Top 100 Cebuano Personalities: Fructuoso Cabahug

CEBU, Philippines — Like his brother, Sotero, Fructoso Cabahug or Tosong also became governor of Cebu.

He started his political career as a councilor in Mandaue City. Later on, he was appointed as the Acting Provincial Governor of Cebu by General Henry Arnold in April 1945. He faced the province’s devastations of post-war brought by the World War 2 during his term. He was also responsible for restoring the Commonwealth government of the province and sharing power with the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU).  Cabahug made sure to get the government back to work after the war.

He urged the Cebuanos to cooperate with the U.S. military, proactively warned against profiteering and criminality, and asked owners of private wells to be allowed for public use.

During his term, Cabahug encouraged the Cebuanos to engage in food cultivation to fight shortages, as he distributed free seeds to be planted.

Cabahug’s term as a governor only lasted for a year. Eventually, he became a provincial board member and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.