Governor Arsenio Climaco, seventh governor of Cebu

Arsenio was born on June 24, 1870 and died on November 15, 1952. He served as governor of Cebu from 1923 to 1930. He succeeded Governor Manuel Roa (1912 to 1922).

It was Governor Climaco who constructed the steel and concrete bridges over the Mananga River in Talisay City, Cebu. In his honor the Cebu City Council on September 10, 1968 enacted City Ordinance No. 635 renaming, among others, the Orchid Street as Arsenio Climaco Street in Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City.

Arsenio was the child of Valeriano Climaco and Gliceria Veloso. He married Juanita Osmeña and the couple had the following children: Angeles Climaco (who married Ildefonso Ybud) Vicente Climaco (who married Segunda Solon), and Victoriano Climaco (who married Maria del Mar).

The siblings of Arsenio were: Mariano, Antonio, and Concepcion (who married Luis Osmeña and had a child by the name of Ramon Osmeña who married Conchita Deen).

A sibling of Gliceria Veloso by the name of Filomeno Veloso had a daughter with Damiana Rodis by the name of Encarnacon Rodis who married Engineer/Captain Valeriano Segura.

Valeriano Climaco, the father of Governor Arsenio, was the brother of Juan Faller Climaco who served as governor of Cebu from March 5, 1902 to March 6, 1906. Governor Juan Climaco married Maria Regina Ramas.

Governor Arsenio Climaco was succeeded by Governor Mariano Jesus Cuenco (who married Filomena Alesna) whose eldest child by the name of Manuel, a doctor of medicine who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas, married Milagros Veloso of the Veloso Clan. Nyora Milagring (Milagros) was the seventh child of Don Mariano Veloso.

Doc Manuel also served as governor of Cebu from 1946 to 1951. Doc Manuel also served as Secretary of the Department of Health from 1954 to 1965.

The eldest child of Doctor/Governor Manuel Cuenco and Milagros Veloso by the name of Antonio finished his Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo de Manila and was admitted to the Bar on January 27, 1961. He was elected Congressman of the old 5th District of Cebu in 1965. In 1987, Antonio “Tony” Cuenco was elected congressman of the Cebu City South District and served for 25 years. Lately, Antonio was elected Cebu City south district councilor last May 13, 2019.