexico arrived in 1565 and established a colony. The Spaniards fought the King Rajah Tupas and occupied his territories. The Spaniards established settlements, trade flourished and renamed the island to “Villa del Santíssimo Nombre de Jesús” (Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). Cebu became the first European settlement established by the Spanish Cortés in the Philippines. In 1595, the Universidad de San Carlos (University of San Carlos) was established and in 1860, Cebu opened its forts to foreign trade. The first printing house (“Imprenta de Escondrillas y Cia”) was established in 1873 and in 1880, the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (College of the Immaculate Conception) was established and the first periodical The Bulletin of Cebu (“El Boletin de Cebú”) began publishing in 1886. In 1898, the island was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War. In 1901, Cebu was governed by the United States for a brief period, however it became a charter province on February 24, 1937 and was governed independently by Filipino politicians.

Cebu, being one of the most densely populated island in the Philippines, served as a Japanese base during their occupation in World War II which began with the landing of Japanese soldiers in April 1942. Almost three years later in March 1945, combined Filipino and American forces landed and reoccupied the island during the liberation of the Philippines. Cebuano rebel soldiers led by an American, James Cushing is credited for the establishment of the Koga Papers which is said to have changed the American plans to retake the Philippines from Japanese occupation in 1944, by helping the United States and the Philippine Army enter Cebu in 1945. The following year the island achieved independence from colonial rule in 1946.