Don Celestino Rodriguez St., Cebu City

It is the street formerly known as Waling Waling Street within the Cebu Heights Subdivision now known as Capitol Site, Cebu City.

The Cebu City Council on September 10, 1968 enacted City Ordinance No. 635 renaming Waling Waling Street to "Don Celestino Rodriguez Street". It is named in honor of the municipal president of Cebu in 1904. Don Celestino was later elected as member of the First National Assembly in 1907. He was the first elected representative of the old first congressional district of Cebu, composed of the municipalities of Bogo, Borbon, Pilar, Catmon, Danao, San Francisco, Tabogon, Tudela, Poro, and Sogod. The first election for congress was held on July 30, 1907. He served until 1912. He was then elected as senator during the first senatorial election ( Cebu was then the 10th senatorial district), with him was Don Filemon Sotto (every district elects two senators). He was senator for two terms, from 1916-1922, then from 1922 to 1928. He ran for congress (first district) in 1935 and won, then came back in 1941 and served until 1946.

Don Celestino fondly called Don Tinoy was the son of Don Jose Rodriguez and Dona Vicenta Lazala, his brother Don Pedro was also a senator, whose son Jose ( a medical doctor) also served as Cebu City mayor. His other brother, Jacinto had the rank of colonel in the Army. Another brother, Don Filomeno, is the father of Buenaventura, who became governor of Cebu.

Don Celestino married Ignacia Lasala, and they had four children: Luis, who married Epifania Jakosalem ( a daughter of Governor Dionisio Jakosalem), Lourdes married Buenaventura Veloso, Matilde, and Jose who became a lawyer on December 23, 1937.

Don Celestino was also a man of letter and the arts, he assisted in the making of the musical score of the play "Dila sa Babaye" written by Don Vicente Sotto. He defeated his friend, Don Vicente in the election for the senate in 1919. Don Celestino had 21,042 votes, while Don Vicente had 7,547. Don Vicente only won in the municipality of Cebu with 2,497 votes as against Don Celestino's 573 votes.

Don Celestino finished his Bachelor of Arts in 1892 at the Ateneo de Manila and his law course at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He was admitted to the bar in 1902.

Don Celestino is one of the famous sons of Bogo, having been born in the town (now a city) on May 11, 1872.

The correct name of the street is no longer "Waling Waling" but Don Celestino, for the ordinance clearly says it is "Don Celestino Rodriguez Street."