Asturias, officially the Municipality of Asturias (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Asturias; Tagalog: Bayan ng Asturias), is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,397 people.[3]
The original name of Asturias is Naghalin, perhaps from the word lalin, native Cebuano term for settlers coming from far places. Other authorities say that "Naghalin" is a mispronunciation of the Cebuano word naghaling which means "making fire" as preparation for cooking. This assertion is supported by the old name of an adjacent municipality, "Bagacawa" (now known as Tuburan), which means "fiery cauldron" from the Cebuano baga (ember) and kawa (cauldron).
The first occupants of Asturias came from other places and neighboring islands such as Negros and Bohol. At first, one part of Naghalin was part of Tuburan and the other part of Balamban. Over time, the population of Naghalin increased because of immigration and natural population growth. Eventually the inhabitants petitioned Spain to grant them their own local government. This petition was granted in the late 19th century by Spain, thereby creating the pueblo (region) of Asturias. This event was witnessed by the arrival in 1888 of the alférez, Antonio Alonso, uncle of José Rizal.
Geography
Asturias is bordered to the north by the town of Tuburan, to the west is the Tañon Strait, to the east is the city of Danao, and to the south is the town of Balamban. It is 56 kilometres (35 mi) from Cebu City.
Barangays
Asturias is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
There are 7 barangays which located in coastal and 20 are inland.
(Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Cebu by the Philippine Statistics Authority. However, qualified voters in Mandaue are allowed to vote in elections for Cebu provincial officials by virtue of Republic Act No. 6641, in accordance with Section 452-c of the Local Government Code of 1991.)