Bauang, La Union
Encyclopedia
Bauang is a 1st class municipality in the Philippine province of La Union. According to the latest census, it has a population of 69,837 people in 12,298 households.
It is bordered by San Fernando City
to the north, Caba
to the south, Naguilian
to the east, and the South China Sea
to the west.
McArthur Highway runs through this town junctioning with Naguilian Road, one of the mountain roads into Baguio City
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s.
These invasions gave rise to the construction of watchtowers, locally known as baluarte, by the Gobernadorcillo Don Juan Mallare along the coast and at the mouth of the Bauang River. These watchtowers served as a fortress against the invading pirates. It was also utilized as a refuge for the inhabitants who had no time to flee to the hills whenever the pirates were sighted. However, nothing now remains of the watchtower except the traces of its foundation.
Daring exploits of the people’s forefathers, their heroism, dedication, love and commitment to the ideals of freedom in the 1900s were handed down from generation to generation. During the later part of 1890, Bauang residents succeeded in wrestling the town from the tyrannical administration of the Spaniards after fierce and bloody encounters between the “cazadores” (Spanish soldiers) and the “revolucionarios” (Filipinos). The revolucionarios were led separately by Remigio Patacsil and Mauro Ortiz.
In 1913, some barrios of Bauang were assigned to San Fernando, namely: Pagudpud, Pagdalagan, Sevilla, Bungro, Tanquigan and Sibuan-Otong.
During the Japanese occupation, many unknown and unsung sons of Baunag fought gallantly and spilled their precious blood on the beaches of the town, in Lingayen Gulf, Bataan and Corregidor in defense of freedom. Majority of the youth joined the underground movement. They enlisted in the various regiments of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) without any promise of reward or remuneration. Among the many who were executed by the Japanese were Manuel Arguilla, a poet and journalist and Major Alberto O. Fenit of the United State Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). They met their death at the dungeons of Fort Santiago.
The martyrdom and patriotism of Mayor Ambrosio Rimando, elected mayor of Bauang before the outbreak of the war, could be told and retold. He chose not to reveal the whereabouts of his townspeople who were executed in his presence before he himself was beheaded.
Many continued the fight with gallantry and valor in the mountains, Bessang Pass and other battlefields until the country was liberated from the Japanese oppressors. Today, there stands at the town plaza a monument dedicated in honor of the fighting soldiers.
In the early 70’s Bauang earned the appellation as the Beach Capital of the Philippines because of the calm waters, fine sand and languidly swaying coconut trees along the shorelines of Baccuit Sur to Pagdalagan Sur. A newly discovered Research Reef is a favorite dive spot among local and foreign scuba divers.
Bauang also host the South China Sea Regatta, in every other year race participated by the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club.
Bauang is also famous for its delicious grapes and guapples grown in barangays Payocpoc, Santiago, Bagbag and Urayong. The grapes industry is an additional income for farmers among the residents in these barangays until imported varieties came in.
Manuel Arguilla
, one of the Philippines' most influential English writers, grew up in Bauang's Barrio Nagrebcan and his stories, including the widely anthologized "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," are set in Nagrebcan.
Secondary Schools
Tertiary
"Full Gospel Christian Churches"
It is bordered by San Fernando City
San Fernando City, La Union
The City of San Fernando in La Union is a 1st class component city in the Philippines. It is the capital city of La Union and the regional center of the Ilocos Region...
to the north, Caba
Caba, La Union
Caba is a 4th class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. Caba is the birth place of Diego Silang. According to the latest census, it has a population of 20,927 people in 3,880 households....
to the south, Naguilian
Naguilian, La Union
Naguilian is a 1st class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 45,232 people in 8,533 households.Naguilian is 42 kilometers from Baguio City via the Naguilian Highway....
to the east, and the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
to the west.
McArthur Highway runs through this town junctioning with Naguilian Road, one of the mountain roads into Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
.
Barangays
Bauang is politically subdivided into 39 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
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Origin
There are three versions on how Bauang was named. First, the name came from the word "bua", which in English mean beetlenut. Beetlenuts grew in abundance at the town site, now Barangay Nagrebcan where an old Spanish Church was built. Second, its name arose from the word "baoang" (garlic). The Spanish colonizers changed the letter "o" into "u";, thus its present name "Bauang". Third, it came from the word "buang", which means "river split in two" before flowing to the sea. As it is, the Bauang River is split into two by a delta.History
Like other towns in the province, Bauang also had its share in the devastating invasions of Moro pirates (“tirong” in the local dialect). In the stillness of the night, the Moro pirates would swoop upon the town without any warning, killing people and kidnapping women and children only to be sold into slavery. They stole cattle looted the town and broke into the church and robbed it of its silver and gold.These invasions gave rise to the construction of watchtowers, locally known as baluarte, by the Gobernadorcillo Don Juan Mallare along the coast and at the mouth of the Bauang River. These watchtowers served as a fortress against the invading pirates. It was also utilized as a refuge for the inhabitants who had no time to flee to the hills whenever the pirates were sighted. However, nothing now remains of the watchtower except the traces of its foundation.
Daring exploits of the people’s forefathers, their heroism, dedication, love and commitment to the ideals of freedom in the 1900s were handed down from generation to generation. During the later part of 1890, Bauang residents succeeded in wrestling the town from the tyrannical administration of the Spaniards after fierce and bloody encounters between the “cazadores” (Spanish soldiers) and the “revolucionarios” (Filipinos). The revolucionarios were led separately by Remigio Patacsil and Mauro Ortiz.
In 1913, some barrios of Bauang were assigned to San Fernando, namely: Pagudpud, Pagdalagan, Sevilla, Bungro, Tanquigan and Sibuan-Otong.
During the Japanese occupation, many unknown and unsung sons of Baunag fought gallantly and spilled their precious blood on the beaches of the town, in Lingayen Gulf, Bataan and Corregidor in defense of freedom. Majority of the youth joined the underground movement. They enlisted in the various regiments of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) without any promise of reward or remuneration. Among the many who were executed by the Japanese were Manuel Arguilla, a poet and journalist and Major Alberto O. Fenit of the United State Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). They met their death at the dungeons of Fort Santiago.
The martyrdom and patriotism of Mayor Ambrosio Rimando, elected mayor of Bauang before the outbreak of the war, could be told and retold. He chose not to reveal the whereabouts of his townspeople who were executed in his presence before he himself was beheaded.
Many continued the fight with gallantry and valor in the mountains, Bessang Pass and other battlefields until the country was liberated from the Japanese oppressors. Today, there stands at the town plaza a monument dedicated in honor of the fighting soldiers.
In the early 70’s Bauang earned the appellation as the Beach Capital of the Philippines because of the calm waters, fine sand and languidly swaying coconut trees along the shorelines of Baccuit Sur to Pagdalagan Sur. A newly discovered Research Reef is a favorite dive spot among local and foreign scuba divers.
Bauang also host the South China Sea Regatta, in every other year race participated by the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club.
Bauang is also famous for its delicious grapes and guapples grown in barangays Payocpoc, Santiago, Bagbag and Urayong. The grapes industry is an additional income for farmers among the residents in these barangays until imported varieties came in.
Manuel Arguilla
Manuel Arguilla
Manuel Estabillo Arguilla was an Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and martyr.He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," the main story in the collection "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories" which won first prize in...
, one of the Philippines' most influential English writers, grew up in Bauang's Barrio Nagrebcan and his stories, including the widely anthologized "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," are set in Nagrebcan.
Tourism and Leisure
Bauang is famous for its, fine-sand beaches. It is the beach capital of the north. It attracts many foreigners because of the low cost of accommodation in the vicinity.Education
Elementary Schools- Bauang North Central School - Bgy. Central East
- Calumbaya Elementary School - Bgy. Calumbaya
- Boy-Utan Elementary School - Bgy. Boy-Utan
- Paringao Elementary School - Bgy. Paringao
- Bucayab Elementary School - Bgy. Bucayab
- Cabalayangan Elementary School - Bgy. Cabalayangan
- Bawanta Elementary School - Bgy. Bawanta
- Acao Elementary School - Bgy. Acao
- Ballay Elementary School - Bgy. Ballay
- Bagbag Elementary School - Bgy. Bagbag
- Baccuit Elementary School - Bgy. Baccuit
- Pugo Elementary School - Bgy. Pugo
- Beehive Learning Center (Private) - Bgy. Central West
- Bauang Montessori School (Private) - Bgy. Central East
- Santiago Elementary School - Brgy. Santiago
- Saints Peter and Paul School (Private) Bgy. Central East, Beside the Church
- Casilagan Elementary School - Bgy. Casilagan
- Sta. Monica Elemtary Scholl - Brg. Sta Monica
- Parian Oeste Elementary School - Brgy. Parian Weste
- Payocpoc Elementary school-Brgy.Payocpoc sur
- Parian Este Elementary School- Brgy.Parian Este
- Palugsi-Limmansangan Elementary School-Brgy.Palugsi-Limmansangan
- Quinavite Elementary School-Brgy. Quinavite
- Pudoc Primary School-Brgy. Pudoc
- Bigbiga Elementary School-Brgy. Bigbiga
- Guerrero Elementary School-Brgy. Guerrero
- Baratao Elementary School-Brgy.Baratao
- San Agustin Elementary School-Brgy. Upper San Agustin
Secondary Schools
- Don Eulogio de Guzman Memorial National High School - Brgy. Calumbaya
- Sacred Heart High School(Private) - Brgy. Central East
- Paringao National High School - Brgy. Paringao
- Bawanta National High School - Brgy. Bawanta
- Baccuit National High School - Brgy. Baccuit
- Acao National High School - Brgy. Acao
- Ballay National High School - Brgy. Ballay
Tertiary
- La Union Colleges of Science and Technology (LUCST-Private) - Brgy. Central West
"Full Gospel Christian Churches"
- Anchor of Hope Ministries Inc. Philippines - Brgy. Central West