PROFILE | Cebu City, Queen City of the South

Cebu's port is home to most of the Philippines' shipping companies. It's not surprising as Cebu City has been, historically, the center of commerce, education, entertainment and information of Southern Philippines. It is also the administrative, ecclesiastical and cultural capital of the region. Its influence is far-reaching and wide. It has remained the Queen City of the South for years due to the ingenuity and flexibility of its people surviving the ups and downs of trade in sugar, hemp, copra and furniture.

During the height of the cash crop boom in the 19th century, some Mestizo traders from the city's Parian district settled in Cebu's neighboring islands, helping greatly in their development. From the Velezes of Cebu, for instance, descended leaders of Cagayan and Bohol. Aniceto Velez Clarin, Bohol's first governor was from Parian, and so was Apolinar Velez,Cagayan de Oro's grand old man.

Many Cebuanos have settled in Mindanao, bringing with them their traditions and religious practices like the veneration of their hometown's patron saint which is replicated wherever they decide to settle down.  They maintain close ties with Cebu wherever they are, sending children to study in the city and keeping ties with relatives back home.

Cebu City in turn, has also been enriched with the migration of other Mestizo elites to the city at the turn of the 20th century. Leyte-based Aboitiz and Escaño families engaged in the lucrative trade of hemp migrated to Cebu and established themselves in the city where their business interests grew and diversified.