Gen. Arcadio Molero Maxilom, the first Cebuano governor of Cebu

Spaniards governed the Island of Cebu for centuries. It was in Cebu that Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who came to the shores of Cebu in 1565 established the Spanish government. Cebu became the center of government of Spain in 1565 making Colon the oldest street in the country and Fort San Pedro the 1st fort constructed by Spain. Legazpi holds the title of the country's 1st governor general and cebu's first governor.

Legazpi was succeeded by Spanish governors appointed by the Spanish Royal throne among them was Governor Inocencio Junquera who was Cebu's governor from 1893 to 1895. Junquera endeared himself to the Cebuanos. A theater was constructed by him and named after him.

Governor Junquera was replaced by a military inclined governor, his name Adolfo Montero who came to Cebu in 1895. Montero was appointed governor of Cebu during the advent of the Tagalog revolt in 1896. It was a failed uprising. When KKK Cebu revolted Spain in 1898, it was commenced by the famous, Battle of Tres de Abril (the battle that started on April 3, 1898) Governor Montero defended Fort San Pedro.

Governor Montero in his defense of Spain sought reinforcements from Manila, Mindanao and the Island of Panay. The revolt led by General Pantaleon Villegas more known as Leon Kilat at the start was on its way to victory until reinforcements came to help Governor Montero.

Ironically, General Leon Kilat upon its retreat to Cebu south was betrayed by the host officials of Carcar, he was stabbed to death on April 10, 1898, his body chopped in fear that he might not die.

Leon Kilat had a military lieutenant, a school teacher and capitan municipal of Tuburan (1894 to 1896), his name, Arcadio Molero Maxilom. He was appointed on April 2, 1898 by Luis Flores, the KKK President as Captain of the Army and took charge of the west coast of Cebu.

General Maxilom (born on November 13, 1862 in Tuburan) on April 7 arrived in Tuburan took hold of the municipality with the help of Fausto Tabotabo. When General Maxilom was about to return to Cebu City he learned of the news that his comrades suffered defeat, it was then that he decided to strengthen his stronghold in Tuburan.

General Arcadio Maxilom was not the only patriot of the brave Maxilom clan, his brothers Enemecio, Samuel and Cesario were military officers of the Cebu KKK. Maxilom and brave people of Tuburan defended the town of Tuburan when Spanish soldiers supported by Filipino traitors attacked the town to regain control. The battle happened on April 15, Cebuano blood spilled on that day with 45 dead, among them was the brother of General Arcadio and seven of his cousins.

General Arcadio after the Battle of Tuburan held camp at the mountain of Anijao, Tuburan left for Sudlon on May 20, 1898. Taking over the command was his brother, Enemecio. General Arcadio left his son, Emiliano to the care of his brother. Sudlon became the stronghold of KKK Cebu, it was on that mountain that Luis Flores commanded what was left of KKK Cebu. General Maxilom with the death of Leon Kilat became the Supreme General of the KKK Cebu's Army.

On December 1898, Spain's forces were defeated, some say it was because of the Americans but it would not happened without the attacks of the Cebuano patriots on the Spanish soldiers. General Maximon took hold of "El Pardo" once a center of government of Cebu, it was on December 20, 1898 that Luis Flores appointed General Maxilom as Governor of Cebu. On Christmas Day, the Spaniards in Cebu left Fort San Pedro, then Cebu KKK occupied it making Cebu truly independent from Spain.

The Philippine government was, however, short lived as the Americans came to replace the Spaniards by virtue of the Treaty of Paris signed on December 10, 1898, with Philippines sold by Spain the United States.

When the Americans arrived on the shores of Cebu the following year (1899), General Maxilom refused to recognize the Americans insisting that Cebu and the Philippines is independent. Julio Llorente was then appointed by the Americans as Governor of Cebu. Llorente, however, lost to Juan Climaco on the elections held in 1901 the first American sponsored election.

The elections and struggle for power under the Americans participated by Cebuanos happened while General Maxilom continued defying the Americans, even fighting while the forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo already surrendered to the Americans. General Arcadio Molero Maxilom, the last general to surrender, laid down his arms on October 27, 1901. Maxilom must be accorded the proper and rightful title in Cebuano history as the 1st Cebuano Governor  of Cebu.

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