Cebu City

Basilica del Minore Sto. Niño

The church is situated in a

compound with the museum and
another building where the image
of the Sto. Niño is kept.

Origin of Cebu City

Cebu is a province in the Philippines consisting of the Cebu Island and many other
surrounding islands. Its name’s derivation has many alternative interpretations but according to
history, it was derived from the word “Sibu” which means “trade”. During the reign of Rajah
Humabon, the island has since become an important trading center where various products are
being bartered like agricultural products, precious stones, perfumes, etc. Its harbors have become
known vernacularly as “Sinibuayng Hingpit” which means “the place for trading” which later
was shortened to sibu or sibo (“to trade”) from which the modern name “Cebu” came from.

Physical Feature of Cebu City

Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometers (140 miles) from north to south
and 41 kilometers at its widest portion. The island is surrounded by 167 neighboring smaller
islands that includes Mactan Island, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes Islands.
The total land area of Cebu is about 5,000 square kilometers. Some of the hundreds of small
islands surrounding Cebu are uninhabited. Cebu has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus, and
coastal plains, which are characteristics of a tropical island. It has predominantly rolling hills and
rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths of the island. Cebu has
steep mountains that reach over 1,000 meters.

Bacolod City
 BALAY NEGRENSE
(NEGRENSE HOUSE)
It is the most
visited among the
century-old houses in the
city showcasing the
lifestyle of sugar barons in
the 19th century.

Origin of Bacolod
Bacolod was derived from the Ilonggo word "bakolod" meaning "stonehill" since the
settlement was founded in 1770 on a stonehill area, now the district of Granada and the former
site of the Bacolod Murcia Milling Company. Due to the Muslim raids in 1787, Bacolod was
transferred towards the shoreline. The old site was called "Da-an Banwa," meaning old town.
In 1894, by order of Governor General Claveria, through Negros Island Governor Manuel
Valdeviseo Morquecho, Bacolod was made the capital of the Province of Negros. Bernardino de
los Santos became the first gobernadorcillo and Fray Julian Gonzaga the first parish priest.

Physical Feature
Bacolod City, situated on the northwestern part of the island of Negros, is bounded by the
Guimaras Strait on the west, the municipality of Talisay on the north, the municipality of Murcia
on the east, and Bago City on the South. The City has land area of 162.67 square. In 1970, it had
a population of 187,300. It has a cool invigorating climate with abundant rainfall. The majority
of the people speak Hiligaynon and the rest speak Cebuano.
Bacolod, the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines," is one of the most progressive and elite
cities in the country. Along its highway, sugarcane plantation is a typical scene; coconut and rice
are also grown. The people are engaged in livestock, fishing, and pottery.

Palawan
 PLAZA CUARTEL
Plaza Cuartel is a peaceful
park to most people, but in reality
it is a place that has witnessed
dark events. Appreciate and
marvel on the great structures and
architectures found in the park.
The tunnels and its garrisons is
the venue of the tragic Palawan
Massacre. Although as tragic as
its history may seem, this has
become a tourist destination for it
has become a symbol of what one
must pay to get a taste of freedom.
ORIGIN OF PALAWAN
There are several versions of the origin of the name. There is the Chinese word "Pa-Lao-
Yu" meaning "land of Beautiful Harbors"; the Indian word "Palaws", meaning territory; a plant
the natives called Palwar; and the Spanish word "Paragua" because of the main island´s shape
resembling a closed umbrella. In 1818, it was known as the province of Calamianes with its
capital in Taytay. In 1859, it was divided into two sub-provinces, Castilla and Asturias. At the
turn of the century, Palawan was again divided into three districts: Calamian, Paragua and
Balabac. In 1902, the Americans established the province of Paragua, with Cuyo as its capital. In
1905, the name was changed to Palawan and the capital moved to Puerto Princesa.
PHYSICAL FEATURE
Palawan is long and narrow and trends northeast-southwest between the South China and
Sulu seas. It has a maximum width of 24 miles (39 km) and a mountainous backbone that runs its
entire 270-mile (434-km) length, with Mount Mantalingajan (6,840 feet [2,085 meters]) in the
south as its highest peak. Its three major island groups are: Calamain in the north, Dumaran-
Cuyo in the northeast and Balabac-Bugsok in the south. Tall mountain ranges bisect the province
into east and west coasts. The east coast has narrow beaches backed by plains and short valleys.
The west coast is more rugged with mountains and narrow lowlands. The province has two
distinct climates. The west coast has approximately 6 months of dry season and 6 months of wet
season. The east coast has a short dry season of one to three months.
 ALBAY
DARAGA CHURCH

The Daraga Church is an old church built more than two centuries ago. It is a reflection
of Spanish fine arts with its renaissance gothic design combined with heavy baroque.

Origin of Albay
In July 1569, Luis Enriquez de Guzman, a member of the Spanish expedition led by
Legazpi, and the Augustinian Fray Alonso Jimenez landed in the southeastern side of the region,
in a town called Gibalong and travelled by land until they reached the town of Camalig, now
almost in the heart of Albay and at the foot of Mayon Volcano. In 1572, Juan de Salcedo, in
search of gold, penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north and made it as far south as Libon,
establishing the very first settlement called Santiago de Libon. In 1574, the Spanish adventurers
in Bikol returned to Manila with over 4,000 ounces of gold. They believed they have found the
land of “El Dorado.” In April 3, 1574 the place called “Baybayon” became an encomienda
assigned by Philippine Governor General Guido de Lavezaris to Juan Guerra. This place would
later be called “Baybay”, then “Al Baybay” and later shortened to “Albay.”

Physical Feature
 The beautiful province of Albay is filled with numerous natural wonders, including
caves, waterfalls, beaches, natural springs, and marine life. The symbol most associated with
Albay is the Mayon Volcano, a near perfectly-shaped active volcano, 2,462 meters (8,077 ft.)
high, which could be seen throughout its 15 municipalities and 3 cities as well as in the
surrounding provinces of Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes. Albay has a total land area of
2,554.06 square kilometers (986.13 square miles). Agriculture is the major industry in Albay,
which produces crops like coconut, rice, sugar, and abacá. Handicrafts are the major source of
rural income. Forestry, cement production and paper-making are other sources of livelihood.
Manufacturing abacá products like Manila hemp, hats, bags, mats, and slippers is one of the
main sources of income in the rural areas. Fishing is the main livelihood along both shores of the
province.

CARCAR CITY

SANTA CATALINA DE ALEJANDRIA

CHURCH
This church was named after the town's patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria, in whose honor
the people of Carcar celebrate the yearly fiesta every 25th of November. St. Catherine's Church
is the second oldest church in Cebu. Fr. Antonio Maglano, the parish priest of Carcar at the time,
started building the church in 1859. However, it took six years before it was finished. Another
priest, Fr. Manuel Fernandez took the credit for the present design of the church, admired for its
byzantine architecture, Greco-Roman altar, and twin- bell towers having a minaret shape similar
to Muslim mosques.

Origin of Carcar
The town started as a seaside settlement known as Sialo located at the mouth of Minag-a
River. Even before the Spaniards arrived, it was already doing barter trade with China. The
Spaniards came at the end of 16th century. Sialo finally became a town in 1599 and the name
was changed to Valladolid. Soon, the town began growing and became prime target for Moro
marauders. The natives decided to move it to a higher ground (at its present site). It became
known as Kabkab after the local fern called Kabkaban that grew abundantly in the area. A priest
later changed the name to Carcar, after a town in Navarro, Northern Spain.

Physical Feature
Carcar is also known as the province’s primary source of footwear. The industry started
during the 1700s when a man named Mano Teroy made sandals inspired by the images from Last
Supper. It became so popular that his neighbors followed suit. Carcar is also famous for two
cardiac delights: lechon and chicharon. Inside the public market are about a dozen stalls that the
locals swear offer the juiciest and tastiest lechon in Cebu. Carcar is basically an agriculture-
based economy. Around 5,326 hectares of its land resource is classified as agricultural. More
than nine-hundred hectares of fertile land is dedicated to rice farming, the rest of the agricultural
land is dedicated to corn and or cash crop farming and cut flower growing.