Office of Intergovernmental Relations
600 Fourth Avenue, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 94746
Seattle, WA   98124-4746
(206) 684-8055

Seattle International Sister City:
Cebu, Philippines

(Sister City established in 1991)

Population: Cebu Province - 3 million, Metro Cebu 1.4 million
Religion: Predominately Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim
Language: Cebuano - Visayan Dialect, Pilipino- Tagalog and English widely understood and used. English is taught in elementary schools.
Industry: Cooper Mining, Shipbuilding, Steel, Cement, Rubber, Textiles,Coal and Limestone
Exports: Seafood, Mangoes, Rice and Coconut products, Guitars, Rattan, Buri, Bamboo and wrought Iron furniture products
Climate: Dry month daily temperatures 26- 38 centigrade / 3 Seasons
    Summer/Hot is Feb. - May
    Rainy season is June - August
    Cool periods is October - Feb.
    Typhoon season is May to Dec.

Cebu City is the capital of Cebu Island Province. The province is a long narrow island at the center of the Visayan Islands, 365 miles south of Manila. Cebu City is centrally located in the widest portion of the island at the east coast harbor.

Cebu was under Spanish rule for three centuries. After discovery of the Philippines by Magellan in 1521, the first Spanish settlement was built in Cebu in 1565 by Mexico's Spanish government to colonize the country. Cebu also has the oldest school, San Carlos University, and the oldest street, Colon Street, built by the Spaniards.

Cebu is a commercial center whose main industries include copper mining, fishing and aquaculture, farming and agriculture, shipbuilding, steel and cement. In addition to San Carlos University, major universities in Cebu City include Southwestern University, the University of the Visayas, and the University of the Southern Philippines.

The harbor of Cebu City is an international port with ocean-going vessels and domestic ships and five inter-island shipping companies. Cebu's international airport has daily flights to Manila and an inter-island system of passenger vessels.

The Seattle-Cebu Sister City Association is an active non-profit organization with a broad-based membership. Its objectives are to develop a closer relationship between the citizens of the two cities through cultural and educational exchanges, and to promote trade and tourism.

Related Links:

City of Cebu Web Site

Seattle-Cebu Sister City Association:
E-mail address: Infoseaceb@yahoo.com

Content contact: Kristine Kertson

Page last updated: November 7, 2007