List of people from Cebu

The following is a list of notable people who were either born in, lived in, are current residents of, or are closely associated with the province of Cebu, Philippines (including from highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu):

Pre-colonial monarch and rulers of Cebu

Rajahnate of Cebu

Rajah of the Rajahnate of Cebu

  • Sri Lumay - The first Rajah and founder of the Indianized kingdom and historic polity of Cebu. He was of half-Tamil and half-Malay descent from Sumatra.
  • Rajah Humabon - Rajah of Cebu during the 16th century (until 1521). He was baptized as Don Carlos Valderrama and was one of the recorded chiefs of the historic polity of Cebu who encountered Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
  • Rajah Tupas - Rajah of Cebu from 1521 to 1565. He was the last Rajah of Cebu in the pre-Hispanic Indianized polity of the Philippines.

Hara of the Rajahnate of Cebu

Sri of the Rajahnate of Cebu

  • Sri Alho - Son of Sri Lumay, he ruled the southern part of Cebu called Sialo which included the present-day towns of Carcar and Santander in the southern region of Cebu.
  • Sri Ukob - Son of Sri Lumay, he ruled the northern Cebu called Nahalin which includes the present towns of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao, Carmen, and Bantayan.
  • Sri Parang the Limp - Son of Sri Lumay and father of Rajah Tupas, Sri Parang was supposed to rule but was infirm, so he handed the throne to his nephew, Rajah Humabon who became the rajah of Cebu in his stead.
  • Sri Bantog - The youngest son of Sri Lumay, he ruled the region of Singhapala which is now Mabolo of Cebu City and was the father of Rajah Humabon.

Datu of Cebu

  • Lapulapu - Datu of Mactan. He is known for leading the resistance in the 1521 Battle of Mactan, where he and his warriors defeated the Spanish forces led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, along with his native allies Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula. He is considered the first national hero of the Philippines.
  • Datu Daya - A legendary lord of Kandaya, now known as Daanbantayan. He was the ruler of the earliest settlers in northern Cebu.
  • Lázaro Mangubat - A monarch of the Kingdom of Mactan, a Spanish duke in the Spanish East Indies, a member of the Tercio and a conquistador, as well as one of the arm bearers (armiger) in the Spanish Empire during the early 17th century.

Literature

Visual arts and design

Painting

  • Martino Abellana "Noy Tinong" - a renowned Cebuano painter and dubbed as "The Dean of Cebuano Painters". His lifetime of works includes portraits, landscapes, and still life glowing in oil, vibrant in pastels, vivid in charcoal, they practically pulsated with life. (Carcar City)
  • Paulina Constancia - an artist known for her work on canvas, textiles, and found materials, sometimes incorporating stitching. She is a self-described multifaceted artist and has described her art as naive art. (Cebu City)
  • Raymundo Francia - a painter, best known for his ecclesiastical murals and ceiling paintings in Spanish colonial churches in the Visayas. He was often dubbed as "Cebu’s Michelangelo". (Cebu City)
  • Romulo Galicano - a painter whose works are technically academic and philosophical in approach. His works are hauntingly reminiscent of the old Filipino Masters with modern sensibilities. (Carcar City)
  • Sofronio Mendoza - a cubist, realist and impressionist painter and teacher who mentored young artists in the Philippines and in Canada. He is a co-founder of Dimasalang Art Group. (Cebu City)

Sculpture

  • Ramon Abellana - a sculptor, his famous sculpture works are the Carcar City Rotunda, the Sergio Osmeña Sr and Lapu-Lapu at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Humabon in Plaza Hamabar, and another statue of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. (Carcar City)
  • David Medalla - an international artist and political activist. His work ranged from sculpture and kinetic art to painting, installation, and performance art. (Cebu City)

Printmaking

  • 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)

Graphic design

Fashion design

  • Leo Almodal - a fashion designer celebrated for his luxurious, intricate bridal gowns and evening wear. Known for his "haute couture" brand, he creates opulent designs featuring detailed embroidery, crystals, and sculpted silhouettes, often worn by pageant queens and celebrities. (Mandaue City)
  • Harvey Cenit - International fashion designer based in the United Arab Emirates. He won Fashion Factor Season 3 in the United Arab Emirates and receiving the Most Promising Fashion Designer of the Year award at The Filipino Times Awards in 2016. (Medellin)
  • Monique Lhuillier - an International fashion designer and creative director known for her bridal, ready-to-wear and lifestyle brand. She is known for her celebrity wedding and red carpet gowns for famous international celebrities. (Cebu City)
  • Furne One - a Dubai based Filipino fashion designer and the creative director and founder of the international couture house Amato Couture. He is celebrated for his dramatic, avant‑garde designs and has dressed a wide array of global celebrities. (Cebu City)
  • Cary Santiago - a fashion designer and couturier known for his elaborate evening wear, sculptural couture pieces, and contributions to Philippine high fashion.(Cebu City)
  • Philipp Tampus is a fashion designer known for his bridal, evening wear, and haute couture designs. He gained national recognition through his participation in Project Runway Philippines and regular appearances at Philippine Fashion Week. (Lapu-lapu City)

Costume design

Industrial design

  • Kenneth Cobonpue - an industrial designer known for his unique designs integrating natural materials through innovative handmade production processes. His roster of clientele includes Hollywood celebrities and members of royalty. TIME Magazine has called him "rattan’s first great virtuoso". (Mandaue City)
  • Vito Selma - a furniture and industrial designer known for his contemporary furniture designs that emphasize natural materials, particularly wood. (Cebu City)

Mass media and journalism

Performing arts and entertainment

Music, film and television personalities

Musical bands

  • Aggressive Audio - a rock band based in Cebu City. It is one of the numerous rock bands in Cebu that popularize rock songs using the Cebuano language, such songs are referred to as BisRock.
  • Bethany - an alternative rock band formed during 2008 in Cebu. The band is primarily known for their melodic songwriting, intricate guitar hooks, and electric live performances.
  • Cueshé - a pop rock band that broke into the mainstream OPM scene with radio hits like “Stay,” “Sorry,” and “Ulan,” blending melodic pop sensibilities with rock energy. The band formed in 1998 and hit mainstream in 2005.
  • Dice and K9 - are a hip hop duo. The duo is composed of Wolfren Rosaroso (DiCE) and Miguel Calina (K-9). They became known for their 2004 single "Itsumo" with Honey Rosaroso (Hi-C), which first gained popularity in Cebu before receiving airplay in Manila.
  • Franco - a rock band formed by Reyes in 1996, which is credited for having boosted the Cebu rock scene.
  • Missing Filemon - a rock band from Cebu. The band was founded in 2002. They won a FAMAS Award for Best Theme Song for the 2007 film Confessional.
  • Hastang - a modern rock band known for their all-original material and energetic presence in the local indie rock scene since 2005, with songs like “Oblivion” gaining airplay and establishing them in regional gigs.
  • Junior Kilat - is a reggae, ska and dub band. They are a popular reggae band in Manila, winning a "Song Of The Year Award" in NU-107's Rock Awards for Ako Si M16.
  • Urbandub - a rock band formed in 2000. Urbandub is the first indie band in the Philippines to release albums nationwide with the assistance of a major label.

Dance group

Politics and government

Officials are sorted based on the following criteria, in order:

  1. Constituency and/or jurisdiction. (National, local, non-officials)
  2. Groupings of positions (i.e. Heads of branches, cabinet members, senators, etc.) in order of precedence.
  3. Term start; Year during which they began serving in the senior-most position qualifying them for that grouping
  4. Term end; Year during which their term ended. Incumbents are listed last.
  5. Alphabetically by last name, then first name.

National government

Heads of government branches

Members of the Cabinet of the Philippines

Members of the Senate of the Philippines

Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of the Philippines

Non-cabinet executive agency heads and other national officials/figures

International positions

Global politicians with Cebuano roots

Canada

United States of America

Local government

Governors of Cebu

Governors of other provinces

Vice governors of Cebu

  • Ramon "Nito" Duterte Durano III (b. 1948) — 8th Vice Governor of Cebu (1980-1984), Cebu 5th District Representative (1987-1988), Mayor (2001-2010; 2013-2022) and Mayor-elect (2025) of Danao City, and Vice Mayor of Danao City (2010-2013; 2022–Present).

Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines

Members of the Cebu Provincial Board

Mayors

  • Vicente Hermosa "Nyor Inting" Garces (1887–1971) — Mayor of Talisay. (1925–1937)
  • Mario Diez Ortiz (1922–2015) — 16th Mayor of Cebu City (1963), 6th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (1960-1963), and Cebu City Councilor. (1959–1960)
  • Florencio S. Urot (1904–1975) — 18th Mayor of Cebu City (1971) and Cebu City Councilor. (1940–1971)
  • Ronald Regis Duterte (1934–2016) — 20th Mayor of Cebu City (1983–1986), 9th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (1980–1983), and Cebu City Councilor. (1963–1980)
  • Alfredo "Ingkoy Pedong" Mendoza Ouano (1924–2014) — 16th Mayor of Mandaue City (1988-1998), Vice Mayor of Mandaue (1972–1986), and Mandaue City Councilor (1956–1965)
  • Alvin Biano Garcia (b. 1946) — 25th Mayor of Cebu City (1995-2001), 14th Vice Mayor of Cebu City. (1988-1995)
  • Valdemar Mendiola Chiong (b. 1960) — Mayor of Naga, Cebu. (2006–2016; 2019–2020; 2022–Present)
  • Michael "Mike" Lopez Rama (b. 1954) — 26th Mayor of Cebu City (2010–2016; 2021–2024), 16th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (2001–2010; 2019–2021), and City Councilor (1992–2001)
  • Edgardo Colina Labella (1951–2021) — 27th Mayor of Cebu City (2019–2021), 19th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (2013–2019), and Cebu City Councilor from the 1st (North) District. (1998–2001; 2004–2013)
  • Raymond Alvin Neri Garcia (b. 1977) — 28th Mayor of Cebu City (2024–Present), 21st Vice Mayor of Cebu City, (2022-2024) and Cebu City Councilor from the 1st (North) District. (2016–2022)
  • Nestor Dionson Archival Sr. (b. 1958) — 29th Mayor of Cebu City (2025–Present) and Cebu City Councilor from the 1st (North) District. (1995–1998, 2001–2010, 2013–2016, 2019–2025)

Vice mayors

  • Ramón Abasolo Abellanosa (1904–1984) — 5th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (1957-1958) and Cebu City Councilor. (c. 1940s)
  • Donaldo Cabañes Hontiveros (b. 1977) — 20th Vice Mayor of Cebu City (2021-2022; 2024-2025) and Cebu City Councilor from the 2nd (South) District. (2019–2021; 2022–2024)

City and municipal councilors

Non-government officials

Sports

Boxing

Basketball

Volleyball

Football

Martial arts

Chess

Swimming

Cycling

Track and field

Weightlifting

Baseball

Softball

Billiard

Skateboarding

Shooting sport

Gymnastics

Bowling

Golf

Tennis

Table Tennis

  • Richard Gonzales - is a professional table tennis player and the No. 1 ranked player in the Philippines as of January 2014. (Cebu City)

Sailing

Darts

Archery

Poker

  • Noli Francisco - a professional poker player, nicknamed Smiling Assassin. He had been a successful recreational poker player for over 25 years. (Cebu City)

Business and industry

Science

Agricultural science

Astronomy

Biology and Environmental Science

  • Dioscoro S. Rabor - also known as Joe Rabor. An ornithologist, zoologist, and conservationist. Known as the "Father of Philippine Wildlife Conservation", he led more than 50 wildlife expeditions in the Philippines, authored 87 scientific papers and articles, and described 69 new bird taxa and numerous mammal species. (Cebu City)
  • Anna Oposa - is a marine conservationist and co-founder of NGO Save Philippine Seas (SPS), an organization that aims to protect coastal and marine environments through education and community-based projects. She helped create the first shark sanctuary in the Philippines and helped designate the thresher shark as a nationally protected species. In 2023, Oposa became a laureate of Asian Scientist 100 by the Asian Scientist. (Cebu City)

Health science

Military service

Philippine Army

Philippine Air Force

Philippine Constabulary

Pageant titleholders

Pageant titleholders who won a national pageant title and subsequently competed in, placed in, or won an international pageant.

They are categorized according to the specific international pageant in which they competed.

Women's pageant titleholders

Manila Carnival Queen

Miss Universe

Miss World

Miss International

Miss Earth

Miss Grand International

Miss Supranational

Miss Intercontinental

Miss Charm

Miss Eco International

Reina Hispanoamericana

Universal Woman

Miss Tourism International

Miss Asia Pacific International

Transwomen's pageant titleholders

Miss International Queen

Men's pageant titleholders

Mister International

Mister Supranational

Mister Global

Man of the World

Religious figure

Saint

Venerable

  • Teofilo Camomot - an archbishop. He is recognized by the Catholic Church as a Venerable for his heroic virtues, holy life, and selfless service to God and the poor. (Carcar City)

Cardinal

Archbishop

Bishop

Faith healer

Religion founder and leader

Heroes and revolutionaries

Datu

Katimpuneros

  • Potenciano Aliño - a revolutionary hero, together with his brothers Felix, Hilario and Sulpicio fought as revolutionaries against the Spanish colonial rule. (Talisay City)
  • Leon Kilat - a revolutionary leader in Cebu during the Philippine revolution against the Spanish Empire. (Originally from Bacong, Negros Oriental)
  • Arcadio Maxílom - a member of Katipunan and revolutionary leader from Cebu who played a key role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule. He led revolutionary forces in northern Cebu and later continued resistance during the early period of American occupation. (Tuburan)

Guerrillas

  • Democrito Mendoza - he joined the resistance movement against the Japanese and became a guerilla fighter,which earned him distinction as a bemedalled Filipino veteran. The United States Army's America Division awarded him the Gold Cross for his military service as an officer of the US Army Forces in the Far East. (Liloan)
  • Miguel Raffiñan - participated in the resistance movement during World War II and led the people of Barili in the fight against the Japanese colonizers. (Barili)
  • Leandro Tojong - was part of the resistance movement during World War II and given the rank of captain. His designation was at the 87th Regiment, 3rd Battalion's base hospital in Barili and Dumanjug. Later, he was commissioned as the unit's Assistant Civil Affairs Officer. (Ginatilan)

Education

Notable people with roots from Cebu

  • Napoleon Abueva (1930–2018) - sculptor, he was known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture". He was proclaimed as National Artist of the Philippines for sculpture in 1976. (His mother Purificación Veloso was from Tuburan, Cebu)
  • Jose Mari Chan (born 1945) - a Filipino singer and songwriter. he is popularly dubbed as the "King of Philippine Christmas Carols".(his maternal grandmother was Remedios Alfon Lim, who was from Bogo City, Cebu)
  • Terry Alderete (1945–2013) - Filipino-American businesswoman recognized for her leadership in the Latino community in California; inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame and recipient of multiple entrepreneurship and community awards. (Her father was from Cebu, Philippines)
  • Val Sotto (born 1945) - an actor, singer, composer, comedian and politician. He was one of the lead vocalists of the Filipino band VST & Company. (His father was from Cebu)
  • Vic Sotto (born 1954) - an actor, comedian and television personality. He is known for playing comedic roles in television sitcoms and films. He is also one of the three pioneer hosts of Eat Bulaga! with Tito Sotto and Joey De Leon. (His father was from Cebu)
  • Mat Ranillo III (born 1956) - a Filipino-born American actor. (His mother Gloria Sevilla was from Cebu)
  • Kirk Hammett (born 1962) - American musician who has been the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983 (his mother Teofila Oyao have roots from Cebu).
  • Francis Magalona (1964–2009) - Actor and musician, known as the "Filipino King of Rap" (His mother was from Cebu City)
  • Tia Carrere (born 1967) - An American actress and singer who got her first big break as a regular on the daytime soap opera General Hospital. (Her father was born and raised in Cebu).
  • Mitoy Yonting (born 1970) - Singer, comedian and actor. He was the winner of the first season of The Voice of the Philippines in 2013. (his mother is from Ginatilan, Cebu)
  • Ramon Christopher Gutierrez (born 1971) - Filipino actor, he is a member of famous Gutierrez clan of actors in the Philippines. (His mother Pilita Corrales was from Cebu City)
  • Wendy Woo (born 1971) - a singer/songwriter in Colorado. She is also known for her guitar work, especially using her acoustic guitar as a percussion instrument. She won the Westword Music Awards five times. (Her father was born in Cebu City and immigrated to New York City in 1964).
  • Tina Paner (born 1971) - Actress and singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
  • Ruffa Gutierrez (born 1974) - Actress and beauty queen, was Miss World 1993 2nd Runner Up (her mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
  • Ian Veneracion (born 1975) - Actor, athlete, pilot, singer (his mother is from Lilo-an, Cebu)
  • Sara Duterte (born 1978) - lawyer and politician who is the 15th and current vice president of the Philippines. (Her parents Rodrigo Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman have roots in Danao City and Tuburan, Cebu)
  • Rafael Rosell (born 1982) - Actor (His father is a Cebuano geologist)
  • Richard Gutierrez (born 1984) - Actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
  • Raymond Gutierrez (born 1984) - A host, editor, columnist, endorser, entrepreneur, and occasional actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
  • Krista Ranillo (born 1984) - Filipino actress (Her grandmother Gloria Sevilla was from Cebu)
  • Bruno Mars (born 1985) - 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)
  • Darren Criss (born 1987) - American actor, singer, and songwriter (His mother was from Cebu)
  • Danita Paner (born 1989) - Actress and pop-rock singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
  • Janine Gutierrez (born 1989) - Actress (her grandmother, Pilita Corrales is from Cebu)
  • Serena Dalrymple (born 1990) - a famous child star and an actress who had been officially retired from show business since 2005. During her career, she played roles in a number of movies and television series, largely with ABS-CBN. (Her maternal ancestors are from Cebu)
  • John Pearce (born 1991) - Australian-filipino singer, dancer and children's entertainer best known as a member of Justice Crew, and also a member of the children's band The Wiggles. (His mother is from Cebu)
  • Jovit Baldivino (1993–2022)- Singer and actor. He was the first winner of Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010.(his father is from Dalaguete, Cebu)
  • Shawn Wasabi (born 1994) - American singer and record producer from Salinas, California. He is credited as a co-inventor of the Midi Fighter 64, a custom musical software controller. (His mother was from Cebu)
  • Diego Gutierrez (born 1996) - actor, singer, songwriter and basketball player. (His grandmother Pilita Corrales was from Cebu City).
  • Renee Co (born 1997) - politician and lawyer who is the representative for Kabataan Partylist having been elected in 2025. (Her parents originally from Cebu)
  • Maris Racal (born 1997) - Star Magic actress and singer. She is runner up in Pinoy Big Brother: All In. (Her family is originally from Lapu-lapu City, Cebu).
  • Felip Suson (born 1997) - singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer. He is the main dancer member of the P-pop boy band SB19. (His family is originally from Cebu)
  • Kriesha Chu (born 1998) - Filipino-American singer and actress based in South Korea. She debuted as a solo K-pop artist under Urban Works Media entertainment with her single "Trouble" in 2017. (Her parents are from Cebu)
  • Malia Pyles (born 2000) - an American actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Sarah Baskets on the FX series Baskets and Minnie "Mouse" Honrada on the Max slasher horror series Pretty Little Liars. (Her mother was from Cebu)
  • JJ (born 2001) - an Austrian singer. He won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 for Austria with the song "Wasted Love". (His mother was from Cebu)
  • Yazmin Aziz (born 2001) - a singer, songwriter, actress and content creator in Malaysia. She is half Filipino half Malaysian. (His father is from Cebu)
  • Olivia Rodrigo (born 2003) - an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to prominence for her leading roles in the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark and the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. (His great grandfather Bonifacio Rosas Rodrigo hailed from San Fernando, Cebu and migrated to the US).
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