The president, speaking nationwide, told us we are stubborn (in a negative meaning), officials come to Cebu (whenever they want without observing 14-day quarantine protocols) to fix (allegedly) our way of addressing the problem of the virus, we have become the laughing stock for coming up with the world biggest quarantine pass with printed QR code that is unusable and now a mayor from a neighboring province has offered to send their IT experts to help us with our QR codes.
Cebu is the cradle of civilization in the Philippines. The ancient world’s greatest navigators (Magellan and Legazpi) chose this destination to establish as their center of government. Cebu, for centuries, has been the seat of knowledge and is in fact called the Queen City of the South. Most of the great men and women of the Visayas and Mindanao trace their roots to Cebu, others earned their education here.
To those who do not consider themselves as Cebuano by birth or by choice, it may not be sentimental and your heart not pierced every time someone belittles Cebu, but for those born, raised, and schooled here, it is painful.
CEBUpedia has advocated for the raising of the banner of Cebu, and pleaded and convinced senators who are sympathetic to Cebu for the national government to give Cebu its dignity by urging IATF officials to give credence and value to the voices of our duly-elected officials.
But CEBUpedia has realized that the fault lies not with how the national government officials see us, the problem is with us. We have refused to stand up for what is Cebu, the pride that kept the shores of Mactan from the arrogance of the Spanish invaders, the pride that evicted Legazpi out of Cebu, the pride that ousted the last Spanish governor of Cebu, the pride that harassed the Americans who were exasperated despite their cannons in the hills of Bitlang, the pride that defeated the superior Japanese Imperial Army, the pride that awes and amazes the citizens of the world at how wonderful Cebu and its people are.
Let us believe in us again, let us rise with our Cebuano Pride. Let us believe in each other, let us believe in our greatness, Let us always remember that Cebu is the birthplace of heroes, this is the home of great men and women.
Mayor Edgardo Colina Labella, you are our mayor, lead us to victory. Stand up with pride, let us remember the heroism of your and our ancestors. To all the Cebuanos: Let us be one and keep our Cebuano pride.