Saturday, October 2, 2010

THE HISTORY OF ALEGRIA, CEBU



Location : 115 km.
Town Fiesta : December 2 - 3
Patron Saint : St. Francis of Assisi
Places of Interest : Spanish era church, monuments of three Cuencos (San Mariano, Cong. Miguel and Gov. Manuel), Mt. Lamaya

Historical Notes
A happy occasion sparked the naming of Alegria. The town was long known as Tubod after a sparkling spring (tubod in Cebuano) whose cool waters was the favorite of the townspeople and travelers alike. It was here where a group of Spaniards chanced upon its residents enjoying a festivity amidst hilarious merriment. Amused, the Castillians exclaimed : Que alegre! Que alegre! (How gleeful!) From this rustic revelry, the town earned its name.
Alegria was originally a part of the town of Samboan. As vassals of the municipality, the people of Alegria were made to render free labor in the building of the church if Samboan. The people, however, did not object as they viewed it as service to God.
  • Capitan Tolero - Alegria’s first leader when it became independent in 1857 was Nerio
  • Ygoña - the first president under the American regime
  • Felisimo Doria - the first mayor under the Philippine Republic (1901- 1906)
  • Rev. Fr. Felix de la Concepcion - Alegria’s first parish priest (1857 - 1862)
From Alegria’s Municipal Profile is the information that Alegria’s outstanding contribution to revolutionary efforts in Spanish - Filipino and Filipino - American Wars for 1896 - 1901 was Col. Anastacio Bello. He led the resistance in southwestern Cebu under the overall Cebu Command of Gen. Maxilom and Gen. Leon Kilat. He played the leading role in the ambuscade against the Americans in the battle of Bugas, Badian, Cebu. But when the Resistance ended, he was appointed by the American authorities as the first Justice of the Peace for the Municipalities of Alegria and Malabuyoc.