Culture
LITERATURE
- Martin Abellana – Visayan author (Cebu City)
- 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)
- Temistokles Adlawan - a contemporary Cebuano poet and short story writer who often writes with irreverent humor usually associated with Cebuano folk (Cebu City)
- Estrella Alfon - an author who wrote in English (Cebu City)
- Potenciano Aliño - a writer, translator, and revolutionary (Talisay)
- Natalio Bacalso - a writer, newspaperman, radio broadcaster, filmmaker, Constitutional Convention delegate in 1971 representing Cebu's 2nd district, and opposition assemblyman to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978 (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)
- Simeon Dumdum Jr. - writer, poet and former RTC judge (Balamban)
- Adonis Durado - a poet, visual journalist, and graphic designer of Cebuano descent (Cebu City)
- Ernesto Lariosa - a writer, poet, and columnist (San Fernando)
- Lina Espina-Moore - a Cebuano writer (Toledo)
- Vicente Garces - a politician, writer, and poet (Talisay)
- Pio Kabahar - a Cebuano composer, playwright, journalist, and director (Cebu City)
- Resil B. Mojares - a Filipino 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 - a conferment which represents the Philippine state's highest recognition for artists (Cebu City)
- Hilda Montaire - a writer (Mandaue)
- Marcelino Navarra - an editor, poet, and writer. He was regarded as the father of modern Cebuano short story (Carcar)
- 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 - was a Filipino editor, poet, and writer of fiction and essay in Cebuano language (Dalaguete)
- Nicolas Rafols - a legislator, journalist, businessman, lawyer, and agriculturalist (Toledo)
- Vicente Rama - a legislator, publisher, and writer (Cebu City)
- Hope Sabanpan-Yu - a short story writer/poet (Cebu City)
- Vicente Sotto – politician, author (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)
- Florentino Tecson - a lawyer, politician, editor, writer, and labor leader (Naga)
- Vicente Ranudo - a writer, poet laureate, and Cebu provincial civil servant (Cebu City)
- 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 (both under the Inquirer Group). (Bantayan)
- José María del Mar - a writer, orator, playwright, theater actor, politician and authority on the Spanish Language. (Cebu City)
VISUAL ARTS
- Martino Abellana "Noy Tinong" - a renowned Cebuano and dubbed as "The Dean of Cebuano Painters" (Carcar)
- Ramon Abellana - a Cebuano sculptor and composer (Carcar)
- Daisy Ba-ad - a playwright, stage director, composer, motivational speaker and life coach (Cebu City)
- Paulina Constancia - a Filipino-Canadian artist known for her work on canvas, textiles, and found materials, sometimes incorporating stitching (Cebu City)
- 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)
- Romulo Galicano - a Filipino painter whose works are technically academic and philosophical in approach (Carcar)
MUSIC
- Vicente Rubi - a Filipino Visayan musician best known for composing the Philippine Christmas carol Kasadyaa Ning Taknaa, which was translated into Tagalog, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, by National Artist Levi Celerio. (Cebu City)
- Ramon Abellana - a sculptor and composer (Carcar)
- Daisy Ba-ad - a playwright, stage director, composer, motivational speaker and life coach (Cebu City)
- Luis Borromeo - a jazz musician and entertainer. Known as the "King of Jazz" in the Philippines (Cebu City)
- Manuel Kabajar Cabase - a singer, songwriter, musical director, computer musician, instrumentalist of at least 28 musical instruments, arranger, conductor, bandleader and musical director (Cebu City)
- Albert Tiu - a classical pianist (Cebu City)
- Emilio Villareal - a composer and musician (Boljoon)
- Ingrid Sala Santamaria - is a Filipina pianist (Cebu City)
Entertainment
- Amapola – singer, musician, actress, TV host, novelist (Sibonga)
- Kriesha Chu - K-pop Artist (Cebu)
- Akiko Solon - singer, actress (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Sheena Belarmino – singer (Cebu City)
- Allan Paule – actor (Cebu City)
- Albert Martinez - actor (Cebu City)
- Buboy Villar – actor, comedian, TV personality host (Cebu City)
- Jason Dy - singer (Cebu City)
- Anna Fegi – singer (Toledo)
- Annabelle Rama - actress, talent manager (Cebu City)
- Bailey May - actor, model (Cebu City)
- Ben Zubiri – singer, stage actor and World War 2 Guerrilla (Cebu City)
- BISAYA NI BAI - internet celebrity (Mandaue)
- Sheryn Regis - singer (Carcar)
- Buboy Villar - actor , comedian (Cebu City)
- Cattski - singer-songwriter, musician, record producer (Cebu City)
- Caridad Sanchez – actress (Mandaue)
- Christopher De Leon - actor (Cebu City)
- Chanda Romero - actress (her mother is from Cebu City)
- Claudia Zobel - actress (Mandaue)
- Cueshe - band (Cebu City)
- Darren Criss - a Hollywood actor, singer,and songwriter (His mother was from Cebu, Philippines)
- Dave Bornea - actor (Talisay)
- Devon Seron – actress (Cebu City)
- Dionne Monsanto - actress (Cebu City)
- Diva Montelaba - actress, dancer (Cebu City)
- Dominic Roco - actor (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Dulce - singer (Cebu City)
- Eda Nolan – actress (Cebu City)
- Ellen Adarna – Actress, Model, Socialite (Cebu City)
- Elyson de Dios - actor (Cebu City)
- Enrique Gil – actor, former dancer (Cebu City)
- Erich Gonzales - actress (Cebu City)
- Eula Caballero – actress (Boljoon)
- Felix Roco - actor (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Fretzie Bercede - actress (Cebu City)
- Gloria Sevilla – actress (Sibonga)
- Golden Cañedo - singer (Minglanilla)
- Isabel Oli – actress (born in Quezon City, grew up in Cebu City)
- Isabel Sandoval - director (grew up in Cebu City)
- Jackie Lou Blanco - actress (Cebu City)
- Janella Salvador - actress (Cebu City)
- Janine Berdin - singer, actress (Lapu-Lapu City)
- Jay-R Siaboc - singer (Toledo)
- Jessica Villarubin - singer (San Fernando)
- Joan Almedilla - singer, actress (Cebu City)
- Juan Karlos Labajo - actor, singer (Consolacion)
- Karen Ann Cabrera/Karencitta - Singer-songwriter and actress (Cebu City)
- Keanna Reeves – actress, comedian (Danao)
- Kenneth Earl Medrano - actor, model (Cebu City)
- Kim Chiu – actress, singer (Cebu City)
- Kiray Celis - comedian actress (Cebu City)
- Kyle Echarri - actor, endorsement, singer (grew up in Cebu City)
- Lilian Velez - actress (Cebu City)
- Manilyn Reynes – singer, actress (Cebu City)
- Manuel Kabajar Cabase aka Mahnee or Manny – composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist (Cebu City)
- Mark Joseph - actor (Bantayan)
- Matteo Guidicelli – actor, singer, car racer (Cebu City)
- Maureen Larrazabal - actress (Cebu City)
- Max Surban - singer (Cebu City)
- Medyo Maldito - internet celebrity, songwriter (Cebu City)
- Mike "Pekto" Nacua - comedian (Cebu City)
- Monica Cuenco - actress (Cebu City)
- Morissette - singer, songwriter, and actress (Minglanilla)
- Marco Alcaraz - Filipino actor, commercial model, and former varsity basketball player at San Sebastian College-Recoletos (Cebu City)
- Nicole Uysiuseng – actress (Cebu City)
- Niel Murillo – singer (Bogo)
- Panky Trinidad – singer (Cebu City)
- Paul Jake Castillo - actor, businessman (Cebu City)
- Pilita Corrales - actress, singer (Cebu City)
- Richard Yap – actor, singer, businessman (Cebu City)
- Redford White - comedian (Bogo)
- Shaina Magdayao - Actress (Bogo)
- Slater Young – actor, businessman (born in Manila, based in Cebu City)
- Suzette Ranillo - actress (Cebu City)
- Terence Baylon - actor (Cebu City)
- Tita Duran - actress (Pinamungajan)
- Urbandub - band (Cebu)
- Van Roxas - actor (Talisay)
- Vina Morales – singer, dancer, actress (Bogo)
- Vivian Velez - actress (Cebu City)
- Zandra Summer - actress (Cebu City)
Politics and government
- Thomas F. Breslin – surveyor of large sections of Cebu, Colonel, Bataan Death March victim
- Mariano Jesús Cuenco – Senate President during the First Congress of the Philippines (Carmen)
- Hilario Davide Jr. - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under Estrada Administration (Argao)
- Hilario Davide III - Governor of Cebu (2013-2019), Vice-Governor of Cebu (2019–present) (Cebu City)
- Joseph Ace Durano - DOT Secretary under Arroyo Administration (Danao)
- Marcelo Fernan – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Senate President (Cebu City)
- Gwendolyn Garcia - Governor of Cebu (2004-2013; 2019–present), 3rd District Representative (2013-2019) (Cebu City)
- Pablo Garcia - Former 3rd (1987-1995) & 2nd (2007-2013) District Representative, Former Governor (1995-2004) (Barili)
- Pablo John Garcia - 3rd District Representative (2007-2013; 2019–present) (Cebu City)
- Winston Garcia - President and General Manager of GSIS under Arroyo Administration (Cebu City)
- Ernesto Herrera - Ex-Senator of the Philippines (Samboan)
- John Henry Osmeña - Former Senator and Former 3rd District Representative (1995-1998) (Cebu City)
- Sergio Osmeña Sr. – Second President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (Cebu City)
- Sergio Osmeña Jr. - Former Senator and Former Governor (Cebu City)
- Sergio Osmeña III - Former Senator
- Tomas Osmeña - Former Mayor of Cebu City (1987-1995; 2001-2010; 2016–2019)
- Cerge Remonde - Press Secretary under Arroyo Administration (Argao)
- Michael Rama – Former Mayor of Cebu (2010–2016), Vice-Mayor of Cebu City (2001-2010; 2019–present) (Cebu City)
- Vicente Rama - Former Senator of the Philippines
- Jose Rene Almendras - Former Energy Secretary and Former Foreign Affairs Secretary of PNOY Administration (Cebu City)
Fashion, designs and arts
- Monique Lhuillier – Fashion Designer (Cebu City)
- Kenneth Cobonpue – International Furniture Designer (Cebu City)
- Furne One Amato - International Fashion Designer (Cebu City)
- Cary Santiago - Fashion Designer (Cebu City)
Business
- Lucio Tan - Filipino-Chinese Businessman (LT Group Inc.)
- Vicki Belo - Filipino businesswoman (Belo Medical Group)
- Justin Uy - Cebuano Entrepreneur (Owner of JPark Island Resort and Water Park, Founder of J Centre Mall and Founder of Profood International Corp.)
- John Gokongwei - Filipino, Cebuano billionaire businessman and philanthropist
- Wilfred Steven Uytengsu - Filipino businessman and President of Alaska Milk Corporation
- M Lhuillier (Michael Lhuillier) - Cebuano Businessman known as the country’s ‘Pawnshop King’ ( M Lhuillier Group of Companies Founder and Chairman, Cebu Provincial Sports Commission Chairman, Honorary consul of France in Cebu and Cebu Safari and Adventure Park Founder)
Heroes
- Lapu-Lapu - First Hero in the Philippines
- Leon Kilat - Hero in the Philippine Revolution
- Gen. Arcadio Maxílom - a Filipino teacher and hero of the Philippine Revolution (Tuburan)
Notable people with roots from Cebu
- Bruno Mars - 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)
- Kirk Hammett - American musician who has been the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983 (his mother Teofila Oyao is from Cebu).
- Darren Criss - His mother was from Cebu (a Hollywood actor, singer, and songwriter)
- Rodrigo Duterte - His father was from Danao (16th President of the Philippines)
- Manny Pacquiao - His father was from Pinamungahan (Senator and Eight Division World Boxing Champion)
- Francis Magalona - His mother was from Cebu City (actor, the filipino king of rap)
- Ruffa Gutierrez - Actress and beauty queen, was Miss World 1993 2nd Runner Up (her mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Richard Gutierrez - Actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Raymond Gutierrez - A host, editor, columnist, endorser, entrepreneur, and occasional actor (his mother Anabelle Rama is from Cebu)
- Tina Paner - Actress and singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
- Danita Paner - Actress and pop-rock singer (her father Manny Paner is from Cebu)
- Rafael Rosell - Actor (His dad is a Cebuano geologist)