CEBU PROVINCE, JULY 16, 2021 --- The Province of Cebu will be marking its 452nd Founding Anniversary on August 6. I have been working to the pleasure of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia now, and I make it a must to know tidbits of history as regards the Capitol building which marks KILOMETER ZERO, and the provincial seal. It took me sometime to look into the first names of Cebuano revolutionaries Gines, Jaca and Cabreros because even Wikipedia just mentioned their last names.
I'm glad of other resources that provided clues. I was able to locate their first names and fill in the blanks. I hope those who post information online will always take it as a "moral obligation" to provide complete details, at least for first names. It seems funny when you enumerate six persons but can only identify full names for the first three. Kaahak!
It is important to mention all of the first names of the six revolutionaries which are symbolized by the oysters placed diagonally at the center of the seal.
THE CEBU PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING
According to Cebu architectural history, the Cebu Provincial Capitol is dramatically positioned at the end of a grand perspective of a new avenue (Osmena Boulevard) as conceived by William Edward Parsons in his 1912 plan of Cebu, in line with the City Beautiful Movement.
PHOTO FROM THE WIRES
Parsons, according to "History of Architecture," was an architect and city planner known for his works in the Philippines such as the Manila General Hospital, Paco Railroad Station, and Manila Hotel, among others, during the early period of American colonization in the country.
Construction was started in 1937 under the supervision of the engineering firm Pedro Siochi and Company. It took place also during the administration of Governor Sotero Cabahug who was its "principal champion."
Here is an interesting fact: Construction was financed through a bond approved by President Manuel Luis Quezon and through public subscription.
I had to key in "public subscription" on the Google search engine as this is Greek to me.
A public subscription offering is a procedure in which a qualified investor or retail investor acquires public securities of a company. In this way, the company that sells the shares will retain its shareholder structure to bring in new ones for the purpose of their placement in Stock Exchange.
The building was finally completed in 1938 during the term of Governor Buenaventura Rodriguez, the inauguration ceremony took place last June 14, 1938 led by President Quezon with Cebu Archbishop Gabriel Reyes blessing the new building.
ARCHITECT JUAN MARCOS ARELLANO Y DE GUZMAN
PHOTO GRABBED FROM THE WIRES
THE CEBU PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SEAL
The Cebu Provincial Government Seal is shaped like a shield divided into quarters and enclosed in a circle. It features six oysters, a spear crossing a bolo twice, and 48 small squares.
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| PHOTO FROM THE WIRES |
The spear and the bolo represent resistance against oppression as symbolized by Lapu-Lapu's successful struggle against the mighty Spanish force led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
The six oysters were the six generals who revolted against Spanish and American authorities, namely Generals Arcadio Maxilom, Saturnino Echavez, Arsenio Cabreros, Pantaleon "Leon Kilat" Villegas, Generoso Jaca, and Eugenio Gines.
On the other hand, the squares represent the total number of local government units in the Province of Cebu (this is an old count because today there are already six component cities and 44 towns as part of its political jurisdiction).#
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