Historical Notes

Long before other towns were “discovered” as tourist spots, Liloan was already known for its scenic pristine beaches and as a resort town, favorite place for sea bathing. Along its coastline, there is spot called Silot. Here, bathers are cautioned not to swim to a certain point because of a whirlpool caused by the ebb and tide of the waters which flow from an inland lake. This phenomenon is called lilo in Cebuano. Because of this, the town was known as Liloan, a place where there is lilo.

The word Liloan, as the legend is told, comes from the word “lilo” - whirling waters (not unlike Edgar Allan Poe’s maelstrom) that form when the sea approaches an abrupt depth at a point just after a bridge.

Long ago, as the legend goes, when Lilo-an was still a wilderness, a marriage of a couple was objected to by the parents. As such, they boarded a boat and fled to a far away place. Somewhere at sea, a storm overtook them. For safety, they entered a channel, now called “Suba,” (a name of a place in Liloan) and proceeded into the interior. They took shelter at its bank and noticed the abundance of the fish in the vicinity. They decided to stay, and with the extra fish they caught, they sold or bartered the catch in the nearby villages. When asked where the fishes were caught, the answered, “Sa may liloan” (by the lilo). Asked where they live, they gave the same answer, :Sa may liloan.” In time, the place was called, as we know the town now, “Liloan”.

Sometime in the 1970’s, a newspaper article stated that the “Pueblo de Lilo-an” was separated from the Municipality of Mandaue (now Mandaue City), and was created a new municipality in 1840. However, in the “BRAVE ENSENA de lo que fue y de lo que es la DIOCESIS DE CEBU En Las Islas Filipinas,” published in 1866, it was mentioned that Lilo-an was created a parish in 1845 (in 1995, Lilo-an celebrated its sesquicentenial - 150th anniversary.)

The creation of the municipality of Lilo-an could have been at the same time the parish was established, but not earlier than its being a parish. As recorded, the first priest of Lilo-an, Fr. Vicente Dolorech, served in 1845. The first mayor, then called “Kapitan” was Basilio Bantilan. His term was from 1845 - 1846.

During the war years (World War II), Lilo-an had three mayors at one time. The elected mayor was Catalino Noval. The Japanese Occupation Forces appointed another - Pascual Delgado. Not to be outdone, the Guerilla Forces also designated another - Jose Caņete.

Records show that the mayors with the longest length of service were Lazaro Ramas and Cesar Bugtai, each having served Liloan for 21 years. For priests, the longest was done by Fr. Vicente Rallos - 19 years (1931 - 1950).

The Liloan Church (San Fernando Rey Parish)

In Liloan, there is one structure whose builder looked and saw beyond his day. He constructed a church bigger than most churches, even bigger than that of Mandaue’s. He built it in 1847, when Liloan only had a population of 5,000 (a ratio of 1 man to a hectare; now it is 9 to 1). Today, 159 years after, more than 30 priests, 50 mayors, and some 47,000 people later, the church still has enough room to accommodate the faithful.

Oftentimes, it is asked, “Why is the Church of Liloan facing the mountains, the West?” All the other churches around are facing the sea, east). Unlike most churches around, the Church of Liloan has the sea on its back. It is the opinion of some that the position of the church has something to do with the rituals. Recalling the foresight of its builder, there could be another reason. Church rites, especially masses, are celebrated in the morning. It would be less warm in a church it its back, not its front door had to face the morning rays.

San Fernando Rey (A King and A Saint)

Fernando was the King of Spain in his time. He reached sanctity, and most of all, sanctified his own function as King. He a man of the Royal court, a hunter, an equestrian, an excellent sportsman, lover of the arts, a good soldier, and an expert in public relations and in the administration of justice. But above all, he declared himself a “Gentleman of Christ”, a lamb of Mary and a slave of St. James for which the Pope recognized and classified as an “Athlete of Christ” and “Champion for Christ”.

He was natural and pertinent, putting this pertinence in a plain and simple consecration of service to his country without any reservation for himself. “He never knew vice or hate”, says his son Alfonso X the Wise. To find the power to combat sin, he would steal time at night to commune in prayer with God, in adoration of the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. He always carried with him an image of the “The Virgin of Battles (Virgin de las Batallas) taking the Place of Honor in the Army of Seville - a position intended for a King. Up to this day, the image is kept in Seville. King Fernando - “Defender of the Church and of the Earth” - exchanged his crown with that of the saints in heaven, asking forgiveness for those who lived in sin. His uncorrupted body now lies in the cathedral of Seville, the biggest in Spain and one of the many edifices he constructed in thanksgiving for all the battles won as a Crusader against the moors.

Places of Interest

Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos was founded in 1907 and had withstood the taste of the times in baking prowess. It started with just the Rosquillos and tablea making. It later expanded to an array of homemade delicacies ranging from torta, mamon, monay, otap, CPA (chicken pork adobo), bao-bao and a lot more mouth watering pastries. Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos gains the prestige of being known for its select delicacies domestically and internationally.

The Parola was built in 1904 on top of a hill in Catarman, Liloan. The place also gives a beautiful view of the sea.

In Silot Bay is where one finds quite a number of tiny whirling waters known as “lilo”. Docked by the bridge are several old ships.

Along its beaches in barrio Bagacay, landed some of the liberation forces of American troops who were dispersed to fight Japanese in the northern towns.

Liloan is also a home to a number of ceramics manufacturers. Their shops sell a variety of ceramics items - from ordinary plant pots, to bricks and exotic jars.