Luciano Bacayo, Municipal President of Cebu

When the Americans arrived in Cebu in 1899 after we were sold by Spain to the United States of America via the Treaty of Paris signed on December 10, 1898, Cebu City was reorganized and became a municipality. While it became a municipality its territorial jurisdiction expanded as the other towns like San Nicolas, El Pardo, and Mabolo became incorporated to the new town of Cebu.

The position of capitanes during the Spanish occupation was changed by the Americans into municipal presidents in tandem with the vice president. In 1901, Florentino Rallos became the first municipal president and in 1905-1907, Luciano Bacayo became the vice president with Celestino Rodriguez (Waling Waling Street has been renamed after him) as president.

In 1907-1908, Luciano Bacayo became municipal president with Raimundo Rodriguez of San Nicolas as his vice president. Bacayo was a leading personality in the uprising of Cebu against Spain in 1898.

Bacayo was among the “principales” who joined in the revolt, his peers mentioned in the book of Michael Cullinane “Arenas in the Conspiracy and Rebellion: The late Nineteenth-Century Philippines” were: Pedro and Salomon Abarca, Laureano and Serapio Abella, Andres Abellana, Luis Abellar, Tomas Aves, Sergio Avila, Teopisto Cavan, Placido Datan, Catalino Fernandez, Santiago Ferraris, Francisco Llamas, Sabas Manuel, Jacinto Pacaña, Candido and Gervasio Padilla, and Damaso Tablada.

Luciano Abellana Bacayo was 25 years old and married in 1898, he was a prominent resident of San Nicolas and owned property in Sawang. He is related to the Abellanas and Padillas of San Nicolas. He had a formal education and was also a musician. He was a clerk of the court and also a Director of the Tribunal of San Nicolas.

The Cebu City Council on January 5, 1950 enacted a city ordinance renaming Road Lot No. 11 located within the Veloso Subdivision in Barangay Guadalupe in honor of Luciano Bacayo. It was Board President Florentino D. Tecson (vice president) today’s equivalent of vice mayor who moved for the renaming of the street. It was approved by Cebu City Mayor Miguel Raffinan on January 23, 1950.

The other members of the Cebu City Council who enacted the street naming ordinance were Engr. Eulogio Enriquez Borres, lawyer Carlos J. Cuizon, Jose Cavan, lawyer Eugenio G. Corro, and lawyer Casimiro V. Madarang.