About Cebu

Off Mactan Island, Cebu. Photo: Georgia Popplewell

Off Mactan Island, Cebu. Photo: Georgia Popplewell

Cebu City is the capital city of the province of Cebu and is the “second city” of the Philippines. Cebu City is the center of Metro Cebu, the second most populous Metropolitan area in the Philippines after Metro Manila. With a population of 866,171 (2010 census), Cebu City is a significant center of commerce, trade and education in the Visayas region. The City of Cebu is also known as the “Queen City of the South.”

The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu island. It is the first Spanish settlement and the oldest city in the Philippines.
(source: Wikipedia)

Links:
Official web site of the Province of Cebu
Cebu on Wikipedia
Cebu City on Wikipedia
Cebu on Wikitravel

Getting to Cebu
Cebu is served by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB), located on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu city. There are numerous direct daily flights to and from Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and scheduled flights to Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. The airport also serves several seasonal charter flights to Russia, China, the United States, and other nations.

Mactan Cebu International is also the main domestic hub outside Manila with a variety of flights around the Philippine archipelago such as to Manila, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Clark (just near Angeles City), Siargao (Surigao), Zamboanga, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Camiguin, General Santos, and Tacloban, among others.

Visitors from North America, Europe, Middle East, and the rest of the world may fly first to Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur or Doha to catch a flight to Cebu. If you don't mind braving the horrendous traffic and the cacophonic noise of Manila, you will get a faster connection to Cebu, for there are more than 20 flights daily between the two cities or almost two flights every hour.

It takes 20-30 min to get from the airport to the Cebu City centre.

Visas
Citizens of 157 countries do not need a visa to enter the Philippines for a visit not exceeding 30 days, provided they have return tickets and passports valid for at least six months. Please click here to review the list.

Participants who do require a Philippine visa are requested to apply for visas through Philippine embassies in their countries. You can find a list of the closest embassy near you here. The process may take up to two weeks, so be sure to apply as soon as possible.

The following are required for a visitor’s visa, but be sure to check directly with the Philippines Embassy nearest you to confirm if additional documentation is required, such as vaccination certificates:

  • Passport/Travel Document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines;
  • Duly Accomplished Visa application forms;
  • Passport Photos (two);
  • Proof of bona fide status as tourist or businessman (this may include confirmation of payment of conference registration fee. Official letters of confirmation from PCIJ are available upon request; write to pcij@pcij.org.
  • Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination; and
  • Payment of Visa Fees.

Airport Tax
A Passenger Terminal Fee is levied on all passengers as follows:

  • International travel, PHP550 (about US$13)
  • Domestic travel: PHP200 (about US$3.50)

The fee is paid in the airport terminal at the time of departure.

One of Cebu's colourful "jeepneys".  Photo (CC) BY-NC-ND by Charles Van den Broek

One of Cebu's colourful “jeepneys”. Photo (CC) BY-NC-ND by Charles Van den Broek