Baler, Aurora Explained

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Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Aurora
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:August 19, 1609
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Rhett Ronan T. Angara
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Pedro M. Ong Jr.
Leader Name2:Rommel Rico T. Angara
Leader Title3:Municipal Council
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:1306
Elevation Min M:0
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Households
Population Demonym:Balereño, Balerino
Baleriano (colloquial)
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Website:, https://baler.gov.ph/socio-economic-profile/
Demographics Type1:Economy
Demographics1 Title2:Poverty incidence
Demographics1 Info2:%
Demographics1 Title3:Revenue
Demographics1 Title4:Revenue rank
Demographics1 Title5:Assets
Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics Type2:Service provider
Demographics2 Title1:Electricity
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
Blank1 Name Sec1:Native languages
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Baler (; in Tagalog pronounced as /bɐˈleɾ/), officially the Municipality of Baler (Tagalog: Bayan ng Baler; Iloko: 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.

Baler is located northeast of Manila and is accessible by bus and private vehicles via a mountain pass. 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 June 14, 1951, under Republic Act No. 648[1] signed by President Elpidio Quirino. It remained the seat of government of Aurora on November 21, 1978, under Batas Pambansa Blg. 7[2] signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

On August 6, 2023, Republic Act No. 11957, also known as “An Act Recognizing the Municipality of Baler in the Province of Aurora as the ‘Birthplace of Philippine Surfing,” became law without President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s signature.[3] [4]

History

Spanish colonial period

See also: Siege of Baler.

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 December 27, 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.[5] 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.

On June 27, 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 November 22, 1898, Lieutenant Saturnino Martín Cerezo replaced him. On June 2, 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.[6]

American colonial period

In 1902, the Americans incorporated the town into the province of Tayabas. Before the Americans came, Baler was under the district of El Príncipe from Nueva Ecija.[7] [8]

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 today, it features a group of colorfully attired performers using authentic weapons, like swords and knives, in their plays. Manuel L. Quezon was the governor of Tayabas, which was renamed Quezon in his honor.

Japanese occupation

In 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army entered Baler, where they made the Baler Elementary School building their garrison under the command of a certain Captain Hattori. The general headquarters and camp base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army from January 3, 1942, to June 30, 1946, and the Philippine Constabulary from October 28, 1944, to June 30, 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.

Post-war period

On June 14, 1951, by virtue of Republic Act No. 648, Baler became the capital town of the sub-province (and later, province) of Aurora which was made out of Quezon. Baler is the birthplace of Manuel Quezon and his cousin and wife Aurora Aragon-Quezon. One obvious reason was the area's isolation from the rest of Quezon Province: there were no direct links to the rest of the province and much of the terrain was mountainous and heavily forested, which made the area relatively isolated, and its distance from Quezon's capital Lucena.[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 Philippine surfing culture and the headland at Baler is known as "Charlie's Point" from a line in the film.[11]

Cityhood

See main article: Cities of the Philippines. In the 19th Congress of the Philippines, house bills were filed by various representatives which seeks Baler including other capital towns of provinces with no current component cities, independent component cities or highly urbanized cities to automatically convert into cities.[12] [13] [14]

Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the 3147.32adj=mid2adj=mid total area of Aurora.

Barangays

Baler is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

People with connections to the town are referred to as Balereños. Prior to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in Baler in 1609, settlements by Aeta people and Bugkalot in Baler's coast and mountain areas already exists, along with Kapampangan settlements in coast and plains.[15] 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 Bugkalots.[16] [17] Kapampangans assimilated to the Tagalog settlers.

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. In 1896, a group of Ilocanos from Aringay, La Union came to settle in San Jose, now called Maria Aurora. In 1906, another group of Ilocanos arrived from La Union and Pangasinan. The guerrilla movement during the Japanese occupation brought Novo Ecijanos (people from Nueva Ecija) to Baler; Novo Ecijanos include Tagalogs, Ilocanos, and Kapampangans, with quite large number of Pangasinenses. The Balereños learned trade from the Batangueños and the Novo Ecijanos; where before they used to share what they have, now they would sell coconut to their neighbors.[18] [19] Other ethnic groups who came and stayed in Baler include Christianized Gaddang and Isinai settlers who settled the surrounding lowlands of Baler Bay.[20]

In the 2020 census, Baler had a population of 43,785. The population density was NaN43,785/92.55.

Languages

The Tagalog and Ilocano languages are the main languages spoken in Baler.[21] [22] [23] The province of Aurora is claimed to primarily speak a Tagalog dialect that is closely related to the Tayabas Tagalog of Quezon, with some Ilocano influences.[24] In Baler, for example, the variety is called Tagalog-Baler (Balereño). The Tagalog dialect of Balereños is also known for distinctive expressions like akkaw, used to express surprise, wonder, disgust, and objection; it is also akin to the English term "Wow!" Other regional term expressions spoken in Baler are are(h), used to express a negative feeling of surprise; anin, used to express regret or pity for a situation; and many other words are also spoken similarly to neighboring Quezon, like adyo, meaning to climb, and puropur, which pertain to rain with gusty wind.[25] Manuel L. Quezon, who was from Baler, was called the Father of the National Language for approving the recommendation of the Institute of National Language for Tagalog as the basis of the national language. Other languages spoken in Baler are Kapampangan & Pangasinan, Ga'dang & Isinai in surrounding lowlands of Baler Bay, and Bugkalot.[26]

Government

Local government

See main article: Sangguniang Bayan.

The current officials of Baler, Aurora (as of May 19, 2019)[27]

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

Culture

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

Education

Tertiary education

Secondary education

Media

Baler has 1 TV station - GMA 5 Baler, & 1 radio station - DZJO Spirit FM (Catholic Media Network/Radio Veritas). 1 media network (both radio and TV) is based in the town named RTV Baler.

Notable personalities

External links

Notes and References

  1. RA. 648. An Act Creating The Subprovince of Aurora, Which Shall Comprise The Municipalities of Baler, Casiguran, Dipaculao And Maria Aurora, Province of Quezon. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424100810/http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno648.html#.WB1ufdV97IU. April 24, 2016. June 14, 1951.
  2. BP. 7. An Act Separating the Sub-Province of Aurora from the Province of Quezon and Establishing It as an Independent Province. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. November 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185029/http://www.chanrobles.com/bataspambansa/bataspambansablg7.html#.WB1vb9V97IW. March 3, 2016. November 21, 1978.
  3. News: Antonio . Raymundo . Baler is now officially the Birthplace of PH Surfing . 4 February 2024 . Manila Bulletin . 9 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109062619/https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/9/bill-declaring-baler-as-birthplace-of-ph-surfing-lapses-into-law . 9 November 2023.
  4. News: Gita-Carlos . Ruth Abbey . New law declares Baler ‘birthplace of PH surfing’ . 4 February 2024 . Philippine News Agency . 8 August 2023.
  5. Web site: GOVPH . National Historical Commission of the Philippines – "A Filipino society with citizens informed of their history, who love their country and are proud of their cultural heritage." . Nhcp.gov.ph . November 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130514022856/http://www.nhcp.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=160 . May 14, 2013 . dead .
  6. Web site: Hernandez. Miguel. The Last Action of the Spanish American War: The Siege of Baler. The Spanish American War Centennial Website. November 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160730202411/http://spanamwar.com/Baler.html. July 30, 2016.
  7. News: National Historical Commission of the Philippines . History of Baler . National Historical Commission of the Philippines . When military district of El Príncipe was created in 1856, Baler became its capital...On June 12, 1902 a civil government was established, moving the district of El Príncipe away from the administrative jurisdiction of Nueva Ecija...and placing it under the jurisdiction of Tayabas Province. . 2012-03-09 .
  8. Web site: June 12, 1902 . Act No. 417 – An Act Annexing the Districts of Infanta and Principe and the Island of Polillo to the Province of Tayabas . February 18, 2022 . Supreme Court E-Library . Philippine Commission . February 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220218130420/https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/28/32104 . live .
  9. http://www.aurora.ph/mobile/baler-aurora-book/index.html Baler For All Time by Edgardo Angara
  10. RA. 1536. An Act Creating the Municipal District of Dingalan in the Municipality of Baler, Subprovince of Aurora, Province of Quezon. PhilippineLaw.info. November 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20120503122100/http://philippinelaw.info/statutes/ra1536.html. May 3, 2012. June 16, 1956.
  11. News: How Apocalypse Now inspired Filipino surfers. BBC News. Kate McGeown. April 16, 2013. September 26, 2019.
  12. Web site: Yap . Eric . June 30, 2022 . An act automatically converting the capital town of provinces with no component cities, independent component cities or highly urbanized cities within its territorial jurisdiction, into a component city . April 1, 2023 . House of Representatives of the Philippines.
  13. Web site: Palma . Wilter . August 9, 2022 . an act automatically converting the capital town of provinces with no component cities, independent component cities, or highly urbanized cities within its territorial jurisdiction, into a component city . April 1, 2023 . House of Representatives of the Philippines.
  14. Web site: Daza . Paul . August 11, 2022 . An Act Convering Into Component Cities the Capital Towns of Provinces Without a City, Amending for the Purpose Section 450 of Republic Act No. 7610, as Amended by Republic Act No. 9009, Otherwise Known as the Local Government Code of 1991, and for Other Purposes. . April 1, 2023 . House of Representatives of the Philippines.
  15. Web site: Tantingco: The Kapampangan in Us . 2024-01-23 . 2024-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123034705/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/more-articles/tantingco-the-kapampangan-in-us . live .
  16. Web site: Mesina. Ilovita. Baler And Its People, The Aurorans. Aurora.ph. February 21, 2018.
  17. Barrows . David P. . 1910 . The Ilongot or Ibilao of Luzon . . These people (Ilongot) scattered rancherias toward Baler and sustain trading relations with the Tagalog of that town, but are hostile with the Ilongot of Nueva Vizcaya jurisdiction.. en . 77 . 1–6 . 521–537.
  18. https://steemit.com/ocd-resteem/@leeart/baler-and-other-sceneries-of-aurora Baler and Other Sceneries of Aurora
  19. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/northern-cultural-communities/lowland-cultural-group-of-the-tagalogs/ Lowland Cultural Group of the Tagalogs
  20. Web site: Encyclopedia.com: Ilongot . 2024-04-25 . 2024-04-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240425171522/https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ilongot-0 . live .
  21. https://baler.gov.ph/socio-economic-profile/ Socio-Economic Profile of Baler
  22. http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2014/02/06/baler-in-aurora-scene-of-film-apocalypse-now/ Baler in Aurora - Scene of the Film "Apocalypse Now"
  23. https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/10/baler-itinerary/#google_vignette BALER ON A BUDGET: Travel Guide & Itinerary
  24. https://phinder.ph/aurora-philippines/ Discovering Aurora
  25. Book: Selaznog, Olag . Ak'kaw Poppo: Talaan ng Salitang Baler . Baler Aurora Ngayon Angkan at Kasaysayan (Banak Inc.) . 2013 . 1st . Makati City .
  26. https://www.discoverthephilippines.com/aurora-province-philippines/ Discover the Philippines: Aurora Province
  27. Web site: Government Officials of Aurora, Philippines. February 21, 2018.
  28. News: Galvez. Manny. RP-Spain Friendship Day marked today in Baler. February 21, 2018. The Philippine Star. July 2, 2010.
  29. News: Quismundo. Tarra. Filipino, Spanish officials mark Friendship Day in Baler, Aurora. February 21, 2018. Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 5, 2016.
  30. Web site: Baler Campus UP Manila School of Health Sciences . 2024-05-11 . shs.upm.edu.ph.