A Glimpse of Its Past
The name Cebu came from the word “SEBU” meaning animal fat. Long before
the coming of the Spaniards, it was a fishing village ruled by Rajah
Humabon.
Cebu metamorphosed in more ways than one, but always for the better.
From a sleepy fishing village to a fledging trading port in 1521, from
the first Spanish settlement named Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus
in 1575 to a municipality in 1901, Cebu finally became a chartered city
on February 24, 1937. Being the first and oldest city in the country
antedating Manila by 7 years, having the oldest school
and oldest street and being the cradle of Christianity in the Far East
(i.e. Magellan’s cross planted in Cebu as a symbol of natives embracing
the Christian faith), Cebu is replete with historical firsts.
Colon, oldest street in the country
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi then urged men to construct the oldest and
smallest fort in the country: Fort San Pedro. As Spain intensified its
colonization efforts, indignant islanders showed opposition by way of
intermittent attacks against the colonizers. The rebellion paved the way
to the construction of Fort San Pedro, a Spanish military stronghold.
However, the fort fell to the hands of the native Cebuanos when
Americans commanded by Commodore George Dewey vanguished the Spanish
fleet in December 1898 in the Battle of Manila Bay.
With the American reign in full force in 1901, then Senate Pro Tempore
and late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr., and then Congressman and Majority
Floor Leader in the House of Representatives, the late Senator Manuel
Briones vigorously lobbied for Philippine Independence.
The streets of Tres de Abril and V. Rama were the sites of a fierce
battle on April 3, 1898 when General Leon Kilat of Bacong, Negros
Oriental spearheaded the revolution against Spanish colonialism. The
Spaniards sought refuge at the Fort San Pedro and three days of
relentless attacks would have spelled victory for the rebels were it not
for the propitious arrival of the Spanish armada.
February 24, 1937 was a milestone in Cebuano history as Cebu City was
granted the charter by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 58 enacted by
Congress on October 20, 1936. The late Senator Vicente Rama, formerly
representative of Cebu’s 3rd district was instrumental as
author and sponsor of the bill. It was at that time that Secretary of
Interior and Local Government Elpidio Quirino appointed the mayor and
board members of Cebu City in his capacity as representative of Manuel
Quezon.
Shortly after the landing of the Japanese army in Cebu City on April
10, 1942, the entire province became the principal Japanese base due to
its strategic location and substantial population. Cebu finally saw the
light of freedom in March 1945 when American liberation forces landed in
Talisay town.
Liberation came in full circle in March 1946 and to restore law and
order, a civil government dubbed as Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU)
was established in the city.
In April 1965, the entire Christian world focused its attention on
Cebu City, considered as the cradle of Christianity in the Far East as
it played host to the 400th Anniversary of Christianity in
the Philippines. The celebration highlighted the contributions of Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi and Fray Andres de Urdaneta in proselytizing
Christianity by way of establishing a Spanish settlement in the
province. In a country where Catholics predominate, the conferment of
the San Agustin Church to the title Basilica Minore del Santo Niño proved to be a momentous occasion as Rome sent its representative Papal Legate, His Eminence Ildefonso Cardinal Antonuitte.
http://www.cebucity.gov.ph/history
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