Today in the History of Cebu
MAY 3
1919 The first issue of The Freeman, a Cebu English-Cebuano newspaper published by Paulino Gullas, comes out. It lasted until the eve of the Pacific War, was revived as a weekly magazine in 1965, and became, in 1969, a daily English newspaper.
MAY 2
1915 The first issue of Nueva Fuerza (1915-1941), published and edited by Vicente Rama, comes out. Its Cebuano section is called Bag-Ong Kusog. 1947 Death of Nicolas Rafols (1894-1947), Cebu congressman, poet and novelist.
MAY 1
LABOR DAY 1521 The remnants of the Magellan expedition hurriedly leave Cebu in the wake of the death of Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan and the attempted massacre of Spanish crew members by Cebuanos. 1913 The first issue of Kauswagan (1913-1915), a Cebu newspaper published and edited by J.R. Flynn Anderson, hits the streets.
APRIL 30
1937 For the first time, Filipino women are allowed to vote. The occasion is a plebiscite on women’s suffrage.
APRIL 29
1891 Birth in Cebu, Cebu, of Paulino Gullas (1891-1945), Cebu congress, and Constitutional Convention delegate of 1934, and founder of The Freeman. 1898 Birth in Bantayan, Cebu, of Paulino Ybañez, lawyer and representative of Cebu’s 7th district. 1966 Death of Uldarico A. Alviola (1883-1966), prominent Cebuano writer and journalist.
APRIL 28
1565 In the afternoon of this day, a day after the arrival of the Legazpi expedition in Cebu, a Basque sailor named Juan de Camuz finds the image of the Santo Niño in an abandoned house in the port settlement of Cebu. 1934 The Diocese of Cebu is elevated to the status of an Archdiocese. […]
APRIL 27
1521 The Battle of Mactan takes place. At around 3:00 in the morning of this day, a Spanish force of 60 soldiers and an equal number of Cebuanos reaches Mactan. Faced by a force of some 1,500 Mactan inhabitants, The Spaniards are defeated and their leader, Ferdinand Magellan, is killed. 1565 The Spanish expedition of […]
APRIL 26
1888 “La Esperanza,” an economic association aimed at developing agriculture and commerce in Cebu, calls its first general meeting. Members are of Cebu’s economic elite: Buenaventura Veloso, Victoriano Osmeña, Pedro Cui, Francisco Llorente, Valeriano Climaco, Florentino Rallos, and others. 1930 The first issue of Babaye (1930-40), a Cebu magazine edited by Napoleon Dejoras, comes out. […]
APRIL 25
1836 Talisay, Cebu, is established as a parish, an act confirmed by a Bishop’s decree on Aug. 16 of the same year. 1855 A royal decree establishes Daan Bantayan, Cebu, as a parish, A bishop’s decree confirms the establishment on Aug. 10, 1858.
APRIL 24
1941 In the midst of fears of an imminent war, the National Assembly passes a bill requiring aliens in the Philippines to register and be finger-printed. The bill is aimed primarily at Japanese residents, a number of whom worked in Cebu as shopkeepers and gardeners.