Cebu and Mactan are rich in historical significance. From around 800 AD Cebu harbor was already an important trading port for Chinese, Islamic, and Malayan goods. In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines and eventually found his way to Mactan. Due to a dispute of uncertain nature, the Spaniards incurred the ire of local chieftain Lapu-lapu, who killed Magellan in The Battle of Mactan - arguably the first case of an Asian fighting European invaders. Thus, although the Magellan Expedition is credited with the first circumnavigation of the globe, Magellan the man died and remained in Mactan.

     Cebu is known as the Queen City of the South, the Tourism Gateway for the Central and Southern Philippines and is the second largest city and fastest growing economy in the Philippines. Aside from its rich wonderful culture, the province is also famous for its natural beaches, resorts and hotels, sweet mangoes, guitars, delicious lechon (roasted pig), the Sinulog Festival and its great hospitable people.

     There are a number of shopping centres in the city, the most popular of which are the SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, Robinsons Place and Gaisano Malls. There are also other smaller shopping centres and stand-alone department stores. Throughout the years however, the establishment of large shopping centres offers some sort of a town centre environment which have become popular.

     Recent development and expansion of existing shopping centres have also given the shoppers a new variety of choices in the city such as SM Cebu’s “Northwing”, a multi-level annex building with multilevel parking and Ayala Center Cebu’s “Leisure Oasis”, a development that consists of redefining Cebu’s shopping experience through the newly re-designed Ayala Center Shopping complex. There is also the Carbon Market, a farmer’s market in the city and the famous “Dried Mango” food.

    Cebu is the Philippines’ main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country’s domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippines and is a significant centre of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao region. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has a population of about 798,809 people.

     Recently, the entry of business process outsourcing (BPO) firms such as call centres have contributed much to the growth of the local economy. BPO sites are scattered throughout the city. During the last years of the 1980s, growth has been spread to the countryside. Thus the name Queen City of the south, which was formerly held by Ilo-ilo City, is being used by Cebu City now. Aside from shellcrafts, rattan furnitures and stonecraft, tourism may well rake in dollars.

     The Cebu Metropolitan Area has all the necessary infrastructures sufficient enough for its pace of urbanization. The city is readily accessible by air via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport located in Lapu-Lapu City which has direct international flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China, Qatar, South Korea and other domestic destinations. There are many international and cargo airlines flying to Cebu, such as Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and FedEx Express, 2GO, and Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines respectively. There are also direct transfer flights via the capital’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport that readily connects the city to other destinations in the world.

    The city is served by a domestic and international port which are handled by the Cebu Port Authority. Much of the city’s waterfront is actually occupied by the port with around 3.5 kilometers of berthing space. The domestic port readily gives access to nearby islands and provinces. The city’s central location makes it an ideal shipping hub. It is also home to more than 80% of the country’s island vessels traveling in domestic routes mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao.

     It is already proven that Cebu has demonstrated capability with an excellent economic track record specifically its export which growth rate for the past 5 years has averaged close to 20% considerably higher than that of the country and any other province in the Philippines. It is the most accessible place in the Philippines, with more domestic and international flights as well as sea linkages than Manila.

     Cebu offers quality of life with a very outstanding record with regards to it peace and order. Quality housing is abundant in Cebu and rentals are less expensive than other cities in the region. Geographically, Cebu is not an earthquake zone or typhoon belt, nor are there volcanoes in the island. The development of its infrastructure is balanced; it has all the ingredients necessary to be competitive and sustain investments. It is a cosmopolitan area with all the support facilities and amenities needed for an ideal lifestyle.