The following is a list of notable people who were either born in, lived in, are current residents of, or are closely associated with the province of Cebu, Philippines (including from highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu):
- Antonio Abad - a poet, fictionist, playwright and essayist (Barili)
- Gémino Abad - an educator, writer, and literary critic. He is a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature (Barili)
- Martin Abellana – Visayan author (Cebu City)
- Onofre Abellanosa - writer of short stories and plays (Cebu City)
- Victorina A. Abellanosa - was a Cebuano dramatist who is specialized in writing plays particularly zarzuelas (Cebu City)
- Ramón D. Abellanosa - political journalist, minor politician, businessman, and writer. He was best known for his plays (Cebu City)
- Temistokles Adlawan - a contemporary Cebuano poet and short story writer who often writes with irreverent humor usually associated with Cebuano folk (Cebu City)
- Ruperto Alaura - is a Cebuano writer. He was a LUDABI prize winner in 1961 (Cebu City)
- Sinforosa Alcordo - fiction writer during the pre-war era (Cebu City)
- Jacinto Alcos - is a pre-Second World War Cebuano writer (Cebu City)
- Epifanio Alfafara - writer in the Cebuano language of political and philosophical articles. He used Isco Anino as a pen name (Carcar City)
- Sergio Alfafara - was a Filipino Cebuano Visayan writer. A parish priest, he published, authored and translated religious and missal texts in Cebuano. He published a grammar of Cebuano known as Sugboanon nga Gramatika. His pennames included Napoleon Alferez (Carcar City)
- Estrella Alfon - an author who wrote in English (Cebu City)
- Potenciano Aliño - a writer, translator, and revolutionary (Talisay City)
- Cora Almerino - is a Cebuano Visayan writer.[1] Her poems were included in Sinug-ang: A Cebuano trio published by Women in Literary Arts in 1999 (Cebu City)
- Tomas N. Alonso - is a well-known Cebuano Visayan writer. He published the first complete Cebuano translation of Jose Rizal's El filibusterismo. He also translated the Mi último adiós (Cebu City)
- Francisco C. Álvarez - was a Cebuano Visayan stage actor and playwright (Cebu City)
- Uldarico A. Alviola - known as the "Dean of Cebuano Writers", he was a Filipino Visayan civil servant, novelist, and editor (Cebu City)
- Natalio Bacalso - a writer, newspaperman, radio broadcaster, filmmaker, Constitutional Convention delegate in 1971 representing Cebu's 2nd district, and opposition assemblyman to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978 (Cebu City)
- Cecilia Manguerra Brainard - an author and editor. She co-founded PAWWA or Philippine American Women Writers and Artists; and also founded Philippine American Literary House (Cebu City)
- Simeon Dumdum Jr. - writer, poet and former RTC judge (Balamban)
- Adonis Durado - a poet, visual journalist, and graphic designer of Cebuano descent (Cebu City)
- Lina Espina-Moore - a Cebuano writer (Toledo City)
- Vicente Garces - a politician, writer, and poet (Talisay City)
- Vicente Gullas - was a Filipino writer, lawyer, and educator from Cebu, Philippines (Cebu City)
- Ernesto Lariosa - a writer, poet, and columnist (San Fernando)
- Pio Kabahar - a Cebuano composer, playwright, journalist, and director (Cebu City)
- Resil B. Mojares - a Filipino historian and critic of Philippine literature best known as for his books on Philippine history. He was recognized in 2018 as a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature - a conferment which represents the Philippine state's highest recognition for artists (Cebu City)
- Hilda Montaire - a writer (Mandaue City)
- Marcelino Navarra - an editor, poet, and writer. He was regarded as the father of modern Cebuano short story (Carcar City)
- Gilda Olvidado - a movie and television writer, and melodrama novelist (Cebu City)
- Amando Osório - a poet, playwright, novelist, and Cebu deputy governor (Dalaguete)
- Sulpicio Osório - was a Filipino editor, poet, and writer of fiction and essay in Cebuano language (Dalaguete)
- Gardeopatra Quijano - feminist fiction writer and was awarded the Gawad CCP para sa Sining: Panitikang Rehiyunal from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1993 (Alcantara)
- Nicolas Rafols - a legislator, journalist, businessman, lawyer, and agriculturalist (Toledo City)
- Napoleon Rama - was a Filipino Visayan lawyer, journalist, and writer in English and Spanish. In 2011, he was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor, the country's highest recognition, with the rank of Grand Commander on the 25th anniversary of the EDSA 1 Revolution by President Benigno S. Aquino III (Cebu City)
- Vicente Rama - a legislator, publisher, and writer (Cebu City)
- Buenaventura Rodriguez - was one of the popular playwrights in Cebuano language during the American occupation. Like his contemporaries, his works featured the theme of rising nationalism,[5] combining social criticism and entertainment (Bogo City)
- Hope Sabanpan-Yu - a short story writer/poet (Cebu City)
- Adelino Sitoy - was a Filipino politician, lawyer, and Cebuano language advocate from Cebu, Philippines (Cebu City)
- Vicente Sotto – politician, author (Cebu City)
- Florentino Suico - a public school teacher and prolific writer, fictionist, poet, and journalist. He was known for his historical fiction written in Cebuano language (Mandaue City)
- Florentino Tecson - a lawyer, politician, editor, writer, and labor leader (Naga City)
- Vicente Ranudo - a writer, poet laureate, and Cebu provincial civil servant (Cebu City)
- Trizer D. Mansueto - an author of several books, he is also involved in museums, translation and teaching. He contributes stories to Cebu Daily News and the Philippine Daily Inquirer (both under the Inquirer Group) (Bantayan)
- José María del Mar - a writer, orator, playwright, theater actor, politician and authority on the Spanish Language. (Cebu City)
- Martino Abellana "Noy Tinong" - a renowned Cebuano and dubbed as "The Dean of Cebuano Painters" (Carcar City)
- Ramon Abellana - a Cebuano sculptor and composer (Carcar City)
- Paulina Constancia - a Filipino-Canadian artist known for her work on canvas, textiles, and found materials, sometimes incorporating stitching (Cebu City)
- Manuel Rodriguez Sr. "Mang Maning" - a Filipino printmaker. He was one of the pioneers of printmaking in the Philippines and was dubbed as the "Father of Philippine Printmaking" (Cebu City)
- Romulo Galicano - a Filipino painter whose works are technically academic and philosophical in approach (Carcar City)
- Sofronio Mendoza - a painter and teacher who mentored young artists in the Philippines and in Canada (Cebu)
- Leinil Francis Yu - a comic book artist (Cebu)
- David Medalla - an international artist and political activist. His work ranged from sculpture and kinetic art to painting, installation, and performance art. (Cebu)
- Adonis Durado - Graphic designer and visual journalist. His poetry collection "Who Steps Upon is Stepped Upon" was awarded the 2023 Philippine National Book Awards. (Cebu City)
- Vicente Rubi - a Filipino Visayan musician best known for composing the Philippine Christmas carol Kasadyaa Ning Taknaa, which was translated into Tagalog, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, by National Artist Levi Celerio. (Cebu City)
- Ramon Abellana - a sculptor and composer (Carcar City)
- Daisy Ba-ad - a playwright, stage director, composer, motivational speaker and life coach (Cebu City)
- Luis Borromeo - a jazz musician and entertainer. Known as the "King of Jazz" in the Philippines (Cebu City)
- Manuel Kabajar Cabase - a singer, songwriter, musical director, computer musician, instrumentalist of at least 28 musical instruments, arranger, conductor, bandleader and musical director (Cebu City)
- Albert Tiu - a classical pianist (Cebu City)
- Emilio Villareal - a composer and musician (Boljoon)
- Ingrid Sala Santamaria - is a Filipina pianist (Cebu City)
- Robert Hill - an American harpsichordist and fortepianist (Cebu City)
- R.D. Alba - a film and television director (Cebu)
- José Clímaco - a Filipino film director (Cebu City)
- Isabel Sandoval - filmmaker, actress and director (Cebu City)
- Julian Daan - a character he played in a radio drama, was a Filipino Cebuano film, local TV, stage, and radio writer, director, actor, comedian, and politician (Talisay City)
- Julius Roden - producer and director, Hailed as "The Father of Modern Cebuano Movies"
- Natalio Bacalso - a Filipino writer, newspaperman, radio broadcaster, filmmaker, Constitutional Convention delegate in 1971 representing Cebu's 2nd district, and opposition assemblyman to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978 (Cebu City)
- Pio Kabahar - Playwright, Writer, Journalist, Director and Composer (Cebu City)
- Ruel Antipuesto - film director and cinematographer considered as "The Godfather of Cebuano Filmmaking". (Cebu City)
Popular Culture & Entertainment
[edit]
- Aiah Arceta - singer, rapper, dancer, model and member of P-pop girl group BINI (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Akiko Solon - singer and actress. 5th placer in Star Power (TV program) in 2010. (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Albert Martinez - actor, producer, and director. Dubbed as the "King of Philippine Teleseryes". (Cebu City)
- Alexei Abella - actress, singer, dancer and content creator. She is former member of YGIG an all Filipino girl group under JYP Entertainment and SBTown. (Cebu City)
- Mikha Lim - pop singer, girl band group member of BINI (Cebu City)
- Allan Paule – actor (Cebu City)
- Amapola – singer, musician, actress, TV host and novelist. (Sibonga)
- Anna Fegi – singer and actress (Toledo City)
- Annabelle Rama - actress and talent manager (Cebu City)
- AZ Martinez - actress, beauty pageant queen and television host. (Cebu City)
- Bailey May - singer, model, actor, dancer, and television personality. 4th Teen Big Placer in Pinoy Big Brother: 737. Former member of global pop group Now United, representing the Philippines. (Cebu City)
- Beauty Gonzalez - actress and model (Daanbantayan)
- Ben Zubiri – also known as Iyo Karpo was a composer, actor, and media personality in the Philippines. (Cebu City)
- Bryan Benedict - actor and model. (Cebu City)
- Buboy Villar – actor, comedian, TV personality host (Cebu City)
- Cattski - singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and founder of independent record label 22 Tango Records and Music Publishing. (Cebu City)
- Caridad Sanchez – actress (Mandaue City)
- Carren Eistrup - singer, performer and television host. Bida Next winner of Eat Bulaga. (Cebu City)
- Chanda Romero - actress (Cebu City)
- Claudia Zobel - actress (Mandaue City)
- Dave Bornea - actor, model and dancer. One of top 18 survivors on 6th season GMA's hit reality show StarStruck.(Talisay City)
- Devon Seron – actress and TV personality. Teen Big 4th Placer on the final night of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010. (Cebu City)
- Dionne Monsanto - actress (Cebu City)
- Diva Montelaba - actress and dancer. First Runner-up (First Princess) in the fifth season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show of GMA Network. (Cebu City)
- DJ Durano - an actor, television personality, singer and recording artist. (Sogod)
- Dominic Roco - actor (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Dulce - singer and actress. She is popularly referred to as "Asia's Timeless Diva". (Cebu City)
- Eda Nolan – actress and model (Cebu City)
- Elena Jurado - was a pioneering Asian-American actress working primarily in silent films during the 1920s. Upon her retirement from the film industry she became an educator. She is credited with being the first Southeast Asian actress to appear in Hollywood films. (Sibonga)
- Ellen Adarna – actress, model, and former internet celebrity. (Cebu City)
- Elyson de Dios - actor and athlete. Runner-up in StarStruck season 6 in 2015. (Cebu City)
- Enrique Gil – actor, dancer, model and endorser. (Cebu City)
- Erich Gonzales - actress (Cebu City)
- Eula Caballero – actress, first Star Factor grand winner. (Boljoon)
- Felix Roco - actor (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Fretzie Bercede - actress and TV personality. 3rd big placer of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010. (Cebu City)
- Gabby Alipe - singer-songwriter and musician known as the frontman and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Urbandub. He was also a co-founder and guitarist of the band Franco. (Cebu City)
- Gloria Sevilla – film actress, widely regarded as the "Queen of Visayan Movies" for her contributions in Visayan-made movies in the Philippines in the 50's and 60's. (Sibonga)
- Golden Cañedo - singer, first grand winner of reality singing competition The Clash (TV program).(Minglanilla)
- Honcho / Mark Ezekiel Maglasang - (formerly Bosx1ne) rapper, singer and songwriter. He founded the Filipino hip-hop group Ex Battalion in 2012. (Cebu City)
- Isabel Oli – actress and model (Cebu City)
- Jackie Lou Blanco - actress (Cebu City)
- Janella Salvador - actress and singer (Cebu City)
- Janine Berdin - singer and songwriter. Grand champion of the second season of Tawag ng Tanghalan on It's Showtime. (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Jason Dy - singer, songwriter, musician and occasional actor. Winner of the 2nd of The Voice of the Philippines. (Cebu City)
- Jay-R Siaboc - actor, singer, host and model. 1st runner up of Pinoy Dream Academy. (Toledo City)
- Jessica Villarubin - singer, third grand champion of GMA's singing competition The Clash (TV program). (San Fernando)
- Jin Macapagal - Actor, Grand Winner of BidaMan: The Big Break contest of It's Showtime (Cebu City)
- Joan Almedilla - film and theater actress, composer, and singer. (Cebu City)
- Joanna Bacalso - television and movie actress and former model. (Cebu City)
- John Roa/JRoa - singer and performer. Former member of Ex Battalion. (Cebu City)
- Juan Karlos Labajo - singer, musician, and actor. He finished 3rd in the 1st season of The Voice Kids (Philippine TV series) season 1 in 2014. (Consolacion)
- Juanita Antido - was a controversial early 20th Century vaudeville performer who was internationally known with performance tours in Penang, Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong during the early 1920s. She was dubbed as "Queen of Jazz in the Orient". (Cebu City)
- Jun Sabayton - actor, comedian, host and director (Cebu City)
- June Keithley - an actress and broadcast journalist. (Cebu City)
- Karencitta/Karen Ann Cabrera - Singer and Songwriter (Cebu City)
- Keanna Reeves – actress and comedian. She won the first celebrity edition of the reality show Pinoy Big Brother in 2006. (Danao City)
- Kenneth Medrano - actor, model and dancer. "Ultimate Bae Grand Winner" of That's My Bae on Eat Bulaga!.(Cebu City)
- Kim Adis - a British-Filipino actress. She is best known for her role as Kitty Wei in the BBC iPlayer series Get Even (2020) (Cebu City)
- Kim Chiu – actress and singer. Grand winner of the first teen edition of Pinoy Big Brother.(Cebu City)
- Kiray Celis - comedian and actress (Cebu City)
- Kriesha Chu - K-pop Idol (Cebu City)
- Kyle Echarri - actor, endorser, singer, songwriter, performer and vlogger. He joined The Voice Kids (Philippine TV series) season 2. (Cebu City)
- Lilian Velez - film actress and singer (Cebu City)
- Manilyn Reynes – multi-awarded actress, singer and television presenter. Regarded as a Philippine pop culture icon and dubbed as Star of the New Decade. (Cebu City)
- Matt Daclan - Actor (Cebu City)
- Matteo Guidicelli – actor, military officer model, singer and former kart racer. (Cebu City)
- Max Surban - singer and songwriter. The "King of Visayan Song". (Cebu City)
- Marco Alcaraz - actor, commercial model, and former varsity basketball player at San Sebastian College-Recoletos. (Cebu City)
- Maureen Larrazabal - actress, singer and commercial model. (Cebu City)
- Mike "Pekto" Nacua - actor, comedian and television host. (Cebu City)
- Mikha Lim - singer, dancer, rapper, actress and member of P-pop girl group BINI (Cebu City)
- Monica Cuenco - singer and actress. The second runner-up of Star Power (TV program). (Cebu City)
- Morissette - singer, songwriter, and record producer. She has been referred to as "Asia's Phoenix". (Minglanilla)
- mrld/Meriel de Jesus - singer and songwriter. (Cebu City)
- Nicole Uysiuseng – actress and model. The second runner-up of the reality television show Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus in 2008. (Cebu City)
- Niel Murillo – singer, former member of BoybandPH. Winner of ABS-CBN's reality show Pinoy Boyband Superstar. (Bogo City)
- Panky Trinidad – singer, she was chosen to be one of the representatives to the World Championship of the Performing Arts. (Cebu City)
- Patricia Tumulak - actress,model, beauty queen and news anchor. (Mandaue City)
- Paul Jake Castillo - actor and businessman. Runner-up of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up.(Cebu City)
- Pilar Pilapil - beauty queen, actress and model. Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1967. (Liloan)
- Pilita Corrales - pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television presenter. Popularly referred to as the "Asia's Queen of Songs". (Cebu City)
- Redford White - actor and comedian (Bogo City)
- Richard Yap – actor, singer, businessman and politician.(Cebu City)
- Shaina Magdayao - Actress (Bogo City)
- Sheena Belarmino - singer, dancer, and actress. She rose to prominence after becoming a grand finalist on Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids in 2017. In 2015, she joined Dance Kids and made it into the quarter-finals. (Cebu City)
- Sheryn Regis - singer, first runner-up in the television talent show Star in a Million in 2003. Dubbed as the "Crystal Voice of Asia". (Carcar City)
- Shuvee Etrata - model, actress, host, and content creator. (Bantayan Island)
- Slater Young – entrepreneur, actor, engineer, model and television personality. winner of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited in 2012. (Cebu City)
- Suzette Ranillo - film, television and theater actress (Cebu City)
- Terence Baylon - actor and model (Cebu City)
- Tita Duran - film actress, the first successful child star of Philippine cinema. (Pinamungajan)
- Van Roxas - actor and TV personality. He placed as the 5th Star Dreamer of Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2. (Talisay City)
- Vina Morales – actress, singer, entrepreneur and model. Dubbed as the "Ultimate Performer". (Bogo City)
- Vivian Velez - actress who previously served as Director General of Film Academy of the Philippines. (Cebu City)
- Zandra Summer - actress, Runner-up in Protégé: The Battle for the Big Artista Break .(Cebu City)
Politics and government
[edit]
Officials are sorted based on the following criteria, in order:
- Constituency and/or jurisdiction. (National, local, non-officials)
- Groupings of positions (i.e. Heads of branches, cabinet members, senators, etc.) in order of precedence.
- Term start; Year during which they began serving in the senior-most position qualifying them for that grouping
- Term end; If two or more officials in the same grouping started their senior-most qualifying positions at the same time, they are listed by the year their term ended. Incumbents are listed last.
- Alphabetically by last name, then first name.
National Government
[edit]
Heads of government branches
[edit]
- Sergio Osmeña – 4th President of the Philippines (1944-1946), 1st Vice President of the Philippines (1935-1944), 2nd Secretary of Public Instruction, Health, and Public Welfare (1941-1944) and 14th Secretary of Public Instruction (1935-1939), 2nd Senate President pro tempore of the Philippines (1922-1934) and Senator from the 10th district (1922-1935), 1st Speaker of the House of Representatives (1907-1916) and Cebu 2nd DIstrict Representative (1907-1922), and 3rd Governor of Cebu (1904-1907). (Cebu City)
- Mariano Jesús Cuenco – 4th President of the Senate of the Philippines (1949-1951) and Senator (1953-1964; 1946-1951), 4th Secretary of Public Works and Communications (1936–1939), 7th Governor of Cebu (1931–1934), 2nd Cebu 5th District Representative (1912-1928), and 10th (and final) Municipal President of Cebu. (Carmen)
- Marcelo Fernan – 16th President of the Senate of the Philippines (1998-1999) and Senator (1995-1999), 18th Chief Justice of the Philippines (1988-1991), 111th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1986-1988), and Cebu Assemblyman (1984-1986). (Cebu City)
- Hilario Davide Jr. - 20th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1998-2005), 17th Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations (2007-2010) and 15th Chairman of the Commission on Elections (1988-1990). (Argao)
- Dionisio Jakosalem - Secretary of Commerce and Communication of the United States Military Government of the Philippine Islands (1917-1922), 4th Governor of Cebu (1907-1912), and Cebu Provincial Board Member (1913-1914). (Dumanjug)
- Sotero Cabahug - 9th Secretary of Public Works and Communications (1945-1946), 7th Secretary of National Defense (1954-1956), Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals (1956-1961), and 8th Governor of Cebu (1934-1937). (Mandaue City)
- Manuel A. Cuenco - 13th Secretary of Health (1964-1965), Administrator of the Overseas Employment Council (1962-1963), and 14th Governor of Cebu (1946-1951). (Carmen)
- Vicente Duterte - Secretary of General Services. (1965-1968) Governor of Davao (1959-1965). (Danao City)
- Francisco F. Remotigue - Secretary of Social Welfare (1966-1967), 17th Governor of Cebu, (1956-1959), 1st Vice Governor of Cebu (1959-1961), and Cebu Provincial Board Member (1956-1959). (Argao (Argao)
- Rene Espina - 20th Secretary of the Public Works, Transportation, and Communication (1968-1969), Senator (1969-1972), and 18th Governor of Cebu (1963-1968). (Cebu City)
- Lourdes Quisumbing - Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports (1986-1989). (Cebu City)
- Emilio Mario "Lito" Osmeña Jr. - Chief Economic Adviser to the President (1993-1997) and 21st Governor of Cebu (1988–1992). (Cebu City)
- Joseph Ace Durano - Secretary of Tourism (2004-2010), general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), and 9th Cebu 5th District Representative (1998-2004). (Danao City)
- Cerge Remonde - Press Secretary. (2009-2010) Former chairman of Radio Philippines Network, one of the largest media networks in the Philippines. (Argao)
- Rene Almendras - 8th Cabinet Secretary (2012-2016), 9th Secretary of Energy (2010-2012), and Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2016) under President Benigno Aquino III. (Cebu City)
- Christina Frasco - Secretary of Tourism (2022-Present). (Liloan)
- Filemon Sotto - Senator from the 10th district (1916-1922), Member of the 1934 Constitutional Convention (1934-1935), and 1st Cebu 3rd District Representative (1916-1922). (Cebu City)
- Celestino Rodriguez - Senator from the 10th district (1916-1925) and 1st Cebu 1st District Representative (1907-1912). (Bogo City)
- Troadio Galicano - Senator from the 11th District (1925-1931) and 1st Cebu 5th District Representative (1907-1912). (Carcar)
- Pedro Rodríguez - Senator from the 10th district (1925-1931), 1st Cebu 7th District Representative (1907-1910), and Presidente Municipal of Bogo (1898-1903). (Medellin)
- Manuel Briones - Senator (1951-1957) and Senator from the 10th district 1931-1935), 4th Cebu 1st District Representative, 51st Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1945-1949) and Associate Justice of the Philippine Court of Appeals (1942–1945). (Mandaue City)
- Vicente Rama - Senator (1945-1947), 2nd Cebu 3rd District Representative (1922-28; 1934-35), 2nd Mayor of Cebu City (1938-1940), and Member of the Cebu Municipal Council (1916-1922). Recognized as the Father of the Cebu City Charter. (Cebu City)
- Alejandro Almendras - Senator (1959-1972), Governor of Davao (1951–1958), and Governor of Davao del Sur (1986-1988). (Danao City)
- Sergio "Serging" V. Osmeña Jr. - Senator (1965-1971) and Governor of Cebu (1951-1955). (Cebu City)
- John Henry "Sonny"Osmeña - 18th Senate President pro tempore of the Philippines (1999-2000) and Senator (1971-1972; 1987-1995; 1998-2004), 11th Cebu 2nd District Representative, 11th Cebu 2nd District (1969-1971) and 10th 3rd District Representative (1995-1998), 21st Mayor of Cebu City (1986-1987, OIC), and Mayor of Toledo (2013-2019). (Cebu City)
- Ernesto Herrera - Senator (1987-1998). (Samboan)
- Sergio "Serge" R. Osmeña III - Senator (1995-2007; 2010-2016), Chair of the Senate Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies Committee (2010-2016) and Chair of the Senate Energy Committee (2010-2016).
International positions
[edit]
- Julio A. Llorente — 1st Governor of Cebu (1899–1901), Governor of Samar (1902–1903), and Vice President of the Cebu Provincial Council (1898-1899). (Argao)
- Juan Clímaco — 2nd Governor of Cebu (1902–1906). (Toledo City)
- Manuel A. Roa — 5th Governor of Cebu (1912–1922). (Cebu City)
- Arsenio Climaco — 6th Governor of Cebu (1922–1930). (Toledo City)
- Buenaventura Rodriguez — 9th Governor of Cebu (1937–1940), 5th Cebu 1st District Representative, and Provincial Board Member (1921-1931). (Bogo City)
- Hilario Abellana — 10th Governor of Cebu (1941–1943) and Cebu 2nd District Representative (1934-1941); executed by the Imperial Japanese Army. (Cebu City)
- Jose Delgado — 11th Governor of Cebu (1943–1944), Cebu Assemblyman (1943-44), and 3rd Mayor of Cebu City.
- Jose Leyson — 12th Governor of Cebu (1944–1945) and Cebu Assemblyman (1943-44). (Cebu City)
- Fructuoso Cabahug — 13th Governor of Cebu (1945–1946). (Mandaue City)
- Jose Briones — 16th Governor of Cebu (1955–1961) and 10th Cebu 2nd District Representative. (Mandaue City)
- Osmundo Genson Rama (1914-1998) — 19th Governor of Cebu (1969–1976; 1986–1988), 5th Vice Governor of Cebu (1968-1969), and Cebu City Councilor (1955-1963). (Cebu City)
- Eduardo Gullas — 20th Governor of Cebu (1976–1986), 10th Cebu 1st District Representative (1992-2001; 2004-2013; 2019-2022), 8th Cebu 3rd District Representative (1969-1972), and Mayor of Talisay City (2001-2004; 2016-2019). (Talisay City)
- Vicente dela Serna — Governor of Cebu (1992–1995) and 9th Cebu 6th District Representative. (Butuan City, Agusan del Norte)
- Pablo Paras Garcia — 23rd Governor of Cebu (1995–2004), 6th Vice Governor of Cebu (1969-1971), and Cebu 2nd District (2007-2013) and 3rd District Representative (1987-1995). (Dumanjug)
- Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia — 24th Governor of Cebu (2004–2012 and 2019–2025). (Cebu City)
- Agnes Almendras Magpale — Acting Governor of Cebu (2012-2013), 16th Vice Governor of Cebu, Mayor of Danao City (2001-2010; 2013-2022; . (Danao City)
- Hilario Perez Davide III — 26th Governor of Cebu (2013–2019), 17th Vice Governor of Cebu (2019-2025). (Cebu City)
- Joaquin Ortega - (1868 - 1943) 2nd Governor of La Union (1901-1904). Lieutenant Governor of Abra (1904-1914). (Cebu City)
- Gedeon Gador Quijano — Governor of Misamis Occidental (1946-1967). (Alcantara)
- Pamela Silagan Baricuatro — 27th Governor of Cebu. (2025–present) (Pinamungajan)
- Ramon "Nito" Duterte Durano III - 8th Vice Governor of Cebu (1980-1984), Cebu 5th District Representative (1987-1988), Mayor (2001-2010; 2013-2022) and Mayor-elect (2025) of Danao City, and Vice Mayor of Danao City (2010-2013; 2022-Present).
- See also: Legislative districts of Cebu, Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City for constituencies
- Tomas Noel Alonso - 3rd Cebu 7th District (1914-1919) and 3rd Cebu 5th District Representative (1928-1931).
- Vicente Sarmiento Urgello - 2nd Cebu 3rd District Representative (1916-1922). (Carcar)
- Miguel Garces Raffiñan - 3rd Cebu 6th District Representative (1916-1922; 1931-1934; 1939-1941) and 9th Mayor of Cebu City (1947-1951).
- Nicolas Mercado Rafols - 4th Cebu 6th District Representative (1922-1925; 1928-1931; 1934-1938; 1945-1947). (Toledo City)
- Tereso Mondigo Dosdos - 6th Cebu 1st District Representative (1934-35; 1938-1941); known for being the first Municipal Court Judge and Registrar of Deeds of Cebu, and the first lawyer from Borbon, Cebu
- Agustin Yreneo Kintanar - 5th Cebu 3rd District (1935-1938) and 4th 4th District Representative (1934-1935; 1938-1941; 1935-1949)
- Maximo Jaen Noel - 3rd Cebu 3rd District Representative (1938-1941; 1945-1949; 1953-1965), 3rd District Provincial Board Member (1921-1925), Mayor of Carcar (1916-1922), and Member of the Carcar Municipal Council (until 1916).
- Roque Villarino Desquitado - 7th Cebu 7th District Representative (1939-1941). (Bantayan)
- Jose Chiong Veloso Rodriguez - 8th Cebu 7th District Representative (1945-1949) and 11th Mayor of Cebu City (1951-1952).
- Leandro Aballe Tojong - 5th Cebu 5th District (1946-1949) and 8th Cebu 2nd District Representative (1949-1952) and 5th Mayor of Cebu City (1945-1946). (Ginatilan)
- Primitivo Nacario Sato - 6th Cebu 3rd District Representative (1949-1953). (Carcar)
- Nicolas Gandiongco Escario - 9th Cebu 7th District Representative (1950-1957), 6th Mayor of Cebu City (1945-1946). (Bantayan)
- Isidro Casamura Kintanar - 7th Cebu 4th District Representative (1953-1968) and Mayor of Argao (1952-1954).
- Santiago Villagonzalo Lucero - 7th Cebu 6th District Representative (1953-1956) and Mayor of Ronda (1934-1936).
- Crisologo Andrade Abines - 12th Cebu 2nd District Representative (1987-1998) and Mayor of Santander, Cebu.
- Raul Veloso del Mar - 1st Cebu City North District Representative. (1987-1998; 2001-2010; 2013-2020)
- Nerissa Soon-Ruiz - 10th Cebu 6th District Representative (1992-1998; 2001-2010) and Mandaue City Councilor. (2019-2025)
- Nancy Roa Cuenco - 2nd Cebu City South District Representative. (1998-2001)
- Raoul Borromeo del Mar - 2nd Cebu City North District Representative. (1998-2001)
- Joy Augustus Go Young - PROMDI Representative (1998-2001), 17th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (2010-2013)
- Jose "Dodong" Rivera Gullas - 11th Cebu 1st District Representative (2001-2004)
- Ramon "Red" Hotchkiss Durano VI - Cebu 5th District Representative (2005-2013; 2016-2019) and Vice Mayor of Danao City (2013-2016)
- Benhur Lago Salimbangon - 11th Cebu 4th District Representative (2007-2010; 2010-2019) and 4th District Board Member (1992-1998). (Medellin)
- Pablo John Garcia - 3rd District Representative (2007-2013; 2019–present) (Cebu City)
- Tomas "Tommy" de la Rama Osmeña - 3rd Cebu City South District Representative (2010-2013), 24th Mayor of Cebu City (1987-1995; 2001-2010; 2016–2019), and Vice Mayor-elect of Cebu City. (2025)
- Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Romualdez Quisumbing - 12th Cebu 6th District Representative (2010-2016), 20th Mayor of Mandaue (2016-2019). (Mandaue City)
- Rachel "Cutie" Borromeo Del Mar - 3rd Cebu City North District Representative. (2010-2013; 2022-Present)
- Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellana Abellanosa - Cebu City South District Representative. (2013-2022)
- Wilfredo "Willy" Sardido Caminero - 15th Cebu 2nd District Representative (2013-2022), 2nd District Provincial Board Member (2007-2022), and Mayor (1998-2007), Vice Mayor (1992-1998), and Municipal Councilor (1988-1992) of Argao
- Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Vargas Gullas Jr. - 12th Cebu 1st District Representative (2013-2019), Mayor of Talisay City (2019-Present).
- Jonas Cabungcal Cortes - 13th Cebu 6th District Representative (2016-2019) and 19th Mayor of Mandaue (2007-2016; 2019-2024)
- Peter John Durano Calderon - 13th Cebu 7th District Representative (2016-2025), 2nd District Provincial Board Member (2007-2016), and Mayor of Samboan. (2001-2007)
- Vincent Franco "Duke" Domingo Frasco - Deputy House Speaker (2025–present), Cebu 5th District Representative (2019-Present), and Mayor of Liloan (2007-2016)
- Edsel Amatong Galeos — 16th Cebu 2nd District Representative (2022–Present), 2nd District Provincial Board Member (2016-2022), and Mayor of Argao. (2007-2016)
- Emmarie Dolores "Lolypop" Mabanag Ouano-Dizon (b. 1970) — 14th Cebu 6th District Representative (2019-2022), 1st Mandaue City Lone District Representative (2022-Present), and Mandaue City Councilor (2010–2016)
- Sonny Avado Lagon - Ako Bisaya Partylist Representative and 1st Nominee (2019-Present)
- Janice Zamora Salimbangon - 13th Cebu 4th District Representative (2019-2025)
- Maria Cynthia "Cindi" King Chan — 4th Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative (2022-Present) and Mayor-elect of Lapu-Lapu City (2025)
- Daphne Lagon - 15th Cebu 6th District Representative (2022-Present)
- Junard "Ahong" Quirante Chan — 5th Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative (2025—present) and Mayor of Lapu-Lapu City (2019-Present)
- Karen Hope Flores Garcia (b. 1974) — 14th Cebu 3rd District Representative (2025–present)
Mayors and Vice Mayors
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City and municipal councilors
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Non-government officials
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- Christian Araneta - a Filipino professional boxer. He has won five consecutive fights, with four coming inside the distance, since his loss to Nontshinga in April 2021. (Cebu City)
- Mark Anthony Barriga - a professional boxer who challenged for the IBF mini-flyweight title in 2018. He represented Philippines at the 2012 Summer Olympics, reaching the round of 16 of the light-flyweight bracket. (Danao City)
- Bert Batawang - a professional boxer. Throughout his career, Batawang achieved notable success in both local and international boxing, winning several titles including the Philippines Boxing Federation (PBF) Light Flyweight title. He also fought for the IBF Light Flyweight World Championship but fell short in his attempt against Mexican boxer Ulises Solis in 2007. (Cebu City)
- Dominador Calumarde - a professional boxer who competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics and 1968 Summer Olympics. (Cebu City)
- Kevin Jake Cataraja - a professional boxer. He is the current Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Super Flyweight champion. (Cebu City)
- Frank Cedeno - is a British-Filipino former professional boxer in the Flyweight division. (Talisay City)
- Arlo Chavez - a boxer who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He is a gold medalist in the Asian Amateur Boxing Championships and is the most successful Filipino boxer in the Southeast Asian Games with four gold medals. (Bantayan)
- Eric Chavez - former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1998. He held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight title from 1989 to 1990. (Talisay City)
- Ronald Chavez - former professional boxer who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and is currently one of the coaches of the Philippine national boxing team. (Bantayan)
- Gabriel "Flash" Elorde - a professional boxer considered one of the best Filipino boxers of all time. He won the lineal super featherweight title in 1960 and he won the inaugural WBC and WBA super featherweight titles in 1963. (Bogo City)
- Rocky Fuentes - professional boxer. Throughout his career, he held several regional titles, including the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight title and the Philippines Games and Amusement Board (GAB) flyweight title. (Cebu City)
- Mercito Gesta - a professional boxer who challenged for the IBF lightweight title in 2012 and the WBA lightweight title in 2018. At regional level he held the WBO-NABO lightweight title in 2018. (Mandaue City)
- Rodel Mayol - a former professional boxer and the former WBC Light Flyweight World Champion. (Mandaue City)
- Joe Noynay - a Filipino professional boxer, who held the WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight title between 2019 and 2022. (Bogo City)
- Felipe Nunag - also known as Boy Nunag, a Filipino boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin. (Balamban)
- Rolando Pascua - a former professional boxer. He held the WBC light-flyweight title from 1990 to 1991 and challenged for the IBF super-flyweight title in 1993. (Cebu City)
- Jhack Tepora - is a professional boxer who is the former interim World Boxing Association Featherweight champion. (Cebu City)
- Malcolm Tuñacao - a professional southpaw boxer in the flyweight division. He is a former WBC and lineal flyweight champion. (Mandaue City)
- Bernabe Villacampo - was a Philippine boxer who took the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a fifteen round Unanimous Decision on 1969 against Hiroyuki Ebihara. (Toledo City)
Fashion and designs
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Agricultural Science
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Environmental Science
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- Dioscoro S. Rabor - also known as Joe Rabor. An ornithologist, zoologist, and conservationist. Known as the "Father of Philippine Wildlife Conservation", he led more than 50 wildlife expeditions in the Philippines, authored 87 scientific papers and articles, and described 69 new bird taxa and numerous mammal species. (Cebu City)
- Anna Oposa - is a marine conservationist and co-founder of NGO Save Philippine Seas (SPS), an organization that aims to protect coastal and marine environments through education and community-based projects. She helped create the first shark sanctuary in the Philippines and helped designate the thresher shark as a nationally protected species. (Cebu City)
Pageant titleholders
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- Lapu-Lapu - First Hero in the Philippines
- Leon Kilat - Hero in the Philippine Revolution
- Arcadio Maxílom - a Filipino teacher and hero of the Philippine Revolution (Tuburan)
- Potenciano Aliño - Revolutionary, together with his brothers Felix, Hilario and Sulpicio fought as revolutionaries against the Spanish colonial rule. (Talisay City)
Notable people with roots from Cebu
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- Pedro Yap (1918–2003) - 17th Chief Justice of the Philippines (1988), 110th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1986-1988), and Member of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (1986); was born in San Isidro, Leyte, but took his secondary education in Abellana National School.
- Napoleon Abueva (1930–2018) - sculptor, he was known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture". He was proclaimed as National Artist of the Philippines for sculpture in 1976. (His mother Purificación Veloso was from Tuburan, Cebu)
- Val Sotto (born 1945) - an actor, singer, composer, comedian and politician. He was one of the lead vocalists of the Filipino band VST & Company. (His father was from Cebu)
- Rodrigo Duterte (born 1945) - 16th President of the Philippines (His father was from Danao City, Cebu)
- Eddie Peregrina (1945–1977) - a singer and matinee idol of the 1970s. Dubbed as "The Original Jukebox King". (His mother is from Cebu)
- Tito Sotto (born 1948) - politician, actor, entertainer and athlete who served as the 23rd Senate President from 2018 to 2022. (His father was from Cebu)
- Vic Sotto (born 1954) - an actor, comedian and television personality. He is known for playing comedic roles in television sitcoms and films. He is also one of the three pioneer hosts of Eat Bulaga! with Tito Sotto and Joey De Leon. (His father was from Cebu)
- Mat Ranillo III (born 1956) - a Filipino-born American actor. (His mother Gloria Sevilla was from Cebu)
- Kirk Hammett (born 1962) - American musician who has been the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983 (his mother Teofila Oyao have roots from Cebu).
- Francis Magalona (1964–2009) - Actor and musician, known as the "Filipino King of Rap" (His mother was from Cebu City)
- Mitoy Yonting (born 1970) - Singer, comedian and actor. He was the winner of the first season of The Voice of the Philippines in 2013. (his mother is from Ginatilan, Cebu)
- Tina Paner (born 1971) - Actress and singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
- Ruffa Gutierrez (born 1974) - Actress and beauty queen, was Miss World 1993 2nd Runner Up (her mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Ian Veneracion (born 1975) - Actor, athlete, pilot, singer (his mother is from Lilo-an, Cebu)
- Sara Duterte (born 1978) - lawyer and politician who is the 15th and current vice president of the Philippines. (Her parents Rodrigo Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman have roots in Danao City and Tuburan, Cebu)
- Manny Pacquiao (born 1978) - Senator and Eight Division World Boxing Champion (His father was from Pinamungahan, Cebu)
- Rafael Rosell (born 1982) - Actor (His father is a Cebuano geologist)
- Richard Gutierrez (born 1984) - Actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Raymond Gutierrez (born 1984) - A host, editor, columnist, endorser, entrepreneur, and occasional actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Krista Ranillo (born 1984) - Filipino actress (Her grandmother Gloria Sevilla was from Cebu)
- Bruno Mars (born 1985) - American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. (His mother, Bernadette San Pedro Bayot, was born in Cebu, but her family moved to Hawaii when she was a young girl)
- Darren Criss (born 1987) - American actor, singer, and songwriter (His mother was from Cebu)
- Danita Paner (born 1989) - Actress and pop-rock singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
- Janine Gutierrez (born 1989) - Actress (her grandmother, Pilita Corrales is from Cebu)
- Terrence Romeo (born 1992) - Professional basketball player. (His father is from Boljoon, Cebu)
- Jovit Baldivino (1993–2022)- Singer and actor. He was the first winner of Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010.(his father is from Dalaguete, Cebu)
- Shawn Wasabi (born 1994) - American singer and record producer from Salinas, California. He is credited as a co-inventor of the Midi Fighter 64, a custom musical software controller. (His mother was from Cebu)
- Kriesha Chu (born 1998) - Filipino-American singer and actress based in South Korea. She debuted as a solo K-pop artist under Urban Works Media entertainment with her single "Trouble" in 2017. (Her parents are from Cebu)
- Wendy Woo - a singer/songwriter in Colorado. She is also known for her guitar work, especially using her acoustic guitar as a percussion instrument. Woo is one of a small number of Colorado performers to win the Westword Music Awards five times. (Her father, of Filipino/Chinese descent, was born in Cebu City and immigrated to New York City in 1964).
- Tia Carrere - An American actress and singer who got her first big break as a regular on the daytime soap opera General Hospital. (Her father was born and raised in Cebu).
- Alan Frei - a curler, entrepreneur and economist. (His mother is Cebuana)
- Angela Beard - a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Damallsvenskan club AIK and the Philippines national team. (Her mother is from Cebu)
- Jake Jarman - a British artistic gymnast competing internationally for Great Britain, and for England at the Commonwealth Games. In his first major senior championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Jarman won the gold medal in the team all-around, individual all-around, floor exercise and vault, the first English male gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Games. (His mother is from Cebu).