Cebu or Iloilo - which is which?

I realize how delicate it is to wake the regional sensitivities of people. A popular fanpage in Facebook said to be owned by ABS-CBN, was cluttered with what appears to be “a war of claims” by Ilonggos and Cebuanos who strongly argued that they are the rightful owners of the title “The Queen City of the South.” As I was reading both sides, the discussion became heated and unhealthy to the point of insinuating that the other was “uneducated.” The fanpage’s wall was also littered with hyperlinked pictures related to the achievements and developments of their respective provinces to support their claim.

Whoever started it all, I don’t know. I have many friends in Iloilo and I know them to be mostly less argumentative. But from the posts I read, I noticed a more assertive breed. Very passionate about their claims and aggressive to march forward with what they think. They had this big red logo that had a crown above the “Iloilo the Queen City of the South.” I noticed too that the logo was used by its supporters as their Facebook profile picture to identify that they are part of that, I should say, “movement.” The Cebuanos on the other hand, were behaved but argumentative – typical of his competitive nature. They pointed that Cebu is the Queen City of the South on the basis of her being the most progressive city outside Manila. 

If I were to fairly look at the issue, there is what we call in law as de jure and de facto government. The former, being vested by legal title while the latter being vested by virtue of “fact” or common perception (not necessarily legally sanctioned). I would like to compare the claims of the Ilonggos as a right by virtue of legal title. History has it that Iloilo was granted the title the Queen’s City of the South NOT the Queen City of the South for her loyalty to the Queen of Spain during the time of the Spanish resistance. From then on, the Ilonggos took it to mean that Iloilo was really the Queen City of the South as she was the most economically progressive region outside the National Capital until the decline of the sugar industry after the post war era. The title was immediately “transferred” to Cebu as it was no longer inappropriate for Iloilo to assume the title because of her ailing economy. 

Thus, Cebu’s title as the Queen City of the South may have been acquired de facto by popular attribution from business and government leaders and by the Filipinos themselves who recognize Cebu’s well-deserved prosperity despite the fact that Cebu was less favored by most presidents for of its strong sense of independence.    

But a friend of mine joked that none of them deserves to make such claims as both provinces do not really come from the south but from the central Philippines. Davao, Zamboanga or Cagayan should be the rightful parties to fight it out among them than between Iloilo and Cebu.  

But why do we have to argue or be indifferent with our neighbors for a mere title? I don’t get it. A title is nothing but a low self-esteem on steroids hidden usually in post nominal letters like Ph. D or MBA or some designation of office or royalty that is no different from such other titles as barangay tanod, metro aide, or butler. Titles have been used a means to justify our ego-tripping and self-admiration sprit-- an inch closer to a personality disorder like narcissism. Titles or names do not make a person. It is the person who makes a name for himself. So as countries or places. Iloilo can always assert herself to make such claims, however, it is a gargantuan task to retake the lost honor and perception now that the public is already accustomed to the notion that Cebu rightfully deserves it better than Iloilo. I suggest that they abandon the idea and move on with life.

Cebu on the other hand should preserve that borrowed trust or might as well make no big deal about it. Cebu does not need a title to be noticed. The world has already noticed Cebu for what she is and for what she has to offer. Investors, tourists and leaders look up to Cebu not only as an economic hub but a destination to enjoy life.

“The Island in the Pacific” seems to be a perfect fit for what truly Cebu is.

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