In 2002, a book entitled "124 years of Asturias" was published. It was written by Pedro T. Manuel.
Pedro T. Manuel was born on February 20, 1916 in Poblacion, Asturias, Cebu. He was the son of Emigidio Manuel and Graciana Torion. Pedro finished basic education at the Asturias Central Elementary School in 1930. He went to the Cebu Provincial High School (renamed as the Abellana National School) in 1934 for his secondary education.
Sir Manuel finished college at the Cebu Normal College in 1938 and at the University of the Visayas for his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1948.
Sir Manuel was a classroom teacher from 1938 to 1956 at the San Roque Elementary School, Asturias, Cebu. Pedro T. Manuel for his dedication and commitment to teaching was promoted to school principal. Sir Manuel served as principal for the following schools: Doong Elementary School in Bantayan, Cebu (1956); Tabuelan Elementary School, Tabuelan (1956 to 1960); Asturias Central Elementary School (1960 to 1968); Tuyan Elementary School, Naga, (1968 to 1972); Naga Central Elementary School, Naga (1972-1973); and Langtad Elementary School, Naga (1973).
The book written by Sir Pedro T. Manuel is a compilation of historical facts, stories, legends, traditions and other information about the Asturias and its people.
The parents of Sir Pedro T. Manuel come from the lineage of Antonio Alonso and Juana Arambulo. One of the Founding Fathers of Asturias, Eugenio Alonso sired the following children: Jose Alonso who married Crispiniana Reynes, Tomas Alonso married Asuncion Medalle and Antonio Alonso who married Carmen Corrales.
The grandparents of Sir Pedro T. Manuel are Catalina Manuel and Pedro Manuel. Catalina is a sibling of Eugenio Alonso (who married Eduvejes Noel), Maria Alonso (who married Modesto Evangelista) and Benigna Alonso (who married Santos Austre).
The father of Pedro T. Manuel, Emigidio Manuel is the brother of Martina Manuel (who married Condrado Aliviado), Marta Manuel (who married Fabian Aguanta), Adolfo Manuel (who married Felicima Ybanez) and Pacencia Alonso (who married Celestino Estrella.
Sir Pedro T. Manuel, the Chronicler of Asturias, Cebu is the brother of Clara Torion, Generoso Manuel, who married Trinidad Gonzalez, Dominador Manuel, who married Macaria More, Silverio Manuel who married Echoperanza Trazo, Roberta Manuel who married Antonio Nardo, Ana Manuel who married Paulo Beltran, and Cresencia Manuel who married Gabriel Delfin.
Pedro, the long time principal of Asturias, Cebu married Benedicta Baricuatro Rodriguez on January 21, 1940. Pedro and Benedicta sired the following children: Finlo Manuel, a Bachelor of Science in Commerce graduate and married Gertrudes Verdeflor, Guerrero Manuel, a Bachelor of Arts graduate, married Esterlita Olado of Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Cielito Manuel married Maria Wong now a resident of Australia, Rizalina Manuel married Philip Barham of Australia, Pamela Manuel a Bachelor of Arts graduate and married Gerry Montanus of Netherlands, Mario Manuel married Helen Isaias of Cebu City, Rizalita Manuel, a Bachelor of Arts graduate, married to Reynolds Van Vonderen of Netherlands, and Carmelita Manuel, a Bachelor of Science in Commerce graduate, married Ronnie Tolliday of Australia.
A niece of Sir Pedro T. Manuel, Fermina Bardenas dela Victoria became mayor (officer in charge) of Asturias, Cebu after the 1986 People Power. Fermina is the daughter of Luisa Aguanta and Wenceslao Bardenas. The grandfather of Mayor Fermina dela Victoria, Fabian Aguanta (who married Marta Manuel, sister of Emigidio Manuel who is the father of Pedro T. Manuel) just like his forefathers served the people of Asturias, Cebu as mayor.
It was Mayor Fabian Aguanta who donated the school site of the Asturias Central School renamed in his honor the Fabian Aguanta Central School.