My purpose is to give weight to the following observations on Cebu as well as on the kind of people the Cebuanos are compared to other sub-cultural groups in the country.
One of these observations: Among the urban and sub-urban centers in the country, Cebu - Cebu City, in particular - is the place where the Christian culture is most conspicuous and most pervasive. A corollary observation: Cebuanos are more highly religious than any other groups. This is not the same as saying they are the most pious, for piety is different from religiosity. This simply means that insofar as the visual signs of spirituality are concerned - church attendance, participation in religious rituals such as procession, renewal gatherings, membership in church organizations, number of centuries-old churches or newly built ones, chapels and other places of worship - Cebu is at the top.
This is not surprising, however, for was it not in Cebu where Philippine Christianity first took root? Were not the first baptized Christians Cebuanos? Was not the most ancient icon - the Santo Niño - discovered in Cebu? Are there not thousands upon thousands of devotees who flock yearly to pay homage to the Child Jesus during his feast day?
Generally, cultural practices determine a people's world view. If these practices are religious in nature, their convictions are religious too. It follows that since in Cebu there is much ado on things in the realm of faith, the peoples' thinking too is inclined towards what they believe in. It is natural therefore that thoughts on God is ever present in their consciousness. The phrase "Think God" one sees stuck in car windshields can very much be attributed to Cebuanos.
Perhaps because of this the Cebuanos are less inclined towards deviant behaviors. Whether he is an ordinary fellow or a well-known social figure, he usually possesses a sense of propriety and a kind of urbanity not quite observable in other sub-cultural groups.
For example, Cebu has never been known to be a breeding ground of insurgency. Unlike other areas where the problem has been abetted by oppressive socio-economic conditions, Cebu may have a klatch of renegades in its mountains, but these have not won the support of the populace and are less socially disturbing.
Fanatical groups such as the Salvatore in Negros Oriental, the Lapiang Malaya in Southern Luzon, or the PBMA in Surigao? No way, the Cebuanos are too smart for aberrations like these. In fact, some like-minded people have tried to "export" their movements in these parts, but they found the social climate inhospitable.
Leadership? It's not necessary to name the many Cebuanos who have made their marks in the local and national scene. One thing is that in terms of probity and uprightness, Cebuano leaders have been above par. Take the late President Sergio Osmeña Sr. What issue can be brought out against Cebu's grand old man? In terms of honesty, selflessness and humility, no one even in the national scene could stand on equal footing with him.
But the phenomenon of Don Sergio and his kind was years ago, you might say. Yet even our contemporary leaders still display, albeit quietly and in lesser degree, perhaps, the commendable attributes of past Cebuano leaders. Let us look at our congressman in the last two decades.
In my 20 years of attending budget sessions in Congress I found the Cebuano lawmakers generally articulate yet without the "air" observable in their colleagues from other places. Most of them were highly motivated and although sincerely concerned about their constituents, they were seldom parochial. More important, and I'm proud of this, not one of them was known to have connections with contractors or suppliers of books, equipment and what have you.
(More next week).