Brief History
Toledo was originally known as "Hinulawan" which derives its names from the Hinulawan River running across the municipality. It was renamed Toledo, during its establishment as a new town -borrowing the name from a province of Spain.One of the earliest recorded history of Toledo, the "Estadismo" of Fr. Joaquin de Zuniga, reported that Toledo had already a settled community of a little over 500 inhabitants as early as 1800.When the first Philippine Republic was formed under President Emilio Aguinaldo, Toledo was converted into a district of Cebu Province and governed by a "Junta Popular". Following the colonization of the archipelago (1896-1946), Toledo became a full-fledge municipality when Governor Francis Burton Harrison signed Act. No. 119 on December 19, 1919.Toledo saw a few changes during the first 40 years of its independent existence as a
municipality. Real growth and changes came into Toledo in the 1950's after Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development corporation (ACMDC), one of the biggest copper mines in the world, started the development of a large porphyry copper ore in Barrio Don Andres Soriano, located nearly sixteen kilometers from the town's poblacion.On June 19, 1960, Toledo attained the status of a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 2688, authored by the late Rep. Manuel Zosa of the 6th District of Cebu. Toledo is classified as a second class city.
Physical Features-Location
Toledo City is situated on the central west coast of the elongated island province of Cebu. It is directly opposite San Carlos City of Negros Occidental, 25 nautical miles away across the Tañon Strait.
It is bounded by the coastal towns of Pinamungajan located ten kilometers to the South and Balamban 13.9 kilometers to the North. It shares common boundaries with the city of Cebu and the municipalities of Talisay. Minglanilla and Naga, all of which are located on the eastern and southern coasts of the island.
Land Forms, Topography and Geology
The terrain of Toledo City is characterized by narrow coastal plains that give way abruptly to a few rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges and slopes. Roughly twenty square kilometers (2,000 hectares) along the coastline have an elevation of less than forty meters above sea level. The poblacion is located in the middle of this strip, which stretches some fifteen kilometers along the coastline and one to three kilometers inland. There are fairly level and rolling plateaus and valleys comprising some fifty square kilometers spread throughout the interior.
The highest mountain peak is 700 meters above sea level and is located to the northeast of the Poblacion. Toledo's mountain crusts are of volcanic origin formed millions of years ago during the glacial age.
Infrastructures and Utilities
* The entire network of Toledo City has a total length of 99.08 kms. of national road and 62.54 kms. of city road/street.
* There are two operational ports in Toledo. One is owned by Atlas Mines while the other is a public port facility owned by the city government.
* Toledo has two airstrips located at the Barangay Don Andres Soriano and Sangi. Both are owned and maintained by the Atlas Mines.
* Transportation facilities are tricycles, jeepneys and buses.
Brief History of the Parish
The Bishop of Cebu, Romualdo Gimeno, a Dominican Friar, issued a Decree for the erection of the Parish of Toledo on the 24th day of February, 1863.However, this decree was only executed on the 8th of July, 1863 and the Parish of Toledo was de Facto "canonically erected". It's official Patron was St. John of Sahagun. According to other sources, the town was previously named Hinulawan because of the nearby Hinulawan river situated in the Daanlungsod. But due to the influence of the Alcalde Mayor in Cebu who happened to come from Toledo, Spain, the town and parish was renamed Toledo.
The nearest existing Parish to Toledo was the Parish of St. Francis of Assisi of Balamban erected in 1857. Thus it was but logical that Toledo (Hinulawan) was under the "spritual tutelage" of Balamban and was regularly visited. It was termed "visita" then by the priests of this neighboring parish. It could also have been that Hinulawan was part and parcel of the large parish and town of Balamban, though this is not for many, a comfortable thought to dwell on.
On the other hand, at the far-south side of the Toledo was another existing Parish of Sta. Monica in Pinamungajan which was established in 1850, even earlier than Balamban. For one reason or another, we don't know why it was not this Parish who took care of the spiritual needs of Toledo. It could have been because of the great difficulty for the travel and its accessibility that prevented this to happen.
It seems that the FIRST Parish Priest of Toledo was REV. FR. SERVANO SEONE. The First marriage that he solemnized was that of Pedro Conahap and Fabiana Mara on August 26, 1863.
With this information, we can conclude that Toledo Parish from the beginning of its founding was administered by the Diocesan Clergy of Cebu.
Lighthouse, Toledo City, Cebu |
municipality. Real growth and changes came into Toledo in the 1950's after Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development corporation (ACMDC), one of the biggest copper mines in the world, started the development of a large porphyry copper ore in Barrio Don Andres Soriano, located nearly sixteen kilometers from the town's poblacion.On June 19, 1960, Toledo attained the status of a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 2688, authored by the late Rep. Manuel Zosa of the 6th District of Cebu. Toledo is classified as a second class city.
Toledo City is situated on the central west coast of the elongated island province of Cebu. It is directly opposite San Carlos City of Negros Occidental, 25 nautical miles away across the Tañon Strait.
It is bounded by the coastal towns of Pinamungajan located ten kilometers to the South and Balamban 13.9 kilometers to the North. It shares common boundaries with the city of Cebu and the municipalities of Talisay. Minglanilla and Naga, all of which are located on the eastern and southern coasts of the island.
Port Area, Toledo City, Cebu |
The terrain of Toledo City is characterized by narrow coastal plains that give way abruptly to a few rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges and slopes. Roughly twenty square kilometers (2,000 hectares) along the coastline have an elevation of less than forty meters above sea level. The poblacion is located in the middle of this strip, which stretches some fifteen kilometers along the coastline and one to three kilometers inland. There are fairly level and rolling plateaus and valleys comprising some fifty square kilometers spread throughout the interior.
The highest mountain peak is 700 meters above sea level and is located to the northeast of the Poblacion. Toledo's mountain crusts are of volcanic origin formed millions of years ago during the glacial age.
Infrastructures and Utilities
* The entire network of Toledo City has a total length of 99.08 kms. of national road and 62.54 kms. of city road/street.
* There are two operational ports in Toledo. One is owned by Atlas Mines while the other is a public port facility owned by the city government.
* Toledo has two airstrips located at the Barangay Don Andres Soriano and Sangi. Both are owned and maintained by the Atlas Mines.
* Transportation facilities are tricycles, jeepneys and buses.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF TOLEDO ❥
St. John of Sahagun Shrine, Toledo City, Cebu |
Brief History of the Parish
The Bishop of Cebu, Romualdo Gimeno, a Dominican Friar, issued a Decree for the erection of the Parish of Toledo on the 24th day of February, 1863.However, this decree was only executed on the 8th of July, 1863 and the Parish of Toledo was de Facto "canonically erected". It's official Patron was St. John of Sahagun. According to other sources, the town was previously named Hinulawan because of the nearby Hinulawan river situated in the Daanlungsod. But due to the influence of the Alcalde Mayor in Cebu who happened to come from Toledo, Spain, the town and parish was renamed Toledo.
The nearest existing Parish to Toledo was the Parish of St. Francis of Assisi of Balamban erected in 1857. Thus it was but logical that Toledo (Hinulawan) was under the "spritual tutelage" of Balamban and was regularly visited. It was termed "visita" then by the priests of this neighboring parish. It could also have been that Hinulawan was part and parcel of the large parish and town of Balamban, though this is not for many, a comfortable thought to dwell on.
On the other hand, at the far-south side of the Toledo was another existing Parish of Sta. Monica in Pinamungajan which was established in 1850, even earlier than Balamban. For one reason or another, we don't know why it was not this Parish who took care of the spiritual needs of Toledo. It could have been because of the great difficulty for the travel and its accessibility that prevented this to happen.
It seems that the FIRST Parish Priest of Toledo was REV. FR. SERVANO SEONE. The First marriage that he solemnized was that of Pedro Conahap and Fabiana Mara on August 26, 1863.
With this information, we can conclude that Toledo Parish from the beginning of its founding was administered by the Diocesan Clergy of Cebu.
Hinulawan Festival
For its natural attractions, Toledo City has the Hinulawan River, which inspired the Hinulawan Festival, the Manguyakuya Falls, Bulongan Caves, Pandong Bato, Malubog Lake, and theAtlas Mines View.
The term hinulawan refers to the old name of the place. It is also an abbreviated form of the Cebuano phrase "Hinaguang Bulawan" which literally translates to "hard-earned gold".The Hinulawan Festival showcases different cultural dances portraying the past and present of Toledo. It features the different historical eras of the place - starting from the Pre-Spanish era up to the modern times of Toledo.
The Hinulawan Festival is celebrated every 12th day of June. It depicts the history of the city's past to the present era expressed through dancing and ritual. It is also an annual thanksgiving in honor of its patron saint, St. John of Sahagun. Hinulawan is a contraction of two Cebuano words, “hin” from “hinaguan” and “ulawan” from “bulawan.” The city's church, the St. John of Sahagun Parish, was established in 1863 under the decree of the Bishop of Cebu, Romualdo Gimeno, who is a Dominican Friar.