Balayan, Batangas

Etymology

Balayan is derived from the Old Tagalog word balayan[1], meaning "to walk past the paddy, from a basket to another" and "carry or accomplish anything with the tip of any batten". Other possible source is from the old Tagalog word balayang[2], which means "wood", as old natives used to call this town up to the present.

History

Tagalog literatures in Balayan were lost and destroyed at the coming of the Spaniards. Jesuit Father Chirino testifies to it that they found (300) three hundred pre colonial manuscripts in Balayan but believing them to be pagan (as anything non Roman Catholic are called Pagan by the Spaniards), and to facilitate them in the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith, the early Jesuit missionaries recklessly destroyed and burned this historically precious records as their usual method in all their conquered lands.

Scholars and historians believed that Tagalog songs: Kumintang and Kundiman originated from Balayan. In fact, the Spanish writer and historian Wenceslao E. Retana recorded the lyrics of a popular Kundiman when he visited Batangas in 1888 .

Balayan has a close affinity to early history. The towns position on the basin of a good harbour was one of the reasons it became the first lands for local settlements in the Philippines, with existing records of local indigenous Moro (sea coast) and Lumad (inland) residents exchanging barter goods with Chinese traders dating back to the mid-14th century. It was also once the capital of a Moro Sultanate named Bon-bon whose area includes Mindoro to Cavite and even some parts of Metro Manila. The indigenous Moro & Lumad inhabitants of Balayan has close ties with the Brunei Sultanate of Maynilad under the leadership of Rajah Sulayman I and his uncle Rajah Matanda. There are historical accounts that Rajah Sulayman I stayed on this area when he tried to battle the Spaniards around Intramuros.

The capital was later moved to Batangas City (the present capital of Batangas). The Oldest Chapel in Asia is also located in Balayan at Brgy. Ermita, Balayan, Batangas.

Despite the presence of Spanish forces protected by the newly built stonefort in nearby Maynilad or Manila, Fort Santiago and Fort Intramuros Philippines, due to its natural harbor, a number of areas around the archipelago were often become launching grounds of counterattacks from the seafaring Moro in partnership with the oppressed natives as guides. In the mid-18th century, retrieving what they considered their past territory of the Sultanates, the Bangsamoro with the help of the remaining downtrodden natives, were able to take over the towns and nearby environs, as proof of native support yearning to return to the vibrant trading Sultanate with its westward contacts in Nusantara (Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, Brunei) the natives which are also of Melayu lineage was able to hold it under their control for two months. When they are forced to retreat due to Spanish reinforcements, the Moro and Lumad alliance has decided to burn the whole town rather than its structure falling into use by colonialist hands. Those natives that cannot find boats to withdraw southwards migrated to nearby lands while those weak to walk stayed. The event prompted local Spanish officials to set up a fort to prevent yearly Moro counterattacks to regain their Sultanates, while the colonial Spanish extracts more taxation and compulsory labor requirements from the local populace who had no choice but to stay behind.

Much of the town’s life has been socially engineered to by force to embrace Spanish colonial culture, starting with the coming of Franciscan friars in 1572.

Geography

Balayan is a lowland town in western Batangas at 13°56′N 120°44′E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 108.73 square kilometres (41.98 sq mi)  constituting 7000349000000000000♠3.49% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometre- (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

Distance from Manila, the country’s capital, is about 107 kilometres (66 mi) and approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi) from Batangas City.

Topography

Balayan is strategically located at the center of western Batangas. The town is bounded on the north by Tuy, north-east by Nasugbu, east by Calaca, west by Lian, south-west by Calatagan, and south by the Balayan Bay.

Climate

Balayan falls under the first type of climate: Dry season from November to April and Wet season from May to October. Balayan’s Atmospheric Temperature is 28.5 inches – 29.8 inches (English Mercurial Barometer Scale). The average annual temperature in Balayan is 27.2 °C (81.0 °F). The Average Annual Rainfall is 73.39 inches (1,864 mm).

Barangays

Balayan is politically subdivided into 48 barangays. The largest barangay in town is Patugo while the smallest is District 12.

Demographics

In the 2015 census, Balayan had a population of 90,699. The population density was 830 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,100/sq mi).

The main language used by the people in Balayan is Tagalog but some can still speak and understand basic Spanish. Literate people can speak English but it is often used in formal occasions or events only.

In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 46,848 registered voters.

Government

Economy

Not known to many, Balayan houses industrial sites, some of which include:

Education

Balayan has several schools, institutions and university both public and private located within and outside the Poblacion.

Public schools include:

Private schools include:

Health

Hospitals in Balayan include:

Tourism

Notable resorts are: