Bataan Diary(Balanga)

BALANGA                                                      “The Capital City”

The CITY OF BALANGA is the capital of Bataan. Formerly a visita (barrio) of Abucay town, it was established as a regular mission (town) of the Dominican Order in its Provincial Chapter on April 21, 1714. It was declared as a vicariate on April 18, 1739 under the patronage of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary.

     Upon the establishment of Bataanas a separate province from Pampanga in 1754, Spanish Governor General Manuel Arandia made Balanga as the provincial capital due to its favorable location, being at the center of the new territorial jurisdiction. From 1906 to 1911, however, Balanga lost its “capital” title after Governor Lorenzo Zialcita (1906-1907) made Orani as the new center of Bataan. Even the succeeding governor, Pedro Rich of Samal, retained Orani as the provincial capital. The said title was only returned to Balanga in 1911 during the administration of Governor MARIANO ROSAURO (1911-1913), a resident of Barangay Ibayo.

      The municipality became a component city on December 30, 2000 through the initiative of then Congressman ENRIQUE T. GARCIA JR. and former City Mayor ALBERT S. GARCIA.

     Balanga is situated approximately at 14 degrees 15’ and 15 degrees 60’ N latitude and 120 degrees 45’ and 120 degrees 10’ E longitude, in the mid-eastern part of Bataan. It is bounded to the north by Abucay, to the south by Pilar, to the east by Manila Bay and to the west by the mountains of Bagac and Morong. It is located some 124 kilometers away from Manila and can be reached via two major roads -- the Bataan National Road and the Roman Expressway. It is about 31.2 nautical miles across the bay from Manila and can be reached through the Orion Port, a 10-minute drive from Balanga.  

     The city covers an area of 11,163 hectares, making it the third largest community in the province. It has a recorded population of 83,643 in 2005 as per SWD record, about 12 percent of the total population of the province. . The capital city has 25 barangays.

     The city’s central business district is located in the Poblacion area which has been experiencing a tremendous increase in business activities for the past two decades. As a result, the demand for corporate and retail developments continues to grow.

     Balanga is one of the richest naturally-endowed areas in the province. Its rich alluvial plains have contributed to its growth and agricultural economy. Agriculture has always been its chief industry. Its resources come mostly from palay production, sugarcane, corn, coconut, fruits and vegetables. Fishing also provides a steady source of income for the inhabitants. Fish products like milkfish, tilapia, shrimps, prawns, crabs, oysters and other shelled seafood are abundant in Balanga.

     Balanga had its humble beginnings. When Fr. Christopher Salvatierra, the first Dominican friar to set foot in Bataan in 1587, surveyed the vast area from Orani to Orion, he found several established communities in Balanga. In all, he discovered 30 communities thriving in the area already known as Partido de Batan. He and his other brethrens began spreading the Gospel among the natives. The friars built the first church in Abucay in 1588. Other visitas, to include Balanga, were also established within the first 100 years of the Spanish colonization.

     After the creation of Morong, Samal and Orion as regular towns, Balanga and Orani were also established as formal municipalities on April 21, 1714. A church was established in Balanga a couple of years before it was declared as a vicariate under the patronage of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. One of the oldest provincial government buildings in the country was erected in Balanga in 1729.

     In 1801, Pilar, a distant barangay of Balanga, became a regular town through the initiative of the Secular Clergy.

    Balanga had its glory days. It became a progressive and one of the most exciting towns in the entire Luzon Island from the Spanish time up to the last years of the American period. Those glorious days came to an end in 1941 when Japanese bombers and infantrymen battered the town to bits and pieces. The Bataan Capitol, municipal hall, schools, and beautiful houses around the town plaza were razed to the ground during the fierce battles in Bataan. Even the Roman Catholic Church was severely damaged.

     Reconstruction of the province, specifically Balanga, became a monumental task immediately after the war. Little by little, Balanga has risen from the rubbles. Today, it serves as a catch basin for industrial growth areas in the province due to its vast resources and services. Cityhood came to Balanga on December 30, 2000.

     Balanga has two major water tributaries, the Talisay and Cataning Rivers. Talisay River is considered the biggest and longest, snaking for more than 20 kilometers between Balanga and Pilar, and finally flowing into the Manila Bay. During rainy season, however, the town center and the coastal barangays submerged in knee deep water.

     Balanga City was adjudged the 2008 “Most Business-Friendly” local government unit, a project of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Origin

     Two old books made mention how Balanga got its name. In the book, “Economic and Historical Sketch of Bataan,” author Eulogio Balan Rodriguez, one-time National Librarian of the Philippines, stated that:

     “…The origin of the word ‘Balanga’ is traced to the Tagalog word ‘balanga,’ a kind of pot made of clay used to cook fish in. The place was named after it in view of the fact that pottery is the best product of the people and it was the best of its kind that could be found.”

     Victor de Leon, former acting schools superintendent ng Bataan in 1953, mentioned in his book “History of the Bataan Province the following:

     “…This town had since been known by the name “Balanga.’ This name was derived from ‘balanga,’ a name given to a native wide-mouthed earthen pot.”

    Eulogio Balanga and Victor de Leon wrote the same thing and they did not mention the word “banga” as the origin of the capital city.

     Additional information suggested that “banga” is how Bulakeños called their clay pots. The old movie “Banga ni Zimadar,” released by the Premiere Productions in 1953, clearly identified “banga” as a kitchen utensil used in fetching water.

     But “balanga,” “palayok” and “banga” mean the same thing. They are all clay pots or kitchen utensils used in cooking or fetching water. They are seldom used nowadays due to the advent of aluminum and/or stainless pots, as well as the dependable “automatic rice cooker.”

     Despite the statements of E.B. Rodriguez and V. De Leon, the “Lupong Pangkasaysayan” or Balanga Historical Committee stated in their book “Balanga, Noon at Ngayon” (published in 2003) that:

                          “…Ang pangalang ‘Balanga,’ ayon sa karaniwang paniniwala, ay hango sa salitang Tagalog na ‘banga,’ isang uri ng lutuan na yari sa putik. Gamit din ito noon sa pagsalok at pag-iimbak ng tubig. Sa pagdaan ng panahon ay naging ‘balanga’ din ito.”

     It was clear that the members of the “Lupong Pangkasaysayan ng Balanga” were not aware of the books published by National Librarian Eulogio B. Rodriguez and Victor de Leon of the Department of Education. They changed the legend of Balanga and have the guts to say that the story was already authenticated. They were really adamant to admit their fault.

     E. Rodriguez made mention that “balanga” was of Sanskrit origin but no longer being used even in its own country of origin, Indonesia. “Balanga,” he insisted was the original name of clay pots used to cook fish in. He did not mention that it was also used for fetching water.

     “Tapayan” on the other hand, is a bigger balanga and was and is still being used in rural areas for storing food staples or water.

     These utensils were brought to the country by the early Malayan settlers. They were used by the natives even before the Spaniards discovered the Philippines.

     It is believed that even though pottery initially prospered in Manila, pots made in Balanga became well-known and were very saleable because they were a lot different from those manufactured in Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga.

     For one, pots made in the neighboring provinces came from pure wet clay.

     Pots manufactured in Balanga, however, were a mix of wet clay, powdered lime and other minerals. The lime, a component used in cement-making, made the Balanga pots sturdier and harder to break.

     The Chinese and Japanese traders were believed to have taught the natives of Balanga the right process of pottery-making. It was the reason why Balanga potmakers came to be known as the best makers of clay pots in this part of the country.

     The industry of potmaking in Balanga prospered up until the American Occupation. The introduction of potter’s wheel, turntable shaping, rolling, cutting, piercing and finishing tools made potmaking a lot easier. 

A Legend

     Another legend suggested that Balanga was named after Fr. Pedro de Balanga, the Dominican friar who allegedly initiated the establishment of Balanga as a visita of Abucay. Fr. Balanga arrived in Bataan in 1587 together with three other Dominican priests named Fr. Juan Ormaza de Santo Tomas, Fr. Santa Rita and Fr. Eduarte. Fr. Pedro was reportedly the first priest assigned in Balanga. After establishing contact with the natives settled on the banks of Talisay River, he also built the first chapel in an area known today as Puerto Rivas. It became known as Mission del Padre Pedro de Balanga.

     A check however with the Instituto de Cervantes (Spanish Embassy in Manila) revealed that Balanga is an unheard family name in Spain. It is also an unheard Spanish word.

Municipal Mayors from 1901-2007

 (Reconstructed List)

No.   Mayor                               Vice Mayor                        Secretary                               Year

                1     Tomas B. Gallardo*                     --                                 --                                    1901-1903

                                 Angel Mendoza*                  --                                    1903-1905

                2     Angel Mendoza                            --                                --                                    1905-1907

                3     Antonio Tuason Sr.                      --                                --                                    1907-1909

                4     Amando de Leon                          --                           Manuel Banzon Sr.                 1910-1912

                5     Andres de Leon                            --                           Domingo Valero                     1912-1916

                6     Jose P. Banzon                            --                                 --                                    1916-1919

                7     Venancio Banzon                         --                            Jose Banzon                          1919-1922

                       Venancio Banzon                         --                            Jose Banzon                          1922-1925

                       Venancio Banzon                         --                            Jose Banzon                          1925-1928

                8     Antonio Tuason Sr.            Jose N. Gonzales                 Domingo Valero                    1928-1931

9     Venancio Banzon               Jose N. Gonzales                 Jose Banzon                          1931-1934

10    Mariano Batungbacal         Jose N. Gonzales                 Pedro Gonzales                      1934-1937

11    Mariano Herrera                Jose Gonzales                     Pedro Gonzales                      1938-1941

       Mariano Herrera                Geronimo Roman                Pedro Gonzales                      1941-1942

12    Mariano Batungbacal*             -none-                         Emilio Austria                       1942-1943

13    Numeriano Quindoy*              -none-                         Emilio Austria                       1943-1944

14    Carlos Y. Gonzales*+             -none-                        Graciano Pastorfide                   1944-1945

15    Mariano Herrera*             Jose B. Banzon                   Pedro Gonzales                      1945-1946

16    Jose N. Gonzales*           Jose B. Banzon                   Pedro Gonzales                       1946-1947

17    Graciano Pastorfide*        Jose B. Banzon                   Pedro Gonzales                       1947-1947

18    Pedro R. Dizon              Silvino dela Fuente**           Exequiel Guno                        1948-1951

                                                          Crispulo Torrico

19    Crispulo Torrico                      --                             Exequiel Guno                        1951-1951

20    Faustino Vigo                 Jose N. Gonzales                       --                                   1952-1955

21    Pedro Dizon                    Domingo Javier                        --                                   1956-1959

22    Emilio Bernabe               Miguel Recano                         --                                    1960-1963

23    Vicente Malibiran            Angel T. Banzon                      --                                    1964-1967

24    Teodoro Camacho III*      Victor Y. Baluyot                     --                                    1968-1971

25    Celso Valdecanas             Alfredo Jaraba                  Jacinto Perez                             1972-1976

                        Celso Valdecanas***       Alfredo Jaraba***             Jacinto Perez                             1977-1979

26    Teodoro R. Alonzo*        Herminio Dizon               Honorio Villanueva                    1979-1980

                       Teodoro R. Alonzo         Herminio Dizon                Honorio Villanueva                    1980-1986

27    Teodoro Camacho III*    Gabriel Nisay Sr.               Honorio Villanueva                    1986-1988

28    Melanio Banzon Jr.        Domingo Dizon                Honorio Villanueva                     1988-1992

                       Melanio Banzon Jr.         Domingo Dizon                Honorio Villanueva                    1992-1995

                       Melanio Banzon Jr.         Francisco dela Cruz           Honorio Villanueva                    1995-1998

29   Albert S. Garcia              Noli Venzon                     Honorio Villanueva                    1998-2001

                      Albert S. Garcia               Noli Venzon                    Honorio Villanueva                    2001-2004

30   Melanio S. Banzon Jr.      Noli Venzon                    Jeffrey Calma                            2004-2007

31   Jose Enrique Garcia          Noel Valdecanas               Jeffrey Calma                            2007-2010

                      Jose Enrique Garcia       Noel Valdecanas             Jeffrey Calma                         2010-2013

                      * appointed mayor     ** resigned      *** extended      *+ appointed/assassinated

 BALANGA PROFILE

Barangay                            Barangayhood                  Area                  Population           Households

                                       (date of creation)              (hectares)            (as per 2007 NSO Census)

Bagong Silang                      1988                             525.00                    3,766                     859

Bagumbayan                      April 17, 1961                    9.58                      2,617                     545

Cabog-cabog                      January 1950                    284.90                    1,757                     409

Camacho                          May 16, 1969                    111.27                    3,129                     740

Cataning                              1915                             950.20                    5,785                  1,259

Central                             Jan. 15, 1968                    433.86                    4,171                     829

Cupang North                   April 12, 1982                     32.80                    2,592                     515

Cupang Proper                      1915                          1,422.15                    8,930                  1,786  

Cupang West                    Dec. 12, 1971                     25.87                    2,227                     455

Dangcol                           Dec. 29, 1976                  2,445.37                   1,301                     261

Dona Francisca                  Feb. 1, 1982                        71.60                   2,324                     461

Ibayo                                   1915                               62.77                  2,219                     443

Malabia                               1915                                 4.65                     974                     194     

Munting Batangas            April 13, 1973                      653.47                  2,139                     509

Poblacion                           1915                                 21.84                     984                     199

Pto. Rivas Ibaba                  1915                                 18.29                  4,639                     933

Pto. Rivas Itaas                   1915                               164.65                  2,312                     472

Pto. Rivas Lote               Feb. 1, 1982                          27.68                  1,996                     399

San Jose                         Feb. 29, 1960                        92.34                  7,012                  1,402 

Sibacan                              xxx                                   97.78                 1,972                     442

Talisay                              1915                                 34.77                  1,542                     470

Tanato                          Oct. 10, 1949                     1,403.93                     631                     129

Tenejero                        July 6, 1948                         426.05                  9,379                  1,871 

Tortugas                           1915                                  32.09                 3,229                     645

Tuyo                                 xxx                             1,778.65                  6,016                  1,203

                                 Total                                                  11,163.00               84,105                17,430

Bataan Diary(Bagac)

BAGAC                                      “BAMBOO GROVE”

BAGAC is the biggest municipality in Bataan in terms of land area (23,120 hectares). It is located in the southwestern part of Bataan facing the South China Sea. It was established as a regular town by the Spaniards in 1873, with St. Catherine of Alexandria as its patron saint.

     Bagac had been in existence for a long time as a distant barrio of Mariveles, formerly a corregimiento (district) under the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cavite. After Morong was established as a town in 1607, Bagac became one of its barrios since the latter’s population and income cannot support a municipality. During this period, Bagac comprised of the sitios of Saysain, Banawang, Tiis, Sinapsap, Kabayo, Salmon, Paysawan and Parang na Mahaba. Later on, immigrants from different parts of the archipelago arrived in Bagac and developed its idle lands.

     Mariveles and Morong, together with the barrio of Bagac became part of the newly-recognized province Bataan in 1754. Bagac finally became a regular town in 1873.

     The town is accessible via the Governor Joaquin J. Linao Highway. It is bounded in the north by Morong, in the south by Mariveles, and in the east by Pilar and Orion. It is composed of 14 barangays, namely Bagumbayan, Banawang, Binuangan, Binukawan, Ibaba, Ibis, Pagasa, Parang, Paysawan, Quinawan, San Antonio, Saysain, Tabing-ilog and Atilano Ricardo. These barangays are classified as either town center barangays, coastal and upland barangays.

     Bagac is primarily an agricultural town. It is also a fishing municipality. It sits on top of a vast potential “goldmine” that is rich in natural wonders and historical places. It has high tourism potentials complete with a showcase of pristine coastal and marine marvels. Heartbreaking coral reefs, white sand beaches, seaside resorts and rugged mountains beaming with rainforests, caves, waterfalls, and World War II historical markers are Bagac’s principal tourist attractions. Bagac, as far as history is concerned, is the second starting point of the 1942 Bataan Death March.

     Several fairly-priced resorts can accommodate visitors anytime. Montemar Beach Resort is an exclusive world-class destination in Bagac. People can easily access the Montemar cove by using rental boats. Four other beach resorts operate in Bagac, namely Morning Breeze, Fajardo’s, Sun Moon and Bagac Beach Resort. A number of other exotic beaches and coves are still untapped and can be transformed into first-class resorts by potential investors.

     “Old Town” is Bagac’s newest tourist destination. It is a 50-hectare seaside property where “relocated” ancestral houses can be found. It replaced the old BNPP Housing Complex as Bagac’s primary tourist attraction.

     The town had a population of 24,202 peole as of 2007. These people are mostly skilled in farming and fishing, as well as in the fields of masonry, carpentry and welding. They are also into garment manufacturing and lately, on processing of food products.

     Bagac’s name was simply derived from the Visayan word “Bagak” and/or “Bagakay.”          When translated to Tagalog, “Bagak” literally means “Kawayan.” “Bagakay“ means ‘kawayanan.” Bamboo tree is Bagak’s English transcription.

     It is a established fact that men from the southern islands of the Visayas and Mindanao constituted the biggest number of early settlers in Luzon during the pre-Spanish time. The Visayans, specifically the Warays, also travelled north to be part of the booming barter trade in Manila. A big number of these seafarers possibly ended up in the western part of Bataan after missing the North and South Channels leading into Manila Bay. They were the ones who gave Bagac its name based on the great number of bamboo trees growing along its shores and at the foot of Mount Bataan and Mount Mariveles.

     “Longos-Kawayan,” a reef jotting out of Biaan (Mariveles) used to be the unloading point and/or stockyard of bamboos cut from the Bagac forest area. The name alone fortifies the actual derivation of the name of Bagac town.

     It could also be concluded that these Visayan seafarers were the ones who gave the names of Kinawan, Binuangan, Paysawan. Caibobo, Salamang, Pasinay and Saysain. These names are definitely not common Tagalog words.

     Fr. Rodrigo Aganduru y Moriz de San Miguel, an early missionary from Villadolid (Spain) and recognized as the founder of Morong and Bagac, surely found these seafarers already settled in the two distant villages. He merely adapted ‘Bagak’ as the name of the thinly-populated barrio as given to him by the natives. In the case of Morong, it can only be surmised that its name originated from him (Fr. Aganduru because of its Spanish derivation.

     The bamboo and other hardwood trees at the foot of Mount Bataan and Mount Mariveles suffered great devastation when the Cadwallder-Gibson Lumber Company started its operation in Paysawan from 1915 to 1928. Another conflagration of the same intensity hit the Bagac and Morong areas during World War II.

     Still, the bamboo trees survived the terrible defoliation. Nowadays we still see numerous patches of bamboo groves along the plains and mountainous areas of Bagac and Morong to remind the people of their great history.

Bagac’s Legend

     A few years after the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines some of them traveled along the seacoast looking for a place to live in. They had with them an Aeta as guide. Travelling without a fixed direction, they happened to pass by the place which is hidden between two sharp points extending to the sea. In their conversation, the Aeta uttered the word “lumbak” which meant lying between two hills. As they were crossing the place, they sighted a flock of herons flying overhead. When the Spaniards inquired about the white herons from their guide, the Aeta answered “tagak.” From these two syllables, “Bak,” from the word lumbak and “Gak” from the word tagak, was derived the name Bagac. Since then it remained and still is the official name of the town.

                                Bagac Municipal Mayors

                                                     (1901-2007)

No.                               Year                                          Mayor                                          Vice Mayor

 1                             1901-1903                            Vicente Nojadera                                        xx

 2                             1903-1905                            Ildefonso Batol                                            xx

 3                             1905-1907                            Exequiel Robles                                          xx   

 4                             1907-1909                            Eugenio Loreto                                 Leoncio Marquez

 5                            1910-1912                             Leoncio Marquez                              Cornelio Blanco

 6                            1912-1916                             Eugenio Loreto                                 Lucio del Rosario

 7                            1916-1919                             Wenceslao Cerezo                           Doroteo Dilig

 8                            1919-1922                            Esteban Nojadera                             Elias Mandocdoc

 9                            1922-1925                            Esteban Nojadera                             Valentin Calma

10                           1925-1928                            Eugenio Loreto                                  Elias Mandocdoc

11                           1928-1931                            Esteban Nojadera                            Bartolome Marquez

12                           1931-1934                            Esteban Nojadera                            Isidoro Mandocdoc

13                           1934-1937                            Zoilo Gutierrez                                 Valentin Calma

14                           1938-1941                            Alfonso Marquez                             Isidoro Mandocdoc

15                           1941-1942                            Zoilo Gutierrez                                Manuel Loreto

16                           1942-1944                            Lazaro J. Dizon                                         -none-

                               1944-1946                            Angel del Rosario                                   -none-

                               1946-1947                            Zoilo Gutierrez                                           xxx

17                           1948-1951                            Angel del Rosario                           Apolinario Malabanan

18                           1952-1955                            Fortunato Tuazon                            Primitivo Flores

                               1956-1959                            Angel M. del Rosari0                      Apolinario Malabanan

                               1960-1963                            Fortunato Tuazon                            Teofisto Quiroz

                               1964-1967                            Atilano Ricardo                               Eufracio B. Flores

                               1968-1971                            Emiliano Cascasan                        Teofisto Quiroz                

19                          1972-1976                             Atilano Ricardo                               Angel B. Teopengco

                              1976-1979                             Atilano Ricardo                                       -none-

20                          1979-1979                             Tomas Dilig                                              -none-

21                          1979-1980                             Ernesto Cascasan Sr.                            -none-

                              1980-1986                             Ernesto Cascasan Sr.                     Teofisto S. Quiroz

22                          1986-1988                             Tomas Dilig                                      Guillermo Mendoza Sr.

23                          1988-1992                             Norberto Ricardo                             Melquiades Teopengco

                              1992-1995                             Norberto Ricardo                             Armando Bantugan

                              1995-1998                             Norberto Ricardo                             Antonio de Leon

24                          1998-2001                             Melquiades T. Teopengco               Jose R. Bantugan

25                           2001-2004                            Norberto Ricardo                            Jose R. Bantugan             

26                          2004-2007                            Armando Ramos                             Christian B. de Leon

26                          2007-2010                            Rommel del Rosario                       Romeo T. Teopengco

                              2010-2013                            Rommel del Rosario                       Guillermo Mendoza Jr.

  

BARANGAY PROFILE

   Barangay                    Barangayhood)           Area                  Population                    Bgy. Captain

                                      (Date created)           (hectares)           (2007 Census)            (as of October 2010)   

        

Atilano Ricardo                                                     278.95                   2009                       Eva T. Shaikh

Bagumbayan                  Mar. 28, 1967                   59.89                     1916                       Eddie Salvacion

Banawang                                                            5641.17                  2381                       Ernesto Tamoro

Binuangan                                                           1439.18                   575                        Mamerto Boniel

Binukawan                     Dec. 28, 1967                  1062.85                  1898                       Panfilo Mojica

Ibaba                             Mar. 28, 1969                  118.55                    1686                       Remedios Paguio

Ibis                                                                    1286.48                  1226                        Adelmo Gonzales

Pagasa                                                                125.02                     3372                       Armando dela Cruz

Parang                          Jan. 9, 1961                      2225.37                  2684                       Rolando C. de Vega

Paysawan                      Mar. 13, 1970                   1108.63                  647                         Rizaldo Flores

Quinawan                      Feb. 4, 1972                     2260.13                  553                        Julio Tadia

San Antonio                  June 11, 1971                   669.62                    1301                       Leonido Evangelista

Saysain                                                              6781.39                   2770                       Jayson Lazaro

Tabing-ilog                    Mar. 28, 1969                 62.77                      1184                       Melanio Mendoza

                  Total:                                             23,120.00                24,202