Baler, Aurora
Encyclopedia
Baler is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines. It is the provincial capital of Aurora. According to the latest census, it has a population of 34,492 people and 5.955 members per household.
Baler is the political and economic center of Aurora. It is located some 230 kilometers northeast of Manila
via a mountain pass accessible by bus and private vehicle. Baler is host to spectacular geographic formations and is situated on a vast plain at the mouth of Baler Bay
, a contiguous segment of the Philippine Sea. Nine-foot-high (9 feet (2.7 m)) waves serve as Baler's tourist asset, attracting hundreds of surfers during the surfing season from September to February.
s.
missionaries, led by Fray Blas Palomino, founded the settlement of Baler. This 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 2 June 1899, the last Spanish garrison in the Philippines surrendered after a year-long siege
, effectively ending more than 300 years of Spanish rule in the country.
In 1901, the Americans incorporated the town to the province of Tayabas (later named Quezon
province). Before the Americans came, Baler was under the district of El Príncipe.
In 1942, Japanese troops entered Baler, and under a certain captain Hattori, established a garrison there.
The established of the general headquarters and camp base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army from 1942 to 1946 and the Philippine Constabulary from 1944 to 1946 was stationed in Baler during the Japanese Occupation.
In 1945, Filipino and American troops landed at Baler, including Filipino troops of the 3rd, 5th, 51st and 52nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 5th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, the local Recognized Guerrilla Unit and the American troops of the 6th Infantry Division of the United States Army which was still occupied by the Japanese. The San Luis de Tolosa church in Baler was destroyed by the retreating Japanese troops.
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.
In 1956, the barrio of Dingalan was converted into a municipal district within Baler. Later Dingalan
became a town in its right.
Baler is the political and economic center of Aurora. It is located some 230 kilometers northeast of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
via a mountain pass accessible by bus and private vehicle. Baler is host to spectacular geographic formations and is situated on a vast plain at the mouth of Baler Bay
Baler Bay
Baler Bay is a bay in the northeastern part of Luzon island, Philippines, at ....
, a contiguous segment of the Philippine Sea. Nine-foot-high (9 feet (2.7 m)) waves serve as Baler's tourist asset, attracting hundreds of surfers during the surfing season from September to February.
Barangays
Baler is politically subdivided into 13 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s.
- Barangay I (Pob.)
- Barangay II (Pob.)
- Barangay III (Pob.)
- Barangay IV (Pob.)
- Barangay V (Pob.)
- Buhangin
- Calabuanan
- Obligacion
- Pingit
- Reserva
- Sabang
- Suklayin
- Zabali
History
In 1609, seven FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionaries, led by Fray Blas Palomino, founded the settlement of Baler. This was later converted into a pueblo (town) by the Augustinians
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
and the Recollects in 1658. Due to scarcity of religious missionaries, the Franciscans again took over the administration of the settlement in 1703.
On 2 June 1899, the last Spanish garrison in the Philippines surrendered after a year-long siege
Siege of Baler
The Siege of Baler, from July 1, 1898 to June 2, 1899, was a battle of the Philippine Revolution and concurrently the Spanish-American War. Filipino revolutionaries laid siege to a fortified church manned by colonial Spanish troops in the town of Baler, Philippines for 11 months.The battle is...
, effectively ending more than 300 years of Spanish rule in the country.
In 1901, the Americans incorporated the town to the province of Tayabas (later named Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
province). Before the Americans came, Baler was under the district of El Príncipe.
In 1942, Japanese troops entered Baler, and under a certain captain Hattori, established a garrison there.
The established of the general headquarters and camp base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army from 1942 to 1946 and the Philippine Constabulary from 1944 to 1946 was stationed in Baler during the Japanese Occupation.
In 1945, Filipino and American troops landed at Baler, including Filipino troops of the 3rd, 5th, 51st and 52nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 5th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, the local Recognized Guerrilla Unit and the American troops of the 6th Infantry Division of the United States Army which was still occupied by the Japanese. The San Luis de Tolosa church in Baler was destroyed by the retreating Japanese troops.
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.
In 1956, the barrio of Dingalan was converted into a municipal district within Baler. Later Dingalan
Dingalan, Aurora
Dingalan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 21,992 people in 4,115 households.Dingalan has several caves, of which the Lamao Caves are the best known...
became a town in its right.
Comedia de Baler
The Comedia de Baler of Aurora mounted its first production in 1927. It was supported by then president Manuel Quezon and enjoyed the collaboration of artists Fortunato Esoreña and Alejandro Ferreras and arnis expert Antonino Ramos. Still alive until today, the group boasts of using real weapons in their plays.Notable personalities
- Manuel L. QuezonManuel L. QuezonManuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
, First PresidentPresident of the PhilippinesThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
of the Philippine CommonwealthCommonwealth of the PhilippinesThe Commonwealth of the Philippines was a designation of the Philippines from 1935 to 1946 when the country was a commonwealth of the United States. The Commonwealth was created by the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1934. When Manuel L...
. - Aurora Aragon Quezon – former First Lady of the Philippines (wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon) known for her charitable works
- Eunice Pablo Guerrero-CucuecoEunice Pablo Guerrero-CucuecoEunice "Nesing" Guerrero-Cucueco was born on September 16, 1949 in Baler, Aurora. She died on February 12, 1991 at 41 years old....
, former Governor of Aurora province. The first lady governor of the province. - Loreto Bihasa, Korean veteran, whose exploits in the Korean War was made into a movie starring Vic Vargas.
- Edgardo J. Angara, former Senate President, former UP President, and longest serving senator in the Philippines.
- Bellaflor Angara-CastilloBellaflor Angara-CastilloBellaflor J. Angara-Castillo is the incumbent Governor of the Philippine Province of Aurora. She was elected governor in 2004 and reelected in 2007 and 2010. She is Aurora's third woman governor. She was the first and so far the only woman in Philippine history to become House Majority Floor...
, the first and so far the only woman in Philippine history to become House Majority Floor Leader. - Juan Edgardo AngaraJuan Edgardo AngaraJuan Edgardo M. Angara , most widely known as Sonny Angara, is a Filipino politician and lawyer. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004, representing the Lone District of Aurora, re-elected to a second term in 2007, and a third term in 2010...
, one of the recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards for 2010, who received his trophy from President Benigno Simeon Aquino at Rizal Hall of Malacañang
Tourist spots
- Baler Church – (famous for the Siege of BalerSiege of BalerThe Siege of Baler, from July 1, 1898 to June 2, 1899, was a battle of the Philippine Revolution and concurrently the Spanish-American War. Filipino revolutionaries laid siege to a fortified church manned by colonial Spanish troops in the town of Baler, Philippines for 11 months.The battle is...
in 1898–1899 between the Philippine Revolutionary forces and Spanish troops during the Philippine RevolutionPhilippine RevolutionThe Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
and Spanish-American WarSpanish-American WarThe Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
). - Quezon Park – (The birthplace of President Manuel L. Quezon)
- Baler Bay
- Dicaloyungan Picnic Zone
- Ermita Hill
- Aniao Islets
- Cemento Beach
- Dicasalarin Beach
External links
- Batang Baler
- Baler for all time by Edgardo AngaraEdgardo AngaraEdgardo Javier Angara is a Filipino politician who served as President of the Senate of the Philippines from 1993-1995. He is currently serving his fourth term in the Senate which ends in 2013.-Early life and career:...
- Coming to its own by Edgardo Angara
- Official Website of the Quadricentennial (400th) Year of Baler
- Aurora, Philippines – Baler
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- 1995 Philippine Census Information
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
- 2007 Philippine Census Information