TOLEDO CITY's dilemmas and success
If you can imagine it, you can create it.
If you dream it, you can become it.
- William Arthur Ward
Toledo City is now advancing its way of living, from a barrio to a City. On 1861,Toledo City which is called Old Hinulawan at that time was founded by Mariano Libre, Fulgencio Lebumfacil, Areston Macapaz, Adriano Blanco, and Tranquilino Blanco.The town of Hinulawan of 1861 was a settlement of more than fifty families. Its abundant seas and river also called Hinulawan was a typical pueblo situated along the shore of Tanon Strait. The town is southwest of Hinulawan river. It had a stone-walled church and convent, a school, and a paseo (public park). The town was bounded on the south by thick mangroves and nipa swamps extending to at least a kilometer, and fertile farmlands and coconut trees beyond as far as Ibo river. On the north and northwest by the Tanon Strait; on the south and southwest by uplands and hills covered by thick forests as far as Tubod; on the northeast is the Hinulawan river.The people in Old Hinulawan had so much dream for their barrios.
 |
| St. John Of Sahagun Church |
On June 3, 1863, an earthquake devastated their dreams and hopes for their barrio. Their farms,houses,establishments and even their hopes vanished in a second.The following days after the earthquake, the refugees were helped by the residents of Tubod, made clearings in the nearby virgin forest and plateaus among which was a cemetery where they buried their dead.A new barangay which is called New Hinulawan were built. Majority chose to remain in this new site and for many years strived hard to regain the prosperity they once had in the ruined town of Old Hinulawan. The New Hinulawan became Toledo because of Father Mariano Brazal, the parish priest at that time and the provincial governor of Cebu who is Esteban Perez. The two were a native of Toledo, Spain.They could see Toledo in New Hinulawan's forests and hills and verdant lowlands, and above all in the industry and peace loving character of its people that is why they renamed New Hinulawan to Toledo.
Now,Toledo City is one of the progressive City in Cebu. The dilemmas that they encounter made them reached the peek of success. Toledo celebrates an annual thanksgiving in honor of its patron saint, St. John of Sahagun every 12th day of June. It is one of the attraction of the city. Toledanos called this Hinulawan Festival. They started celebrating this festival on 2007. Hinulawan is a contraction of two Cebuano words, HIN from Hinaguan and ULAWAN from Bulawan. It is also the old name of Toledo City. Hinulawan festival has four basic steps namely Bulawanong Paghinigalaay for Golden Friendship, Bulawanong Pagtuo for Golden Faith, Bulawanong Bahandi for Golden Treasure and Bulawanong ani for Golden Harvest. These steps portray the four Golden features of the City.
