The Conflagration of 1956

At noon of April 21, 1956, Cebu City’s most disastrous postwar fire began to rage inside the recreation hall of the Philippine Constabulary along Jones Avenue.

The fire, which came under control only after four hours, was whipped up by a strong north-easterly breeze, living 30,000 Cebuanos homeless as it burned 7,000 residential houses and shanties along its path. Estimated to have cost 5 million pesos in damages, the fire spread block by block along R.R. Landon, Junquera extension, Pelaez extension, F. Ramos and on down to the nipa shacks along D. Jakosalem and Sikatuna Streets.

In the ensuing investigation, it was ascertained that blast fishing paraphernalia, including dynamites and blasting caps confiscated the day before, had been deposited at the supply room located the recreation hall which may have exploded. Two non-commissioned officers were later investigated to shed light on the suspicious origins of the fire. Among those who lost their houses in the conflagration were then Vice Mayor Arsenio Villanueva and city police chief Arcadio Lozada.

The seriousness of the calamity that befell the city prompted President Magsaysay to make a surprise visit two days later, donating P100,000 and promising more as the need rose. It took months, however, before the last of the fire victims, then housed at the Zapatera and Abellana elementary schools, were finally relocated.

- Ybarra