Our Heritage
Palm Grass’ halls and floors are named after important Cebuano historical figures who have made lasting contributions to Cebu.
Lobby
Inocencio Junquera initiated and established the first theater in Cebu. He served as Cebu’s governor from 1893-1895. The idea of creating a theater came to him after watching a Spanish play, El Alcalde Interno, which was performed in a convent in Parian. Noticing the convent’s limited space, Junquera proposed and financed the construction of Teatro Junquera. Aside from building Teatro Junquera, he also opposed the friars.
According to folklore, before the Spanish colonization, Cebu was under a Rajahnate state. The state was said to be established and ruled by Rajamuda Lumaya, the grandfather of the famous Rajah Humabon. Lumaya was a prince of the Chola Dynasty from Sumatra, Indonesia. Instead of creating a base for their army, as he was originally tasked, he founded his own native kingdom in Cebu.
Second Floor
Leon Kilat was a revolutionary leader of the Katipunan organization in Cebu who led the uprising against the Spaniards on April 3, 1898. He was known to be invulnerable because of his amulets.
Aside from leading the Tres de Abril uprising, he also led the attack on Fort San Pedro. On Tuesday, April 5, 1898, Leon Kilat, riding a horse, led a group and attempted to stage a breakthrough. But the attack failed due to the rapid firing of rifles and a volley of cannon fire. He fell off his horse, stood up, dusted himself, and continued riding his horse. The legend of his invulnerability was bolstered.
When the Spanish forces retaliated through reinforcements from other provinces, he was betrayed by some of his men and was murdered in Carcar.
The revolution of the Cebu Katipuneros on April 3, 1898 against the Spanish forces had its first victory after cornering the enemies at Labangon area. More than 2,000 Cebuano Katipuneros fought to defeat the Spanish forces.
A unique feature of the hotel, our historical gallery introduces you to old Cebuano changemakers and trailblazers. Galeria Independencia presents significant events in the pre-colonial period, Spanish period, and the 1898 Cebu Revolution against the Spanish Colonial Rule.The gallery also serves as a memorial to the more than 300 brave heroes of the Cebu Revolution.
Lucio Herrera (Lucio Herrera Uy Chijon), a wealthy Chinese, was an early recruit with close links to the principales of San Nicolas. He was also part of the clandestine group opposed to Fr. Jorge Romanillos in San Nicolas. Katipunan meetings were held at his house in Labangon. He participated in the meeting at house of Isidro Guivelondo (Mabolo) on April 2, 1898. He was arrested, interrogated, and released by the Spaniards.
Third Floor
Luis Flores was one of the original members of the Katipunan organization in Cebu. He was one of the few revolutionary leaders who survived and witnessed the end of the Spanish reign on December 24, 1898. After the Philippine government was established, Flores became the provincial governor of Cebu. He was the first Filipino to hold such position. Luis Flores y Perez is a native of Samar.
Flores came to Cebu in 1891 as a steward of Bishop Martin Garcia Alcocer. With Alcocer’s patronage, he served as procurador (attorney) of the Cebu audiencia as well as regidor (alderman) of the Cebu ayuntamiento. Luis Flores was involved with the Katipunan as early as 1896 or 1897. He became one of the earliest Cebuanos to join the Katipunan and later on, became one of the leaders in leading the 1898 Revolution in Cebu. During the revolution, he became known as unos or “storm” in Cebuano.
Because of his experience in administrative work and bureaucracy, he was named president of the provisional revolutionary government that was formed in San Nicolas on April 3, 1898.
It was on December 24, 1898, that the Spaniards left Cebu. On December 30, 1898, in accordance to Aguinaldo’s decree asking for the reorganization of provinces, the election of officials for Provincial Council of Cebu was held. Luis Flores was elected president.
Guivelondo was a Spanish mestizo lawyer who sided with the Katipunan group in Cebu. His house in Mabolo was used by the organization to conduct secret meetings to plot the revolution against the Spaniards. The Tres de Abril uprising was planned in his house.
The house of Paulino Solon in Sambag was used for secret meetings because it was secluded and had plenty of trees. Solon, who had a cleft lip, (also known as Paulino Bungi) had a huge front yard where a tamarind tree stood, with benches made of wood or split bamboo.
Fourth Floor
Candido Padilla was among the early members of the Katipunan, Cebu Chapter. He was the Cabeza de Barangay of San Nicolas and was the chief of the Katipunan prior to the arrival of Leon Kilat. He was one of the early recruits and associated with the cabecilla of Luis Abellar. Organizational meetings were held at his house. Leon Kilat operated out of his house before and during the April 3 uprising. He participated in the meeting at the house of Isidro Guivelondo (Mabolo) on Abril 2, 1898.
Juliana Revilles was the second wife of Candido Padilla. She held residence in Dulho. She was part of the principal family of San Nicolas and Gremio de Mestizos in Cebu City. She was also active in planning the April 3, 1898 uprising.
Florencio Gonzales was an assistant of a lawyer headed for Manila. He was asked by Katipunero Anastacio Oclarino to join the Katipunan in Cebu. Fueled by passion, he became a recruiter for the Katipunan. He was an early recruit associated with cabecilla of Luis Abellar. Closely linked to major leaders of conspiracy and active at meetings. He was arrested with Teofisto Cavan and Prisco Abreu on April 2, 1898. He was imprisoned and executed by the Spaniards.
Fifth Floor
Fr. Toribio Padilla served as the chaplain of the Katipunan in Cebu. He was parish priest of the Cebu Cathedral and cousin of Cebu Katipunan Leader Heneral Candido Padilla.
When the rebellion against the Spanish misrule in the Philippines erupted in Cebu on April 2, 1898, with the exception of Fr. Toribio Padilla, all priests in the city of Cebu, Spanish and Filipino alike, took protective shelter inside Fort San Pedro.
Fr. Padilla was disrobed by the Spanish troops when the Cebu revolution was temporarily subdued.
Doña Mauricia Gahuman, Doña Justina Peña, Doña Buena Ricardo were the Cebuanas who made the Philippine flag based from the measurements given by Katipunan-Manila. A courier from Punta Princesa delivered the flag they made to Sudlon where it was raised near their headquarters. Immediately after its arrival, some 300 Katipuneros took their oath in front of the flag.
Gregorio Abellana was a writer who joined the Katipunan group in Cebu with his brother, Andres Abellana. One of his noble works was his first-hand account of the revolution led by Leon Kilat entitled Ang Kagubot sa Sugbu Batok sa Katsila. He escaped from the guardia civil on March 22, 1898 and took refuge in Carcar. He participated in a meeting at the house of Isidro Guivelondo (Mabolo) on April 2, 1898.
Sixth Floor
Maxilom was an honorable revolutionary leader from Tuburan, Cebu. He led and regrouped the Katipunan after Leon Kilat’s assassination.
After Leon Kilat’s death, the Katipunero General who had a big impact on the tide of events was Arcadio Maxilom. Given a contingent of some 300 soldiers and having Brig. Gen. Hilario Aliño, Col. Fermin Aliño and Col. Emilio Verdeflor as his adjutants, he scoured the mountains of Cebu from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, establishing bases and offering protection against lawless elements, promising swift justice in case they served as spies for the government. Residents who attempted to take advantage of the abnormal situation were warned.
With a solid guerilla front up in the hills, Maxilom was ready to take on the towns and the city of Cebu.
The organization became impenetrable under his command which led to the retreat of the Spanish forces in December 1898.
Lorenzo Eje, a choir member of the Cebu Cathedral, was the leader of the Katipuneros in Talamban. He fought against the Spanish forces in the forested areas of Talamban with Alejo Miñoza. He was active in fighting even after April 3, 1898.
Potenciano Aliño was a Cebuano writer who led the Katipunan group based in Talisay, Cebu. Together with his brothers Hilario and Felix, they fought and defeated the Spanish soldiers at the boundary of Tabunok and San Isidro, one day before the Battle of Tres de Abril.
Seventh Floor
Lapu-Lapu was the famous ruler of the island of Mactan. He was referred to as the first Philippine hero after defeating the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Tupas was known as the last native Chief of Cebu. Tupas was the nephew of Rajah Humabon. He was baptized as Christian in 1521 and fought against the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565.
Rajah Humabon was the Rajah of Cebu at the time of Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines. During his reign, Cebu became an important trading center in the region.
Dagami started a revolt against the group of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who occupied Cebu in 1565. He was referred to as Chief Dagami of Gabi, which is now known as the municipality of Cordova. Dagami was executed in 1567.
Basement