Emilia L. Benedicto St., Cebu City
The "Sepulveda Extension", an extension of the street named after General Sepulveda has long been renamed, it is officially named as "Emilia L. Benedicto Street."
It is named after the woman who inspired the great Cebuano businessman and philanthropist Don Bernardo Benedicto. Doña Emilia was also the mother of well-known Cebuano business and civic leaders. Doña Emila died ahead of her husband Don Bernardo, who died on May 19, 1990 (a street is named also after him months after his death, the street in North Reclamation Area).
The sons of Doña Emilia, to name a few who turned out be civic leaders, were Ambassador Francisco L. Benedicto, a graduate of the Colegio de San Jose Recoletos (now University of San Jose Recoletos) became Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for 25 years. He was posted in countries such as Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Brazil, India, and China.
Francisco, was regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1977 to 1983 and president of the Cebu Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce from 1972 to 1986. He founded the Benedicto College established in 2000 in Mandaue City, Cebu. Francisco called by friends as Frank, an outstanding alumnus of the USJR, also built the Mass Communication Studio of his alma mater in 1986 when Madam Milagros Espina was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Ambassador Frank is presently a director of the Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation.
Francisco who is one of the prime movers of the creation of Hardware Consolidated Inc. and once chaired the organization established on August 8, 1963. Ambassador Frank of the B. Benedicto and Sons, together with eight other so called "Young Turks" of Cebu Business at that time, namely, James Lim of Lim Bonfing Sons Inc,, Filemon Go of Go Occo & Co., Co Tiong of Cebu Oversea Hardware Co. Inc., Antonio Chua Ng of Cathay Hardware, Vicente Sui of Eastern Hardware, Pantaleon Cimafranca of Ho Tong Hardware Inc., Samson Ong of Valtaw General Merchandising and Ang Soc Poe of Ang Teico Sons Co.
The daughter of Ambassador Frank, Emily (married to a Chioson), a namesake of her mother Doña Emilia is also the Honorary Consul of Israel. Consul Emily also sits as Commissioner of the newly created "Sister City Commission", she was appointed by Mayor Michael Lopez Rama, with former Cebu City south district congressman, Atty. Antonio Veloso Cuenco as chairman. The wife of Ambassador Frank, Leontina, is also Honorary Consul of Turkey.
Another son of Doña Emilia, Enrique, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Commerce at the Colegio de San Jose Recoletos in 1964 was Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 given by the Grand Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Enrique is the chairman of the Mabuhay Filcement Inc., Benedict Ventures Inc. and Grand Steel Inc. He also owns the Berben Wood Industries, Enrison Land Inc.. Enrique is also a recipient of the Most Outstanding Cebuano Citizen during the 54th Charter Day Celebration of Cebu City.
Enrique, also an Outstanding Alumnus Awardee of USJR is also Honorary Consul of Belgium, a grandson of Doña Emilia, named Grand, is also Honorary Consul of Romania.
The husband of Doña Emilia, Don Bernardo founded the B. Benedicto and Sons Inc. in 1945. The sons of Bernardo and Emilia continue to run the business they founded and nurtured. They also founded the Don Bernardo Benedicto Foundation.
The ordinance renaming Sepulveda Extension to Emilia L. Benedicto Street was sponsored by then Councilor Bienvenido B. Tudtud on July 17, 1978. It is contained under City Ordinance No. 1000, it was approved by Mayor Eulogio E. Borrres on July 26, 1978.
The other members of the City Council that enacted the street naming ordinance were Ronald R. Duterte, Emilio Rm. Jaca, Edgar C. Abelgas, Emilio E. Alcoseba, Jose V. Cuenco, Jesus S. Gabuya, Maximino R. Lazarte, Gaudalupe O. Mansueto, Telesforo B. Rabaya, Fernando G. Rama, Franklin N. Seno, Emeterio L. Supapo, Mario R. Veloso, and Bernardo S. Zamora.
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