Advertisements in the newspapers in 1930s have served as an indicator of the dynamic trade industry in Cebu then.

There were notices of professional services, as well as movie and shipping schedules in local papers, such as in the Cebu's Bag-ong Kusog. In most issues, there were advertisements of goods and services being offered by export-import houses, bazaars, hardware and machine shops. Drugstores, shoe stores, beauty parlors, tailoring shops, and various other establishments had placed advertisements of their products as well.

For one, there was an ad of Macondray & Co.'s reconditioned automobiles, like the Chevrolet Dodge and Studebaker, which were sold from between P500 to P1,900. During this time, the latest models of Ford were pegged at P1,580 for a "roadster" and P2,140 for a four-door sedan.

Another ad was published by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company. It high-lighted a communication gadget called the telephone. The ad goes: "What is a Telephone - Can you afford to be without one?" It even included a local PLDT office's telephone number where readers could call on for additional information. Then, there was a Kanaga Mineral Water ad. Sold in dama, Kanaga Mineral Water were sourced from a spring in a place called Kan-aga, Sta. Filomena. Distributed by Oquiñena & Co., the water was recommended for both healthy people and individuals suffering from kidney ailments, hyperacidity, diabetes, and anemia. The ad even carried a facsimile of a certificate from the Bureau of Science attesting to the water's excellent properties.