Alegria, Cebu, situated 116 kilometers from Cebu City was used to be called "Tubod." It was renamed by the Spaniards who chanced upon villagers who were drinking tuba and were merry.
The first chief executive of Alegria during the American occupation was Nerio Ygona, holding office from 1901 to 1906. When it was changed to mayor, the first to assume the position was Felicisimo Doria.
Before World War II (from 1919 to 1937), the longest serving chief executive was Miguel Aller. The son of President Miguel, Benito B. Aller became mayor of Alegria from 1951 to 1986. Mayor Benito was only replaced when the revolutionary president, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino after the February 1986 People Power Revolt evicted duly elected local government officials such as governors, mayors, and the members of their councils.
In 1965, the fellow officials of Mayor Benito B. Aller were Claros Letegio, vice mayor, Felisea B. Carreon, municipal secretary, Atty. Pacita P. Jabagat (admitted to the Bar in 1941, she was from Ginatilan, Cebu), Municipal Judge, Pedro Abetria, treasurer, Fabio Jabel, chief of police, Dr. Nestor Villamor , health officer. Councilors: Francisco Cuevas, Laureano Tan, Apolinario A. Doria, Agustin Jamero, Constancio Guisadio (a member of the Guisadio Clan, became Mayor of Alegria by the person of Raul Guisadio, when his term ended his wife succeeded her, Emelita Guisadio, in 2013 Verna Magallon won as Mayor of Alegria), and Teodoro Lobingon.
Presently, the Aller Clan continues to serve the people of Alegria through Atty. Raymund A. Aller, son of Rodulfo Osorio Lofradez and Aurea Aller. Atty. Raymund Alocillo Aller is not just a lawyer, he is a Registered Nurse. He finished at Cebu's prime nursing school -- the Cebu City Medical Center. Raymund was admitted to the Bar on May 3, 2005, though he had Talisay, Cebu as his hometown in his Roll of Attorney he was born in Alegria. Five years after passing the Bar and practicing law, he ran and was elected Councilor of Alegria, Cebu in 2010.
Alegria which used to be part of the Old 5th District of Cebu was dominated for decades by the Cuenco clan. In the heart of the town, the grateful people of Alegria erected near the church and town plaza the three monuments of Senator Mariano Jesus Cuenco (the first Cebuano to be elected as Senate President, the second was Senator Marcelo Briones Fernan), Congressman Miguel Cuenco, a legal wizard and the first Cebuano lawyer to study International Law and Diplomacy. He was succeeded by his grandnephew, Atty. Antonio Veloso Cuenco, a graduate of the Ateneo Law School as congressman of the District in 1965) and Dr. Manuel Cuenco, who became governor of Cebu, also President of the League of Governors and Cities and Secretary of Health, he was the father of Atty. Antonio "Tony" Cuenco).
On September 26, 1947 the following were appointed as officials of Alegria, Cebu: Policarpio Quintana, appointed as Vice Mayor, Gavino Homecillo, Vicente Homecillo, Nicomedes Legaspi, and Pelagio Pueblos as councilors.
Alegria, Cebu is also the hometown of legal minds. On June 29, 1953, Diosado L. Vicada was admitted to the Bar, Amparo R. Gomez, was admitted to the Bar on March 8, 1957, Simplicio Jorgio became a lawyer on March 2, 1960, Ma. Vilma Baguia was admitted to the Bar on March 20, 1967, Leobarlo C. Enad, admitted to the Bar on March 12, 1969, he was a long time legal officer of the Bureau of Immigration, his son Brando A. Enad (admitted to the Bar on May 5, 2005, product of the University of San Jose Recoletos High School and College of Law) also works at the Bureau of Immigration and Celestino A. Allanic, admitted to the Bar on May 7, 1982.
The Parish of Alegria, Cebu was canonically erected on March 13, 1857 with Saint Francis Xavier as patron, December 3, is the fiesta in his honor.
The barangays of Alegria are named after places and events in Spain: Poblacion, Compostela, Guadalupe, Legaspi, Lepanto, Madridejos, Montpeller, Santa Filomena, and Valencia.