Bogo[boˈɡo], officially the City of Bogo (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Bogo; Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Bogo; Filipino: Lungsod ng Bogo), is a component city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 90,187 people.
The first recorded settlements in Bogo date back from the 17th century. The city was named after a single Bogo tree (Garuga floribunda) on the shore that served as a bartering post at the site of the city’s wharf. In 1920s, large sugarcane plantations were established.
On June 16, 2007, Bogo became a city after ratification of Republic Act 9390 by 97.82% of voters.
The Supreme Court declared the cityhood law of Bogo and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Bogo and 15 other municipalities regained its status as cities again after the court reversed its 2008 ruling. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its 2008 ruling, causing Bogo and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, Bogo became a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements. The League of Cities of the Philippines recognized the cityhood of Bogo and 15 other cities on July 19, 2013.
The new Bogo City Hall was inaugurated on April 19, 2013, by President Benigno Aquino III. Later that year, on November 8, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit northern Cebu, including Bogo, leaving 90% of the populace homeless and killing 13 people.
The city sustained extensive damage during the 2025 Cebu earthquake on September 30; 30 of the 72 deaths recorded came from Bogo.
Geography
Bogo is located in the northeastern coast of Cebu province, on the principal island of Cebu. It is 99 kilometres (62mi) from Cebu City and is accessible by land and sea. Bogo has an area of 103.5 square kilometres (40.0sqmi), which constitutes 2.3% of the area of Cebu island and 2.1% of the total land area of Cebu province.
Bogo is bordered on the north by the town of Medellin, to the west by the town of San Remigio, on the east by the Camotes Sea, and on the south by the town of Tabogon.
Barangays
Bogo is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
April 5 is the official feast day or the death anniversary of San Vicente Ferrer. Many pilgrims around the world will come to venerate the patron saint and almost all activities in this fiesta are religious activities only.
May 26–27 considered the biggest town fiesta celebration where most visitors come to witness the events, which include the search for Ms Bogo Festival Queen and the celebration of the official festival of Bogo City, the Pintos Festival. The Pintos Festival involves creative street dancing and ritual showdown depicting the sangi (Planting), the harvest of corn, and the processing of the corn masa into the Pintos, as well as the thanksgiving of the abundant harvest. The festival is also celebrated through merrymaking by dancing the 'Kuyayang' – a Bogohanon courtship dance staged in front of the community during fiestas. Barangays all around Bogo join together to form five cluster tribes.
The Bogo City council has passed an ordinance requiring all schools in Bogo to sing the Bogo Hymn in all flag-raising ceremonies and school programs just like the Philippine National Anthem, "Lupang Hinirang". Radio Stations based in Bogo are also required to play the hymn every sign-on and sign-off. City legislation prohibits the alteration of the lyrics, tempo and tune in the rendition of Bogo hymn entitled "Padayon Bogo".
Notes
↑"Pintos" is a popular delicacy made from ground corn and wrapped in corn husk.
(Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Cebu by the Philippine Statistics Authority. However, qualified voters in Mandaue are allowed to vote in elections for Cebu provincial officials by virtue of Republic Act No. 6641, in accordance with Section 452-c of the Local Government Code of 1991.)
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