Lao Singto Heritage House
The Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission or CHAC has adopted Resolution No. 015-2012 requesting the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City to declare the "Lao Singto House" as a historical landmark.
The City Council in response to the request enacted Resolution No. 12-3635-2012 dated July 18, 2012 recognizing the "Lao Singto House" located at Barangay Tejero, Cebu City as a historical landmark.
The house along and very near the Carcel de Cebu or the Cebu Provincial Jail now converted as Museo Sugbo along M.J. Cuenco formerly called Calle de Los Martires (the street of martyrs). Its construction started in 1900 and was completed in 1903.
The Lao Family in Cebu started with Lao Singto born on June 10, 1887 from Amoy, China migrated to the Philippines first established residence and his business in Oroquieta then the capital town and now the capital city of the province of Misamis Occidental (Oroquieta's earliest name was "Layawan" meaning a place where animals stray). Mr. Lao's business was called the "Panitan" or where skins of animal are peeled for leather.
Mr. Lao Singto married Cerila Mira (born on April 27, 1872) and then came to Cebu and made it their residence. The Lao couple had three children: Felix (married Dionesia of the Yap Yuk family, owner of the YY Trading Company), Januaria (married Pedro Abuton) and Leoncio (married Victoria Garcia-Abad).
The two-story house which was adjacent to the Carcel de Cebu which was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army was made the quarters of Japanese officers. The Lao family was allowed to stay in the ground floor while the Japanese soldiers stayed in the upper floor.
Leoncio, son of Singto was shot to death by the Japanese Army on October 13, 1942 while evading arrest in Carcar, Cebu. Leoncio, was a soldier and a surgeon and was health officer of Cordoba (now Cordova), Cebu.
Julian, son of Felix and Dionsia, who knew how to speak Niponggo served as interpreter of the Japanese officers specifically those assigned with the Kempetai or the Japanese secret police.
Julian was a member of the Cebu Resistance Movement, he had infiltrated into the Japanese Kempetai as an interpreter and won their confidence. Julian was responsible for the escape of at least a dozen prisoners held captive at the ground floor of Cebu Normal School Building (now Cebu Normal University). The escape resulted in the execution of the Japanese Guard. Corporal Masao Watanabe was instead blamed of the escape and he was executed by Captain Kaminoto Tsuriyama, the Kempetai chief of Cebu.
The heroic and patriotic exploits of Sergeant Julian Lao are narrated in the books (Tabunan and The Koga Papers) of Cebuano war hero Col. Manuel F. Segura.
The house of "Lao Singto" still stands and has not undergone major renovation. The Lao family still continues to serve Cebu City, now through a great-grandson, Garry Lao (son of Jacinto Lao and Florita Torrejos-Blanco of Toledo City, Cebu), a councilor of barangay Tejero and staff reporter of THE FREEMAN. The only child of Januaria (who married Pedro Abuton) Felicidad married Filemon Lagman and lives in Oroquieta, the first place that welcomed Lao Singto to the Philippines.
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