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Baler
Municipality
Downtown (Poblacion)
Seal
Baler
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
154530N 1213345ECoordinates:
154530N 1213345E
Country
Philippines
Region
Province
Aurora
District
Lone District
Founded
Barangays
13 (see Barangays)
Government[1]
Type
Sangguniang Bayan
Mayor
Vice Mayor
Karen G. Angara-Ularan(LDP)
Area[2]
Total
39,562
Density
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
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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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.
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]
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]
1.5%
587
717
3.74%
0.8%
312
374
3.39%
0.9%
357
434
3.65%
0.9%
363
389
1.31%
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]
Gallery[edit]
Municipal Hall
Dicasalarin Cove
Marbella, Spain
Seville, Spain
Martos, Spain