The Cebuano publications

"Ang Suga" the 1st Cebuano newspaper had its first issue on June 16, 1901. It was published by Don Vicente Yap Sotto, the Father of Cebuano Journalism, Language and Literature. His grandson and namesake, Vicente Castelo Sotto III more known as Tito Sotto also became a man of arts, having wrote songs, among them "Magkaisa" which became the theme song of the 1986 People Power Revolt. It was also Tito Sotto, presently the Senate Majority Floor Leader, who wrote the patriotic song "DakilangLahi", he also wrote the books "The Filipino: Values and Visions" printed in 1996 and "Save the Filipino Youth Movement" printed in 1997.

The second Cebuano publication is the "AngKaluwasan (also spelled as AngCaluwasan) of Don Filemon Sotto, the elder brother of Vicente. It came out in 1902. The 3rd was "AngCamatuoran", which had a publication life from 1902 to 1911. It was a Church inspired publication founded by Bishop Juan B. Gorordo (the CasaGorordo now owned and managed by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. along Eduardo Aboitiz St. formerly Lopez Jaena St.) and Fr. Pedro Julia. One of its editor was the patriarch of the Cuenco Clan of Cebu, Don Mariano AlbaoCuenco, the father of the Trimvirate Writer Brothers, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Monsignor Jose Maria Cuenco and Miguel Cuenco.

Another Cebuano publication appeared in 1904, it was called "TingogsaLungsod". Its editors were Jaime C. de Veyra (the De Veyra St. in Reclamation Area is named after him, he is good friend of Don Sergio Osmena Sr.), Don DionisioJakosalem, the successor Governor of Cebu of Don Sergio when the latter ran for the National Assembly and subsequently elected by his peers as the country's First Speaker of the House". The revolutionary soldier, General/ Congressman TroadioGalicano of Carcar (it was in Bohol that he was elected as Assemblyman) also became Editor of the publication so as ArsenioClimaco, the Governor of Cebu, who was a nephew of the first 1st elected Governor of Cebu, Don Juan Faller Climaco.

In 1904 a publication by the students of Seminario de San Carlos came out, it was called "La Juventud". Its editor was Mariano Jesus Cuenco, who years later became Governor of Cebu, Senate President and Congressman representing the old 5th District of Cebu. His grandson, Ateneo de Manila College of Law Alumnus, Lawyer Antonio VelosoCuenco became the last Cuenco to be elected in the old 5th District, who years later became the 1st Congressman of the Cebu City South District created under the 1987 Constitution.

(To be continued)