Country Philippines Founded 1595 Time zone PST (UTC+8) Province Bohol | District 1st district of Bohol Barangay Area 34.43 km² | |
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Region Central Visayas (Region VII) | ||
Baclayon is a 4th municipal income class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 20,591. In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 12,166 registered voters.
Contents
Map of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines
The town is the home town of multi-award-winning actor Cesar Montano, and accomplished physicist Caesar Saloma.
History
Baclayon was the first municipality to be established in Bohol by the Spaniards and included originally the areas now made up by the municipalities of Alburquerque, Balilihan, Corella, and Sikatuna. Its original name was Bacayan, from the root word bacay, meaning "detour" in reference to the fact that travellers used to make a detour there around a rocky cliff.
In 1595, two Jesuit priests, Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sanchez, arrived in Bohol to convert the local populace to Catholicism. With native help, they built a stone church which is considered as one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines, and marked the beginning of the town. In 1600, Moros raided the fledgling settlement, which prompted the Jesuits to relocate their residencia to Loboc.
In 1717, Baclayon gained status of a parish. In 1742, Tagbilaran was separated from Baclayon, followed by Alburquerque in 1868, Balilihan in 1828, and Corella in 1884.
Barangays
Baclayon comprises 17 barangays:
Demographics
In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 12,166 registered voters, meaning that 59% of the population are aged 18 and over.
Tourism
Baclayon is known for its historic Catholic church, declared a National Cultural Treasure in 1995 because it is considered the best preserved of its kind in the region. Its first structure was built in 1595, but the current building is from 1724 and is of Spanish Colonial architecture. The church includes a small museum, with relics dating back to the early 16th century, and adjoining 21-metre (69 ft) high bell tower. Nearby are centuries-old stone buildings like the hermita, and elementary school, as well as the historic public marketplace, a Spanish-era building with giant stone columns supporting the roof. In 2013, the church and bell tower were severely damaged by the 2013 Bohol earthquake.
There are 67 or more Spanish colonial ancestral houses in the municipality, many of them along the main road. The houses, in various stages of preservation or neglect, show Spanish-Filipino wooden craftsmanship and styling, some of which were constructed as early as 1853. They are often utilized for cultural shows and tours, festivals and fiestas, as well as some having been turned into inns.
The municipality also has jurisdiction over the dolphin- and whale-watching island of Pamilacan.