List of people from Cebu

Culture

LITERATURE

  • 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)

VISUAL ARTS

  • 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)

MUSIC

  • 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)

FILM

  • R.D. Alba - a film and television director (Cebu)
  • 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"
  • Lyle Sacris - a cinematographer and director, known for Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom (2005), Yanggaw (2008) and Transit (2013). (Cebu City)
  • 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)

Media

Entertainment

  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Bini Aiah / Maraiah Queen Arceta - Member of P-pop Girl Group BINI (Main Rapper, Sub Vocalist, Visual)(Lapu-Lapu City)
  • Bini Mikha / Mikhaela Lim - Member of P-pop Girl Group BINI (Lead Dancer, Main Rapper)(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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Jun Sabayton - actor, comedian, host and director (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)
  • Mark Joseph - actor (Bantayan)
  • 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)
  • 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. Grand finalist on Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids in 2017. (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)
  • 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

  • Thomas F. Breslin – surveyor of large sections of Cebu, Colonel, Bataan Death March victim
  • Mariano Jesús Cuenco – Senate President during the First Congress of the Philippines (Carmen)
  • Hilario Davide Jr. - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under Estrada Administration (Argao)
  • Hilario Davide III - Governor of Cebu (2013-2019), Vice-Governor of Cebu (2019–present) (Cebu City)
  • Joseph Ace Durano - DOT Secretary under Arroyo Administration (Danao City)
  • Marcelo Fernan – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Senate President (Cebu City)
  • Gwendolyn Garcia - Governor of Cebu (2004-2013; 2019–present), 3rd District Representative (2013-2019) (Cebu City)
  • Pablo Garcia - Former 3rd (1987-1995) & 2nd (2007-2013) District Representative, Former Governor (1995-2004) (Barili)
  • Pablo John Garcia - 3rd District Representative (2007-2013; 2019–present) (Cebu City)
  • Winston Garcia - President and General Manager of GSIS under Arroyo Administration (Cebu City)
  • Ernesto Herrera - Ex-Senator of the Philippines (Samboan)
  • John Henry Osmeña - Former Senator and Former 3rd District Representative (1995-1998) (Cebu City)
  • Sergio Osmeña Sr. – Second President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (Cebu City)
  • Sergio Osmeña Jr. - Former Senator and Former Governor (Cebu City)
  • Sergio Osmeña III - Former Senator
  • Tomas Osmeña - Former Mayor of Cebu City (1987-1995; 2001-2010; 2016–2019)
  • Cerge Remonde - Press Secretary under Arroyo Administration (Argao)
  • Michael Rama – Former Mayor of Cebu (2010–2016), Vice-Mayor of Cebu City (2001-2010; 2019–present) (Cebu City)
  • Vicente Rama - Former Senator of the Philippines
  • Jose Rene Almendras - Former Energy Secretary and Former Foreign Affairs Secretary of PNOY Administration (Cebu City)

Sports

BOXING

BASKETBALL

VOLLEYBALL

FOOTBALL

MARTIAL ARTS

CHESS

TRIATHLON

WEIGHTLIFTING

BASEBALL

SOFTBALL

BILLIARD

SKATEBOARDING

SHOOTING SPORT

BOWLING

GOLF

Fashion, designs and arts

  • Monique Lhuillier – Fashion Designer (Cebu City)
  • Kenneth Cobonpue – International Furniture Designer (Cebu City)
  • Furne One Amato - International Fashion Designer (Cebu City)
  • Cary Santiago - International Fashion Designer (Cebu City)

Business

  • Lucio Tan - Filipino-Chinese Businessman (LT Group Inc.)
  • Vicki Belo - Filipino businesswoman (Belo Medical Group)
  • Justin Uy - Cebuano Entrepreneur (Owner of JPark Island Resort and Water Park, Founder of J Centre Mall and Founder of Profood International Corp.)
  • John Gokongwei - Filipino, Cebuano billionaire businessman and philanthropist
  • Wilfred Steven Uytengsu - Filipino businessman and President of Alaska Milk Corporation
  • M Lhuillier (Michael Lhuillier) - Cebuano Businessman known as the country’s ‘Pawnshop King’ ( M Lhuillier Group of Companies Founder and Chairman, Cebu Provincial Sports Commission Chairman, Honorary consul of France in Cebu and Cebu Safari and Adventure Park Founder)

Science


Military service

Pageant titleholders

Religious

Heroes

  • Lapu-Lapu - First Hero in the Philippines
  • Leon Kilat - Hero in the Philippine Revolution
  • Gen. Arcadio Maxílom - a Filipino teacher and hero of the Philippine Revolution (Tuburan)

Education

Notable people with roots from Cebu