# Governor of Cebu

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.
The current governor is Gwendolyn Garcia. She previously served as a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the third congressional district of Cebu from 2013 to 2019 and was the governor from 2004 to 2013.

## 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 in the island.
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.

## List of governors of Cebu

| No. | Governor | Term | Place of origin |
| 1 | Julio A. Llorente (Julio Llorente y Aballe) May 22, 1863 – 1955 (age 91–92) | 1899–1901 | Argao, Cebu |
| 2 | Juan F. Clímaco (Juan Clímaco y Faller) December 24, 1859 – July 16, 1907 (age 47) | 1902–1906 | Toledo, Cebu |
| 3 | Sergio Osmeña (Sergio Osmeña Sr.) September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961 (age 83) | 1906–1907 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 4 | Dionisio A. Jakosalem (Dionisio Jakosalem y Abella) May 8, 1878 – July 1, 1931 (age 53) | 1907–1912 | Dumanjug, Cebu |
| 5 | Manuel Roa (Manuel A. Roa) 1872 – ???? | 1912–1922 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 6 | Arsenio V. Climaco (Arsenio Climaco y Veloso) June 24, 1870 – November 15, 1952 (age 82) | 1922–1930 | Toledo, Cebu |
| 7 | Mariano Jesús D. Cuenco (Mariano Jesús Cuenco y Diosomito) January 16, 1888 – February 25, 1964 (age 76) | 1931–1934 | Carmen, Cebu |
| 8 | Sotero B. Cabahug (Sotero Cabahug y Barte) April 22, 1891 – December 15, 1963 (age 72) | 1934–1937 | Mandaue, Cebu |
| 9 | Buenaventura P. Rodriguez (Buenaventura Rodriguez y Perez) July 14, 1893 – December 9, 1940 (Age 47) | 1937–1940 | Bogo, Cebu |
| 10 | Hilario Abellana (Hilario Abellana y Hermosa) October 23, 1896 – January 15, 1945 (Age 48) | 1941–1943 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 11 | Jose Delgado | 1943–1944 | |
| 12 | Jose S. Leyson (Jose S. Leyson y Floreta) April 23, 1895 – 1945 (Age 49 or 50) | 1944–1945 | |
| 13 | Fructuoso B. Cabahug (Fructuoso Cabahug y Barte) January 20, 1897 – December 24, 1961 (Age 64) | 1945–1946 | Mandaue, Cebu |
| 14 | Manuel A. Cuenco (Manuel Alesna Cuenco) November 10, 1907 – October 18, 1970 (Age 62) | 1946–1951 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 15 | Sergio V. Osmeña Jr. (Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr.) December 4, 1916 – March 26, 1984 (Age 67) | 1951–1955 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 16 | Jose L. Briones (Jose Lorenzo Briones) February 10, 1916 – ???? | 1956–1961 | Mandaue, Cebu |
| 17 | Francisco Emilio F. Remotigue (Francisco Emilio Famor Remotigue) July 14, 1908 – April 29, 1995 (Age 86) | 1961–1963 | Argao, Cebu |
| 18 | Rene G. Espina (Rene Gandiongco Espina) December 6, 1929 – September 13, 2019 (Age 89) | 1964–1969 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 19 | Osmundo G. Rama (Osmundo Genson Rama) September 23, 1914 – November 13, 1998 (Age 84) | 1969–1976 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 20 | Eduardo R. Gullas (Eduardo Rivera Gullas) October 13, 1930 (Age 94) | 1976–1986 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| (19) | Osmundo G. Rama (Osmundo Genson Rama) September 23, 1914 – November 13, 1998 (Age 84) | 1986–1988 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 21 | Emilio M. R. Osmeña Jr. (Emilio Mario Renner Osmeña Jr.) September 11, 1938 – July 19, 2021 (Age 82) | 1988–1992 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 22 | Vicente L. dela Serna (Vicente Low dela Serna) September 13, 1951 – September 1, 2018 (Age 66) | 1992–1995 | Butuan, Agusan del Norte |
| 23 | Pablo P. Garcia (Pablo Paras Garcia) September 25, 1925 – August 18, 2021 (Age 95) | 1995–2004 | Dumanjug, Cebu |
| 24 | Gwendolyn F. Garcia (Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia) October 12, 1955 (Age 69) | 2004–2012; June 19–30, 2013 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| 25 | Agnes A. Magpale (Agnes Almendras Magpale) January 21, 1942 (Age 83) | 2012–June 18, 2013 | Danao, Cebu |
| 26 | Hilario P. Davide III (Hilario Perez Davide III) August 25, 1964 (Age 60) | 2013–2019 | Cebu City, Cebu |
| (24) | Gwendolyn F. Garcia (Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia) October 12, 1955 (Age 69) | 2019– | Cebu City, Cebu |