Don Gervasio Quijada

It is a city street in Barangay Guadalupe formerly known as Modesta Street. The Cebu City Council on December 29, 1989 enacted City Ordinance No. 1317 renaming Modesta Street to Don Gervasio Quijada.

Don Gervasio was primarily responsible for the surrender of the "Insurectos" or "Pulahanes" to Don Sergio Osmena Sr. The site of the surrender was the Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church. The "Pulahanes" were the remnants of the revolutionaries during the revolt against Spain in 1898 in Cebu. When the Americans arrived there were revolutionaries who refused to lay down arms and continued to fight against the new foreign colonists. The "Pulahanes" who were called by the Americans as bandits were not really criminals but patriots who fought for independence. The leaders of the group were the "Tabals" of the mountain barangays of Guadalupe. At that time, the upland barangays of Cebu City were part of Guadalupe.

The successful surrender of the Pulahanes became the launching pad of Don Sergio's political power, as this gained favor from the Americans, who had problem with the revolutionaries in Cebu. From thereon, Don Sergio was appointed by the Americans as Fiscal, then Governor, and later elected as the First Speaker of the Philippine Assembly.

Don Gervasio, was the first Teniente del Barrio of Guadalupe, who had been known to be a staunch mover in community development affairs.

Don Gervasio was the son of spouses Don Francisco Quijada and Doña Ana Caballero. Gervasio, had a brother who was a priest, whose name was Jose. Her sister, Magdelena, who was a spinster, was the attendant or caretaker of the statue of the Our Lady of Guadalupe. His other brother, Don Gregorio was married to Agripa Caballes. The other siblings of Don Gervasio, were Francisca, Eugenia and Mauricio.

Don Gervasio married Doña Teresa Datan. The latter was the sister of Placido Datan, another leader of Guadalupe (A street is also named after him). The Quijadas even up to the present are the caretakers of the statue of the Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Cebu City Council that renamed Modesta Street to Don Gervasio Quijada was composed of the following: Alvin B. Garcia, as presiding officer (Vice Mayor), Rodolfo Y. Cabrero, president pro tempore, Franklin N. Seno, majority floor leader, Vicente A. Kintanar Jr., minority floor leader, Eleno V. Abellana, assistant majority floor leader, Clemente G. Rama, assistant minority floor leader, the members: Jessie M. Aznar, Eulogio B. Borres Jr., Ruben C. dela Cerna, Manuel L. Concepcion, Procopio E. Fernandez, Rosendo G. Martinez, Pureza T. Onate, Renato V. Osmena, Avenescio A. Piramide, Arnulfo R. Ravine and Joy A G. Young. The Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretary was Pompio A. Paradiang.

On January 5, 1989, the then Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña approved the ordinance.

 

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