Cebu is said to be a trading center of Southeast Asia in the 13th century. But generally little has been known about Cebu's pre-hispanic and pre-historic past. Thanks however to the recently opened Southwestern University Museum which made available to the public Dra. Lydia Aznar-Alfonso's vast collection of prehistoric relics, antiques and artifacts that have been found in different parts of the island.
On April 8, 1521 Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu and discovered the island for the Europeans thus opening a route that would be followed by sea traders until today. Magellan planted a cross in the island that would become Cebu's most famous landmark. While in the island, Magellan picked a fight with Cebu's local chieftain Lapu-lapu that led to the now legendary Battle of Mactan. Magellan was killed in the battle and most of his men were annihilated by the locals that marked one of histories most stunning war reversals. Spain was a world power at that time, dividing the world with Portugal, while Cebu was an unknown remote island in the Pacific.
Fourty-four years later, in February 1565, Spain sent another expedition to Cebu headed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi which eventually succeeded in colonizing Cebu and the central islands of the Visayas as well as the northern islands of Luzon. The whole archipelago was named "Las Islas Filipinas" in honor of the then Spanish king Philip II.
Spain ruled the Philippines with an iron fist for 400 years that produced several rebellions and many Philippine heroes foremost among them was Dr. Jose Rizal who was recently been accorded as a hero of the Malayan race.
In May 1898 the Americans defeated the Spaniards in the Battle of Manila Bay and took control of the Philippines. The US Government awarded the Philippines independence in 1946 but retained favored trade pacts and several U.S. military bases within the country. In 1991 the Philippine Senate voted against the continuation of of US Military bases that effectively ended America's presence in the Philippines.
Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content of this site but
the publisher cannot be held responsible for the consequences of any errors.A number of
external links exist within the site and the publisher does not endorse any such external links.
