Barili is a 3RD class municipality of Cebu, Philippines. It located 61 kilometers southwest of Cebu City. The Municipality of Dumanjug bordered in the south while the Municipality of Aloguinsan on its north. It lies facing the Tanon Strait and on the east are the Municipality of Carcar and Sibongan.
This 117.15 square meter land houses 42 barangays namely (in alphabetical order): Azucena, Bagakay, Balao, Bolocboloc, Budbud, Bugtong Kawayan, Cabcaban, Campangga, Dakit, Giloctog, Guibuangan, Giwanon, Gunting, Hilasgasan, Japitan, Cagay, Kalubihan, Kangdampas, Candugay, Luhod, Lupo, Luyo, Maghanoy, Maigang, Malolos, Mantalongon, Mantayupan, Mayana, Minolos, Nabunturan, Nasipit, Pancil, Pangpang, Paril, Patupat, Poblacion, San Rafael, Santa Ana, Sayaw, Tal-ot, Tubod and Vito. The town fiesta is held every July 25-26 in honor of its patron saint, St. Anne.
How Barili Got Its Name
The name “Barili”; was derived from a legend accordingly. It was handed down to generations until the legend became the official story in naming the town in 1908. Here the tale goes:
Centuries ago, when the Spaniards still dominated the land, there was a highland in the middle of the swamp. A big tree grew there with a vine intertwining its trunk and branches. The vine was locally called “loy-a loy-a” or “balili”.
A couple built their hut in the same place and their sole daughter was born there and named her Inday Balili.
Spaniards would go around the place to be familiar with the residents of the place. Some of them happen to pass the swamp where the couple lived. One of the Spaniards toyed the leaves of the vine while the other asked the name of the place in Spanish. The couple thinking they were asking the name of the vine, they answered “Balili”. However the Spaniards found it difficult to pronounce “Balili”, so it was enunciated as Barili by them.
During the Spanish regime, Barili was one of the influential municipalities in Cebu. The towns of Bantayan, Madridejos and Santa Fe to the north and Santander to the south belonged to Barili. Upon the arrival of Captain Juan Juarado and his Spanish fleet in Barili, a cross was planted and it still in existence until this very day.
Barili was established as a parish and a sub-capital of the province. The parish was established in 1614, that is in accordance with the records in Cebu Archdiocesan Chancery. The parish then evolved into a municipality in year 1632.
High positioned government officials had their office in the municipality like the Court of First Instance, the Register of Deeds, a Fiscal Promoter and Administrator. Even the first Cebuano and Filipino bishop, Juan de Gorordo hailed from Barili.
Barili is known for its fertile land and bountiful sea. Residents mainly engaged in farming, livestock raising and fishing as their means of livelihood. Economic output includes coconut, coco lumbers and other coconut products, corns, bananas, buri and bamboo as well as swine and cattle.
In the past, the town is significant with its tobacco plantation. An encomendiero monopolized the town and responsible for the welfare of the townsfolk. Doña Catalina Jimenez first operated the tobacco plantation. Upon her death in 1632, Captain Juan Fernandez de Leon heard the news and files a petition to be the next encomendiero. The following year, his petition was granted.
After the American forces defeated the Spanish in 1898, the new era dawned upon the Filipinos. Education became a primary concern and every Barili child was obliged to go to school. Then the World World War II broke and the Japanese took the control. On April 10, 1942, the Japanese forces arrived in Japitan, Barili and established their barracks at the Barili Central School.
After three years of Japanese dominance, the peace and order was restored and the independence of Barili was finally achieved on July 4, 1946.
Though the town is more particular in agriculture in which greater portion of the land was devoted to it, it also had considerable amount of industrial and commercial enterprise. Basket and furniture making and hat weaving are among its specialty. It is also abundant in minerals like Phosphate, Dolomite and Coal.
Education is not a problem in Barili. It has elementary schools, high schools, colleges and technical support schools, both by private and public sectors.
Barili is also notable for its tourist offerings and vacationers. The town owns the tallest waterfalls in the entire province, the Mantayupan Falls, located in barangay Mantayupan. Other naturals must-sees are the Boloc-Boloc Spring and the Canduagy and Sayaw Beaches and the unexplored caves nearby.
It is also endowed with developed resorts such as Paril 30-hectare Mountain Resort and Paradise Valley Mountain Resort. It has a golf course dubbed as the Cebu Barili Golf Course.
How To Get There:
From Cebu City, a travel to Barili took almost an hour. Busses are usual transportation for the commuters. Going around the town, jeepneys, tricycles, motorcycles and trisikads are common public transportation.
