Don Gil Garcia St., Cebu City
It is the street formerly named as "Verbena" in Capitol Site, Cebu City. Verbena is part of the then "Flower Named Streets" in Capitol Site, Cebu City. Verbena is a flower plant common in North America and Europe. Verbena's leaves and oil extract is used as herbal medicine. The street was named during the occupation of the Americans in Cebu. Street names such as Waling Waling, Sampaguita, Kamuning, and Jazmin (all renamed) were the contemporaries of Verbena.
On August 22, 1968 the Cebu City Council renamed "Verbena Street" to "Don Gil Garcia St."Don Gil was an outstanding civic and business leader. Don Gil married Teresa, the daughter of Don Fernando Escaño and Doña Agustina Faelnar Escaño of Malitbog, Leyte.
When Cebu was liberated by the Americans from the Japanese during World War II, the U.S. Army turned over the Visayan Electric Company's management to the group of Don Mamerto Escaño, Engr. Salvador E. Sala, and Don Gil Garcia (Don Gil and Don Mamerto were brothers-in-law, Doña Teresa being the sister of Don Mamerto). This was officially made on March 1, 1946. The company of the wife of Don Gil Garcia was incorporated as "Hijos de F. Escaño". Cebu's electric company (VECO) was established on February 25, 1905 by the Americans who were local residents in Cebu, these were: Lawyer Martin Levering, R.R. Landon (the street on the side of Cebu Normal University intersecting Junquera Extension is named after him) and A.A. Addenbrook.
VECO's oldest substation which is located along Don Mamerto Escano St. in Barangay Ermita is named after Don Gil Garcia.
Don Gil Garcia became president of the Cebu Lions Club and was benefactor of the Visayas Regional Training Center of the Girl Scouts Council renamed as the "Marina Yulo-Vargas Regional Program and Training Center" more known as "Camp Marina." The Girl Scout Camp located in Capitol Hills, within the jurisdiction of Barangay Kalunasan was established in 1963. This was during the term of Cebu Governor Francisco Remotigue through the efforts of Milagros Araneta Villasor, then Regional Chairperson, Lydia Villorosa, Regional Executive Director and Rizalina Migallos Cebu Girl Scout Council President. Camp Marina was inaugurated on May 16, 1964 with the attendance of President Diosdado Macapagal and his First Lady, Gov. Rene Espina, Sergio V. Osmeña Jr. and Camp Chairperson Josefa Marquez.
The house along V. Ranudo Street (named after the Cebuano literary genius Vicente Ranudo) fronting Casino Espanol de Cebu was owned by Don Gil Garcia and his wife Doña Teresa Escaño. For a time, it was used as the Casino Español de Cebu Club House when it went renovation.
The Cebu City Council that renamed Verbena Street to Don Gil Garcia was headed by Florencio S. Urot and eight other councilors. The sole lady city councilor was Caridad A. Trocino. Councilor Trocino was a lawyer, who was admitted to the Bar on January 25, 1952. Trocino also became City Fiscal of Cebu City. Caridad Auza Trocino was originally from Talibon, Bohol born in 1915. Councilor Trocino fondly called by friends as "Caring" married Dr. Jesus Jurado Trocino. Atty. Caring and Dr. Jesus had the following children: Dr. Rachel, Abraham, Jacob, Dr. Adolfo, Ma. Teresa, Alice, Mariano, Dr. Romulo and Consolacion. Councilor Caring Trocino died on March 22, 2000.
The street renaming ordinance was approved by Engr. Eulogio E. Borres, the Acting Cebu City Mayor. The Secretary of the Cebu City Council was Atty. Leodegario C. Salazar (admitted to Bar on June 21, 1954) while the Secretary to the Mayor was Atty. George M. Baladjay (admitted to the Bar on March 18, 1965).
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