Baler, Aurora

Baler
—  Municipality  —
Seal
Map of Aurora showing the location of Baler.
Baler Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°46′N 121°34′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Aurora
District	Lone District
Founded	1609
Barangays	13
Government
• Mayor	Arturo J. Angara
Area
• Total	92.55 km2 (35.73 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	34,492
• Density	370/km2 (970/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	3200
Income class	4th class
Website	baler-aurora.gov.ph

Population Census of Baler
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	26,919		—
2000	29,923		2.30%
2007	34,492		1.98%

Baler is a 3rd 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 (2.7 m) waves serve as Baler's tourist asset, attracting hundreds of surfers during the surfing season from September to February.

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  Baler Welcome Arch.

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  Municipal Town [1].

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  Centro Baler, Dr. Juan C. Angara Memorial Hall.

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  Baler Wet Market, Suklayin.

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  Baler Public Market, Suklayin.

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  Baler Central Bus Terminal, Suklayin.

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  Baler Fire Station.

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  Baler PEACE Training Center.

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  Old Public Market (Buhangin).

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  Downtown (Poblacion).

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  Asia Pacific International System College (Suklayin).

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  Historic Marker, “Putok Sa Dikaloyungan”[2].

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  Sitio Dikaloyungan [3].

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  136 steps Ermita Hill Park.

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  Tromba Marina Sculpture & Marker, Ermita [4][5].

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  Overviews (Ermita deck).[6].

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  Main Park.

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  Ermita's Virgin Mary.

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  Ermita Hill Chapel & the ancient viewing point & tunnel marker.

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  Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Chapel, Fishport (Cemento, Zabali).

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  Bahia de Baler (Sabang)[7].

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  Outer Banks, Labasin-Sabang Beach.

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  Aguang Bridge (Buhangin).

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  Aguang River.

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  Duongan Bridge & River.

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  Kinalapan Bridge.

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  Kinalapan River.

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  Udong Bridge.

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  thumb|left|50px|Cemento Bridge [8].

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  Baler Municipal Fish Port (Zabali).

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  Diguisit (Natulo) waterfalls.

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  Dimadimalangat Islet & Diguisit Bay-Beach's rock formations (Lukso-Lukso).

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  Dimadimalangat 3 islets (off Zabali coast): rock formations ("Lukso-Lukso")[9].

Barangays

Baler is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.

• 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 Franciscan 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 27 June 1898, 15 days after the Philippine Independence was proclaimed,54 Spanish soldiers of the Baler garrison made the town church their barracks. They were led by Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossi.

When Captain Enrique de las Morenas died on 22 November 1899, Lieutenant Saturnino Martin Cerezo was the one who replaced him.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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. Quezon, First President of the Philippine Commonwealth.
• Aurora Aragon Quezon – former First Lady of the Philippines (wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon) known for her charitable works
• Eunice Pablo Guerrero-Cucueco, 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-Castillo, the first and so far the only woman in Philippine history to become House Majority Floor Leader.
• Juan Edgardo Angara, one of the recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards for 2010, who received his trophy from President Benigno S. Aquino III at Rizal Hall of Malacañan Palace.

Tourist spots

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  Baler Catholic Church.

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  1611 Baler Church’s Altar.

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  1939 “The Seige of the Church of Baler” Marker.

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  Iglesia ni Cristo Church.

• Baler Church – (famous for the Siege of Baler in 1898–1899 between the Philippine Revolutionary forces and Spanish troops during the Philippine Revolution and Spanish-American War).
• Quezon Park – (The birthplace of President Manuel L. Quezon)
• Baler Bay
• Dicaloyungan Picnic Zone
• Ermita Hill
• Aniao Islets
• Cemento Beach
• Dicasalarin Beach

Filming locations

Apocalypse Now was filmed in Baler and Baler Bay.

Sister city

• Marbella, Spain
• Seville, Spain
• Martos, Spain

External links

• Batang Baler
• Baler for all time by Edgardo Angara
• 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