The trailblazing engineer of Visayas and Mindanao

Captain Valeriano Segura, the Cebuano patriot of the Battle of Bataan was not a just soldier and patriot, he was also an engineer. He graduated from the Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, in the United States.

Engr. Segura constructed the Dayhagan Canal Bridge in Cebu on October 19, 1917. He became the trailblazing engineer of the Bureau of Public Works, spearheading the construction of municipal roads unknown at that time in Visayas and Mindanao.

Captain Segura was born on December 11, 1888 and died a hero fighting the Japanese Imperial Army on February 20, 1942. Engineer/Captain Segura married Encarnacion Rodis of the Veloso Clan of Cebu, specifically from the lineage of Maximo Veloso.

Valeriano and Encarnacion had the following eight children whose lineage continued the legacy of patriotism:

Archt. Gregorio Segura, who married twice, first to Benjamina Valencia then to Bernardina Llanto. He had the following children: Sr. Victoria, Julio Antonio, Alexander, and Esther.

Manuel (the war hero colonel and author of the war books “Tabunan” and “The Koga Papers”), who married Josefina Roa and had the following children: Erlinda Ma., Olivia Ma., Veronica Theodora, Raymundo Reuben, Teodoro Valentin, Danilo Manuel, Sylvia Aurora, Teresa Lourdes, Gloria Vissia, and Angela Rosario.

Ascencion Segura, who married lawyer Jesus Avila (son of Don Jose Avila and had the following children: Renato (Nenette del Rosario), Benjamin (Rosario de Leon), Valeriano “Bobit” (the award-winning columnist of The Philippine STAR and The FREEMAN. He was also the Post-EDSA Cebu City traffic czar. He married Jessica Rosello), Juanito, and Adela.

Engr. Salvador, who married Ma. Dolores Almirante and had the following children: Mary Ann, Cynthia, Catherine and Elizabeth.

Fe, who married Isauro de Jesus and had the following children: Jose, Babelyn, Franklin, Don Catalino, Cristina, and Ma. Fe.

Eduardo, who married Adelaida Alegarves and they had Paul Gerard.

Dr. Alfredo, who married Methodia Sagrado, and had the following children: Joey and Sandra

Dr. Oliverio, who married Lucia Reyes and had the following children: Jacinto, Dennis, Sofia, Peter Paul, and Alice.

May the Cebu City Government honor this great Cebuano with a street to remind and inspire the youth that Cebu is not just the birthplace of politicians but of a builder of roads and bridges in the Visayas and Mindanao.