Alegria Cebu

Alegria is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,072 people.


Establishment of Alegria as a town

Pre-1850 Native tribe; then a Spanish-era barrio called Tuburan after the spring (tubod) located at sitio Tubig (Sta. Rosa) in poblacion.

January 31,1850 Leaders of Tuburan ask Governor of Cebu to support their petition for civil separation from mother town (matriz) Malabuyoc.

February 04, 1850 Malabuyoc leaders send letter of support for said petition. Tuburan had a church made of tabique de pampango, a convent and tribunal of light materials, two rubble watchtowers and 410 & 1/2 tributos (one family = 1 tribute; unmarried adult = 1/2 tribute).

February 15, 1850 Petition goes to the Civil Administrator and Commanding General of the Visayas then sent to Superior Government in Manila.

March 31, 1850 Assessor General recommends approval of said petition.

April 03,1850 Captain and Governor-General of the Philippine Islands (Antonio Maria Blanco) approves establishment of Tuburan as a Town.

August 24,1850 Governor of Cebu recommends changing the town's name to avaoid confusing it with a barrio in Balamban and Bogo with same name.

September 25, 1850 Captain and Governor-General of the Philippines (Antonio de Urbistondo y Eguía) issues order changing the town's name to ALEGRIA


Establishment of a parish

August 09, 1854 The Padre Cura of Malabuyoc, Lucas Clavesillas de la Soledad recommends to the Bishop of Cebu (Romualdo Jimeno Ballesteros, O.P.) the creation of Alegria as a parish.

September 17, Governor of Cebu proposes separating barrio Guiuanon (Madridejos) from Badian and adding it to Alegria to form a new perish terrirtory.

October 31, Bishop of Cebu supports creation of said territory.

November 10, Bishop Romualdo Jimeno Ballesteros, O.P.informs Governor of Cebu that Badian does not object to creation of a new parish and separation of Guiuanon.

February 21, 1856 Petition for said separation and the creation of new parish territory received by the Minister of Royal Treasury in Manila.

February 27, 1856 Governor of Cebu asks the Captain and Governor-General to create said parish.

July 03, 1856 the town of Alegria created as a parish. Tributes: 781 (Poblacion - 521 & 1/2, Guiuanon - 259 & 1/2 )

September 01, 1856 Bishop Romualdo Jimeno Ballesteros, O.P. ask Captain and Governor-General to erect Alegria as parish.

March 13, 1857 Parish of Alegria Canonically erected . Titular St. Francis Xavier Feast Dec. 3

Source: Libro de Erecciones de Gobierno, Philippine National Archives)


Alegria is administratively subdivided into 9 barangays.

Compostela
Guadalupe
Legaspi
Lepanto
Madridejos
Montpeller
Poblacion
Santa Filomena
Valencia
Festival

Kawayan Festival - The Municipality of Alegria, Cebu launched the Kawayan Festival last December 2, 2006 in time for the Annual Town Fiesta. Local contingents paraded the streets (mardi gras), and locally produced Kawayan (local bamboo) products were on display. Kawayan Festival has been part of the fiesta celebration in honor of Saint Francis Xavier since then.