Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

Liloan

Liloan, officially the Municipality of Liloan, is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 158,387 people, making it the most populated municipality in Cebu and the whole Visayas. Liloan is known as the Light of North and the home of Titay's rosquillos. It serves as a gateway between Metro Cebu and the northern parts of Cebu.

Last revised
Jun 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 9 min
Length
2,053 w
Citations
37
Source
Liloan
Municipality of Liloan
From Suba bridge
From Suba bridge
Official seal of Liloan
Etymology: Cebuano term lilo, meaning whirlpool
Map of Cebu with Liloan highlighted
Map of Cebu with Liloan highlighted
Map
Interactive map of Liloan
Liloan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°24′40″N 123°58′56″E / 10.41111°N 123.98222°E / 10.41111; 123.98222
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Visayas
ProvinceCebu
District 5th district
Founded1845
Barangays14 (see Barangays)
Government
1
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorAljew Fernando J. Frasco
 • Vice MayorMargarita D. Frasco
 • RepresentativeVincent Franco D. Frasco
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Cesar R. Cañete Jr.
  • Lucelito B. Pilapil
  • Katherine D. Jumapao
  • Francisco C. Comendador III
  • Thelma L. Jordan
  • Nelly Bernardo L. Lopez
  • Edna M. Cala
 • Electorate87,305 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
45.92 km2 (17.73 sq mi)
Elevation
20 m (66 ft)
Highest elevation
231 m (758 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)3
 • Total
158,387
 • Density3,449/km2 (8,933/sq mi)
 • Households
37,390
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
18.81
% (2021)4
 • Revenue₱ 635 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 1,404 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 417.4 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 423.3 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricityVisayan Electric Company (VECO)
 • WaterMetropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6002
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)32
Native languagesCebuano
Tagalog

Liloan, officially the Municipality of Liloan (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Liloan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Liloan), is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 158,387 people,5 making it the most populated municipality in Cebu and the whole Visayas. Liloan is known as the Light of North and the home of Titay's rosquillos. It serves as a gateway between Metro Cebu and the northern parts of Cebu.

History

Etymological History

Along its coastline, there is a spot called Silot, where a whirlpool is created by the ebbs and flows of the waters from the bay. This phenomenon is called lilo in Cebuano. Because of this, the town was known as Liloan, meaning "a place where there is a lilo". 6

The Creation of Liloan and Part in the History of Consolacion & Compostela

The creation of Liloan was officially on August 23,1844 from a superior decree making it officially separated from Mandaue 7, The Parish was instated in Liloan before the separation. It was officially instated as a parish on January 27, 1845 from a decree handed out by the Bishop of Cebu. The town's organized governance began around 1845, with Capitan Banlitan cited as the first "capitan municipal." Consolacion separated from Liloan and also received a supreme decree from the Bishop of Cebu for a parish to be created. Compostela merged with Liloan from Danao and later separated in 1919.8

Liloan during World War II

During the war years (World War II), Lilo‑an had three mayors at one time.9 a small Japanese Shipwreck was found and discovered in Silot Bay aswell. 10

Geography

Liloan is a rapidly developing coastal municipality bounded on the north by the town of Compostela, to the west by Cebu City, on the east by the Camotes Sea, and on the south by the town of Consolacion. It is 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Cebu City. Liloan lies within Metro Cebu. The municipality is characterized by a mixture of coastal plains, mangrove areas near Silot Bay and Mountainous Terrains as well as valleys present in Cotcot, Yati, and Tayud.

Barangays

Liloan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
202411 201012
072227001 Cabadiangan 1.3% 1,982 1,790 0.72%
072227002 Calero 3.4% 5,315 4,513 1.17%
072227003 Catarman 10.0% 15,829 14,839 0.46%
072227004 Cotcot 4.3% 6,796 5,185 1.94%
072227005 Jubay 7.5% 11,931 8,819 2.17%
072227006 Lataban 1.4% 2,245 1,863 1.33%
072227007 Mulao 0.7% 1,067 952 0.81%
072227008 Poblacion 9.5% 15,041 13,371 0.84%
072227009 San Roque 1.0% 1,521 1,331 0.95%
072227010 San Vicente 6.5% 10,219 8,665 1.18%
072227011 Santa Cruz 1.4% 2,203 1,899 1.06%
072227012 Tabla 0.9% 1,423 1,189 1.28%
072227013 Tayud 10.0% 15,814 13,616 1.07%
072227014 Yati 17.3% 27,367 22,468 1.41%
Total 158,387 100,500 3.28%

Climate

Climate data for Liloan, Cebu
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 70
(2.8)
49
(1.9)
62
(2.4)
78
(3.1)
138
(5.4)
201
(7.9)
192
(7.6)
185
(7.3)
192
(7.6)
205
(8.1)
156
(6.1)
111
(4.4)
1,639
(64.6)
Average rainy days 13.4 10.6 13.1 14.5 24.2 27.9 28.4 27.7 27.1 27.4 22.5 15.9 252.7
Source: Meteoblue13

Demographics

Population census of Liloan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 10,024—    
1918 19,842+4.66%
1939 13,662−1.76%
1948 12,292−1.17%
1960 16,424+2.44%
1970 22,495+3.19%
1975 26,492+3.33%
1980 30,196+2.65%
1990 42,587+3.50%
1995 50,973+3.43%
2000 64,970+5.34%
2007 92,606+5.01%
2010 100,500+3.02%
2015 118,753+3.23%
2020 153,197+5.51%
2024 158,387+0.80%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority1415121617

Economy

Poverty incidence of Liloan

5
10
15
20
25
30
2000
28.37
2003
9.91
2006
22.00
2009
17.95
2012
10.54
2015
14.66
2018
7.20
2021
18.81

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority1819202122232425

Landmarks

The Bagacay Point Lighthouse source ↗

Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Bagacay Point was built in 1857 by the Spanish. The current tower was constructed in 1904 by order of William Howard Taft,26 the first Governor-General of the Philippines and later the President of the United States. The tower is 22 metres (72 ft) tall and remains in active use today, using solar energy.27 The lighthouse was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2004 by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly known as National Historical Institute).28

Pier 88

Pier 88 with moored passenger ferries. Waiting room in the background, facility managed by Topline company. Photo: Bart Sakwerda/Budots Media
Pier 88 with moored passenger ferries. Waiting room in the background, facility managed by Topline company. Photo: Bart Sakwerda/Budots Media source ↗

Pier 88 is a maritime terminal in Liloan that connects the islands of the Central Visayas region: Camotes, LapuLapu City and Cebu City. The Pier was officially inaugurated and opened to the public on May 27, 2023, by Bongbong Marcos.29

Titay's Rosquillos and Delicacies

"Titay's" Rosquillos source ↗
"Titay's" Rosquillo (WTC, IFEx) source ↗

Titay's Rosquillos and Delicacies is a baking company started in Liloan in 1907, baking foods like rosquillos, tablea and hojaldres. In 2012, its two-hectare plant in Liloan produced about 3,000 packs of 180 grams Rosquillos daily by 118 workers.3031

In 2013, the flagship store, which produces 360,000 rosquillos a day was transformed into a café for 45 customers serving penato (peanuts), banana chips, and binangkal, among others.32

On April 1, 2024, Christina Frasco, with members of her family, partook in the groundbreaking of its Poblacion, Liloan 1.3-hectare new factory which will employ to 250 workers.33

Tourism

Rosquillos Festival

Celebrated every last week of May in honor of the town's patron saint, St. Ferdinand III. It celebrates the Rosquillos as the delicacy of Liloan and of Cebu. The 12th Rosquillos festival was held in May 26, 2019. The 13th returned from May 20–30, 2023, coinciding with the 176th annual foundation fiesta celebration.343536

Rosquillos Festival dancers as they perform their street dance in Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2019. source ↗

List of heads of local government

  • Basilio Bantilan (1845–1846)
  • Hipolito Pepito (1846–1847)
  • Francisco Cabahug (1847–1848 and 1859–1860)
  • Esteban Cañete (1848–1849, 1850–1851 and 1852–1853)
  • Juan Delgado (1849–1850)
  • Juan Cabatingan (1851–1852 and 1861–1862)
  • Cruz Medoza (1853–1855 and 1860–1861)
  • Alberto Yungco (1855–1857)
  • Victor Pepito (1857–1858, 1863–1865 and 1875–1879)
  • Pedro Pepito (1858–1859 and 1862–1863)
  • Felix Cabatingan (1865–1867)
  • Jacinto Cañete (1867–1869)
  • Apolonio Pilapil (1869–1871)
  • Custodio Mendoza (1871–1873, 1883–1885 and 1899–1900)
  • Guillermo Pepito (1873–1875)
  • Ambrosio Pepito (1879–1881)
  • Eugenio Pilapil (1881–1883 and 1889–1891)
  • Mamerto Cabatingan (1883–1887 and 1891–1893)
  • Sotero Cabatingan (1887–1889, 1900–1902 and 1905–1909)
  • Antonio Villamor (1893–1896)
  • Simeon Pilapil (1896–1898)
  • Mariano Pilapil (1898–1899)
  • Blas Cabatingan (1902–1904)
  • Marcelo Pilapil (1909–1911)
  • Francisco Ramas (1911–1912)
  • Jose Cabatingan (1912–1916)
  • Cirilo Ramas (1916–1919)
  • Cipiriano Jumapao (1919–1922)
  • Florintino Pilapil (1922–1925)
  • Santiago Noval (1925–1928)
  • Lazaro Ramas (1928–1937, 1937–1938, 1959–1963 and 1963–1965)
  • Catalino Noval (1941–1945, 1945–1946 and 1965–1967)
  • Jorge Pitogo (1946–1947 and 1947–1951)
  • Fabian Cañete (1951–1955)
  • Teofilo Ponce (1967–1971)
  • Cesar Bugtai (1971–1986)
  • Achilles Cañete (1986–1988 and 1988–1992)
  • Panphil Frasco (1992–1995, 1995–1998 and 1998–2001)
  • Maria Sevilla (2001–2004 and 2004–2007)
  • Duke Frasco (2007–2016)
  • Christina Garcia-Frasco (2016–2022)
  • Aljew Frasco (2022–present)

Notable people

See also

See also

Notes

Notes

References

References

  1. Municipality of Liloan | (DILG)
  2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. Liloan Documentation about the History of Liloan Liloan Government explanation of the Etymology
  7. Scribe Presentation of the History of Liloan, Cebu Presentation and Document explaining the History of Liloan
  8. Presentation for the History of Compostela / Document explaining the History of Compostela & Involvement with Liloan
  9. Oaminal, Clarence Paul. "Liloan, Cebu 1967 elections". Philstar.com. Retrieved November 10, 2025. Document explaining the History of Liloan
  10. Facebook - The Japanese Armored boat lies in capsized in the swamp of Silot Lagoon,Liloan Cebu P.I. April 4, 1945. Source: US Signal Corps and National Archives and Record Administration. Retrieved May 2026
  11. Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  12. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  13. "Liloan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  14. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  15. Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  16. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  17. "Province of Cebu". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  19. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  20. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  21. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  22. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  23. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  24. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  25. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  26. Philippines' Light to Get Makeover
  27. Bagacay Point Light
  28. Declaring of Bagacay Point Lighthouse in Liloan, Cebu a National Historical Landmark
  29. Cebu's Pier 88 boosts PH's global connectivity efforts --- PBBM
  30. Dagooc, Ehda (December 14, 2012). "Titay's to boost foothold in Phl delicacy market". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  31. Garcia-Yap, Aileen (December 17, 2012). "How Titay's cookies became a pasalubong favorite". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  32. Cacho, Katlene (April 10, 2018). "Modern Titay's reopens in Liloan". SunStar. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  33. Orellano, Christian (May 11, 2024). "Titay's Rosquillos Upgrades Facilities". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  34. Fuentes, Jan (January 26, 2024). "Liloan welcomes Suroy Suroy Sugbo". SunStar. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  35. Cotejo, Honey (May 22, 2023). "Rosquillos Festival of Liloan returns on May 27". Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  36. "All set for Liloan's 'Rosquillos Festival'". SunStar. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
Sources

Sources

  • Gonzales, Glenda R. (December 2004). "Metro Cebu: A Metropolitan Area in Need of Coordinative Body" (PDF). Discussion Paper. 2004-49. PIDS. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  • Sendino y Redondo, Felipe (1886). Breve reseña de lo que fue y de lo que es la Diócesis de Cebú en las Islas Filipinas (in Spanish). Manila: Colegio de Santo Tomas.

Authors & Involvement

External links