On 22 May 1863, the Spanish Governor General of the Philippines Rafael Echagüe y Bermingham (San Sebastián, 1815 - Madrid, 1887) created a new town comprising the barrios of Gabi, Day‑as and Pilipul (now called Pilipog), all of which are located on the southeastern tip of Mactan Island.

However, before being appointed Governor General, in 1858, Rafael Echagüe y Bermingham was representative in the Spanish Congress of Deputies for the province of Cordoba (Spain), so he should have given that name in memory of his previous experiences.

The two islets of Gilutongan and Nalusuan are part of the Olango Island Group in the middle of the Cebu Strait.

The surface of the town consists entirely of karstic limestone rock geologically associated with the Plio-Pleistocene Carcar Formation, dated to 2½–3 million years ago.

[7] The climate of Cordova is of Coronas type III, meaning the seasons are not very pronounced and are classified as hot and humid.

However, qualified voters in Mandaue are allowed to vote in elections for Cebu provincial officials by virtue of Republic Act No.