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 Hara Humamay - the queen consort of Cebu and the wife of Rajah Humabon. She was baptized as Queen Juana.
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 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 – an author. (Cebu City) Onofre Abellanosa - writer of short stories and plays. (Cebu City) Victorino A. Abellanosa - a 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 poet and short story writer who often writes with irreverent humor usually associated with Cebuano folk. (Cebu City) Ruperto Alaura - a writer. He was a LUDABI prize winner in 1961. (Cebu City) Sinforosa Alcordo - a fiction writer during the pre-war era. (Cebu City) Jacinto Alcos - a pre-second world war 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 - a writer. 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 language.(Cebu City) Potenciano Aliño - a writer, translator, and revolutionary. (Talisay City) Cora Almerino - a writer. 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 writer. He published the first complete Cebuano translation of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo. He also translated the Mi Último Adiós. (Cebu City) Uldarico A. Alviola - known as the "Dean of Cebuano Writers", he was a civil servant, novelist, and editor. (Cebu City) Natalio Bacalso - a writer, newspaperman, radio broadcaster, and filmmaker. (Cebu City) Peter Bacho - a writer and teacher best known for his book Cebu which won the American Book Award. His book is defined as Filipino American literature because of its explorations in themes such as neocolonialism and Filipino-American identity. (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) José María del Mar - a writer, orator, playwright, theater actor, politician and authority on the Spanish Language. (Cebu City) Simeon Dumdum Jr. - a writer, poet and former RTC judge. (Balamban) Adonis Durado - a poet, visual journalist, and graphic designer. (Cebu City) Lina Espina-Moore - a writer. (Toledo City) Vicente Garces - a writer, poet and politician. (Talisay City) Vicente Gullas - a writer, lawyer, and educator. (Cebu City) Pio Kabahar - a composer, playwright, journalist, and director. (Cebu City) Ernesto Lariosa - a writer, poet, and columnist. (San Fernando) 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. (Bantayan) Resil B. Mojares - a 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. (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 - an 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 - a 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) Vicente Ranudo - a writer, poet laureate, and Cebu provincial civil servant. (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, combining social criticism and entertainment. (Bogo City) Hope Sabanpan-Yu - a short story writer and poet. (Cebu City) Adelino Sitoy - was a lawyer, and Cebuano language advocate from Cebu, Philippines.(Cebu City) Vicente Sotto – an author and politician. (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 writer, editor, labor leader, lawyer and politician. (Naga City)
Visual arts and design Painting Martino Abellana "Noy Tinong" - a renowned painter dubbed as "The Dean of Cebuano Painters". His works includes portraits, landscapes, and still lifes in oil, pastels, and charcoal. (Carcar City) Paulina Constancia - a multifaceted naive artist known for her work on canvas, textiles, and found materials, sometimes incorporating stitching. (Cebu City) Raymundo Francia - a painter known as "Cebu’s Michelangelo," famous for his ecclesiastical murals and church ceiling paintings across Visayas. (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 mentor active in the Philippines and in Canada. Co-founder of Dimasalang Art Group. (Cebu City)
Sculpture Ramon Abellana - a sculptor who created 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) Napoleon Abueva - a 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 was from Tuburan) David Medalla - an artist. His work ranged from sculpture and kinetic art to painting, installation, and performance art. (Cebu City)
Printmaking Manuel Rodriguez Sr. "Mang Maning" - a printmaker. He was one of the pioneers of printmaking in the Philippines, recognized as the "Father of Philippine Printmaking". (Cebu City)
Graphic design Adonis Durado - a graphic designer and visual journalist. His poetry collection "Who Steps Upon is Stepped Upon" was awarded the 2023 Philippine National Book Awards. (Cebu City) Leinil Francis Yu - a comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel. (Lapu-lapu City)
Fashion design Leo Almodal - a haute couture fashion designer famous for intricate, opulent bridal gowns and evening wear often worn by pageant queens and celebrities. (Mandaue City) Harvey Cenit - UAE-based international fashion designer. Winner of Fashion Factor Season 3 and 2016 Most Promising Fashion Designer of the Year award at The Filipino Times Awards. (Medellin) Monique Lhuillier - an international fashion designer and creative director renowned for luxury bridal wear, ready-to-wear, lifestyle brand and celebrity wedding and red carpet gowns for international stars. (Cebu City) Furne One - a Dubai-based fashion designer and the creative director and founder of Amato Couture. He is celebrated for his avant‑garde designs and 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 participated in Project Runway Philippines and Philippine Fashion Week. (Lapu-lapu City)
Costume design Clint Ramos - a costume and set designer for stage and screen. He became the first person of color to win the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Play for (Eclipsed 2016). (Cebu City)
Industrial design Kenneth Cobonpue - an industrial designer known for his unique designs integrating natural materials through innovative handmade production processes. His clients 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 Angela Calina - local news anchor and TV host in Cebu. Former housemate in the reality show Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition. (Cebu City) Dan Campilan - a radio and TV reporter for GMA Network. (Cebu City)