Top 100 Cebuano Personalities - Sotero Cabahug

CEBU, Philippines — Sotero Cabahug received the title as “Governor of the Year” at the end of his term for warding off political persecutions, allowing him to give tangible improvements, in his three years as governor of Cebu.

He also had served as Justice of the Peace, provincial fiscal, municipal councilor, mayor, and congressman for two terms.  Cabahug’s term as governor of Cebu covered events that are important to Philippine history. These include the election of delegates to he Constitutional Convention that would draft the Philippine Constitution on July 10, 1934, the inauguration of Commonwealth on November 15, 1935, the first national election under the Commonwealth on September 17, 1936, and the inauguration of Cebu City as a chartered city on February 24, 1937.

Cabahug led a productive administration. The Rizal Memorial Library, TB Pavilion of Southern Islands Hospital (now Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center), Cebu Junior College, and Cebu Provincial Capitol were built during his term.

 He was also instrumental in setting the first military reservation for the Philippine Army in Lahug (Camp Lapulapu).

Cabahug was considered as the Cebuano with the most varied career in public service. Today, he is known as the “Builder of the Cebu Capitol,” as he left a tangible pride to the Cebuanos.