Baler, Aurora

Baler
Municipality
Municipality of Baler
Poblacion Area of Baler
Flag Seal
Map of Aurora with Baler highlighted
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Baler Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°45′30″N 121°33′45″E / 15.75833°N 121.5625°E / 15.75833; 121.5625Coordinates: 15°45′30″N 121°33′45″E / 15.75833°N 121.5625°E / 15.75833; 121.5625
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Aurora
District	Lone district
Founded	19 August 1609
Barangays	13 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Rhett Ronan T. Angara
• Vice Mayor	Pedro M. Ong, Jr.
• Representative	Rommel Rico T. Angara
• Municipal Council	show Members Pedro Fernando D. Valenzuela Emmanuel L. Galban Danilo M. Ong Santino Rosauro C. Guerrero Carlito S. Morillo Edith S. Buluag Francisco B. Zubia III Ellah Cherryl G. Villacorte
• Electorate	26,185 voters (2019)
Area [2]
• Total	92.55 km2 (35.73 sq mi)
Elevation	118 m (387 ft)
Highest elevation	1,306 m (4,285 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	43,785
• Density	470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Households	8,760
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	9.13% (2015)[4]
• Revenue	₱119,516,531.08 (2016)
Service provider
• Electricity	Aurora Electric Cooperative (AURELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3200
PSGC	037701000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)42
Climate type	tropical rainforest climate
Native languages	Northern Alta Tagalog Ilocano
Website	www.baler-aurora.gov.ph

Baler, officially the Municipality of Baler (Tagalog: Bayan ng Baler; Ilocano: Ili ti Baler), is a 3rd class municipality and capital of the province of Aurora, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 43,785 people. ^[3]

Baler is located 244 kilometres (152 mi) 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 Quirino. It remained the seat of government of Aurora on 21 November 1978 under Batas Pambansa Blg. 7^[6] signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

History[]

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Spanish period[]

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 Augustinians and 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 marina devastated 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.^{[7][failed verification]} A new community sprang into what is now the Poblacion of Baler, leaving "Kinagunasan," the place of devastation. A mural depicting this wave can be found in the Museo de Baler in town.^{[citation needed]}

On 27 June 1898, 15 days after the Philippine Declaration of Independence, 54 Spanish soldiers of the Baler garrison, under the command of Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossi, made San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Church, named in Spanish for Louis of Toulouse, their barracks. When de las Morenas died on 22 November 1898, Lieutenant Saturnino Martín 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.^[8]

American colonial period[]

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 Príncipe.

The Comedia de Baler of Aurora mounted its first production in 1927. It was supported by then President Manuel L. Quezon and enjoyed the collaboration of artists Fortunato Esoreña 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[]

In 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army 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 3 January 1942 to 30 June 1946 and the Philippine Constabulary from 28 October 1944 to 30 June 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 Constabulary 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[]

On 14 June 1951, by virtue of Republic Act No. 648, Baler became the capital town of the sub-province (and later, province) of Aurora.^[9]

In 1956, the barrio of Dingalan was converted into a municipal district within Baler and later became a town in its right.^[10]

In 1976-7 the helicopter attack and surfing sequences of the film Apocalypse Now were filmed at Baler. The film is credited with having created the Philippines Surfing culture and the headland at Baler is known as "Charlie's Point" from a line in the film.^[11]

Geography[]

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 92.55 square kilometres (35.73 sq mi) ^[12] constituting 2.94% of the 3,147.32-square-kilometre- (1,215.19 sq mi) total area of Aurora.

Barangays[]

Baler is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.^[13]

Climate[]

Demographics[]

Population census of Baler

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	2,417	—
1918	3,413	+2.33%
1939	11,887	+6.12%
1948	17,182	+4.18%
1960	10,350	−4.14%
1970	14,632	+3.52%
1975	16,046	+1.87%
1980	18,349	+2.72%
1990	24,689	+3.01%
1995	26,919	+1.63%
2000	29,923	+2.29%
2007	34,492	+1.98%
2010	36,010	+1.58%
2015	39,562	+1.81%
2020	43,785	+2.01%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [17] [14] [18][19]

People with connections to the town are referred to as Balerenos. Prior to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in Baler in 1609, settlements by Aeta people and Ilongot in Baler's coast and mountain areas already exists. Tagalogs, some originating from Palanan and Infanta, Quezon, came in to the area to trade by boat. Some Tagalogs settled in Baler and married with the Aeta and Ilongots.^[20]

The Spanish brought in Filipino acolytes from other areas of Luzon from 1609 to 1899. During this period, Baler can only be access by sea though the town saw increase migration from other parts of Luzon such as Laguna, Tayabas, and Bicol from the south. The opening of the Baler-Bongabon Road allowed easier migration of people from Ilocos and Isabela areas from the north. The road also allowed Igorot people and Batangueños to settle in Baler.^[20]

In the 2020 census, Baler had a population of 43,785. ^[3] The population density was 470 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,200/sq mi).

Economy[]

Poverty Incidence of Baler
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[21][22][23][24][25][26]

Local government[]

The Current Officials of Baler, Aurora (as of May 19, 2019)^[27]

Name	Designation
Angara, Rhett Ronan	Mayor
Ong, Bobong	Vice Mayor
Valenzuela, Pandus	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Galban, Manny	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Ong, Danilo	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Guerrero, Santino Rosauro	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Morillo, Eto	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Buluag, Edith	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Zubia, Francisco III	Member Sangguniang Bayan
Villacorte, Ellah	Member Sangguniang Bayan

Culture[]

Baler annually observes the Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day which commemorates the end of the historic Siege of Baler^[28] and celebrates Philippines–Spain relations developed since then.^[29] It is usually held every June 30 and the rites which was first done in the provincial capital has also been observed in other parts of the country as well as parts of Spain.^[28]

Notable people[]

• Manuel L. Quezon, first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
• Aurora Quezon, former First Lady of the Philippines, wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon
• Eunice Pablo Guerrero-Cucueco, the first female governor of Aurora province
• Loreto Bihasa, a veteran whose exploits in the Korean War was made into a movie starring Vic Vargas
• Edgardo Angara, former Senate President, former University of the Philippines president and longest-serving senator in the Philippines.
• Bella Angara, the first and the only woman in the history of the Philippine Congress to become house majority floor leader
• Sonny Angara, one of the recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards for 2010, who received his trophy from President Benigno Aquino III, former President of the Philippines.

Gallery[]

• 

  Baler Public Market

• 

  Outer Banks, Labasin‑Sabang Beach

• 

  View of Baler Bay from Ermita Hill

• 

  Rocky islets in Diguisit Bay

• 

  Dicasalarin Cove

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Baler.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baler, Aurora.

• Baler Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Baler, Aurora on YouTube
• Aurora, Philippines – Baler