Once called Calle Valeriano Weyler, this street is replete with history.

On 3 April 1898,
Cebuano revolutionary leader, Leon Kilat, led 80 Cebuanos who engaged in a battle
with the Spanish Guardia Civil. Thus the change of name to Tres de Abril (Third of
April) to commemorate that valiant Filipino uprising. This street starts downtown and
goes all the way north to Mambaling, cutting through Bacalso Street and Taboan
Market. Except for the area in the vicinity of Taboan Market where small shops
congregate, mostly residential houses line the streets.

The Battle of Tres de Abril is one of the iconic historical events in Cebu that
contributed in the revolution of the Filipinos against Spanish oppressors 122 years ago.
Cebuano lives were lost in what is now called Tres De Abril Street on April 3, 1898, as
they attempted to overthrow the Spanish hold of the Ciudad de Sugbo at Fort San
Pedro. This famous battle for Cebu happened on Palm Sunday, where Cebuanos
dressed properly to go to mass and have their palms blessed. But a dawn incident on
April 3rd happened where some Katipunero friends of Leon Kilat were arrested by the
Guardia Civil and thus forced Leon Kilat to make his move, and at 3 p.m. He met with
the Spanish troops led by Sgt. Pedro Royo at the corner of Guadalupe road (now V.
Rama Ave.) and Gen. Weyler St. (now Tres de Abril St.).
They were a mere 15 meters of each other, when Sgt. Royo told the poorly (mostly
bolos) armed Katipuneros to go home. But instead of going home, the Katipuneros told
Sgt. Royo that they were not afraid of Spanish guns. With that, the Spaniards started
firing and then Leon Kilat immediately ordered his men to fall flat on the ground because
there were only five rounds in the Spaniard’s rifles. Suddenly Leon Kilat’s men jumped
and attacked the surprised Spaniards who were surrounded by the Katipuneros. Some
of them managed to retreat towards the Puente dela Revolucion, now the bridge at the
end of Colon Street. Loyalist troops came to the rescue of the beleaguered Spanish
troops who covered their retreat towards downtown Cebu City.

Another battle was fought along Colon St. as a last ditch effort and when that failed the
Spaniards retreated to the safety of the Fort San Pedro. From various accounts, it was
ascertained that some 30 Spaniards were killed and wounded in that encounter, while
15 Katipuneros died on that historic day of April 3rd. While the Spaniards were
retreating, the Katipuneros were busy helping the wounded and taking care of their
dead, whilst getting the prized booty, the rifles of the dead Spanish soldiers. By 5 p.m.
all Spanish troops were inside Fort San Pedro except for facilities like the San Agustin
church that also had troops and ammunition. By nightfall, Talisay Katipuneros seized
control of the town and killed the Spanish administrator.

Meanwhile, Gen. Montero was confident that he and his men would hold out inside the
fort until reinforcements arrived. By nightfall, two gunboats, the Maria Cristina and
Paraga arrived from Iligan. In the next three days, Cebu was in the hands of Cebuano
Katipuneros, who started making their own government. But Leon Kilat was uneasy with
the situation for as long as the Spanish troops were inside the fort. Efforts to try and
scale the walls proved futile and the Katipuneros did not have cannons to bombard the
fort and destroy it. So the decision was to starve the Spaniards inside.

But time was not on the side of Leon Kilat, although the food supplies of the Spaniards
were now dwindling precariously. Word of the successful uprising caused many towns
in Cebu to rise up against the Spaniards and most of them capitulated, running to Cebu
with their priests in tow. But the tide soon changed in favor of the Spaniards when on
Holy Thursday, April 7th the Spanish Cruiser Don Juan Austria arrived and the
Katipuneros fled to the mountains and the far-flung towns of Cebu Province.

Leon Kilat sought refuge in Carcar and was killed by his own men as an offering in
return for clemency from the Juez de Cochillo. But then, little did Leon Kilat and his men
know that a couple of days before April 3 the days of Spanish rule was already
numbered when the US Asiatic Fleet fought the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay
on April 1,1898 and Cebu had a couple of months of freedom until the Americans
arrived.
.

Pantaleon Villegas, more popularly known in Philippine history as Leon Kilat, was born
in the pueblo of Bacong, Negros Oriental, to Policarpio Villegas and Ursula Soldi.
Standard biographies of Villegas claim that he was the grandson of Pedro Villegas,
supposedly a pure Spaniard from Spain. Leon Kilat remains very much a legend in the
consciousness of the Cebuanos in particular and the Visayans in general, because of
the never-ending rumors of his “magic” and “powers”, his invulnerability, and how long it
took to kill him.

Today, Tres de April remains the historical beauty of Cebuanos who fought for their
freedom. It is a testament to their perseverance and will. As time passes, Tres de April
Street's historic stories are one of the treasures that Cebu has to tell. Tres de Abril in
Labangon, Cebu City offers some interesting spots and attractions.
The Battle of Tres de Abril Marker: Located in Tres de Abril Street, Barangay
Labangon, this marker commemorates the historic Battle of Tres de Abril. It serves as a
reminder of the significance of the battle in Cebu's history.

Kuya Simo's Larangan: If you're a food enthusiast, you can visit Kuya Simo's
Larangan along Katipunan Street. It's a popular food trip destination in Labangon,
offering a variety of delicious Cebuano dishes.

Braddex: This place offers affordable dimsum and other food options such as bacon
wrap, ngohiong, sweet and sour pork, crab pincer, and siomai. A bowl of steamed rice
costs only 35 pesos. However, it can be crowded during peak hours, so you might want
to try other food places like Kuya Jeff’s Siomai or Way Tugpahay, which also offer great
meals.

Tres de Abril Street: Tres de Abril Street is a national tertiary road in Cebu City. It
starts at Spolarium Street in Barangay Pasil and passes through several junctions,
including C. Padilla Street and N. Bacalso Avenue, before ending at the junction of F.
Llamas Street in Barangay Punta Princesa. It's a bustling street with various
establishments and activities.

This spot that can make you stay and fall in love with Tres de Abril is the fruit of
the success of the people of this place, they carry the legacy and its historical
beauty throughout the 21st century, and it will remain one of the historical
treasures here in Cebu.