There exists today a small shallow river which crosses a part of Labangon. There was not much importance attached to this stream until 1898 when the Revolution against Spanish rule, which started in several provinces surrounding Manila, found immediate response among the highly patriotic sons of Cebu under the leadership of a Negrense, Leon Kilat. They rose in rebellion by attacking the Spanish forces in Cebu and were initially victorious until the timely arrival of Spanish ships bringing reinforcements (April 3-7, 1898). The Cebu revolt was momentarily suppressed.



But for some time after the uprising was quelled, the Cebu revolutionaries continued to dominate much of Labangon territory. The Spaniards did not dare cross the stream because they knew that many armed rebels still roamed within the safety of this then heavily plant - covered portions of San Nicolas. To totally destroy, the Cebuano freedom fighters required crossing the river. This the Spaniards avoided.

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Labangon means crossing. The stream was virtually a no man's land. To engage the enemy the other combatant had to cross the river. Later, the surrounding area which eventually became a barangay, like the stream, was also called Labangon.



Part of the historic San Nicolas, Labangon has its ample share of historic episodes during the oppressive Spanish regime. In fact, the climax of the 1898 uprising was in the vicinity of Labangon. One of its major streets - Tres de Abril - stands a mute testimony to the trepidity and daringness of the patriots of Cebu. Dionisio A. Sy writes about this well-known encounter between Spanish forces and Cebuano patriots.



At the intersection of V. Rama Avenue and Tres de Abril Street, Leon Kilat deployed his men. He assigned     Eugenio Gines and Francisco Llamas to command the left wing Katipuneros, assisted by Arsenio Cabreros, Rufo Abella, Pio Lopez, and Dionisio Abellar. The center column, commanded by Leon Kilat and assisted by Alejo Minoza, took position at the insection itself. Majority of the Katipuneros were massed here, using as cover the stone corner of the house of Nicolasa "Lasay" and Antonio Lopez.

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Cebuano blood was shed for independence. Captain Monfort's platoon was the forward column of the loyalist force, and upon orders of the captain, this platoon opened fire. Upon exhausting their five shots (maximum capacity of the Mause rifle magazine), they reloaded while the second column of Captain Gutierrez fired. But before the first column could effectively fire again, the Katipuneros had rushed across the street and furious hand-to-hand combat ensued.



The left wing of the Katipuneros swarmed along Tres de Abril Street effectively blocking escape along it, while the eastern portion of V. Rama, guarded by Justo Kabajar's men, was less effectively defended since Kabajar's men had only a few men.

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Loyalists and Katipuneros casualties at the Tres de Abril fight cannot well be determined due to divergent   reports. What seems clear is that four Spaniards were killed on the spot.



On the side of the Katipuneros, Gregorio Salazar of Sangi, San Fernando died on the spot. Titoy Saceda from Labangon died later from wounds suffered. Eight KKK's were wounded, including Eugenio Gines, Arsenio Cabreros of Basak, Dionisio Abellar (Abelgas) and one follower of Minoza from Sitio Bitlang.



Some of the historied incidents in Labangon were the initiation of Captain Jacinto Pacana in Labangon, and his big house also in Labangon was "converted into a KKK general headquarters and its ground floor into an infirmary. Among those treated there were Arsenio Cabreros and Eugenio "Lindol" Gines, wounded in the thigh and unable to walk.



Fray Isidro Liberal, an elderly Recollect friar and elderly Italian piano professor, Hernesto Stancampiano, were captured by the Katipuneros the morning after the Tres de Abril fight and taken to the house of Chinese Lucio Herrera (Uy Mayan or Uy Chijon) in Labangon.

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Most of the people of Labangon are predominantly native in origin like those of other parts of San Nicolas. Many descendants of Labangon hero Jacinto Pacaña are still residents of the place. The residents live mostly on employment and some by engaging in small-scale industries like making furniture from rattan and the manufacturing of bakya(wooden slippers). A number also live by making native delicacies which are sold in different establishments in the city.



Fittingly, two of its major streets where public transport passes through going to adjacent barangay Punta Princesa or to Cebu City proper, are  named Tres de Abril and Katipunan, which bespeak of the intense patriotism of the erstwhile Labangon people, whose menfolk joined the Katipunan and courageously fought at the battle of Tres de Abril.

        



 

 

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