Jose S. Leyson Street, Cebu City

There is a street officially named JOSE LEYSON, yet no city map or business address tells that a street name exists. The street is known by its old name and still called or acknowledged by many as PROGRESO STREET or Calle Progreso during the Spanish Period.

Progreso Street starts from Calderon crossing Manalili then to Plaridel Street and M.C. Briones (formerly known as Calle Commercio). The Cebu City Council on August 5, 1971 enacted City Ordinance No. 720 renaming PROGRESO STREET to JOSE LEYSON STREET. Interestingly, the ordinance was approved on mass motion, meaning with all the members moving for its approval, it was an ordinance sponsored by all its members. Yet, despite the enormous support of the city council in its passage, it has remained unimplemented for more than forty years since it was ordained.

The ordinance was approved on August 11, 1971 by Mayor Eulogio E. Borres. Jose S. Leyson, who became a lawyer on November 5, 1923 was elected board member of the province of Cebu on an election held on December 10, 1940. His election was officially confirmed by virtue of Executive Order No. 315 issued by then President Manuel L. Quezon. Aside from Leyson, elected as board member was Fructuouso Cabahug.  Their governor was Hilario Abellana.

Jose was forced by the Japanese to assume the position of governor when Gov. Hilario Abellana left the Capitol, who was later arrested and executed on January of 1945, months before the war officially ended. Leyson was governor of Cebu from 1944 to 1945, just like Hilario Abellana and Paulino Gullas, he (Leyson) also vanished when the war was about to end. They were presumed executed by the Japanese Imperial Army.

Before the war, Leyson married Lourdes Velez, daughter of Teodoro Velez and Hermenegilda Chiong Veloso. Jose had the following children: Jose Jr., Fe (married a Qua), Josefina (became a doctor and dean of the Cebu Institute of Medicine, and married a Poblete), Esperanza, Caridad and Gabriel, who became Cebu City councilor.

The Cebu City council that renamed the street from Progreso to Jose Leyson was composed of Jose L. Rodriguez, Florencio S. Urot, Arturo L. Abellana, Caridad A. Trocino, Jose V. Arias, Jesus S. Gabuya, Pablo U. Abella, and Jose V. Cuenco.

Jose S. Leyson, died for our freedom, his body and bones never found may we rightfully honor him by correctly naming the street officially named after him decades ago. Let us start this by putting up the correct street sign on the street named after him.