Don Segundo Singson, acting Governor of Cebu
Segundo was the son of Don Mariano Singson, Cebu's wealthiest man during his time. Don Mariano was the sponsor of the baptism of Don Pedro Gotiaoco, the grandfather of Atty. Augusto Go. That is why Don Pedro also carries the name, Don Pedro SingsonGotiaoco.
Segundo became a lawyer on April 29, 1902. Segundo was among the Cebuanos leaders who were appointed by the Americans (together with Julio Llorente)as the first Governor of Cebu. The other one was FlorentinoRallos the first Chief Executive of the Municipality of Cebu now Cebu City.
Segundo Singson was among the benefactors of Circulo Cebuano headed by Don Mariano AlbaoCuenco who challenged the Rallos-Sotto faction in 1903. Segundo was the Acting Governor of Cebu during the transition government of Don Julio Llorente and Juan Climaco, who was Cebu's first elected Governor. Before assuming the position as acting governor, Don Segundo was appointed by the Americans as Judge of the Court of First Instance. Julio Llorente left Cebu after his close friend Pablo Mejia was assassinated. Llorente came to Manila and was given a seat in the Judiciary under General Otis.
The chain of governorship of Cebu when the Spaniards left and the Americans arrived is: General ArcadioMoleroMaxilom (during the short lived Philippine Republic, the latter being appointed by the Revolutionary Government, Julio Llorente, 1900 appointed by American Governor General William Howard Taft, then Segundo Singson, who served as acting governor of Cebu, then Juan Climaco who won the first general elections in 1902 when the Americans arrived.
The contemporaries of Don Segundo Singson in Cebu's leadership were Don Mariano Veloso and Judge Miguel Logarta. Don Segundo's second wife, EleuteriaChiongVeloso was the sister of Don Sergio SuicoOsmena's first wife EstefaniaChiongVeloso. Therefore Don Segundo was the brother in law of Don Sergio, who, in his time was the country's future president.
Don Segundo first married Filomena Regis of Parian and Villadolid, Carcar. Segundo had a son named Juan, who, like him, also became a lawyer after being admitted to the Bar on November 3, 1905. The siblings of Don Segundo were Crisanta, Camilla, Clotilde, Maria, and Hilario. Don Segundo remarried after his first wife died. Segundo and his second wife, Dona Eleuteria had the following children: Paz (who married Don Jose Hernaez), Genoveva (called NyoraBebing, married Dr. Augusto Santos Villalon Sr.), Rosario (who married Dr. VirgilioRufinoSioco Gonzales) and Concepcion.
A street in Cebu City is named after Don Segundo's son, Juan. It is the street linking DionisioJakosalem and San Jose Streets in Cogon-Ramos. It was named by virtue of City Ordinance No. 661 in 1968.
Don Segundo was one of the lawyers of Escolastico Rosales Duterte in a case against FlorentinoRallos. The case was about the management of a cockpit in Cebu. The case reached the Supreme Court and was decided on September 24, 1903. The co-counsel of Don Segundo was American lawyer Walton J. Wood (admitted the Bar on April 30, 1902, at that time when there were Americans who studied in the Philippines and took the Bar together with Filipinos). While FlorentinoRallos was defended by American lawyers, Early and White.
Segundo Singson was the lawyer of Escolastico Rosales Duterte considering that his second wife, Dona EleuteriaChiongVeloso's middle name was Rosales, as her mother was GenovevaRosales, her father was Don NicasioChiongVeloso.
Don Segundo was able to convince the Supreme Court of his arguments that there was a partnership agreement with him and FlorentinoRallos contrary to the findings of the lower court. The Supreme Court then ordered that the case be remanded to the Court of First Instance for a new trial.
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