Governor of Cebu

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Governor of Cebu
Gobernador sa Probinsya sa Sugbo
Pam Baricuatro.jpg
since June 30, 2025
Style The Honorable
Seat Cebu Provincial Capitol
AppointerElected via popular vote
Term length 3 years, not eligible for re-election immediately after three consecutive terms
Inaugural holder Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
FormationAugust 6, 1569

The governor of Cebu (Filipino : Punong Lalawigan ng Cebu ) is the chief executive of the provincial government of Cebu, Philippines. The first governor appointed by the Spanish Crown was Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, and during the American Era, Julio Llorente became governor on April 16, 1899, although Luis Flores and Arcadio Maxilom served in the same position in 1898 and 1899, respectively.

Contents

The incumbent governor is Pamela Baricuatro, who is currently serving since June 30, 2025. [1] She defeated Gwendolyn Garcia in an upset victory as someone who has never held an elective office. [2]

History

On August 6, 1569, King Philip II appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as the first governor of the province of Cebu. His appointment was conducted just a few years after the Spanish settlement was established on the island. [3]

The Cebu provincial government was divided into rival factions before the impending U.S. invasion in 1899. On December 30, 1898, Luis Flores was elected and assumed office as governor the next day, with his office being confirmed in another election held on January 10, 1899. Flores remained governor outside of the city even while Julio Llorente became governor on April 16, 1899. The situation was further complicated when on March 29, 1899, General Arcadio Maxilom was appointed military governor during the resistance against the American forces. [4]

List of governors of Cebu

List of governors of Cebu
No.PortraitGovernorTermPlace of originRef.
1 Julio Llorente, Governor of Samar (Portrait, 1905).jpg Julio A. Llorente
May 22, 1863 – 1955 [5]
(age 91–92)
1899–1901 Argao, Cebu [4]
2 Juan Climaco, Governor of Cebu (Portrait, 1905).jpg Juan Clímaco
December 24, 1859 – July 16, 1907
(age 47)
1902–1906 Toledo, Cebu [6]
3 Sergio Osmena 1908.jpg Sergio Osmeña
September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961
(age 83)
1906–1907 Cebu City, Cebu [7]
4 Dionisio Jakosalem y Abella.jpg Dionisio Jakosalem
May 8, 1878 – July 1, 1931
(age 53)
1907–1912 Dumanjug, Cebu [8]
5 Manuel A. Roa y Flores.jpg Manuel A. Roa
1872 – ????
1912–1922Cebu City, Cebu [4]
6 Arsenio Climaco.jpg Arsenio Climaco
June 24, 1870 – November 15, 1952
(age 82)
1922–1930Toledo, Cebu [9]
7 Mariano Jesus Cuenco.jpg Mariano Jesús Cuenco
January 16, 1888 – February 25, 1964
(age 76)
1931–1934 Carmen, Cebu [10]
8 Secretary of National Defense Sotero Cabahug (cropped).jpg Sotero Cabahug
April 22, 1891 – December 15, 1963
(age 72)
1934–1937 Mandaue, Cebu [9]
9 Buenaventura Rodriguez y Perez.jpg Buenaventura P. Rodriguez
July 14, 1893 – December 9, 1940
(Age 47)
1937–1940 Bogo, Cebu [9]
10 Hilario Abellana.jpg Hilario Abellana
October 23, 1896 – January 15, 1945
(Age 48)
1941–1943Cebu City, Cebu [11]
11 Cebu Governor Jose Delgado.jpg Jose Delgado 1943–1944Unknown [4]
12 Jose Leyson.jpg Jose Leyson
April 23, 1895 – 1945
(Age 49 or 50)
1944–1945 [4]
13 Gov. Fructuoso Cabahug - 1945 (cropped).jpg Fructuoso B. Cabahug
January 20, 1897 – December 24, 1961
(Age 64)
1945–1946Mandaue, Cebu [12]
14 Manuel Alesna Cuenco.jpg Manuel A. Cuenco
November 10, 1907 – October 18, 1970
(Age 62)
1946–1951Cebu City, Cebu [13]
15 Serging Osmena.jpg Sergio Osmeña Jr.
December 4, 1916 – March 26, 1984
(Age 67)
1951–1955Cebu City, Cebu [14]
16 Jose Lorenzo Briones.jpg Jose Briones
February 10, 1916 – ????
1956–1961Mandaue, Cebu [15]
17 Francisco Remotigue.jpg Francisco Remotigue
July 14, 1908 – April 29, 1995
(Age 86)
1961–1963Argao, Cebu [9]
18 Rene Gandiongco Espina.jpg Rene Espina
December 6, 1929 – September 13, 2019
(Age 89)
1964–1969Cebu City, Cebu [16]
19 Governor Osmundo Rama (cropped).jpg Osmundo Rama
September 23, 1914 – November 13, 1998
(Age 84)
1969–1976Cebu City, Cebu [17]
20 HoR Official Portrait Eduardo Gullas.jpg Eduardo Gullas
October 13, 1930
(Age 94)
1976–1986Cebu City, Cebu [18]
21 Governor Osmundo Rama (cropped).jpg Osmundo Rama
September 23, 1914 – November 13, 1998
(Age 84)
1986–1988Cebu City, Cebu [17]
22 Lito Osmeña
September 11, 1938 – July 19, 2021
(Age 82)
1988–1992Cebu City, Cebu [14]
23 Vicente Low dela Serna.jpg Vicente dela Serna
September 13, 1951 – September 1, 2018
(Age 66)
1992–1995 Butuan, Agusan del Norte [19]
24 Rep. Pablo P. Garcia (8th Congress).jpg Pablo P. Garcia
September 25, 1925 – August 18, 2021
(Age 95)
1995–2004 Dumanjug, Cebu [20]
25 Garcia-g.png Gwendolyn Garcia
October 12, 1955
(Age 69)
2004–2012Cebu City, Cebu
Agnes Magpale portrait.jpg Agnes Magpale
(acting)
January 21, 1942
(Age 83)
2012– 2013 Danao, Cebu
26 Gov Hilario Davide III Official Cebu Prof (cropped).jpg Hilario Davide III
August 25, 1964
(Age 60)
2013–2019Cebu City, Cebu [21]
27 Gwendolyn Garcia at a press briefing.jpg Gwendolyn Garcia
October 12, 1955
(Age 69)
2019–2025Cebu City, Cebu [1]
28 Pam Baricuatro.jpg Pam Baricuatro
November 9, 1966
(Age 58)
2025–Cebu City, Cebu [22]

Elections

See also

References

  1. 1 2 ROQUE, NIKA (May 13, 2025). "Pam Baricuatro is Cebu's new governor". GMA News. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. Sitchon, J., & Limpag, M. (May 15, 2025). "Sitchon, J., & Limpag, M. (2025, May 15). How Cebu voted against Governor Gwen Garcia and Alyansa. RAPPLER". rappler.com. Retrieved May 18, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. De Leon, Aljohn (August 6, 2014). "Fast Facts: What You Should Know About Cebu". Rappler. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 The History of Cebu, Philippines. Cebu City: Provincial government of Cebu with the assistance of the University of San Carlos. 2014. ISBN   978-971-9972-23-5. OCLC   953176470.
  5. Mojares, Resil B. (1999). The War Against the Americans: Resistance and Collaboration in Cebu, 1899–1906. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN   971-550-298-9.
  6. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (March 14, 2014). "Juan Faller Climaco, First Elected Governor of Cebu". Cebupedia. The Freeman. p. 20 via PressReader.
  7. "Sergio Osmeña". Britannica. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  8. Lastimosa, Leo (July 1, 2018). "Kabilin ni D. Jakosalem". Arangkada. The Freeman (in Cebuano). p. 12 via PressReader.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Newman, Jenara Regis (September 15, 2015). "Viewing a Slice of Cebu History". SunStar. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  10. "Mariano Jesus L. Cuenco". Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  11. Mojares, Resil B.; Taylor, David W.; Avila, Valeriano S.; Colamaria, David; Bersales, J. Eleazar R. (2015). The War in Cebu. Cebu City: University of San Carlos Press. ISBN   978-971-539-070-5.
  12. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (September 6, 2013). "Cabahug Streets, Cebu City". Cebupedia. The Freeman. p. 18 via PressReader.
  13. "Dr. Manuel Cuenco". Department of Health. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Oaminal, Clarence Paul (April 27, 2016). "The Grandfather and Grandson Governors of Cebu". Cebupedia. The Freeman. p. 16 via PressReader.
  15. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (July 23, 2018). "Governor Jose L. Briones". Cebupedia. The Freeman. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  16. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (January 30, 2017). "Atty. Rene G. Espina and His Road to Governorship of Cebu (Part II)". Cebupedia. The Freeman. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Oaminal, Clarence Paul (April 3, 2019). "The 1971 Election in Cebu". Cebupedia. The Freeman. p. 12 via PressReader.
  18. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (October 16, 2015). "The Gullas Brothers of Cebu". Cebupedia. The Freeman. p. 16 via PressReader.
  19. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (February 25, 2019). "Atty. Vicente L. dela Serna, the People's Governor". Cebupedia. The Freeman. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  20. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (January 25, 2017). "Pablo Garcia: Savior of the Provincial Lots (Part 3)". Cebupedia. The Freeman. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  21. "LP's Davide Beats Garcia for Cebu Governor". Rappler. May 17, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  22. John Sitchon (May 13, 2025). "Duterte ally unseats Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia". Rappler. Retrieved May 13, 2025.