Balayan

Balayan is derived from the Old Tagalog word balayanVocabulario de la lengua tagala: compuesto por varios religiosos doctos y graves, y coordinado, meaning "to walk past the paddy, from a basket to another"[7] and "carry or accomplish anything with the tip of any batten".[8] Other possible source is from the old Tagalog word balayang which means "wood".[7]

Tagalog literatures in Balayan were lost and destroyed at the coming of the Spaniards.[9] Jesuit Father Chirino testified they found (300) three hundred pre-colonial manuscripts in Balayan but to facilitate them the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith, early Jesuit missionaries destroyed the records.

Scholars and historians believed that Tagalog songs: Kumintang and Kundiman originated from Balayan.[10] Spanish writer and historian Wenceslao E. Retana recorded the lyrics of a popular Kundiman when he visited Batangas in 1888.[11]

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 residents exchanging barter goods with Chinese traders dating back to the mid-14th century.

It was 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 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.[12] In 1578, Balayan covered the modern-day municipality and some areas of Calaca, Calatagan, Lian, Nasugbu and Tuy. It became the capital of Balayan Province (present-day Batangas) from 1597 to 1732.[13] It was the most progressive town of the Province and the traditional center of governance. The eruption of the Taal Volcano destroyed a significant portion of the town, moving the provincial capital to Bonbon (present-day Taal) in 1732 and the name of the province was renamed after that town.[14]

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 people.

These events prompted local Spanish officials to set up a fort to prevent yearly Moro counterattacks.

From 3rd class municipality in 1992, Balayan jumped to 2nd class municipality in 1995, and to 1st class in July 1996, suggesting the continuous improvement of Balayan's financial status.[15]

Beach along Balayan Bay with Mount Batulao in the background.

Balayan is a lowland town in western Batangas. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 108.73 square kilometers (41.98 sq mi) [16] constituting 3.49% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometer- (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

Balayan is bounded on the north by Tuy, west by Calatagan and Lian, east by Calaca, and south by Balayan Bay.

Distance from Manila, the country's capital, is 106 kilometers (66 mi) and 48 kilometers (30 mi) from Batangas City, the provincial capital.

Barangays

The political map of Balayan at the multi-purpose covered court

Balayan is politically subdivided into 48 barangays.[18] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The largest barangay in town is Patugo while the smallest is District 12.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[5]		2010[19]
041003001	Baclaran	2.8%	2,674	2,220	▴	1.88%
041003003	Barangay 1 (Poblacion)	2.2%	2,100	1,938	▴	0.81%
041003004	Barangay 10 (Poblacion)	2.8%	2,697	2,845	▾	−0.53%
041003005	Barangay 11 (Poblacion)	1.5%	1,436	1,321	▴	0.84%
041003006	Barangay 12 (Poblacion)	0.3%	301	300	▴	0.03%
041003007	Barangay 2 (Poblacion)	1.5%	1,449	1,394	▴	0.39%
041003008	Barangay 3 (Poblacion)	1.5%	1,475	1,185	▴	2.21%
041003009	Barangay 4 (Poblacion)	2.1%	2,044	1,851	▴	1.00%
041003010	Barangay 5 (Poblacion)	1.9%	1,837	1,758	▴	0.44%
041003011	Barangay 6 (Poblacion)	1.2%	1,131	998	▴	1.26%
041003012	Barangay 7 (Poblacion)	0.3%	331	339	▾	−0.24%
041003013	Barangay 8 (Poblacion)	2.2%	2,107	2,130	▾	−0.11%
041003014	Barangay 9 (Poblacion)	1.9%	1,777	1,446	▴	2.08%
041003016	Calan	1.2%	1,109	964	▴	1.41%
041003017	Caloocan	6.6%	6,284	4,888	▴	2.54%
041003018	Calzada	2.1%	2,013	1,416	▴	3.58%
041003019	Canda	1.4%	1,371	1,450	▾	−0.56%
041003020	Carenahan	1.2%	1,126	1,030	▴	0.89%
041003021	Caybunga	0.9%	891	841	▴	0.58%
041003022	Cayponce	1.5%	1,459	1,388	▴	0.50%
041003023	Dalig	3.2%	3,114	3,008	▴	0.35%
041003024	Dao	1.9%	1,830	1,445	▴	2.39%
041003025	Dilao	1.4%	1,370	1,442	▾	−0.51%
041003026	Duhatan	1.8%	1,679	1,518	▴	1.01%
041003027	Durungao	1.1%	1,035	937	▴	1.00%
041003028	Gimalas	2.2%	2,151	1,549	▴	3.34%
041003029	Gumamela	3.2%	3,051	2,595	▴	1.63%
041003030	Lagnas	1.0%	1,004	929	▴	0.78%
041003031	Lanatan	2.6%	2,538	2,715	▾	−0.67%
041003032	Langgangan	1.3%	1,213	1,194	▴	0.16%
041003033	Lucban Putol	2.0%	1,889	1,383	▴	3.17%
041003034	Lucban Pook	2.0%	1,878	1,551	▴	1.93%
041003035	Magabe	2.0%	1,942	1,779	▴	0.88%
041003036	Malalay	1.1%	1,024	1,063	▾	−0.37%
041003037	Munting Tubig	1.9%	1,790	1,534	▴	1.56%
041003038	Navotas	4.3%	4,113	3,451	▴	1.77%
041003039	Patugo	2.5%	2,386	1,885	▴	2.38%
041003040	Palikpikan	2.0%	1,927	1,150	▴	5.30%
041003042	Pooc	2.7%	2,544	2,267	▴	1.16%
041003043	Sambat	3.2%	3,078	2,345	▴	2.76%
041003044	Sampaga	3.3%	3,122	2,386	▴	2.72%
041003045	San Juan	2.0%	1,960	1,738	▴	1.21%
041003046	San Piro	3.9%	3,783	3,377	▴	1.14%
041003048	Santol	4.3%	4,144	2,385	▴	5.68%
041003049	Sukol	0.9%	886	837	▴	0.57%
041003050	Tactac	1.1%	1,049	932	▴	1.19%
041003051	Taludtud	2.3%	2,224	1,165	▴	6.68%
041003052	Tanggoy	1.6%	1,577	1,543	▴	0.22%
	Total		95,913	81,805	▴	1.60%

In the 2020 census, Balayan had a population of 95,913.[5] The population density was 880 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,300/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.

Religion

Balayan Church

Churches:

• Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Balayan)
• Ermita Church
• Jesus the Peace Maker Christian Church
• Jesus Is Lord Church

Casa Cacao

• Phil Steel Corporation (Steelcorp) – manufacturer of coated steel sheets, coils and irons
• Batangas Sugar Cane Central – the mother company of Muscuvado Food Sugar Corp. and processes sugar cane
• ProGreen Distillery (Emperador)
• Walter Mart Balayan
• Me & City Shoppers Mall Balayan

In January 2009, Balayan renovated a mini park called Balayan BayWalk Park which provides locals and tourists a view of Balayan Bay similar to what is seen in the country's capital Manila.

Medical Center Western Batangas

Hospitals in Balayan include:

• Medical Center Western Batangas
• Balayan Bayview Hospital and Medical Center
• Don Manuel Lopez Memorial District Hospital
• Metro Balayan Medical Center

Immaculate Conception College

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

Public schools include:

• Balayan East Central School
• Balayan West Central School
• Balayan National High School
• Batangas State University – Balayan Campus

Private schools include:

• Sixto C. López – propagandist and negotiator for Philippine independence from the United States
• Leo Martinez - actor, comedian, and director
• Kim de Leon - winner of 7th season of StarStruck

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balayan.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Balayan".

• Official website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code