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)
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
- 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
- Amapola – singer, musician, actress, TV host, novelist (Sibonga)
- Kriesha Chu - K-pop Artist (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 Janna Jimenea Lim - Member of P-pop Girl Group BINI (Lead Dancer, Main Rapper)(Cebu City)
- Akiko Solon - singer, actress (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Sheena Belarmino – singer (Cebu City)
- Allan Paule – actor (Cebu City)
- Albert Martinez - actor (Cebu City)
- Buboy Villar – actor, comedian, TV personality host (Cebu City)
- Jason Dy - singer (Cebu City)
- Anna Fegi – singer (Toledo City)
- Annabelle Rama - actress, talent manager (Cebu City)
- Bailey May - actor, model (Cebu City)
- Ben Zubiri – singer, stage actor and World War 2 Guerrilla (Cebu City)
- Beauty Gonzalez - actress,model (Daanbantayan)
- BISAYA NI BAI - internet celebrity (Mandaue City)
- Sheryn Regis - singer (Carcar City)
- Buboy Villar - actor , comedian (Cebu City)
- Cattski - singer-songwriter, musician, record producer (Cebu City)
- Caridad Sanchez – actress (Mandaue City)
- Carren Eistrup - singer, performer and television host, Bida Next winner of Eat Bulaga (Cebu City)
- Christopher De Leon - actor (Cebu City)
- Chanda Romero - actress (her mother is from Cebu City)
- Claudia Zobel - actress (Mandaue City)
- Cueshe - band (Cebu City)
- Darren Criss - a Hollywood actor, singer,and songwriter (His mother was from Cebu, Philippines)
- Dave Bornea - actor (Talisay City)
- Devon Seron – actress (Cebu City)
- Dionne Monsanto - actress (Cebu City)
- Diva Montelaba - actress, dancer (Cebu City)
- Dominic Roco - actor (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Dulce - singer (Cebu City)
- Eda Nolan – actress (Cebu City)
- Ellen Adarna – Actress, Model, Socialite (Cebu City)
- Elyson de Dios - actor (Cebu City)
- Enrique Gil – actor, former dancer (Cebu City)
- Erich Gonzales - actress (Cebu City)
- Eula Caballero – actress (Boljoon)
- Felix Roco - actor (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Fretzie Bercede - actress (Cebu City)
- Gloria Sevilla – actress (Sibonga)
- Golden Cañedo - singer (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 (Cebu City)
- Isabel Sandoval - director (Cebu City)
- Jackie Lou Blanco - actress (Cebu City)
- Janella Salvador - actress (Cebu City)
- Janine Berdin - singer, actress (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Jay-R Siaboc - singer (Toledo City)
- Jessica Villarubin - singer (San Fernando)
- Jin Macapagal - Actor, Grand Winner of BidaMan contest of It's Showtime (Cebu City)
- Joan Almedilla - singer, actress (Cebu City)
- Joanna Bacalso - movie actress and former model (Cebu City)
- Juan Karlos Labajo - actor, singer (Consolacion)
- Jun Sabayton - actor, comedian, host and director (Cebu City)
- Karen Ann Cabrera/Karencitta - Singer-songwriter and actress (Cebu City)
- Keanna Reeves – actress, comedian (Danao City)
- Kenneth Earl Medrano - actor, model (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, singer (Cebu City)
- Kiray Celis - comedian actress (Cebu City)
- Kyle Echarri - actor, endorsement, singer (Cebu City)
- Lilian Velez - actress (Cebu City)
- Manilyn Reynes – singer, actress (Cebu City)
- Manuel Kabajar Cabase aka Mahnee or Manny – composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist (Cebu City)
- Mark Joseph - actor (Bantayan)
- Matt Daclan - Actor (Cebu City)
- Matteo Guidicelli – actor, singer, car racer (Cebu City)
- Maureen Larrazabal - actress (Cebu City)
- Max Surban - singer (Cebu City)
- Medyo Maldito - internet celebrity, songwriter (Cebu City)
- Mike "Pekto" Nacua - comedian (Cebu City)
- Monica Cuenco - actress (Cebu City)
- Morissette - singer, songwriter, and actress (Minglanilla)
- Marco Alcaraz - Filipino actor, commercial model, and former varsity basketball player at San Sebastian College-Recoletos (Cebu City)
- Nicole Uysiuseng – actress (Cebu City)
- Niel Murillo – singer (Bogo City)
- Panky Trinidad – singer (Cebu City)
- Patricia Tumulak - actress,model, beauty queen,news anchor (Mandaue City)
- Paul Jake Castillo - actor, businessman (Cebu City)
- Pilar Pilapil - beauty queen, actress, model (Liloan)
- Pilita Corrales - actress, singer (Cebu City)
- Richard Yap – actor, singer, businessman (Cebu City)
- Redford White - comedian (Bogo City)
- Shaina Magdayao - Actress (Bogo City)
- Slater Young – actor, businessman (Cebu City)
- Suzette Ranillo - actress (Cebu City)
- Terence Baylon - actor (Cebu City)
- Tita Duran - actress (Pinamungajan)
- Urbandub - band (Cebu)
- Van Roxas - actor (Talisay City)
- Vina Morales – singer, dancer, actress (Bogo City)
- Vivian Velez - actress (Cebu City)
- Zandra Summer - actress (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 - 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
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
- Bruno Mars - American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. (His mother, Bernadette San Pedro Bayot, was born in Cebu, but her family moved to Hawaii when she was a young girl)
- Kirk Hammett - American musician who has been the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983 (his mother Teofila Oyao is from Cebu).
- Darren Criss - a Hollywood actor, singer, and songwriter (His mother was from Cebu)
- Rodrigo Duterte - 16th President of the Philippines (His father was from Danao City, Cebu)
- Manny Pacquiao - Senator and Eight Division World Boxing Champion (His father was from Pinamungahan, Cebu)
- Francis Magalona - Actor, the filipino king of rap (His mother was from Cebu City)
- Ian Veneracion - Actor, athlete, pilot, singer (his mother is from Lilo-an, Cebu)
- Ruffa Gutierrez - Actress and beauty queen, was Miss World 1993 2nd Runner Up (her mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Richard Gutierrez - Actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Raymond Gutierrez - A host, editor, columnist, endorser, entrepreneur, and occasional actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Jovit Baldivino - Singer and actor. He was the first winner of Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010.(his father is from Dalaguete, Cebu)
- Mitoy Yonting - Singer, comedian and actor. He was the winner of the first season of The Voice of the Philippines in 2013. (He is from Ginatilan, Cebu)
- Terrence Romeo - Professional basketball player. (His father is from Boljoon, Cebu)
- Tina Paner - Actress and singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
- Danita Paner - Actress and pop-rock singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
- Rafael Rosell - Actor (His father is a Cebuano geologist)
