Alcantara is situated on the southwestern coast of Cebu Island and is about 85 kilometers from Cebu City, the provincial capital. The municipality is bounded on the north by Municipality of Ronda, on the south by Municipality of Moalboal and on the east by Municipality of Argao.

Alcantara is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu. The town was formerly called "Kogtong" from an exceptionally large fish which was said to inhabit a deep spring in the center of the town. When the Spaniards came, they renamed the place Alcantara after a town in Spain. Alcantara became a town in 1830 as it separated from neighboring towns of Ronda and Moalboal.

The smallest town of Cebu in terms of area, Alcantara is blessed with abundant marine resources and fertile lands. The town depends primarily on its farming and fishing industries as the source of livelihood of its people. The town celebrates its annual Bahandi Festival every August 27 to 28. The bounties of the land and sea of Alcantara are said to be the wealth or the so called “bahandi” of the people. The Bahandi festival is a celebration of good life, of good harvest, of merrymaking and of thanksgiving, honoring the town's patron saint, Señor San Augustine. It is also a cultural festival that portrays the ways in fishing and in farming through street dancing presentations.

 

Sources:

Wikipedia

Wikimapia

Fly Philippines

Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation Website