When the Americans came to Cebu in 1899 they organized the municipalities, first by appointing chief executives which they titled as municipal presidents, few years later by virtue of the Philippine Organic Act of 1902, local elections were conducted with local officials being elected instead of the century old custom of appointing leaders of pueblos called as Capitanez or Gobernadorcillo.
In Argao, the following had the distinction of being presidents and mayors:
Alejandro Ruiz (1900-1903), Cornelio Minoza (1903-1905), Victor Espina (1905-1911), Cristito Villahermoso (1911-1914), Antonio Minoza (1914-1917), Mariano Abear (1917-1920), Carlos Montenegro (1920-1923), Lorenzo Albarracin (1923-1931) and Jacinto Albarracin (1931-1940).
As Mayors: Jose L. Kintanar (1940-1941), Gaudencio R. Pena (1941-1942), Jose L. Kintanar (1942-1943), Juan Abear (May 1945 to August 1945), Jose L. Kintanar (September 1945 to April 1946), Vicente Kintanar (May 1, 1946 to December 1951), Eliseo Minoza (March 1951 to April 1951), Benjamin S. Kintanar, a lawyer, admitted to the Bar on January 26, 1952 (May 1951 to September 1951), Eliseo Minoza (1951 to 1959), Emilio T. Reyes (1959 to 1964).
In 1965 during the Fourth Centennial Anniversary of the Christianization of the Philippines, lawyer Gervasio Lira Lavilles wrote a book entitled CEBU: History of its Four Cities and Forty Nine Municipalities. It is the only book in Cebu written by an individual so far that thoroughly records the history of Cebu.
Incidentally, these were the officials of Argao, Cebu in 1965:
Emilio T. Reyes, Mayor; Dr. Jesus L. Kintanar, Vice Mayor; Felix Minoza, Sr., Municipal Secretary; Carlos D. Ramas (became a lawyer on December 19, 1931), Judge; Espiridion Campos, Treasurer; Magdaleno Pangandoyon, Chief of Police; Dr. Carlos Fortuna, Health Officer.
As Councilors: lawyer Consorcio S. Kintanar (admitted to the Bar on January 21, 1955), Mr. Antonio Fortuna (a member of the Fortuna Clan in Argao became a lawyer, his name Vicente O. Fortuna, admitted to the Bar on February 22, 1962); Mr. Maximino Pantinople, lawyer Antonio Almirante (admitted to the Bar on January 21, 1955, a Junior also became Mayor of Argao and Board Member of the 2nd District of Cebu, another Almirante by the name of Dominador A. Almirante Jr. became a lawyer on February 8, 1963, and became one of the country's finest Labor Arbiter); Mr. Dionisio Aballe (there were members of the Aballe Clan in Argao that became lawyers: Guillermo Aballe, admitted to the Bar on June 11, 1947 and Dionisio P. Aballe, admitted to the Bar on March 17, 1965); Mr. Julio Gelbolingo (a member of the Gelbolingo Clan became a lawyer on January 26 1961 by the name of Romano Y. Gelbolingo, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. (admitted to the Bar on March 3, 1960 of Colawin, Argao belongs to the Gelbolingo Clan, his mother being a Gelbolingo, Mr. Emilio M. Lucero, members of the Lucero Clan in Argao, who became lawyers: Jesus Lucero (January 20, 1955) and Benjamin A. Lucero (August 12, 1957) and Mr. Simeon Omboy.
The Kintanar clan did not only produce mayors in Argao, Cebu it also produced lawyers: Agustin Y. Kintanar (October 4, 1917); Cesar A. Kintanar (January 3, 1928); Filomeno C. Kintanar (June 7, 1946); Lilia A. Kintanar (February 23, 1962); Isidro C. Kintanar (June 7, 1946); Luis M .Kintanar (January 18, 1954); he later became General of assigned with the Judge Advocate General Office, Mariano P. Kintanar (March 4, 1968); Martin R. Kintanar (March 28, 1949); Simeon L. Kintanar (March 7, 1960); later to be appointed as Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission and Congressman representing the 2nd District of Cebu, for three terms starting in 1998 up to 2007, Teodorico R. Kintanar (March 17, 1966).
The present Provincial Attorney of Cebu, Orvi Gelbolingo Ortega, who was admitted to the Bar on April 12, 1996, is from Argao, Cebu, before his appointment, he served as Board Member representing the 2nd District of Cebu. A member of the Alcazaren Clan became a lawyer, Teodorico A. Alcazaren (January 21, 1955), also the former Bureau of Customs Collector, Paul S. Alcazaren (admitted to the Bar on May 5, 1981) is also from Argao, Cebu.