It is the street formerly known as San Jose Street. The honoree, German by birth, made Cebu as his residence for a period of 25 years. Fr. Rahmann of the S.V.D. has dedicated himself to the improvement of the quality of education available to the students of the University of San Carlos, where youth from the Visayas and Mindanao attained education.
During his administration and guidance, the University of San Carlos, one of the oldest schools in the Philippines received numerous citations for its valuable contribution to the community and country. Aside from being a priest, he was an anthropologist; he came to the Philippines in 1952 and went to Mindanao. He became a professor in Anthropology in the university in 1960. He wrote a research on the Negritos. He initiated the opening of the University's Museum in 1967.
One of his community works aside from the academe is when he raised substantial funds from his friends in Germany to assist for the relocation of the displaced squatters of Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City during a great fire. The Cebu City Council issued a resolution dated Feb. 28, 1977 making him an Adopted Son of Cebu City.
City Ordinance No. 1209 enacted on Feb. 17, 1986 naming the street in his honor was supported by a subsequent ordinance sponsored by Councilor Franklin N. Seno. City Ordinance No. 1851 enacted on Aug. 23, 2000 changed/renamed the San Jose Extension also as "Fr. Rudolf Rahmann Street", this is starting at the intersection of Gen. Arcadio Maxilom Avenue up to its northern-end portion.
The City Council that enacted the first ordinance was the council that was elected before the 1986 People Power Revolution. The City Council's Presiding Office was Vicente A. Kintanar, Jr. and the Acting Presiding Officer was Rodolfo Y. Cabrera and the Floor Leader was Catalino M. Doronio. The Assistant Floor Leader was Jose V. Cuenco. The members were: Pablo U. Abella, Emmanuel B. Aznar, Jesus B. Garcia, Jr., Antolin R. Jariol, Jr., Alice V.L. Montesclaros, Renato V. Osmeña, Franklin N. Seno, Bienvenido B. Tudtud and Suga Sotto-Yuvienco. The City Mayor was Ronald R. Duterte and the Council's Secretary was Atty. Pompio "Pomping" A. Paradiang. The ordinance was approved by the mayor on Feb. 28, 1986.