Cebu and the Central Visayas boast of a rich historical and cultural heritage

that can be traced to the sixteenth century and earlier.  This link to the past has
been strengthened by continuing efforts to preserve and restore sites, relics,
and other artifacts that evoke the region's history.

  The region abounds with sites that celebrate not only history and culture but
also the ingenuity of the Visayans in adapting themselves to their
environment.  Today, the region bustles with commerce and industry with a
special ambience that invites the leisure traveler as well as the businessman.

    Cebu was where Magellan and his men planted the cross, a symbol of the
Christian faith that would change the course of Philippine history.  Other major
historical events that took place in the region were the killing of Magellan by
the native warriors of Lapulapu, the blood compact between Rajah Sikatuna
and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the short-lived Tamblot revolt, and the eighty-
five-year Dagohoy revolt.  The chronic rebellion led to the construction of
many forts, watchtowers, garrisons, and churches.  The earliest area in the
country to be hispanized, the region is particularly rich in Spanish colonial
architecture.  Some of the old structures still stand today and serve as the
region's visible link to the past.

    For nature lovers, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor offer
stretches of shoreline with varied, breathtaking sceneries.  The shorelines of
the islands are dotted with fine beaches. The region's waters are a haven for
deep-sea divers, swimmers, wind surfers, and boat racers.   In the hills and
mountains are countless caves waiting to be explored by the adventurous
traveler.  In the town of Carmen in Bohol, the famed Chocolate Hills never fail
to inspire awe and wonder among nature seekers

Magellan's Cross, a primary symbol of the Christianization of the Philippines

and Cebu's most important historical landmark, is housed in an octagonal
kiosk on Magallanes Street.  It marks the spot where Ferdinand Magellan
landed on April 24, 1521. 
 That it is exactly the same
cross left by Magellan
cannot be proven.  It is,
however, a very old cross
made of narra but now
encased in tindalo wood to
protect it from chipping by
devotees and by souvenir
hunters.  The tile-roofed
kiosk was constructed in
1834. Paintings on its ceiling
depict the events of
Magellan's visit.

Fort San Pedro in Cebu City, is one of the oldest Spanish forts in the
Philippines.  This triangular bastion was built in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi.  Originally a wooden palisade, it was rebuilt in 1835 into the stone
structure seen today.  The name San Pedro was taken from Legazpi's
flagship.

As a Spanish garrison defended by cannons, Fort San

Pedro guarded against Moro marauders and later
served as a prison for Cebuano rebels.  It became an
American barracks early in this century and then a
school during the Commonwealth years.  It was
occupied by Japanese troops during World War II, and
used as an emergency hospital during the Battle for
Liberation in 1945.  The fort has been preserved well
and now serves as the office of the Cebu City branch
of the ministry of tourism.
The Dagohoy Marker was installed by the National Historical Commission at
the spot where Dagohoy and his men set up their headquarters and declared
their independence from Spanish rule.   This memorial to the eighty-five year
Dagohoy revolt, the longest in Philippine history, is located in Magtangtang,
Danao, some ninety kilometers from Tagbilaran City.

The Magellan Monument, located in Mactan,

was erected in 1866 to mark the spot where the
famous explorer was killed by Lapulapu on April
27, 1521.  It is a simple obelisk-type monument. 
Nearby, the Lapulapu Monument has been
recently built. 

The first Filipino leader to resist Spanish colonial

ambitions, Lapulapu is venerated by the entire
nation as a hero for Philippine independence.  A
reenactment of the Battle of Mactan is held
annually on the beach near the two monuments.
     
The Blood Compact Marker stands at the spot in barangay Bool in Tagbilaran City
where the native chieftain Sikatuna and the Spanish expedition leader Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi forged a blood compact in March of 1565 as a sign of friendship between their
two peoples.  Sikatuna and Legazpi drank blood from a cup to seal their friendship
treaty.

the Filipino-Japanese Amity Memorial Shrine in Valencia, Negros Oriental

stands at the foot of Mount Talinis and marks the spot where the combined
forces of American and Filipino soldiers fought the Japanese Imperial Army
toward the end of World War II.

The Basilica Minore de Santo Niño in Cebu has its origin in 1565 with the
arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Father Andres Urdaneta.  It was set up
as a provisional nipa chapel, the first Catholic chapel to be built in the
Philippines.  Bigger buildings were later erected, but these were subsequently
destroyed.  The present buildings, which were started in 1735 and finished in
1740, are fine examples of the soft baroque style of architecture.

the church houses the image of the Santo Niño, a gift of Magellan to Queen Juana of
Cebu upon her conversion to Christianity together with five hundred of her subjects. 
During Legazpi's assault on the settlement of Cebu in 1565, one of his soldiers, Juan
Camus, found this wooden image while searching the houses.  The image was
enthroned in the church under the care of the Augustinians.   In 1965, during the fourth
centennial celebration of the Christianization of the Philippines, the San Agustin Church
was conferred the title of Basilica Minore by Hildebrando Antoniutti, papal legate to the
Philippines.
 Baclayon Church stands close to the seashore of Baclayon, Bohol.  With its
massive buttresses and splayed three-story bell tower, it looks like a medieval
fortress.  The early natives used it as a lookout and citadel against invading
forces.  Said to be the oldest stone church in the region, it was built when
Baclayon was established in 1596 by the Jesuits on their first mission in
Bohol.

Loon Church is in the western coast of Bohol, twenty-seven kilometers from

the capital city of Tagbilaran. Built in 1855, it is the biggest church in Bohol.  It
has three naves and is reputed to be one of the best designed and elegant
structures in the Visayas.  One of its attractions is a nineteenth-century mural
depicting in tableaux the seven sacraments.  The church complex, including a
long flight of  stairs (174 steps), is reminiscent of the compulsory community
labor required by the Spaniards during their rule.

Dauis Church is in one of the oldest towns of Bohol, on the island of Panglao,
three kilometers from Tagbilaran.  A fine example of Spanish colonial
architecture, the church was erected in 1863 to replace one built earlier in
1774.  The points of interest in the church include a life-size mural painted on
the ceilings and an image of the Virgin of the Assumption, the town's patron
saint.

Boljoon Church is one of the finest churches in Cebu.  Situated in the town of Boljoon, 103
kilometers south of Cebu City, the church complex includes a large convent with murals,
rich carvings and antiques, a watchtower, and a church belfry erected separately from the
main church

Carcar Church, located in the southern Cebu town of Carcar, was constructed
from 1860 to 1876 by the Augustinians.  A masonry structure in Greco-Roman
style, the church has three naves.  It exemplifies a bold adaptation of Muslim
architecture.  The church is part of a complex that includes a large convent, a
plaza, and other Spanish colonial structures.
Mandaue Church in Mandaue City, six kilometers north of Cebu City, is well
known for its life-size wood carvings of Jesus and the twelve apostles seated
at a long table for the Last Supper.  This tableau is said to be very old, except
for two figures which were destroyed during World War II and were restored
recently.

Bacong Church in the town of Bacong, some eight kilometers from

Dumaguete City, is one of the finest churches in Negros Oriental.  Its
attractions include a tall tower and an antique organ.  The regional folk hero
Leon Kilat served as an acolyte in this church.

Lazi Church in the town of Lazi, Siquijor, has the distinction of having a
convent reputed to be the biggest in the Philippines.  Built in the last decade
of the eighteenth century, the church is a massive stone testament to the
dominance of the church in Philippine life during the Spanish period.

 The Chocolate Hills are the pride of Bohol.   They are hemispherical

mounds that resemble chocolate drops, about a thousand altogether.  Each is
about a hundred meters high, covered with grass, and lined with coconut trees
around its base.  These fascinating hills can best be viewed in the towns of
Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan.

How these mounds came to be is not known.  Geologists have not as yet come
up with a satisfactory explanation of their origin.  According to legend,
however, these hills are the teardrops of the giant Arugo, a demigod whose
unrequited love for the mortal Aluya caused him to weep.  The Boholanos
named them "chocolate hills" because they resemble the chocolate cakes
made by Boholano housewives.

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cebu%20Culture/cebu_travelspots.htm?fbclid=IwAR2ko-
307lyd_WuHWtXUl4KK-eZGp4E1s1RcjYzLTVAFHH5DwQaYnleYuL4
Central Visayas (Cebuano: Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an) is a region of the Philippines, numerically
designated as Region VII. It consists of four provinces (Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor)
and three highly urbanized cities (Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue). Major islands are the
eponymous Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, together with the eastern part of Negros. The regional center
and largest city is Cebu City. The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan
languages: Cebuano, Bantayanon, Boholano, and Porohanon. The land area of the region is
15,895.66 km2 (6,137.35 sq mi), and with a population of 7,396,898 inhabitants, it is the second most
populous region in the Visayas.
On May 29, 2015, the region was redefined, when Central Visayas (Region VII) lost the province
of Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the region was dissolved,
with Negros Oriental returned to Central Visayas on August 9, 2017.

Etymology[edit]

A panoramic view of Cebu City

The name of the region was derived to denote the centrality of the islands within the bigger Visayas
area. The name was mostly chosen by American colonialists. There have been proposals to rename
the current Central Visayas region, which is dominated by the Sebwano ethnic group, into Sugbu
region, the former name of the region prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th century. The term is in
reference to the former kingdom of the region, the Rajahnate of Cebu, which is simply called as
Sugbu in native Sebwano.[2][3]

History[edit]
Regions first came into existence on September 24, 1972, when the provinces of the Philippines
were organized into 11 regions by Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated
Reorganization Plan by President Ferdinand Marcos. The provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Negros
Oriental (including its then-subprovince of Siquijor) were grouped together to form the Central
Visayas region.
By virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, the
province of Negros Oriental was removed from Central Visayas to form the Negros Island
Region along with Negros Occidental and its provincial capital, Bacolod City.[4] But later regained
Negros Oriental and its capital, Dumaguete City back into Central Visayas on August 9, 2017 when
President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s.
2015 through the signage of Executive Order No. 38, citing the reason of the lack of funds to fully
establish the NIR according to Benjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management. [5]
Geography[edit]

Political map of Central Visayas

Central Visayas consists of the two major island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, as well as the smaller
island of Siquijor and several outlying islands. It also includes the eastern half of the larger island
of Negros. The straits of Cebu and Tañon are also part of the region as well. The region is bordered
to the north by the Visayan Sea, west by the province of Negros Occidental in Western Visayas,
south by the Bohol Sea, and east by the Camotes Sea and the island of Leyte in Eastern Visayas