Asturias in the Cebu northwest

CEBU, Philippines – The municipality of Asturias is located in the northwestern part of Cebu province. It is 71 kilometers northwest of Cebu City, approximately a two-hour drive. Asturias may be reached via v-hires that park at the Ayala Center Cebu Terminal, at P120 fare per person.

As of the 2010 census report, the town’s population is over 40 thousand. The old name of Asturias is Naghalin. One origin story has it that “Naghalin” comes from the root word “lalin,” a Cebuano term meaning “to settle to or from another place.” Another legend says the name “Naghalin” was originally “naghaling,” which is a local term meaning “making or starting a fire.”

History buffs consider the “naghaling” version to be more plausible, given that the boundary Asturias municipality formerly called “Bagakawa” – now Tuburan – means “a fiery cauldron,” where “baga,” meaning fire, and “kawa,” meaning cauldron. 

Parts of the town used to belong to the municipalities of Tuburan and Balamban. But due to its increasing population that wished autonomy, Asturias was eventually granted its own local government.  It became a “pueblo” by order of the King of Spain in the late 19th century, granting the petition of the town residents. The occasion of the signing of the King’s order was supposedly witnessed by an uncle of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, in 1888. 

The topography of the town generally consists of rolling and ridges land features. There are flat lands towards the coastal areas and some parts of the interior districts. Like in its neighbor towns, the soil of Asturias is of loamy, sandy, faraon clay and baguio clay types. The town produces industrial and trade raw materials, like dolomite lime. 

The town is known to possess valuable historical artifacts – six church bells, reportedly considered to be among the rarest of such collections. The heaviest of the bells is said to weigh a ton and whose sound can be heard as far as ten kilometers away or farther. The bells are supposedly made from the metal coins donated by parishioners in the 1890s. 

Farming and fishing are the traditional sources of livelihood among the local residents. In recent times, though, many of the townsfolk have completed formal education and ventured into non-traditional industries. The town has now a good number of professionals.

The municipality has been divided into 27 barangays, most of which already have electricity. There are a number of interesting spots to visit in Asturias, particularly San Roque Hot Springs, Tubigagmanok, Church Belfry, Buswang Lake in Bago, among others. The town also has its unique delicacies to offer visitors, the most famous of which is the “bingka dawa,” made from birdseed baked the native way with coconut milk.  

Asturias has good facilities for visitors. There are mountain resorts, hotels and beach facilities. The town is very accessible from Cebu City and need not cost much to enjoy.