The northwestern part of Cebu has become more accessible after the transcentral highway was completed. The highway connected the eastern part of the island of Cebu to its western part. It also facilitated travel between the two points. Instead of going all the way to the north or south, people will just have to cut across the island to get to Balamban and other towns in the western part of Cebu.
San Remigio
The Municipality of San Remigio used to be known as Kanghagas. The old name came from an old tree that is abundant in the area. The present name of San Remigio was supposedly based on a local myth about a certain Remigio Multon who organized a group to protect the place from attacks of Moro pirates.
Your next stop on your way back to the Queen City of the South from the north of Cebu would be the town of Tabuelan. The origin of the name of the town has three versions. The first version indicates that the name comes from a type of octopus found in the Batawang River, the “Tubugokan.” The second version states that it came from the Visayan word for market, “taboan.” The third version of the origin of the name indicates that it comes from the word “tabukan,” which refers to a boat used in transporting people and things between the banks of the Batawang River.
After having your fill of “Vitamin Sea” in Tabuelan you will reach the town of Tuburan. The name of the town comes from the Cebuano word “tubod,” which means spring. Visitors can take a dip in one of the many springs in the area. There is also a legend about the springs of Tuburan. The springs are supposedly the tears of the wives of seven travelers who decided to go on a journey after years of staying in the place. Tuburan is also the hometown of Arcadio Maxilom, one of the last revolutionary leaders to surrender to the Americans in the Philippine-American War.
Before Asturias became a town, some areas of the town were part of Balamban and Tuburan. It was eventually became a “pueblo” or town following an order by the King of Spain in the 19th century. The town used to be called “Naghalin,” which was based on the Cebuano word “lalin,” which means to settle from or to a different place. But some experts say the name was a mispronunciation of the Cebuano word “naghalin,” which means to make fire.
Your last stop before going back to the Queen City of the South is the town of Balamban. Balamban is also known as the Ship-Building Capital of the Philippines due to the presence of Tsuneishi Heavy Industries. Long before foreign direct investments transformed the town, it was a Spanish pueblo made up of parts of the towns of Asturias and Tuburan. The name of the town came from the term “balang-balang,” which referred to the way the locals linked their arms together to create an improvised seat used in carrying Spaniards across a river.