Florentino Rallos, first elected chief executive of Cebu town

When Spanish rule ended on December 10, 1898, the Philippines had a taste of self rule, as the Americans arrived only the following year after they bought us from Spain.

In Cebu, leaders of the revolution organized the civilian government. An election was held in the newly organized municipality of Cebu, this was on January 10, 1899, with Don Florentino Rallos as the 1st elected municipal president and Alejandro Valle as its vice president.

Rallos held the position until 1907, Don Vicente Sotto won in that election but was not able to assume office as he was exiled in Hongkong because of a case filed against him, his vice president, Francisco Arias, assumed the position as mayor.

Don Florentino, a wealthy man during his time, discharged his function as president with vigor and zealousness. The Supreme Court en banc (at that time, the Justices were Americans) on April 24, 1905 reversed the decision of the Court of First Instance of Cebu for convicting him of the crime of "Usurping Judicial Functions" in relation with Article 194 of the Penal Code. Don Florentino, heard, tried, and convicted for imprisonment seven persons for gambling, one of them filed a case against him, the Judge convicted him. The Supreme Court acquitted Don Florentino for at that time, the Municipal Code (Act 82) empowers the municipal president to hear and adjudicate violations of public ordinances.

Don Florentino was one of the signatory of the Schurman Commission, sent by President McKinley to the Philippines to investigate political conditions. His other signatories were Tomas Osmeña, Vicente Sotto, Marcial Velez, and Leoncio Mansueto.

Rallos was suspended as president on the spot by Governor Julio Llorente on February 27, 1902. The cause was the fistfight between Vicente Sotto and Fidel Moas, a Spaniard, this happened at the Teatro Junquera during a show, where racial insults were made. The Spanish Consul in Cebu, Guillermo Leyra, intervened and prevented the local police of bringing Moas to the municipal building. Moas and other Spaniards assaulted the local police, Don Florentino arrived and ordered the arrest of Moas. Governor Llorente arrived and sided with the Spaniards and the Americans and suspended President Rallos.

Don Florentino married Maria Fadullon (nicknamed Nyora Inday), the couple had two children: Concepcion Rallos (married twice, first husband was Mariano Teves, second husband was Mariano Camara) and the second daughter, Carmen Rallos married Don Filemon Sotto (married in 1913, Dona Carmen died in 1945).

The wife on Don Florentino, owned and operated the Teatro Junquera and wrote a book, "Lagda sa Pagpanluto" in 1924. Doña Inday, and her daughters together with Doña Esperanza Velez, Doña Mina Escano and Doña Beatriz Jereza founded the "Asilo dela Milagrosa."

Don Florentino Rallos died on March 14, 1912, a man who stood for Cebuano independence and laid the foundation of Cebu City's civilian government.