Cebu Provincial Charter Day in the Philippines Date in the current year: August 6, 2024

Cebu is a Philippine province located in the Central Visayas region. It consists of a main island, also named Cebu, and 167 surrounding island and islets. The capital of the province and the regional center of Central Visayas is also named Cebu City. The name is believed to be derived from the word sugbú, which means “to dive into water” or “to bathe”.

Prior to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, the island was occupied by the Rajahnate of Cebu, founded in the early 15th century by Sri Lumay, a minor prince of the Chola dynasty. The first Europeans to arrive in Cebu were members of a Spanish expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer serving the Spanish crown.

The Spanish arrived in what is now Cebu City in the spring of 1521. Magellan befriended Rajah Humabon, one of local chiefs, and convinced him to convert to Christianity, along with several hundred of his subjects. About two weeks later, Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan against Humabon’s rival chief, Datu Lapu-Lapu, and his people. The defeat of the Spanish in the battle delayed the colonization of the Philippines for over four decades.

Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in Cebu in April 1565 and established a fort. The natives tried to resist colonization and frequently attacked the Spanish, but eventually came to terms with the futility of their attacks against the better armed Europeans. On August 6, 1569, King Philip II of Spain officially appointed Legazpi as governor of Cebu. This day is now regarded as the province’s founding anniversary.

After the Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War, Cebu was ceded to the United States. During World War II, the island was occupied by Japan from April 1942 until its liberation by combined Filipino and American forces in March 1945. During the occupation, the island served as a Japanese base of operations.

Since the independence of the Philippines, Cebu has developed into one of the country’s most flourishing provinces with a diverse economy; its rapid economic development in the late 1980s and early 1990s has been nicknamed “Ceboom”.

Cebuanos have celebrated August 6 as their province’s founding anniversary since 1993. In 2000, it was officially designated as a special non-working holiday on the entire island of Cebu and its surrounding islands. The founding anniversary of Cebu is celebrated for a week, which is filled with various events and activities that showcase the history and culture of Cebu, including traditional dance and music concerts, cultural performances, parades, fairs, and more. However, only August 6 is a non-working day.

Cebu Provincial Charter Day should not be confused with Cebu City Charter Day. The latter is celebrated on February 24 to commemorate the day in 1937 when Cebu was converted from municipality into a city.