Baler, Aurora

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Baler
Municipality

Downtown (Poblacion)

Seal

Location within the Aurora province

Baler
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

154530N 1213345ECoordinates:
154530N 1213345E

Country

Philippines

Region

Central Luzon (Region III)

Province

Aurora

District

Lone District

Founded

August 19, 1609

Barangays

13 (see Barangays)

Government[1]
Type

Sangguniang Bayan

Mayor

Nelianto C. Bihasa (LDP)

Vice Mayor

Karen G. Angara-Ularan(LDP)

Area[2]
Total

92.55 km2 (35.73 sq mi)

Population (2015 census)[3]

Total

39,562

Density

430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)

Voter(2016)[4]

22,535

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

3200

IDD:area code

+63(0)42

Income class

3rd class

PSGC

037701000

Website

www.baler-aurora.gov.ph

Baler, officially the Municipality of Baler (Filipino: Bayan ng Baler), is a municipality in

the province of Aurora in the Central Luzon (Region III) of the Philippines, serving as the provincial
capital. The population was 39,562 at the 2015 census.[3] In the 2016 election, it had 22,535
registered voters.[4]
Baler is located some 230 kilometres (143 miles) north-east of Manila via a mountain pass
accessible by bus and private vehicle. It is host to spectacular geographic formations and is situated
on a vast plain at the south end of Baler Bay, a contiguous segment of the Philippine Sea.
It became the capital of Aurora on 14 June 1951 under Republic Act No. 648[5] signed by
President Elpidio R. Quirino. It remained the seat of government of Aurora on 21 November 1978
under Batas Pambansa Blg. 7[6] signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
It was identified by Google in 2009 as topping the list of beach destinations in the Philippines.[7] It
was described by Yahoo!Southeast Asia in March 2013 as one of the "top surf spots" in the
Philippines.[8] Nine-feet waves serve as its main tourist asset, attracting hundreds of surfers during
the surfing season from September to February.
Contents
[hide]

1History
o 1.1Spanish colonial period
o 1.2American colonial period
o 1.3Japanese occupation
o 1.4Post-war period
o 1.5Conversion to cityhood
2Geography
o 2.1Barangays
3Demographics
4Tourist spots
5Filming locations
6Notable personalities
7Gallery
8Twin towns Sister cities
9References
10External links

History[edit]
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Spanish colonial period[edit]

Filipino troops of Colonel Tecson in Baler (May 1899)

In 1609, seven Franciscan missionaries, led by Fray Blas Palomino, founded the settlement of Baler,
which was later converted into a pueblo (town) by the Augustiniansand the Recollects in 1658. Due
to scarcity of religious missionaries, the Franciscans again took over the administration of the
settlement in 1703.
On 27 December 1735, a great storm came and a huge wave called tromba marinadevastated the
old town settlement, then located in Barrio Sabang. Among the survivors were the Angaras, Bijasas,
Bitongs, Lumasacs, Carrascos, and Pobletes who swam toward the nearby Ermita Hill.[9][not in citation
given]
A new community sprang into what is now the Poblacion of Baler, leaving "Kinagunasan," the
place of devastation.

San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Church

On 27 June 1898, 15 days after the Philippine Independence was proclaimed, 54 Spanish soldiers of
the Baler garrison, under the command of Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossi, made the San
Luis Obispo de Tolosa church their barracks. When Captain De las Morenas died on 22 November
1899, Lieutenant Saturnino Martin Cerezo replaced him. On 2 June 1899, the last Spanish garrison
in the Philippines surrendered after the Siege of Baler, effectively ending over 300 years of Spanish
rule in the country.[10]

American colonial period[edit]

In 1901, the Americans incorporated the town into the province of Tayabas (later
named Quezon province). Before the Americans came, Baler was under the district of El Prncipe.
The Comedia de Baler of Aurora mounted its first production in 1927. It was supported by then
President Manuel Luis Quezonand enjoyed the collaboration of artists Fortunato Esorea and
Alejandro Ferreras and arnis expert Antonino Ramos. Still alive until today, it features a group of
colorfully attired performers using authentic weapons, like swords and knives, in their plays.

Japanese occupation[edit]
In 1942, Japanese troops entered Baler, where they made the Baler Elementary School building as
their garrison under the command of a certain Captain Hattori. The general headquarters and camp
base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army from January 3, 1942 to June 30, 1946 and the
Philippine Constabulary from October 28, 1944 to June 30, 1946 were stationed in Baler. In 1945,
Filipino and American troops landed in Baler, including Filipino troops of the 3rd Infantry Division, the
5th Infantry Division, the 51st Infantry Division, and the 52nd Infantry Division of the Philippine
Commonwealth Army, the 5th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, the local recognized
guerrilla unit, and the American troops of the 6th Infantry Division of the United States Army. The
retreating Japanese troops destroyed the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Church in Baler.[citation needed]

Post-war period[edit]

On 14 June 1951, by virtue of Republic Act No. 648, Baler became the capital town of the subprovince (and later, province) of Aurora.[11]
In 1956, the barrio of Dingalan was converted into a municipal district within Baler and later became
a town in its right.[12]

Conversion to cityhood[edit]
The League of Cities of the Philippines has the expanding disagreement in opinion against the
conversion of sixteen municipalities into constituent cities. The LCP had tried to influence President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to certify as call for immediate attention a draft of a law imposing a
suspension on the conversion of additional towns into cities.
On the other hand, former Senator Edgardo Angara expect that Baler, the birthplace of the late
President Manuel Luis Quezon, will ultimately reach the state of being a city within the year. A bill
converting the town of Baler into a city has been filed by House Deputy Majority Leader and Aurora
Congressman turned Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, a son of former Senator Ed Angara.
Local Government Code states that before a town could be classified as a city, it must have an
annual income of at least Php100 million and a land area of at minimum 100 square kilometres (39
square miles) or a population of 150,000.
Senator Angara advocates House Bill 24 filed by Zamboanga Sibugay Representative ANN Hofer
giving automatic cityhood to capitals of provinces without cities by freeing the capital towns of
provinces from the income needs of the cityhood.

Geography[edit]
Baler is located at 154530N 1213345E.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 92.55 square
kilometres (35.73 sq mi)[2] constituting 2.94% of the 3,147.32-square-kilometre- (1,215.19 sq mi) total
area of Aurora.

Barangays[edit]
Baler is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.[13]

PSGC

Barangay

Population
2015

[3]

% p.a.

2010

[14]

037701001 Barangay I (Poblacion)

1.5%

587

717

3.74%

037701002 Barangay II (Poblacion)

0.8%

312

374

3.39%

037701003 Barangay III (Poblacion)

0.9%

357

434

3.65%

037701004 Barangay IV (Poblacion)

0.9%

363

389

1.31%

037701005 Barangay V (Poblacion)

4.3%

1,718

1,662

+0.63%

13.4%

5,310

5,057

+0.93%

037701007 Calabuanan

9.8%

3,895

3,221

+3.68%

037701008 Obligacion

3.1%

1,215

1,135

+1.31%

037701009 Pingit

14.9%

5,913

4,989

+3.29%

037701010 Reserva

11.6%

4,580

4,064

+2.30%

037701011 Sabang

12.2%

4,833

4,829

+0.02%

037701006 Buhangin

PSGC

Barangay

Population
2015

[3]

% p.a.

2010

[14]

037701012 Suclayin

16.0%

6,341

5,923

+1.31%

037701013 Zabali

10.5%

4,138

3,216

+4.92%

39,562

36,010

+1.81%

TOTAL

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Baler
Year

Pop.

% p.a.

Year

Pop.

% p.a.

1990
1995
2000

24,689
26,919
29,923

+1.63%
+2.29%

2007
2010
2015

34,492
36,010
39,562

+1.98%
+1.58%
+1.81%

Source: PSA[3][14][15]

In the 2015 census, Baler had a population of 39,562.[3] The population density was 430 inhabitants
per square kilometre (1,100/sq mi).
In the 2016 election, it had 22,535 registered voters.[4]

Tourist spots[edit]

Baler Bay

Aniao Islets
Aurora Memorial National Park
Baler Bay
Cemento Beach and Cobra Reef
Dicasalarin Beach/Cove
Dicaloyungan Picnic Zone
Digisit
Dimadimalangat and Luksu-lukso Islets
Doa Aurora Memorial Shrine
Ermita Hill
Lieutenant Commander James C. Gilmore Marker

Museo de Baler
Quezon Memorial Park the birthplace of President Manuel L. Quezon
Sabang Beach
San Luis Obispo Parish (Baler Catholic Church) famous for the Siege of Baler in 18981899
between the Philippine Revolutionary forces and Spanish troops during the Philippine
Revolution and SpanishAmerican War
Santo Entierro

Filming locations[edit]
Apocalypse Now, directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola and
starring Hollywood actors Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and Martin Sheen, was filmed in Baler and
at Baler Bay.
Baler, a Filipino epic film directed by Mark Meily in 2008 has some locations filmed in Baler. It
stars Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis.

Notable personalities[edit]

Manuel Luis Quezon, first President of the Philippine Commonwealth

Aurora M. Aragon-Quezon, former First Lady of the Philippines, wife of Commonwealth
President Manuel L. Quezon, known for her charitable works
Eunice P. Guerrero-Cucueco, the first lady governor of Aurora province
Loreto Bihasa, a veteran whose exploits in the Korean War was made into a movie starring Vic
Vargas
Edgardo J. Angara, former Senate President, former University of the Philippines (UP)
President, and longest-serving senator in the Philippines.
Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, the first and so far the only woman in the history of the Philippine
Congress to become house majority floor leader
Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara, one of the recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Men
(TOYM) Awards for 2010, who received his trophy from President Benigno S. Aquino III at the
Rizal Hall of the Malacaang Palace, incumbent Senator of the Philippines.

Gallery[edit]

Municipal Hall

Baler Public Market

Outer Banks, Labasin-Sabang Beach

View of Baler Bay from Ermita Hill

Rocky islets in Diguisit Bay

Dicasalarin Cove

Twin towns Sister cities[edit]

Marbella, Spain
Seville, Spain
Martos, Spain