The inauguration of Cebu City (Part 1)
Cebu City was inaugurated on February 24, 1937, two years after the law creating it – Commonwealth Act No. 58 – was approved by Congress on October 20, 1934. Journalists from Manila covered the event to record what happened. Among them was Sol H. Gwekoh, whose article on the inauguration was published by the Philippine Free Press on March 6, 1937:
“After numerous postponements, due to the unexpected engagements of President Manuel L. Quezon, who was schedule to be the chief guest, the inauguration of the city of Cebu, one of the four new cities of the commonwealth, was finally under the benevolent eyes of Elpidio Quirino, secretary of the interior.
“At exactly 12:57 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 1937, the constitution of the newly chartered city of Cebu was promulgated by Secretary Elpidio Quirino, the personal representative of President Quezon, in the presence of a vast cosmopolitan crowd of 10,000 that braved the sun to witness “a very important and historic occasion – a day that will be written large and permanently in the history of Cebu.”
Secretary Quirino and his distinguished party of provincial governors and members of the national assembly had arrived in Cebu shortly before noon on inauguration day, after a delay in schedule of almost three hours due to strong head winds and heavy rains encountered off Romblon by the government coastguard cutter, Banahao, the previous night.
Due to pressure of time, the parade was shortened, the guests and government officials marching directly to the grandstand in front of the city hall, facing the Magellan’s Cross on Plaza Rizal, after the Quirino party had received the military salute of the different army trainees and school cadet units assembled at the wharf.
The ceremonies opened with an overture by the Cebu constabulary band, immediately followed by the invocation in Spanish pronounced by Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes of Cebu, and the introduction of the secretary of the interior by Governor Sotero B. Cabahug of Cebu.
Before Secretary Quirino addressed the crowd, he read the message of President Quezon, congratulating the people of Cebu and expressing the hope that “this new government will enhance the steady progress of our city economically and politically, compatible with your own hopes and ambitions and in keeping with my policy and that of the National Assembly.” Mr. Quirino received prolonged applause after outlining his vision of the future Greater Cebu.
The presidential proclamation fixing the date of the inauguration was then read by Governor Cabahug, followed by the administration of the oath of office to the eight members of the municipal board: Jose Nolasco, Dominador Abella, Diego Cañizares, Leandro Tojong, Manuel Roa, Felipe Pacana, Regino Mercado and Jose Fortich.” (To be continued)
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