Brief History of Barangay Tejero

Did you ever wonder why your local barangay was called such? 

Or who were its first inhabitants? Are you interested in the rich knowledge of the history of your community? Then, this blog is the one for you.

      Let us get to know the history of some of our local barangays around the jurisdiction of Tejero Elementary School and the Tejero Scouting Unit. As we take part in complying the requirements for the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge.

         The barangay was named after the American soldier who was the first foreigner to reside in the place. Barangay folk could remember only the foreigner’s military rank and family name, COLONEL TEJERO. Their admiration for the foreigner led to the adoption of his name.

            It was only in 1964, through a City Council resolution, that Barangay Tejero came to be formally recognized by its name. Prior to that, its residents called their Barangay Villagonzalo. The naming of the barangay was a cause for dispute among residents because some wanted to name it Tejero, while others wanted to call it Villagonzalo.

           

“Tejero was an American soldier, who was reportedly the first foreigner to settle in the barangay.”

            Some favored Crystal’s proposal saying that the place should be recognized as Tejero, not Villagonzalo. They said they grew up calling their barangay such.

            But who was Villagonzalo?

           

            He is Juan “Juanting” Villagonzalo. He was born in 1893 and was a famous writer in the 1920’s. Villagonzalo was popular on his works, which includes “Ang Suga,” “La Revolucion,” “La Vanguardia,” and “La Nacionalista.”

            Villagonzalo donated a big parcel of land to the city government where the Abellana National High School and Cebu Normal University are now located.

            He was also a close friend of the late city councilor Uldarico Alviola (one of the streets of the barangay is named after him). When Villagonzalo died, Alviola exerted efforts to name one of the streets in Tejero in his honor. Residents eventually took the name to refer to the entire barrio which started the confusion.

            In January 10, 1960, when the Barrio Council was organized, the proposal came up to formally name after him but residents and neither the City Council was uninformed of the proposal.

            Until today, the barangay is still divided into two: Villagonzalo I and II. Villagonzalo I celebrated their fiestas twice a year, all the residents from Villagonzalo I and II unite to celebrate the Tejero fiesta.

            Well known-personalities like Cebuano comedian-singer Max Surban, actress Manilyn Reynes and former assemblywoman Nenita “Inday” Cortez-Daluz are said to be from the barangay as well.

SOURCE: Tejero Barangay Hall