History

Talisay: Rich in History and Agricultural

A World war 2 map of Talisay showing all pre-war houses.

During the Spanish Period until the American Period the land of Talisay was owned by the
Spanish Augustinian friars.

Question: How did the Augustinian friars acquire the land in the first place?

•17th century
➢ Around the 16th going to the 17th century when Spaniards started coming to Cebu.
➢ The land was donated to the Augustinian friars under one condition: to pray for eternity
the soul of the former owner who was the grand soldier of expeditions.
➢ In 1734 Don Martin Castañares also donated the land outside of San Nicolas to
Augustinian friars which is a big factor why until the revolution the friars continued to
have the title of the land.
➢ According to Bruce Frenor, the first agrarian conflict in the Philippines happens in
Talisay Dumlog.
•Revolution

➢ In April 2,1898, Talisaynon revolted against Spaniards not for their independence but for
the land because for how many years they were abused by the friars because of the
land.
•After Revolution
➢ The land is still owned by the Augustinian even during the American period.
➢ In 1905, a case was filed between Marcelo vs Don Luica which led to a series of
petitions questioning the ownership of the land.
➢ To settle the case, Harrison bought the land from the friars, thus, the ownership of the
land was transferred to the insular government.

•After the second world war

➢ March 26, 1945, was the start of liberation of Talisay and at the same time the decline of
its agricultural purpose.
 ➢ During 1945-1950's, Talisay began building itself and became the biggest informal
settlers area in Cebu.

•Transition from Agricultural land to commercial land

➢ 1960's-1990's - land owners in Talisay started to sell their property to use as commercial
land.
➢ Talisay is the first municipality in Cebu that has a lot of subdivisions.
➢ During the time of Marcos, the Philippines had only two places that had the biggest
housing and one of those is Mohon Talisay.

A land of agriculture that was converted to residential causes many of Talisaynon suffer in
poverty. As Mr. Marvin S. Bascon said, "Commercialisation destroys the potentiality of a land
and loses the identity and historical image of Talisay."

Talisay is truly rich in agriculture and it is evident through the establishment of the Sugarcane
Mill. Long ago Talisay was known as the Sugar Central of the south, producing many
municipalities in Cebu and having one of the largest Sugar Mills in the Visayas.

Drying sugar dated 1921

● In 1888 the biggest Sugar Mill was established by the Spaniards and called the
"Maquina De Vapor"
● During the American period, the second biggest sugarcane mill was established in
Mohon covering 3-5 hectares which was mostly dedicated to processing facilities.
 ● The end of the Talisay Sugar Mill would come in 1933 when most of the mill burned and
in World War 2 everything was destroyed.

Sources:
https://unknowncebu.wordpress.com/2020/07/09/ancestral-heritage-houses-of-talisay-cebu/
https://unknowncebu.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/sugar-industry-of-talisaycebu/