14/06/2025
How Did the 9 Cities of Cebu Island Get Their names?
Cebu City
The city takes its name from Cebu, which in Cebuano is sugbú (“to dive into water”), from Proto-Philippine sugebu (“to bathe”). Early Spanish records render it as Zubu/Çubu, which evolved to Cebu. In legend, the island’s pre-colonial king was Sri Lumay (Rajamuda Lumaya) from Sumatra, who founded the kingdom of Sugbo (However, this has been dismissed as creative fictional-historical storytelling). Cebu City was the first Spanish colonial capital (1521 Magellan’s landing, 1565 Legazpi). The name itself is geographic/linguistic rather than legendary; folklore centers on its founding hero (Sri Lumay) rather than the toponym.
Lapu-Lapu City
Originally called Opon, this city was renamed Lapu-Lapu in 1961 in honor of Datu Lapu-Lapu of Mactan, who defeated Magellan in 1521. The town’s Spanish-era name was Opon (possibly from a local word, exact meaning unclear). As a city, Lapu-Lapu’s historical identity is tied to the 1521 Battle of Mactan and the figure of Lapu-Lapu (Philippine folk hero), not the name’s etymology. The new name commemorates that chieftain and has no older linguistic origin beyond honoring him.
Mandaue City
The name Mandaue is derived from the Cebuano mantawi, a local vine. The annual Mantawi Festival celebrates this botanical heritage. Spanish-era documents (Pigafetta, 1521) refer to the area as “Mandaui” or “Mandawe.” Tradition holds that the Spaniards adapted the local term mantawi to Mandaue thus, Mandaue’s name comes from a native plant. Historically it was a small coastal settlement; no major folklore underlies the name except cultural pride in the mantawi vine.
Talisay City
Talisay was originally called Magtalisay for the talisay trees (Terminalia catappa) abundant there. Founded as a mission in 1648, it took its name from those trees. (In Spanish Talisay means the same tree.) The name is thus botanical. Talisay grew under Spanish rule (it became a separate pueblo in 1849). There are no known legends about the name; it simply honors the talisay tree.
Naga City
The city’s name traces to the narra tree (naga in Cebuano). Early settlers reportedly called the area Narra for its trees, and the Spaniards adapted it to Naga. Naga was part of San Nicolas (Cebu City) until 1829. The etymology is botanical (a native tree) with no special folklore. It is identical in origin to other Philippine towns named Naga.
Carcar City
Carcar comes from kabkab (or kabkad), a local tree-climbing fern abundant at the old town site. Historical accounts say the area was once called Kabkad or Saylo, and by the 1600s Spanish records list it as Carcar, likely a Hispanicization of kabkad. Carcar became a pueblo in 1599. Its name origin is botanical/linguistic. Folklore about Carcar is minimal, aside from noting early names; the fern origin is the accepted explanation.
Bogo City
The name Bogo derives from the bogo tree (Garuga floribunda) that once stood on its shoreline. According to local tradition, the town was identified by a “lone bogo tree” near the port. Bogo was carved out of Bantayan in 1850 and later became a city. The etymology is botanical, and aside from the tree story there is no further legend attached to the name.
Danao City
Legend holds that Danao got its name from a misunderstanding. In 1844 a Spanish captain asked locals the place name; they answered “danawan” (Cebuano for “shallow lagoon” or “pond”) and the Spaniards took that as the town’s name. (Authoritative sources confirm Danao means “shallow lagoon”.) Danao was founded that year. Thus its etymology is geographic/descriptive. The misunderstanding itself is a famous local anecdote (a kind of folklore), but otherwise there is no myth about the name.
Toledo City
Originally the barrio of Hinulawan (named for its yellow soil), it was renamed Toledo when created a pueblo in 1861. The name honors Toledo, Spain. The etymology is purely Spanish-geographic. Toledo was a mining and agricultural town in Spanish and American periods. There is no local legend behind “Toledo”; it simply reflects Spanish colonial naming after places in Spain.
