20/08/2026
Behind every town name is a story. Ever wondered how ours came to be?
At the center of the seal of the Municipality of San Fernando, Cebu, is a man carrying a flaming torch in broad daylight with an inscription of the year 1858.
The man is Juan Diyong. He led the separatist movement in 1854. Under his leadership, the people organized themselves into a religious organization. They agreed to build a chapel where they could pray and practice their faith. Their chapel was located in Pitalo near the shore.
Naga, the mother town, was far and not near at all as thought by the Spanish authorities. They were already tired going to Naga for their religious activities. They wanted to separate and become independent
He then led the people of the barrios of Magsico, Cabatbatan, Balungag, Sangat, Panadtaran, and Pitalo, to band together to separate from the town of Naga, Cebu.
The officials of Naga, Cebu opposed the separation justifying that such separation would do no good as the barrios calling for separation were so poor and could not exist on their own.
To prove otherwise, Diyong and the settlers brought the best and biggest produce of their farms including soil sample to the Municipality of Cebu and showed the civil and religious leaders to convince them to approve the separation.
The Spanish authorities were convinced and granted the settlers’ wish.
On January 19, 1858, a royal decree was issued separating San Fernando from Naga, after 31 years of being part of the parish. It was first named San Isidro in honor of its patron saint.
The assigned first parish priest was Father Fernando Sanchez. He was deeply admired and respected for his meekness and humility. Old folks recounted that Father Sanchez always visited and comforted his sick parishioners. If needed, the priest would share food with the settlers. After doing the church duties, he would go around the parish to spread the gospel and, as a result, many unbaptized inhabitants were converted to the Christian faith.
The town was later given a name in honor of the well-liked parish priest, Father. Fernando Sanchez, thus the name of the town became San Fernando.
Sources: History of San Fernando by Ernesto Lariosa, https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2017/06/08/1708279/juan-diyong-founder-san-fernando-cebu
