BORBON AS THE HIDING PLACE FOR THE GRAND OLD MAN OF CEBU

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines highlighted the town of Borbon, Cebu, Philippines in the annals of Philippine History.

It’s when the Grand Old Man of Cebu, President Sergio Osmena went into hiding after the Spaniards identified his involvement in the anti-Spanish uprising in Manila in 1897.

NHCP says, “the outbreak of the Revolution in Manila forced Sergio Osmena to return to Cebu to continue his studies. He worked as a part-time court recorder for the Cebu Audiencia and a personal aide to the Spanish military governor of Cebu. At the same time, he was a contributor of articles to El Boletin de Cebu, the only provincial newspaper at that time; and to the Spanish Manila- based periodical, El Comercio. Sergio’s excellence as a journalist earned him the prestigious Medalla del Merito Civil. Sergio went back to Manila in 1897 to resume his studies. However, new anti-Spanish uprisings forced him to flee to Borbon, Cebu since he was identified with the Spaniards”.

Many Borbonanons especially young generations doesn’t exactly know this relevant piece of history. What we only learned about the Osmena’s, was that they belong to powerful political clans in Cebu and apparently their influence proliferates to the whole of Cebu and even in neighboring provinces. Evidently in our municipality, we have had a private high school in upland barangay named after Don Emilio Osmena and another elementary school named after Dona Mary Osmena among others, as cenotaphs of their bequest.

Without knowing that no less than the Grand Old Man himself, was for one time, during the Spanish period came to our peaceful little town to take shelter and concealed from the preying eyes of the Spaniards. We brought up this topic in order to give relevance to one historical account where our town was mentioned by NHCP and for us, Borbonanons to have some sense of personal or rather historical gratifications. That Borbonanons are proud, warmth and friendly people willing to lend a hand for those who come to our aid.

May it be the most powerful man in the country or the least fortunate in our society.