Balaoan

Balaoan
Municipality

Balaoan town center

Seal
Nickname(s): The Sea Urchin Capital off the North

Map of La Union showing the location of Balaoan
Balaoan

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 16°49′N 120°24′E / 16.817°N 120.400°E / 16.817; 120.400Coordinates: 16°49′N 120°24′E / 16.817°N 120.400°E / 16.817; 120.400
Country  Philippines
Region Ilocos (Region I)
Province La Union
District 1st District
Barangays 36
Government[1]
 • Mayor Concepcion O. Al-Fred
Area[2]
 • Total 68.70 km2 (26.53 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 37,910
 • Density 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2517
Dialing code 72
Income class 1st class

Balaoan is a first class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 37,910 people.[3]

The dominant language spoken in Balaoan is Ilocano.

Geography

Balaoan is situated north of Bacnotan, south of Bangar, west of Luna and Santol on the east. Located 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of San Fernando City, the provincial capital of La Union and the regional capital of Region I. Balaoan is 299 kilometres (186 mi) north of Metro Manila. Barangay Paraoir is Balaoan's pristine coastal community on the South China Sea.

Balaoan can be reached from Manila using the MacArthur Highway, or by airplane via Canaoay Airport in San Fernando City.

Its land area of 6,870 hectares (17,000 acres) consists mostly of agricultural lands. It occupies 4.3% of the total area of the province.

Barangays

Balaoan is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.[2]

  • Almeida
  • Antonino
  • Apatut
  • Ar-arampang
  • Baracbac Este
  • Baracbac Oeste
  • Bet-ang
  • Bulbulala
  • Bungol
  • Butubut Este
  • Butubut Norte
  • Butubut Oeste
  • Butubut Sur
  • Cabuaan
  • Calliat
  • Calungbuyan
  • Camiling
  • Dr. Camilo Osias
  • Guinaburan
  • Masupe
  • Nagsabaran Norte
  • Nagsabaran Sur
  • Nalasin
  • Napaset
  • Pa-o
  • Pagbennecan
  • Pagleddegan
  • Pantar Norte
  • Pantar Sur
  • Paraoir
  • Patpata
  • Sablut
  • San Pablo
  • Sinapangan Norte
  • Sinapangan Sur
  • Tallipugo

History

Balaoan, formerly "Puraw" (meaning "white') was originally part of Ilocos Sur. The town's present name originated during the Spanish colonial era. A group of Spanish soldiers were on patrol and went on to rest on a sitio. The villagers were curious about the soldiers because of their unusual descent and fair skin color. They flocked the soldiers touching their guns, too afraid that the guns might explode accidentally, one villager asked the soldier in a local vernacular.. "Aoan bala?" (meaning "No bullets?"). The soldier did not understand what the villager meant, he uttered the last word first, and remembering the last, he said "Bala-aoan".

During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, a secret society of insurrectos was organized in the municipality. Its purpose was to fight and revolt against the Spanish Government in the area. On the eve of the revolution, a traitor told the Spanish of their plan. The Spanish soldiers, without any investigation arrested seven members of the secret society, and executed them the same night. Only one, Fernando Ostrea, escaped with leg wounds. He informed the people about what has happened. In memory of the seven Martyrs, a masonic lodge, Siete Martires Lodge No. 177, was organized.

Balaoan is one of the oldest municipalities in La Union, having been founded in 1704. Its first Capitan is Ignacio Duldulao.

Demographics

Population census of Balaoan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 30,042—    
1995 31,420+0.84%
2000 33,786+1.57%
2007 36,829+1.20%
2010 37,910+1.06%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][4]

Festivities

The church of Balaoan is under the advocacy of the town's patron saint, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, whose feast day is celebrated on September. Balaoan's town fiesta is celebrated every December 21 to 23 of the year.

Education

Elementary schools
  • Almeida Elementary School
  • Apatut Elementary School (Apatut)
  • Ar-arampang Elementary School (Ar- Arampang,Balaoan)
  • Balaoan Central Elementary School (Antonino and Cabua-an)
  • Balaoan Christian Foundation (Nalasin)
  • Bulbulala Elementary School (Bulbulala)
  • Bungol Elementary School (Bungol)
  • Butubut Elementary School (Butubut Sur)
  • Butubut Norte Elementary School (Butubut Norte)
  • Calliat Elementary School (Calliat)
  • Guinaburan Elementary School (Guinaburan)
  • Masupe Elementary School (Masupe)
  • Nagsabaran Sur Elementary School (Nsgsabaran Sur)
  • Osias Educational Foundation (Dr. Camilo Osias)
  • Pantar Community School (Pantar Norte)
  • Pantar Sur Elementary School (Pantar Sur)
  • Paraoir Elementary School (Paraoir)
  • Patpata Elementary School (Patpata)
  • San Nicolas Academy
  • San Nicolas Academy (Dr. Camilo Osias, Nalasin and Antonino)
  • Sinapangan National High School (Sinapangan Norte)
  • Sinapangan Norte Elementary School (Sinapangan Norte)
  • Sinapangan Sur Elementary School (Sinapangan Sur)
High schools

Notable people from Balaoan

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 1 January 1970. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Province of La Union". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 7 August 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balaoan.
 Luna / Bangar Sudipen
South China Sea Santol
   Balaoan  
Bacnotan San Gabriel
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