Cebu's Town Export

When Magellan's voyage was about to enter the port of Cebu, he saw "many villages on the island and many houses built upon logs." In 1565, Legaspi likewise noticed a thickly populated settlement composed of 14 to 15 coastal settlements from Talisay to Mandaue. Or 30 square kilometers settled by "more than 300 houses."

The settlement in Cebu City port area was the largest in the island, estimated to have reached 2,000 people. Cebu as a trading port settlement, dated as early as the 14th Century a "truly a mine of ancient porcelains in recent times were recovered in the towns of Ginatilan, Badian, Dalaguete, Argao, Naga, Carcar, Talisay, Oslob and Talamban.

Porcelain, religious images and Chinese luxury were also recovered. Foremost of these finds were three Ming Buddha images made of greyish white jade which were found in Mactan island. Three excavations in the Magallanes-Lapu-lapu streets area, have also uncovered Chinese porcelain such as Ming blue and white ceramics.

Trade in Cebu must have been prosperous as indicated by the answer of Rajah Kulambo of Limasawa, when asked by Magellan's crew where they could get enough supply of food. Cebu was singled out as the "largest and the one with the most trade. When Magellan landed in the port of Cebu, he sighted a Siamese trader, who had been in Cebu for four days already, to trade. And when a banquet was held to celebrate the Spaniard's arrival in Cebu, Magellan noticed Chinese jars and porcelain, brass gongs which were used in that gathering. He also observed Cebuanos wearing cotton and silk clothes most probably imported from China.

Subsequent expeditions after Magellan in the 16th Century described Cebu as a trading center of gold. While 15th century accounts mention gold as an important trade item in Cebu. Archaeological evidence so far is silent on the existence of gold mining nor manufacturing in Cebu. Gold must have been brought to Cebu by the local traders from other parts of the Visayan islands.

Goods such as yellow wax, tortoise-shell, pearls, iron censers, lead colored glass beads, iron needles, brass gongs and cotton were mentioned for trading interest in Visayas. For nearly two centuries, Cebu stagnated economically.

Cebu had also prospered in the cultivation of cash crops, particularly sugar and abaca. Tobacco was cultivated in the commercial quantity in the towns of Barili, Dumanjug and Moalboal.

Once a force in Cebu's export economy, the Chinese were reduced to marketing and distribution of foreign products in the province of Cebu. At the end of the Spanish rule in 1898, Cebu was already a cosmopolitan city.

Source from Sun*Star Weekend