List of Famous people born in Central Visayas

Nonito Gonzales Donaire Jr. is a Filipino professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in four weight classes, including the IBF flyweight title from 2007 to 2009; the unified WBC and WBO bantamweight titles in 2011; the IBF super bantamweight title in 2012; the WBO super bantamweight title twice between 2012 and 2016; the WBA (Super) featherweight title in 2014; and the WBA (Super) bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019.

Gianmatteo Fernan Guidicelli, better known as Matteo Guidicelli, is a Filipino-Italian actor, model, singer and former kart racer.

Joanna Bacalso is a Filipino Canadian television and movie actress and former model.

Margielyn Arda Didal is a Filipina professional street skateboarder who rose to fame when she competed in the X Games Minneapolis 2018 and won a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games.

Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo is a Filipino professional boxer who has held the WBC-ABC featherweight title since 2019.

Janella Maxine Desiderio Salvador is a Filipino actress and singer. After appearing on stage, she debuted in the 2012 hit family series Be Careful with My Heart and since starred in Oh My G!, So Connected, Born for You and The Killer Bride.

Lapulapu or Lapu-Lapu, whose name was first recorded as Cilapulapu, was a datu of Mactan in the Visayas. Modern Philippine society regards him as the first Filipino hero because of his resistance to imperial Spanish colonization. He is best known for the Battle of Mactan that happened at dawn on April 27, 1521, where he and his warriors defeated the forces of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his native allies Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula. Magellan's death ended his voyage of circumnavigation and delayed the Spanish occupation of the islands by over forty years until the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564. Legazpi continued the expeditions of Magellan, leading to the colonization of the Philippines for 333 years. Monuments of Lapulapu have been built all over the Philippines to honor Lapulapu's bravery against the Spaniards. The Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection use his image as part of their official seals.

Maria Monica Sacay Cuenco, also known as Monica Cuenco is the second runner-up of Star Power: Sharon Search For the Next Female Superstar. She is dubbed as "The Charming Biritera of Cebu". She has landed her biggest break to date, bagging the role of Dorina Pineda in an upcoming theater adaptation of classic viva hits "Bituing Walang Ningning" this June 2015.

Patricia Janine Dusaran Berdin, simply known as Janine Berdin, is a Filipino singer, songwriter, recording artist and actress. She rose to fame when she was crowned the season 2 champion at Tawag ng Tanghalan of the noon-time television show It's Showtime. Prior to that, she joined Star Circle Quest: Search for the Next Kiddie Superstars. She began her career as a child actress, appearing in several ABS-CBN TV series. Janine also appeared in several antagonist roles where she played bully to a protagonist.

Bailey Thomas Cabello May is a Filipino-British actor, model, singer, and television personality. He first gained recognition through his Sean Kingston and Daniel Padilla covers. In 2015, he successfully auditioned for the 10th year edition of Pinoy Big Brother, and eventually placed as the third runner-up. In 2017, he joined the global pop group Now United, representing the Philippines.