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Built this City A
chronicle of the major developments that make the present Tagbilaran, featuring
interviews with three former city mayors. Read full story inside.
Like
Rome or any other city, Tagbilaran isn't build in a day. Through time, the native
residents as well as those who came to claim the place their own all have contributed
their piece to the making of the city. Under the leadership of different local
executives, below are some highlights of the city's progress.
During
pre-Hispanic times, Tagbilaran started as a small settlement of natives, in the
vicinity of lower Mansasa. A city of stilts was situated in the strait between
the island of Panglao and mainland Bohol known as the Dapitan. The rich and powerful
water-bound city was called by the Jesuit Alcina as the "Venice of the East"
with the kingdom flourishing as a trading state, engaging in commerce with Chinese
merchants and having embassies from different kingdoms as far as Indonesia. In
the later years of the Spanish era, a more advanced and civilized community was
established at Sitio Ubos, the lower coastal portion at the back of the St. Joseph
Cathedral. All phases of activities were confined to this little settlement by
the sea and as its population grew, the upper portion of the coastal area was
developed spreading towards the east and northeast directions. In 1741, the Father
Rector of the Jesuits in Bohol, Father Cesar Felipe Doria petitioned his superiors
for the division of the town of Baclayon to create another town to be named "San
Jose de Tagbilaran." February 9, 1742, the decree creating the town of Tagbilaran
was signed by Gov. Gen Gaspar de la Torre. During the Post Spanish Regime, Kapitan
Salustiano Borja was the first Municipal President of Tagbilaran in 1899. It
was during the term of Presidente Celestino Gallares (1913-1916) when major changes
happened in Tagbilaran. He drafted what's known as the Gallares Town Plan, wherein
the existing street patterns are being followed. President Timoteo Butalid devoted
his term to a labor-intensive road construction work.
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administration of Mayor Pedro Belderol after World War II was marked by the opening
of new city roads, initial installation of pre-fabricated school buildings and
establishment of the fire department. On July 1, 1966 by virtue of R.A. 4660,
Tagbilaran became a chartered city during the term of Mayor Venancio P. Inting.
Ever dreamed of a city street named after you? Consider this. Most of the city's
thoroughfares are named after Tagbilaran Mayors - J. Borja, M. Parras, C. Gallares,
J. Remolador, G. Penaflor, T. Butalid, G. Visarra, H. Grupo, Belderol, and V.
Inting among others. | Mayor
Venancio P. Inting holds the distinction of being the last municipal mayor and
the first mayor of the City of Tagbilaran.
It
was during Mayor Rolando Butalid's time that a catastrophic fire gutted down the
Tagbilaran Market in 1975. By this time, the Cogon market was developed and activated.
The curbs and gutter that line the sidewalk were made during his term.
Mayor
Jose Ma. Rocha's term saw the onset of various development projects. The expansion
of the City Wharf, the creation of a central market and the construction of a
housing project in Ubujan was started during his time.
Much
of the city's dev't projects found fruition during Mayor Jose V. Torralba's terms:
the New City Hall, the Integrated Bus Terminal, the Central Public Market, &
city slaughterhouse among others.
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