Don Eugenio Alonso Street, Asturias, Cebu

Don Eugenio Alonso, the acknowledged "Father of Asturias" also fondly called "Tan (short for Capitan) Genio" was not only the father of a town he was literally the father of two great legislators of the past, Tomas and Jose.

His son, Tomas, passed the Bar examinations on March 27, 1907, one of the 17 successful examinees out of 64 bar candidates, he passed together with fellow Cebuanos Dionisio Jakosalem and Vicente Sotto. Tomas was elected congressman of the old 7th District where Asturias used to be part, he served from 1912 to 1919 and in 1928 to 1931 in the old 6th Congressional District. The other son of Don Eugenio, Jose, was elected congressman of the old 7th District, he served from 1919 to 1925.

Don Eugenio was the son of Antonio Alonso and Juana Arambulo of Manila. He had several younger sisters; Maria married Modesto Evangelista of Talibon, Bohol; Benigna married Santos Austre of Asturias, Cebu; and Catalina married Pedro Manuel of Bulacan. The father of Don Eugenio was a relative of Teodora Alonso (the mother of Dr. Jose Rizal).

Don Eugenio died defending the town he helped built, when insurgents attacked Asturias on the morning of Sept. 30, 1896. He died of bolo wounds, along with two other defenders that day, Rodolfo Acaso and a certain Arcilla.

He may have died but his greatness and patriotism continued with his sons and descendants, others forgotten in our history books. Since Asturias became a town, majority of those appointed or elected as presidents, mayors or gobernadorcillos were descendants of Tan Genio. Don Eugenio married Eduviges Noel of the Noel Clan from Carcar. His son Jose married Crispiniana Reyes, and had the following children: Eugenio (married Milagros Omena), Adelina (married Gregorio Yrastorza), Anunsacion (married Juan Alburo), Leonardo (married Jesus Paras).

Tomas married Asuncion Medalle; a son, Francisco, married Mercedes Valencia. The youngest son of Don Eugenio, Antonio, married Carmen Corrales, their daughter Carolina married Atty. Vicente Villamil.

Catalina, one of the sisters of Don Eugenio married Pedro Manuel, and had the following children; Martina (Condrado Aliviado), Emigidio (married Graciana Torion), Marta (married Fabian Aguanta), Adolfo (married Felicima Ybanez) and Pacencia (married Celestino Estrella). A descendant, Pedro T. Manuel wrote a book, "124 years of Asturias" compiled historical facts, stories, legends and traditions of the town of Asturias and her inhabitants.

The people of Asturias named a street in honor of its father. May they be reminded of his love and dedication for public service, that he gave his life for them.