The name was said to have been derived from “mantawi”, a kind of vine that abundantly grew in all parts of the town in the old days. This class of vine can rarely be found now, except in a few areas.
The origin of Mandaue as a settlement or town, is as early as the origin of the city of Cebu. There are historical records to show that the town dates back to the days of discovery of the Islands by Magellan. Pigafetta, a famous Spanish historian, mentions Mandaue as one of the villages on the island of Cebu that was ruled by a chief called Apanoan.
The Spanish conquistadores made it into a pueblo in 1839. In barangay Centro , before called Poblacion was constructed a landmark now called the Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph. Constructed in 1601, it reached completion in 1611. This now house the very popular “Señor de Cena”.
Barely a kilometer away is an ancient tower, the “Bantayan Sa Hari”. Made of big boulders and stones hundred of years ago.. This tower provided a good view for a guard to give advance warning to the people whenever suspicious vintas were sighted for the place have been a frequent victim of pillage and atrocities by moro bandits.
As a community of Catholic believers , the St Joseph , the Worker Parish Church was built . Constructed in 1601 by the Jesuit priest , it was given a face-lifting in 1920 after being damaged by an earthquake - completed 1950.
On June 21, 1969, the President of the Philippines, His Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Signed into law House Bill No. 18226 now known as the “Charter of Mandaue City”. Presidential Proclamation No. 586 designates August 30, 1969 as the date of the formal organization of the Government of the City of Mandaue.
II. Location:
The locality is situated on the central coastal plains of the Province of Cebu. It is bounded by the Municipality of Consolacion to the North. The City of Cebu to the South and West and by the Mactan Channel to the East. Mandaue has an average elevation of land at 55 ft. above sea level.
III. Topography & Land Features:
Classified as a highly urbanized city with a total of 27 barangays.
Mandaue’s territorial span includes 15% highlands, while the greater part of the city is the central plains comprising 65% of its land, 11 of its 27 barangays are distributed along its 5-kilometer shoreline.
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