Gen. Arcadio Maxilom and his battles (part II)

Gen. Maxilom who surrendered to the Americans on October 27, 1901, imprisoned and released in 1903. Went to his hometown Tuburan, Cebu, where he used to be its Gobernadorcillo before the outbreak of the Cebuano revolution against the Spaniards.

His cattle's were stolen and justice denied by the Supreme Court composed mostly of Americans. Another legal battle Gen. Maxilom fought was his claim to the estate of Fausto Tabotabo, who died in 1901. The father of Fausto, Diego in a court petition was declared as his Universal Heir. The Court then created a commission to receive claims on the estate of Fausto, one of its claimant was Maxilom. The Court granted the claim of Maxilom and ordered that the amount of 1.062, 37 pesos (Mexican Currency) be credited in favor of Maxilom. The finding of the Commission was affirmed by the Court of First Instance of Cebu. Gaudencio Tabotabo the Executor of Diego Tabotabo went to the Supreme Court   and questioned the decision of the lower court. The Supreme Court in an En Banc Decision on December 20, 1907 through American Justice Johnson reversed the ruling of the lower court. It said that the claim of Maxilom against Fausto Tabotabo was evidenced by their agreement on March 18, 1889, when Fausto was still alive was not proper. It struck down the testimony of Maxilom of his claim of the indebtedness of Fausto.

Gen. Arcadio Molero Maxilom died on August 10, 1924. His funeral consisted of four kilometers of people. The nation's first President, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo attended his funeral to pay respects to one of the bravest soldiers of the country.

A statue in Tuburan stands in his honor, likewise former Mayor Petronilo L. Mendoza signed an Executive Order making November 13 (birthdate) of Gen. Maxilom as Special Working Day in Tuburan, Cebu.

The Municipality of Cebu before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1945 named a street formerly called "Mango Avenue" as Gen. Arcadio Maxilom Avenue. Yet after almost 100 years after his death, justice has not been fully given unto him. The street named after him still bears the old name, business establishments and the populace still confused of what the correct name of the street.

Our public officials and its citizens do not have to die for our freedom, we do not have to bleed as Gen. Maxilom did. May we rightfully honor him, to ensure the correct naming of the street. May our officials stop ignoring and neglecting a very important duty, let us honor our heroes by ensuring that their streets named in their honor be respected by the community. This is just few of recommendations (repeated):

1.  That the Mayor's Office will not approve/renew Business Permits with INCORRECT BUSINESS ADDRESS. It must bear the correct name of the streets. (example, there are establishments in Maxilom Avenue that carried the old name, Mango Avenue).

2.  LTFRB will not renew franchises of PUJ's bearing incorrect street names on its bodies and front signage. LTO/CITOM to call the attention of PUJ's with incorrect signage.