By this time, you should be in your last part of your road trip through the south of Cebu. In this leg, you get to see the richness of the cultural heritage of the island. Aside from a lesson in the history of Cebu, you will also be in awe at the natural wonders the island has to offer.
On this leg of the journey, you will pass by the town of Dumanjug. There are a number of stories about how Dumanjug got its name. One account tells a story of traders who would sell the famous native chicken of the town. They would shout out “Du, Manok Tinuhog” while selling their products. Another account tells the story of three brothers: Binonga, Yongyong, and Dumanjug. The place was supposedly called “Kang Dumanjug,” which indicates it was the residence of Dumanjug. Another account tells the story of Duman, a famous tuba gatherer in the place. One day he fell from a coconut tree while getting tube. At the same time some Spaniards passed by and asked some natives for the name of the place. The natives thought the Spaniards were asking what happened and they replied “si Duman nahug” or Duman fell. The Spaniards thought the name of the town was Dumanjug. But, according to historians, Pedro Ricamora and Father Agustin Melgar were the founders of the town.
After enjoying the Bisnok of Dumanjug, you will reach the town of Barili. The name of the town comes from a local grass that grows in the area, the balili. While the town itself was established in 1632, there was already a parish in the area since 1614. There is also a cross that was planted in the town in 1602 by the Spaniards under the command of Captain Juan Juarado.
Your next stop after Barili is the town of Aloguinsan. The name of the town comes from the kinsan, which is a grouper that is abundant in the area from May to July. In fact, the town also celebrates the annual Kinsan Festival, which is celebrated on the second Sunday of June. Aloguinsan was once a part of Pinamungajan before a Royal Decree created the town in 1886. The people of Aloguinsan continue to preserve their customs and traditions even after the whole island of Cebu came under Spanish rule.
The town of Pinamungajan is your next stop in your road trip through the south of Cebu. The name of the town is derived from the Cebuano term for the share of the worker in a harvest or “pinamu-ohan.” The term also shows that the town is an agricultural community. Pinamungajan is one of the biggest suppliers of milkfish, coconut, and other agricultural products in Cebu. The town was established in 1815 during the Spanish period.
After Pinamungajan, you will reach Toledo City. The city was once called Pueblo Hinulawan, which comes from the river located in the place. It was later renamed to Toledo after the name of a province in Spain. The place used to be a barangay under the jurisdiction of the parish priest of Balamban. Since the original location of the old town was frequently flooded when the Hinulawan River overflows during the rainy season, it was transferred to its current location in Barangay Poblacion. The city is one of the gateways to the island of Negros.