Filemon Zapanta St., Cebu City
It is the street formerly known as "Villa Abono" at Barangay Tejero, Cebu City. Its former name, Villa Abono Street was formally named as such by virtue of City Ordinance No. 134 enacted on July 22, 1957.
The Cebu City Council on March 6, 1981 enacted City Ordinance No. 1094, renaming "Villa Abono Street" to "Filemon Zapanta St." It was Dr. Suga Sotto-Yuvienco (daughter of Don Vicente Yap Sotto), a member of the city council, who sponsored the street renaming ordinance.
The honoree, Hon. Filemon Zapanta, was a resident of Barangay Tejero of which the street is situated. Zapanta, during his lifetime was a colorful figure in Tejero District.
Zapanta was a civic and political leader. It was his oratorical skill and talent in writing for the local publications that drew him to public service.
Zapanta was appointed as City Councilor on June 8, 1946 and served until December 31, 1947. This was during the stint of Mayors Vicente del Rosario (son of war hero and lawyer Pantaleon E. Del Rosario), Luis Espina and Miguel Raffinan.
Zapanta was elected by the members of the Cebu City Council as its Floor Leader. Zapanta was part of the council that enacted City Ordinance No. 65 on December 20, 1947, the ordinance on the regulation of the operation of rigs (tartanillas). The Presiding Officer of the City Council at that time was Marcos Morelos.
Cebu City, after its devastation from the Second World War, badly needed repairs. Zapanta worked for the installation of artesian wells and repair of the streets especially in his district.
During the session of the city council on the deliberation of the proposed ordinance, Atty. Ronald R. Duterte, the Council's Presiding Officer was absent. It was Dr. Pablo U. Abella (a street is named after him in the intersection of V. Rama Avenue in Brgy. Guadalupe and Celedonio Salvador Street in Brgy. Labangon) who acted as the Acting Presiding Officer. Pablo U. Abella Street is where the present Court of Appeals is located.
The Floor Leader during the session was Bienvenido B. Tudtud. The Assistant Floor Leader was Atty. Jesus B. Garcia, Jr., while the members were Emmanuel B. Aznar, Rodolfo Y. Cabrera, Jose V. Cuenco, Emilio Rm. Jaca, Leonardo S. Manlosa, Vicente A. Kintanar, Franklin N. Seno, and Suga Sotto-Yuvienco.
The City Council's Secretary was Atty. Pompio A. Paradiang. It was approved by the mayor. Dr. Florentino S. Solon on March 30, 1981. The Secretary to the Mayor was Romeo D. Sta. Ana. Dr. Solon was born on September 17, 1931. He was appointed by President Marcos on October 16, 1978 and he won in the first local elections held on January 30, 1980. That was the first election after Martial Law was declared by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on September 21, 1972. Dr. Solon did not finish his term as Mayor of Cebu City. He resigned when he was appointed director of the Nutrition Center of the Philippines. Dr. Solon was succeeded as mayor by his vice mayor, Atty. Ronald R. Duterte, whose father Atty. Ramon Duterte, also served the city as its Chief Executive in 1957.
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