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<!-- Do NOT change spelling of words from British to American English. More than likely, if you think a word is misspelled, it is not. Check [[American and British English spelling differences]] and take it to the articles talk page before changing. -->
{{Infobox Philippine city |
{{current|date=June 2007}}
infoboxtitle = City of Cebu |
{{Infobox terrorist attack
sealfile = Ph seal cebucity.gif |
|title=2007 London Car Bombs
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_cebu_cebu.png |
|image=Haymarket car bomb.jpg
caption = Map of [[Cebu]] showing the ___location of Cebu City |
|caption=The Mercedes-Benz on Haymarket covered by a tent
region = [[Central Visayas]] (Region VII) |
|___location=[[London, UK|London]], [[United Kingdom]]
province = [[Cebu]] (capital) |
|target=[[Haymarket (London)|Haymarket]],<br>[[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]]
districts = 1st and 2nd districts of Cebu City |
founded|date=[[29 =June]] [[15652007]] |
|time-begin=
barangays = 80 |
|time-end=
class = 1st class city; highly urbanized |
|timezone=|type=Attempted [[car bomb]]s
mayor = Tomas Osmeña |
|injuries= 0
cityhood = [[February 24]], [[1937]] |
|perps=Unknown number, identities as yet unknown
areakm2 = 291.2 |
|Status=Not successful
pop2000 = 718,821 |
popden2000 = 2565.4 |
coordinates = 10°17' N 123°54' E |
website = [http://www.cebucity.gov.ph www.cebucity.gov.ph]
}}
On '''[[29 June]] [[2007]]''', '''two unexploded [[car bomb]]s''' were discovered in '''[[London]]''', in the '''[[United Kingdom]]'''. The first device was found near the [[Tiger Tiger (nightclub)|Tiger Tiger]] [[nightclub]] in [[Haymarket (London)|Haymarket]]. The device was removed and later disassembled by explosives officers. Several reports were made to the [[Metropolitan Police Service|police]], including one from an [[paramedic|ambulance crew]] that saw what looked like smoke in the car (which later transpired to be petrol evaporating) some time after 01:25 ([[Western European Summer Time|BST]]) after being called to the nightclub to attend to a man who had fallen over and suffered a minor head injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272962,00.html | title=Bomb Attempt: Police Briefing |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Sky News]]}}</ref> The car was a [[1989]]<ref name=CNNPhoto>{{cite news|url=http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/interactive/world/0706/gallery.london.scare/images/super.patiogas.weir.jpg | title=Car registration plate (G-prefix indicates 1989) |date=[[2007-06-29]]}}</ref> light metallic green [[Mercedes-Benz W124|Mercedes 300E]] [[sedan|saloon]].
The '''City of Cebu''' is the provincial capital of [[Cebu]] in the [[Philippines]] and is the second most important metropolitan center in the country. The [[Cities of the Philippines|city]] lies on the eastern shore of the [[Cebu Island|island of Cebu]] and is the oldest city in the country. It is the country's main shipping hub and is home to more than 80% of the country's interisland shipping companies. Cebu is also the main hub, outside of the capital, of international flights into the country and is the most important center of commerce, trade, and industry in the [[Visayas]] and [[Mindanao]], the southern parts of the country. It is because of this and other important aspects that Cebu City is dubbed the ''Queen City of the South''. It has positioned itself as the ''Island in the Pacific''. According to the official 2000 census, it has a population of 718,821 people in 147,600 households.
Around 04:00 there were reports that two large gas canisters and a large number of nails had been found in the car.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm | title=Police avert car bomb "carnage" |date=[[2007-06-29]] |work =[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref name=Skynews-1>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272910,00.html | title=Two Bombs Were Set To Blow In London |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Sky News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,70131-1272919,00.html | title=Sky News Pictures - London bomb scare|date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Sky News]]}}</ref> The second device was left in a blue [[Mercedes-Benz W123|Mercedes-Benz]] [[sedan|saloon car]] in nearby Cockspur Street,<ref name=BBC1>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255960.stm | title=Two car bombs found in West End|date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[BBC]]}}</ref> but was not discovered until after the car had been towed away as it was found to be illegally parked.<ref name=Telegraph1>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/29/nbomb1029.xml | author=Duncan Gardham and Sally Peck
Cebu City is the center of a [[metropolitan area]] called [[Metro Cebu]], which includes the cities of [[Mandaue City|Mandaue]], [[Lapu-Lapu City|Lapu-Lapu]], and [[Talisay City, Cebu|Talisay]]. Metro Cebu has a total population of more than 2 million people. The [[Mactan-Cebu International Airport]], located in [[Lapu-Lapu City]] is only a twenty-minute drive away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are [[Mandaue City]] and the town of [[Consolacion, Cebu|Consolacion]], to the west are [[Toledo City, Cebu|Toledo City]], the towns of [[Balamban, Cebu|Balamban]], and [[Asturias, Cebu|Asturias]], to the south are [[Talisay City, Cebu|Talisay City]] and the town of [[Minglanilla, Cebu|Minglanilla]]. Across [[Mactan Strait]] to the east is [[Mactan Island]] where [[Lapu-Lapu City]] is located.
| title=Second car bomb found in London's West End|date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Telegraph]]}}</ref>
<!--These events took place two days after [[Gordon Brown]] became the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and one day after [[Home Secretary]] [[Jacqui Smith]] took office, a week before the second anniversary of the [[7 July 2005 London bombings|2005 London bombings]] and a day before a [[Pride London|gay pride march]] was to take place along the street where the first bomb was found.-->
==History==
[[Image:Magellan_cross_renovation02.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Magellans Cross kiosk.]]
[[Image:03_heritage_monument.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The Heritage of Cebu Monument in Parian.]]
Cebu, or Sugbu, was already a prosperous settlement before it was colonized by [[Spain]]. It had trade relations with [[China]] and the other countries of [[Southeast Asia]].
==Timeline==
On [[April 7]], [[1521]], [[Ferdinand Magellan]] landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by [[Rajah Humabon]], who, together with his wife and about 800 natives, were baptized by the Spaniards on [[April 14]], [[1521]] and are considered to be the first Filipino Catholics. Magellan, however, failed to successfully claim the Philippines for the crown of Spain, having been slain in neighboring [[Mactan Island]] on [[April 27]], [[1521]] by the chieftain [[Lapu-lapu]].
[[Image:The Haymarket London.jpg|thumb|Haymarket]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Time (UTC+1)!!Event
|-
! colspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [[29 June]] [[2007]]
|-
| '''01:25'''
| [[London Ambulance Service]] crew report seeing smoke in a car parked in [[Haymarket (London)|Haymarket]]. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen the car being driven "erratically" and then crashing into bins, after which the driver got out and ran off.<ref name=BBC/>
|-
| '''02:00'''
| [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police officers]] investigate the vehicle and cordon off the area.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm | title=Police avert car bomb "carnage" |date=[[2007-06-29]] |work =[[BBC News]]}}</ref>
|-
| '''02:30'''
| A second car is found illegally parked in Cockspur Street, near Trafalgar Square.<ref name=BBC2>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6256386.stm | title=London car bombs timeline |date=[[2007-06-30]] |work =[[BBC News]]}}</ref>
|-
| '''03:30'''
| The second car is taken to a car pound in Park Lane. Police manually disable a device in the first car.<ref name=BBC2/>
|-
| '''04:00'''
| A witness sees the police removing gas canisters from the car.
|-
| '''08:00'''
| [[Piccadilly Circus tube station|Piccadilly Circus Underground station]] is closed.
|-
| '''10:25'''
| The car is taken from Haymarket and sent to the [[Dstl|Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's]] research site at [[Fort_Halstead|Fort Halstead]] in [[Kent|Kent]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kentnews.co.uk//kent-news/Fort-Halstead-probes-car-in-London-security-scare-newsinkent4217.aspx | title=Fort Halstead probes car in London security scare |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Kent News]]}}</ref>
|-
| '''10:30'''
| The government's [[Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms|COBR]] committee meets to discuss the issue. Piccadilly Circus Underground station is reopened.
|-
| '''14:30'''
|[[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]] is closed off after a second suspect vehicle is discovered in an underground car park.<ref name=parklane>{{cite news|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070629/tuk-britain-attacks-alert-a7ad41d.html | title=Central London street sealed off amid new alert |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Yahoo! News]]}}</ref>
|-
| '''15:45'''
|A police bomb investigation robot is seen near the entrance to the car park.<ref name=parklane />
|-
| '''17:00'''
|Police cordon off [[Fleet Street]] after finding a third suspicious vehicle.
|-
|'''18:00'''
|Fleet Street re-opens after nothing is found in the vehicle.
|-
|'''19:00'''
|Police confirm that a second device has been located at the Park Lane site.<ref name=Telegraph1 />
|-
| '''20:45'''
|Police confirm that both vehicles were packed with nails, petrol and gas cylinders.<ref name=BBC2/>
|}
==First bomb==
On [[April 27]], [[1565]], [[Miguel López de Legazpi]], with Augustinian Friar [[Andrés de Urdaneta]], landed in Cebu. Legazpi renamed the city on [[January 1]], [[1571]], from San Miguel to Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. During this six year period, Cebu City was the capital of the newly established Spanish colony.
[[Image:Tiger Tiger Haymarket.jpg|thumb|[[Tiger Tiger (nightclub)|Tiger Tiger nightclub]] in Haymarket.]]
{{seealso|Manila Galleon}}
The vehicle has been reported to have contained 60 litres of [[Gasoline|petrol]], [[gas cylinder]]s, and [[Nail (engineering)|nail]]s.<ref>BBC News: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6253802.stm Q&A: Car bomb investigation], July 29, 2007</ref> [[Scotland Yard]] has reported that while the gas contained in the canisters and the quantity of the canisters remains unknown, they do not wish to increase speculation and that further details will be given after they have been analysed by [[Forensic science | forensic]] experts. The head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command said, "It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been serious injury or loss of life."<ref name=BBC /> However, the device could not have detonated, because it lacked an oxidizer, according to a columnist for The Register (UK).<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/29/more_fear_biscuits_please/</ref><ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/02/terror_idiocy_outbreak/</ref> This information may have originated from an interview of former [[CIA]] counter-terrorism officer Larry Johnson, conducted by [[Keith Olbermann]] of MSNBC on 29 June. <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK5-jIfOBjQ&eurl=</ref>
According to ''[[Sky News]]'', the gas cylinders contained [[propane]] gas, used for patio heaters.<ref name=Skynews-1>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272910,00.html | title=Two Bombs Were Set To Blow In London |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Sky News]]}}</ref>
The province of Cebu was created under Act No. 2711 on [[March 10]], [[1917]]. It is the home province of [[Sergio Osmeña]] who succeeded [[Manuel L. Quezon]] as Commonwealth president during [[World War II]].
==Second bomb==
In December [[2006]], Cebu City will co-host the [[ASEAN Summit]] along with neighboring [[Mandaue City]] and [[Lapu-Lapu City]].
A second bomb was later found in a blue [[Mercedes-Benz W123|Mercedes-Benz 280E]]<ref name=BBC2/> believed to have been left in the same area at around the same time. The illegally-parked car received a parking ticket in Cockspur Street at 02:30. At about 03:30 the car was transported to the Park Lane car pound. Staff left the car in a public area after smelling petrol fumes and alerted police on hearing about the first bomb.<ref name=Telegraph1>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/29/nbomb1029.xml | title=Second car bomb found in London's West End|date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref name=BBC-A>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255452.stm | title=
Police hunt for London car bomber
|date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[BBC News]]}}</ref>
==GeographySuspects==
U.S. officials told [[NBC News]] that three men have been identified and are believed to be from [[Birmingham]]. Furthermore, the network reported that one of the three men could be an associate of [[Dhiren Barot]], an [[India]]n [[Conversion to Islam|convert to Islam]] who was sentenced to life in prison last year for plotting to fill limousines with explosives similar to those found in these incidents and park them in garages beneath hotels and office complexes. Bharot, whom police described as a high-level [[al-Qaeda]] operative, also planned to attack five financial landmarks in the United States: the [[New York Stock Exchange]] and the [[Citigroup Tower]] in [[New York City]]; the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]], both in [[Washington, D.C.]]; and the [[Prudential Financial|Prudential Building]] in [[Newark, New Jersey]]. [[Scotland Yard]] are denying claims from a report by [[ABC News]] that police had a "crystal clear" picture of one suspect from [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] footage.<ref>MSNBC and NBC News: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19516724/ U.K. police hunt for London car bomb plotters], June 30, 2007</ref>
Cebu City has a land area of 291.2 km². Of this, 55.9 km² is classified as urban, while 235.2 km² is classified as rural. Its geographic coordinates are {{coor dms|10|17|0|N|123|54|0|E|}}. To the northeast of the city are [[Mandaue City]] and the town of [[Consolacion, Cebu|Consolacion]], to the west are [[Toledo City, Cebu|Toledo City]], the towns of [[Balamban, Cebu|Balamban]], and [[Asturias, Cebu|Asturias]], to the south are [[Talisay City, Cebu|Talisay City]] and the town of [[Minglanilla, Cebu|Minglanilla]]. Across [[Mactan Strait]] to the east is [[Mactan Island]] where [[Lapu-Lapu City]] is located.
A 27-year-old doctor Mohammed Haneef was arrested at Brisbane Airport on 2 July in connection with the bombings in the UK. The doctor works at the [[Gold Coast Hospital]] and is believed to be a junior doctor from India. He was arrested while trying to board a flight with a one way ticket to [[Bangalore]], India, apparently to visit his newly born daughter. The arrest followed information received from the UK. <ref>Daily Telegraph July 5 [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/05/nterror205.xml]</ref> A second doctor was detained at the Gold Coast Hospital by police on 3 July 2007 and was later released.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
The city is politically subdivided into 80 [[barangay]]s. These are grouped into two [[congressional districts]], with 46 barangays in the northern district and 34 barangays in the southern district.
==CultureAftermath==
A spokesperson for [[Pride London]] stated that the route of their [[gay pride]] march, set for [[30 June]] [[2007]], would be unchanged although extra precautions such as removing bins would be implemented.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pridelondon.org/ | title=Car bomb found in London |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Pride London]]}}</ref> The police do not think the attacks were targeted at the event. Other suspicious vehicles in [[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]] and [[Fleet Street]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2919779720070629 | author=Peter Graff and Mark Trevelyan| title=Police find two car bombs in central London |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Reuters UK]]}}</ref> were investigated by police, as well as reports of suspicious cars in other areas of the UK, such as [[Warrington]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6253720.stm | title=Police lift town exclusion zone |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> which suffered a [[Warrington bomb attacks|1993 bomb attack]] by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]].{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
The city is an important cultural center in the [[Philippines]]. The city's most famous landmark is [[Magellan's Cross]]. This cross, now housed in a chapel, was supposedly planted by [[Ferdinand Magellan]] when he arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521. It was encased in hollow ''tindalo'' wood in [[1835]] upon the order of the Augustinian Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon to prevent devotees from taking it home chip by chip. The same bishop restored the present template, or kiosk, located at the present Magellan street between City Hall and Colegio del Santo Niño. Revered by the Cebuanos, the Cross of Magellan is a symbol of the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines.
Office workers, students and tourists were still enjoying a Friday night out in London only hours after the discovery of the bombs. Bars and clubs remained open and [[Mayor of London|London mayor]] [[Ken Livingstone]] urged the capital's communities to work together to defeat the terrorism threat.<ref>Rupert Neate, Rachel Williams and Helen Pidd: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2115283,00.html Bomb alerts and travel chaos fail to deter West End revellers], ''The Guardian'', June 30, 2007</ref>
A few walks away from the Magellan's Cross is the [[Basilica Minore del Santo Niño]], an Augustinian church which was elevated to the rank of minor basilica in 1965 during the 400th year celebrations of the Christianization of the Philippines held in Cebu. The church, which was the first to be established in the islands, is currently built of hewn stone and features the country's oldest relic, the image of the [[Santo Niño de Cebu]].
Security at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] was increased as a result of the incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=89624 | author=AP| title=Security increased at Wimbledon due to terrorist threat |date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[Tennis.com]]}}</ref> [[Her Majesty's Government|Whitehall]] sources later stated that "international elements" were believed to be involved with the bomb.<ref name=BBC/> Police claim to have a "crystal clear" picture of the driver of the first car and suspect he may be an individual formerly detained in relation to the [[2004_Financial_buildings_plot|case]] of convicted terrorist Dhiren Barot.<ref name="Barot">Brian Ross and Richard Esposito: [http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/06/terror-plot-inv.html Terror Plot Involves Islamic Extremists; Police Have 'Crystal Clear' Picture of Suspect], ''ABC News'', June 29, 2007</ref> Barot was connected to an earlier "limousine bomb" plot, which also involved cars packed with [[propane]] gas cylinders.<ref name=BBC1/><ref>Dominic Casciani:
===Sinulog===
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6756619.stm The men who made a plot possible], [[BBC]], [[2007-06-15]]</ref> One senior law enforcement official called the event a "terror plot involving [[Islamist terrorism|Islamic extremists]]."<ref name="Barot">Brian Ross and Richard Esposito: [http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/06/terror-plot-inv.html Terror Plot Involves Islamic Extremists; Police Have 'Crystal Clear' Picture of Suspect], ''ABC News'', June 29, 2007</ref>
[[Image:Old_cebu.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A 19th century map of old Cebu (downtown Cebu City).]]
Cebu City is also host to the popular [[Sinulog festival]], held every third Sunday of January in honor of [[Santo Niño]], the "Holy Child". The ''Sinulog'' is a dance ritual of pre-Spanish origin. The dancer moves two steps forward and one step backward to the rhythmic sound of drums. This movement resembles somewhat the current (sulog) of the river. Thus, the Cebuanos called it ''sinulog.'' The dance was meant to honor the ''anitos.''
[[CBS News]] has reported that a message appeared on the widely used [[jihad]]ist [[Internet forum]] [[Al-Hesbah]] at 08:09, [[June 28]] [[2007]], stating: "Today I say: Rejoice, by Allah, London shall be bombed." The message went on to mention the recently announced [[Knighthood of Salman Rushdie|knighthood]] of ''[[The Satanic Verses|Satanic Verses]]'' author [[Salman Rushdie]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/29/terror/main2997517.shtml | author=Tucker Reals |title=Was London Bomb Plot Heralded On Web?|date=[[2007-06-29]]| work =[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
When the Spaniards arrived in Cebu, Magellan offered, as a baptismal gift, to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon and later named Juana, the image of the Santo Niño. With Magellan gone, the natives likewise honored the Santo Niño with their ''sinulog.'' Because the Augustinian missionaries appreciated native culture, the ''sinulog'' was preserved but limited to honoring the Santo Niño. Once the Santo Niño church was built, the faithful started performing the ''sinulog'' in front of the church, the devotees offering candles and the dancers shouting "Pit Señor!"
The following day, in another incident, a [[Jeep Cherokee (XJ)|Jeep Cherokee]] was [[2007 Glasgow International Airport attack|set on fire and driven into the main departure terminal]] of [[Glasgow International Airport]] causing considerable damage. Two men, believed to be of Asian appearance, were arrested at the scene. One, who had been on fire, was taken to a nearby hospital and the other to a police station. [[Home Secretary]] [[Jacqui Smith]] announced that the attack is being treated as a terrorist attack and that the United Kingdom terrorism threat level has been elevated from "Severe" to "Critical", meaning "further attacks are expected imminently". In a press conference Glasgow police said this attack and the car bombs in London are believed to be linked.<ref>BBC News: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6257194.stm Blazing car crashes into airport], June 30, 2007</ref><ref>UK Home Office: [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/current-threat-level/ Current Threat Level]</ref><ref>Mark Townsend, Jo Revill and Paul Kelbie: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2115693,00.html Glasgow attacked as terror threat spreads], ''The Guardian'', June 30, 2007</ref>. The BBC reported that a mobile phone found after the arrest of the Glasgow suspects contained the numbers of those involved in the London bombing attempts. The Metropolitan Police say this is the first evidence they have linking the events.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
During the annual feast of the Santo Niño, the basilica turns into a dancing hall after the solemn mass, with all the devotees executing the ''sinulog''. The dance continues during the procession in front of the ''carroza'' which bears the statue along the streets of Cebu up to late evening.
In the [[United States]] White House press secretary [[Tony Snow]] said "There is no specific or credible evidence of any threat of any kind against the United States of America." [[Homeland Security]] Secretary [[Michael Chertoff]] said there were no immediate plans to raise the U.S. national threat level, now at yellow, or elevated. In [[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] said police would work extra hours in more locations. The police department increased patrols at high profile tourist areas such as [[Times Square]], as well as the subways. Officers were told to give extra attention to parking garages and any suspicious vehicles. After the Glasgow attack patrols were increased at some airports.<ref>AP: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19503746/ U.S. urges vigilance after U.K. bomb defused], ''MSNBC'', June 29, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19524699/ U.S. ‘comfortable’ with terror alert status MSNBC]</ref>
In [[1980]], the city authorities of Cebu made the ''Sinulog'' part and parcel of the religious feast of the Santo Niños. A mardi-gras atmosphere was added, the innovation becoming more colorful each year. The religious and the earthy sometimes overlap each other but, as a whole, there is much fun for Cebuanos and tourists alike who find in the Santo Niño festival that part of every one's childhood that must stay like Santa Claus and halloween.
At approximately 21:30 on [[30 June]], officers of the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] and [[West Midlands Police]] arrested two people at junction 16 on the northbound [[M6 motorway]] near [[Sandbach]] in south Cheshire, blocking the motorway for about 40 minutes.<ref>BBC News: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6257606.stm UK terror threat now 'critical'], July 1, 2007 </ref>
===Arts and entertainment===
[[Gordon Brown]] stated on [[July 1]] that "[it is] clear that we are dealing, in general terms, with people who are associated with al-Qaeda."<ref>BBC News: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6258062.stm ''PM defiant over "al-Qaeda threat"''], July 1, 2007; retrieved [[July 1]] [[2007]]</ref>
Cebu City is renowned for giving birth to some of Asia's greatest entertainers like [[Pilita Corrales]] and [[Lou Dayoc]] (an active local showbiz promoter and host). Most recently the city gained worldwide attention through [[ABS-CBN]]'s facilities when one of its residents, 16-year old [[Kim Chiu]], won the grand prize of the Philippines version of Endemol's Big Brother ([[Pinoy Big Brother]]). Not to be outdone however is [[Raki Vega]] who won another ABS-CBN contest and is now an endorser of Cebuano products. The city also has its own orchestra, the Peace Philharmonic Orchestra, which was founded by international pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria.
On [[July 4]] a suicide note was found that police said belonged to two of the suspects.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/04/london.investigation/index.html UK terror police find suicide note]</ref>
Most recently [[Emmilie Cuizon]], a resident of Cebu City, has been recruited as the newest member of the [[SexBomb Girls]], the largest and most famous girl band of the Philippines.
==References==
The city itself is also home to broadcasted variety shows [[Sabado na Gyud]] (ABS-CBN) and [[Oi]] (GMA Network), which continue to attract millions of televiewers across the entire Visayas and Mindanao.
{{reflist|2}}
== See also ==
There are currently three major local channels (Cebu-based) that features shows and documentaries relevant to the city and the province as well. They are Real Cebu TeleVision RCTV Channel 36 and Cebu Channel 28.
* [[2007 UK terrorist incidents]]
* [[2007 Glasgow International Airport attack]]
===Sports===
* [[21 July 2005 London bombings]]
The city is widely considered as the mecca of sports in the entire Visayas. Placed in charge of the development of resident athletes is the [[Cebu City Sports Commission]] which was founded in 2001. The CCSC designates a special team for every sport, each one being called "Team Cebu City". The [[Philippine Sports Commission]] has its regional office located at the Abellana National High School/Cebu City Sports Center. Notable athletes from Cebu City include [[Richard Bitoon]], [[Bowen Montecillo]], [[Tito Sotto]], and [[Loriz Echavez]].
===Nightlife===
Cebu City is a highly popular destination for sex tourism, even though it is not promoted as such by local authorities due to moral sensitivities. The city has over ten massage parlors and over fifteen massage services reachable by phone.
The most popular massage parlor is [[Finland Massage]], located at Plaridel Street in the downtown area. Controversial for being a prostitution front, Finland contains some of the most modern sauna and spa equipment in the entire Philippines. It also has a wide selection of masseuses, as many as 55 during peak hours. Though controversial, the establishment is under the careful watch and supervision of the city's health department, which strictly prohibits women with sexually transmitted diseases or AIDS from working.
Night clubs are also present in specific areas of the city. Along Maxilom Avenue are Black Hole and Bikini Bar. Along F. Ramos street are Thunderdome and Cobra Bar.
==Government==
{{Main article|Barangays in Cebu City}}
Cebu City is a chartered city and thus is actually independent from Cebu Province. Registered voters of the city cannot vote for provincial candidates unlike its nearby counterparts (Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay cities) that form part of Metro Cebu. It is the capital of the province mainly because the provincial capitol is located in it. There were proposals however during the time of Governor Lito Osmeña to create an "administrative district" that would be independent from Cebu City. This would literally mean carving out Cebu City's Barangay Capitol where the provicial capitol and other provincial offices are located. The plan however didn't push through and was even followed by other proposals like the transfer of the capital to nearby Balamban town.
Cebu City is governed mainly by city hall, composed of one mayor, one vice-mayor and sixteen councilors (eight representing the north and eight representing the south). Each official is elected publicly to 3-year terms. The day to day administration of the city is handled by a city administrator.
Cebu City is politically subdivided into 80 [[barangay]]s. The chief of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) also sits in the city council.
==Economy==
[[Image:Cebu_skyline.jpg|frame|Cebu City Skyline as viewed from the South Road Properties (SRP) Special Economic Zone]]
[[Image:Keppel_and_innove.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Cebu Business Park.]]
Cebu City together with the nearby cities that form part of [[Metro Cebu]] is the most important economic center outside Metro Manila. More than 80% of interisland vessels operating in the country are based there. The city is home to some national and international corporations like Gaisano Group of Companies, Aboitiz Group of Companies, WG&A, Norkis Group of Companies, Bigfoot International, Lexmark Philippines Inc., Alegrado Group of Furniture Companies, Lhuillier Jewellers, Waterfront Hotels Philipedupines Inc., among others. Its international port (cargo and container) is currently the busiest outside Manila. Some homegrown brands in the city have also expanded throughout the past years to find a niche in the national and even in the international market like Penshoppe, Oxygen, Loalde, and Island Souvenirs. Other homegrown brands that have expanded outside the city and province include BO's Coffee Club, Julie's Bakeshop, Orange Brutus, among others.
Not surprisingly international brands have gained a strong following among Cebuano consumers. [[Starbucks]] now enjoys the largest number and the biggest spenders among the city's coffee consumers. [[Kenny Rogers' Roasters]] is attracting an average of 2,000 customers daily. [[Honda]], [[Ford Motors]], [[General Motors]], [[Hyundai]], [[KIA]], [[Nissan]], [[Sony]], [[Panasonic]], [[Philips]], [[Samsung]], [[Toyota]], [[BMW]], [[Volvo]], [[Peugeot]] and [[Mitsubishi]] all have sales and customer services centers around the city.
The city pulses around the old district which is popularly known as downtown area and is regarded as the main central business district. In the years that followed however, and with the city's growth and expansion, the concentration of businesses have expanded outside this downtown area. In 1988, the Cebu Provincial Government sold a vast tract of land that was occupied by a golfcourse to a group of Manila-based businessmen, the Ayalas, who later developed it into what is now the Cebu Business Park. It is a neo central business district credited for altering the city's skyline with the current construction boom in the area. Just nearby is the Asiatown Information Technology (IT) Park, another business district that caters mostly to businesses related to the information technology (IT) industry such as software development, telecommunication, call centers, among others.
In 1998, the city positioned (and promoted) itself as an information technology center, with the popular slogan "Cebu is IT," citing the fact that it's future lies on it. Such an endeavor has bore fruit with the establishment of several information technology zones accredited with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). The Asiatown Information Technology Park, a private initiative, was also a result of this. Investors who would relocate at these IT-designated zones are entitled to several perks.
Certain areas though still have to addressed in order for the city and the rest of the island to sustain its growth in the coming years. Most businessmen have acknowledged that the city must work hard especially with the entry of China in the global playing field.
==Infrastructure==
Cebu City and the rest of the metro areas have all the necessary infrastructures sufficient enough for its pace of urbanization. The city is readily accessible by air via the [[Mactan-Cebu International Airport]] located in [[Lapu-Lapu City]] which has direct flights to [[Hong Kong]], [[Singapore]], [[Japan]], [[Malaysia]], [[Taiwan]], [[Qatar]], and [[South Korea]]. There are also direct transfer flights via the capital's [[NAIA]] that readily connects the city to other destinations in the world. The city mostly gets its power from an interconnection grid with the [[Leyte Geothermal Power Plant]] which also powers majority of the Visayas Islands. There are also coal-fired power plants though these have been controversial due to its impact to the environment. Just recently, a South Korean investor expressed willingness to set-up another coal-fired power plant. Distribution of electricity is provided by the Visayas Electric Company (VECO).
The Port of Cebu is the biggest and main port of entry in the province of Cebu and Central Visayas Region. The port is located at the center of the province's east coast. It is nestled in a natural harbor in the narrow strait between Cebu City and Mactan Island, the latter providing a natural cover and breakwater, making the port one of the safest and operational the whole year round. Its international port is a multipurpose terminal covering an area of 10 hectares with 690 meters of berthing space and a controlling draught of minus 8.5 meters at MLLW. It has direct ports of call with Singapore and Hong Kong. Nearby is the Cebu Baseport - Domestic Zone, an area for the domestic transactions of different business coming from and going to the different island of the achipelago. It is dedicated to coastwise shipping with 3.5 kilometers of berthing space, 3 finger piers and 3 passenger terminals. Operations of the port are handled by the Cebu Port Authority which was created in 1992.
[[Image:Cebu_international_port.gif|thumb|right|300px|Cebu International Port]]
Telecommunication facilities in the city are abundant provided by some of the country's largest telecommunication companies. Connections to the internet are also readily available. Early 2004, the city was piloted by Dominion Wireless which involved the setting up of Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) technology in the uptown area of the city. The company was aiming at connecting the entire Metro Cebu itself to the internet wirelessly through WiFi though certain technical limitations have prevented them from doing so. As of now, only the uptown area (around 1 kilometer radius) is being served by this. Clients with WiFi computers including the portables ones like PDAs can readily connect to the internet wirelessly within these zones. Some coffee shops, hotels and other establishments in the city have also availed themselves of this technology exclusively for their clients.
The city's major roads are currently being overlayed with a fresh layer of asphalt partly in preparation for an upcoming international gathering which will be hosted by Cebu Province. Early 2000, a series of flyovers, around five of them, were proposed by the city's north district representative to congress in order to facilitate traffic in relations to the city's growth and to prevent future clog-ups. Actually, two of the five proposed flyovers have been constructed already; the third of which would have been constructed months ago if not for the opposition of some establishments affected by it. Construction for this third flyover however has been postponed until February 2007 pending further public hearings and consultations and probably a redesign to suit the needs of those who opposed it.
[[Image:Cebucity_skyline01.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Cebu City as captured from a moving ship.]]
A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is being proposed to be up and running in a few months time. This bus system will serve as a test guide if Cebu City and the entire metro itself is ready for a Mass Railway System. Mr. Rogelio Osmeña, an official from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said during a public forum that the city might not yet be ready for a mass railway system considering that its population has gotten used to the popular jeepney. He further clarified that any new forms of a mass transportation system, like a railway, must be introduced step by step. In jeepneys, there are designated loading and unloading areas although in actual practice these can just stop anywhere that pleases the passenger unlike in a railway system where there are fixed stations. An earlier proposal though for a Light Transit System (LRT) has been approved at the committee level in Congress. The local government also needs to address some issues raised by the jeepney drivers who oppose the project.
South of the city is the [[South Road Properties (SRP) Special Economic Zone]], a 330-hectare prime real estate zoned that would house a central business district, a tourism zone, and an industrial area patterned after the nearby Mactan Export Processing Zone. It is actually a reclamation area funded through a Japanese loan, which the city is obliged to pay. It's main thoroughfare is the South Coastal Highway which stretches from downtown Cebu City up to Talisay City down south. A 1.2 kilometer subway tunnel is currently being constructed at the highway's entrance in Cebu City to connect it with Sergio Osmeña Avenue which traverses the North Reclamation Area (the first reclamation area in Cebu City) connecting with Ouano Avenue at the New Mandaue City (another reclamation area) in Mandaue City. Construction of the tunnel was a bit controversial since the original plan was to construct an elevated highway but such a structure would cut through the historic Plaza Independencia and mar the view of another historical structure nearby, the Fort San Pedro, hence the tunnel project.
Marketing of this vast track of land was partly delayed due to a dispute with neighboring Talisay City over ownership of certain parts of the area, which delayed the release of land titles. Construction of inland roads and other basic infrastructures were also delayed because of it. The dispute has somewhat been resolved with the release of the titles to Cebu City. The entire project itself has also been declared as a special economic zone. Construction of the basic infrastructures though have been started by the city.
'''AIM Survey'''
[[Image:Srp_park10.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A four-lane approach to the road tunnel at the South Road Properties (SRP) Special Economic Zone.]]
Despite the ongoing development of new infrastructure projects, the city was graded poorly by participants (composed of residents of Cebu City) of a 2006 survey of the nation's most competitive cities conducted by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), a school based in Metro Manila. In the survey, Cebu City failed to show up among the Top 20 most competitive Philippine cities list. It got a rank of 12th in infrastructure and 9th in dynamism of economy, among the lowest in the listings. A quick reaction was heard espcecially with regards to the scores in infrastructure and dynamism of economy due to the fact that the city had adequate vital infrastructres and a booming economy due to investments in the property market. An official from AIM however noted that one of the reasons for the low score was because the respondents themselves who were residents of the city might have had high expectations of the city.
The city still remains the country's top investment site as revealed by Mr. Donald Dee, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during the recently concluded Cebu Business Month participated by various businessmen nationwide. Also, the entire island of Cebu (see Cebu Province) was judged for the second time by the UK-based Condenast Travellers Magazine as the 8th best island in the Asia-Pacific (November 2005).
'''IDEA analysis of AIM survey'''
Directly relating with the AIM survey, the Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis Inc. (IDEA) analyzed that Cebu City's fast growth has resulted in an irony of sorts as the Queen City of the South slipped below the top five most competitive cities in the country last year, losing its former spot to Davao.
Veteran economist Cayetano Paderanga Jr., head of the team, stated that the city's ranking suggests that businessmen continues to have "anxieties" about "congestion in roads, water and others."
He also stated that concerned local governments must invest in needed infrastructure to address issues raised by the business sector.
Despite the setback however, Paderanga declares that "Cebu is still a fast growing city," and that its speedy growth led to economic development overtaking the city's infrastructure.
In the AIM survey, Davao replaced Cebu in the top five most competitive metro cities in the country. The other four are Las Piñas, Makati, Marikina and Muntinlupa. Cebu City finished last of 12 metro cities in terms of infrastructure but landed first of the same 12 cities surveyed in terms of linkages and accessibility [http://www.philstar.com/philstar/freeman200607282001.htm].
==Healthcare==
[[Image:ChongHuaHospital.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Chong Hua Hospital]]
There are currently four large, and privately owned, tertiary hospitals operating in the city that are modern and of international standards. Other tertiary hospitals can also be found within the metro area. There are three government hospitals, one run by the city, the other which is the biggest is run by the province, while the third which is a mother and child hospital is directly under the Department of Health. The city however just like any other in the country is rapidly experiencing a shortage of skilled nurses due to the high demand abroad where compensation is attractive. Most of the nurses already working in the hospitals have only a few years of training, some are even fresh graduates. Despite the fact that the country produces thousands of nurses annually, the turnover is still high with even some fresh graduates working for only an average of 1-2 years before going abroad. The government though has tried several ways to address this issue including requiring fresh graduates to serve in the country for a specified period of time before being allowed to work overseas.
==Education==
[[Image:Cnu_new02.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cebu Normal University]]
Cebu City is the country's center of education outside of [[Metro Manila]]. It currently has nine large universities each with a number of campus branches throughout the metro, and more than a dozen other schools and colleges specializing in various courses such as Medicine, Engineering, Nautical courses, Nursing, Law, Computer and IT, etc.
Among these schools is the [[University of the Philippines Cebu College]] ([[U.P. Cebu]]) -- a branch of the University of the Philippines (U.P. System) which is generally acknowledged as the top university in the country. It is located in the Lahug district in Cebu City.
Its newest university, Cebu Doctors' University (formerly Cebu Doctors' College) was elevated to university status on November 2004. It is the first and only medical university in the Philippines and is currently constructing a nine-storey main building at the Cebu Boardwalk in nearby [[Mandaue City]].
Many foreign students also come to Cebu City to study since education is relatively cheaper here. Most of them are Iranians and Nepalese who come to study dentistry and medicine. In recent years, many Koreans have come to Cebu to study English.
Cebu City has 68 public elementary schools, 23 national high schools and 28 night high schools. These night high schools are operated by the Cebu City Government. The City has a [[literacy rate]] of 97%.
Cebu City has positioned itself as the ''Center of Education in Asia and Pacific in [[2020]]''.
==Hotels and shopping==
[[Image:WaterfrontCebuCity.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Cebu City International Convention Center was constructed in 1997 for the 1998 Asean Tourism Forum. The building in the background is Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, the former Cebu Plaza Hotel.]]
Cebu City is home to numerous international hotels such as Marriot, Marco Polo and Parklane. Notable hotels surpassing even the international ones include Crown Regency and Waterfront.
Early 2006, the grand old dame of hotels in Cebu formally reopened under a new name, Marco Polo Plaza, after more than two years of closing its doors. The hotel complex was formerly occupied by Cebu Plaza and was the most famous landmark in the island. It was also the first deluxe hotel in the province which first opened in the early 80s and was in fact the symbol of the province's economic progress.
There are a number of commercial establishments in the city, the most popular of which are the SM City and Ayala Center malls. There are also other smaller malls and stand alone department stores. Throughout the years however, the establishment of "strip malls" which offers some sort of a town center environment have become the trend.
Despite the presence of such modern malls and store, the downtown area still remains the center of commercial activity in the city.
==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Xiamen]], [[Fujian Province]] [[People's Republic of China]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Seattle]], [[Washington]] [[United States]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chula Vista]], [[California]] [[United States]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Salinas, California]] [[United States]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]] [[United States]]
* {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Haarlemmermeer]], [[Netherlands]]
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Yeosu]], [[South Jeolla]] Province [[South Korea]]
==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
Image:Cebu_capitol03.jpg|Capitol Social Hall
Image:IMG_0674.JPG|Santo Niño Procession
Image:Pilgrim_center01.jpg| Augustinian Saints at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica.
Image:IMG_1694.JPG|Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Image:Colon_street01.jpg|Colon Street's newly asphalted road
Image:Ob1_cebu.jpg|Osmeña Boulevard -- Cebu City's Main Thoroughfare
Image:Crown_regency01.jpg|Once completed, this hotel building will stand at 40-storeys tall and will be the tallest building outside Metro Manila.
Image:Crownregencymodel.jpg|A scale model of the Fuente Towers Complex currently under construction.
Image:Srp_tunnel01.jpg|1.2 kilometer tunnel at the South Road Properties Special Economic Zone. Due for completion in 2008.
Image:Asiatown_itpark13.jpg|PIPC IT Building at the Asiatown Information Technology (IT) Park.
Image:Parklane_hotel.jpg| At the background is Parklane International Hotel which will open in July next month while at the foreground is Pag-Ibig Workers Tower. Both buildings are at the Cebu Business Park.
</gallery></center>
==Television Networks:==
*[[ABS-CBN]]: Channel 3
*[[Southern Broadcasting Network]]: Channel 6
*[[GMA Network]]: Channel 7
*[[Radio Philippines Network]]: Channel 9
*[[National Broadcasting Network]]: Channel 11
*[[Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation]]: Channel 13
*[[Associated Broadcasting Company]]: Channel 21
*[[Studio 23]]: Channel 23
*[[Gateway UHF Broadcasting]]: Channel 25
*[[Quality TeleVision]]: Channel 27
*[[MTV Philippines]]: Channel 29
*[[Radio Mindanao Network]]: Channel 31
*[[RJTV]]: Channel 33
*[[ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network]]: Channel 35
*[[UNTV Channel 37]]: Channel 41
*[[Manila Broadcasting Company, Inc.|MBC-TV Natin]]: Channel 43
*[[Cebu Catholic News Network]] Channel 47
==See also==
*[[Cebu]]
*[[List of television and radio stations in Cebu City]]
*[[Metro Cebu]]
*[[Notable Cebu City persons]]
==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>
*[http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
*[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/07/28/news/cebu.city.debt.soars.to.p5.96b.html Cebu City debt soars to P5.96B]
*[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/07/05/oped/editorial.html Sun Star editorial on mayor's speech and current state of Cebu city]
*[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/07/28/bus/growth.affects.cebu.s.competitiveness.rank.html Growth affects Cebu’s competitiveness rank]
*[http://www.philstar.com/philstar/freeman200607282001.htm Cebu's competency ranking tumbles due to lack of infra]
*[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/10/10/news/ccci.nominates.city.for.lgu.award.html CCCI nominates Cebu City]
== External links ==
{{Wikinewspar5|Car bomb defused in central London|MI5 terror threat warning level raised to 'critical'|Further arrests following terror attacks in London and Glasgow|Eighth suspect connected to failed UK bombings arrested|Controlled explosions take place as police enquiry into UK bombings continues}}
*[http://www.cebucity.gov.ph Official City Government Website]
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/070629/GAL-07Jun29-79723/index.html ''Washington Post Photo Gallery'']
*[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/ Sun.Star Cebu]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6253418.stm In pictures: Car bomb discovered] ([[BBC]])
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6253778.stm London mayor calls for vigilance] ([[BBC]])
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255960.stm Metropolitan Police press conference (video)] ([[BBC]])
*[http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272910,00.html Public On Alert As Car Bombing Foiled] ([[Sky News]])
*[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/546BFEB3-352D-488C-97BD-F0E08351DE68.htm Al-Jazeera News coverage (in English)]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK5-jIfOBjQ Keith Olbermann with ex-CIA expert on MSNBC]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6265674.stm] BBC News, Heathrow T4 Suspect package
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