Balaoan, La Union
 |
Map of La Union showing the location of Balaoan |
Balaoan is a 3rd class
municipality in the
province of
La Union,
Philippines. According to the
2000 census, it has a population of 33,786 people in 6,557 households. Balaoan is one of the oldest municipalities in La Union, having been founded in 1704. Its first Capitan is Ignacio Duldulao.
Zip Code: 2517
Income Class: 3rd
No. of Barangays: 36
Patron Saint: San Nicolas de Tolentino (St. Nicholas of Tolentino)
Native Language: Ilocano
Mayor: Joaquin C. Ostrea, Jr.
Vice Mayor: Al-fred O. Concepcion
Treasurer: Mark Kristoffer Concepcion
Town Fiesta: December 21 to 23
Patronal Fiesta: September 8
* Almeida Elementary School
* Apatut Elementary School
* Ar-arampang Elementary School
* Balaoan Central Elementary School
* Balaoan Christian School
* Bulbulala Elementary School
* Bungol Elementary School
* Bungol National High School
* Butubut Elementary School
* Butubut National High School
* Butubut Norte Elementary School
* Calliat Elementary School
* Castor Concepcion Memorial High School (Balaoan National High School)
* Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University National High School (Paraoir)
* Guinaburan Elementary School
* Masupe Elementary School
* Nagsabaran Sur Elementary School
* Osias Educational Foundation
* Pantar Norte Elementary School
* Pantar Sur Elementary School
* Paraoir Elementary School
* Patpata Elementary School
* San Nicolas Academy
* Sinapangan National High School
* Sinapangan Norte Elementary School
* Sinapangan Sur Elementary School
Balaoan is situated North of
Bacnotan, South of
Bangar,
Sudipen and
Santol on the East and
Bacnotan on the South. Located 30 kilometers north of
San Fernando City, the provincial capital of
La Union and the regional capital of Region I.
Balaoan is approximately 300 kilometers north of
Metro Manila.
Balaoan has one of the pristine coastal towns of
La Union facing the
Luzon Sea.
Balaoan La Union can be reached from
Manila using the
MacArthur Highway, or via plane landing in
Canaoay Airport in
San Fernando City, La Union.
Balaoan is composed of 36 barangays. Four barangays compose the poblacion or town proper. The vast land area of 6,450 hectares consists mostly of agricultural lands. The municipality occupies 4.3% of the total area of the province. Among the barangays in the municipality,
Nagsabaran Sur is the largest with 842 hectares or 13.05% of the municipality's land area and the smallest is
Nalasin with only 33 hectares (0.51%).
Balaoan was orginally part of
Ilocos Sur, the town's present name originated during the Spanish regime. Balaoan was formerly called
Puraw (
White in English). 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 skin color, they were fair skinned. 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 of course does not understand what the villager had meant, he uttered the last word first, and remembering the last, he said "
BALA-AOAN."
During the Spanish occupation in the
Philippines, a secret society of
Insurectos that 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.
One escaped with only leg wounds, he was
Fernando Ostrea. He informed the people about what has happened. In memory of the seven Martyrs, a masonic lodge,
Siete Martires Lodge No. 177 was organized thereof.
Balaoan is politically subdivided into 36
barangays.
* Almeida
* Antonino
* Apatut
* Ar-arampang
* Baracbac Este
* Baracbac Oeste
* Bet-ang
* Bulbulala
* Bungol
* Butubut Este
* Butubut Norte
* Butubut Oeste | * Butubut Sur
* Cabuaan Oeste
* Calliat
* Calungbuyan
* Camiling
* Camilo Osias
* Guinaburan
* Masupe
* Nagsabaran Norte
* Nagsabaran Sur
* Nalasin
* Napaset | * Pagbennecan
* Pagleddegan
* Pantar Norte
* Pantar Sur
* Pa-o
* Paraoir
* Patpata
* Sablut
* San Pablo
* Sinapangan Norte
* Sinapangan Sur
* Tallipugo |
CAMILO O. OSIAS, Senate PresidentThis educator-writer from the North was one of the rare and grand old men of the Philippines who displayed vigorously intellect, a tremendous drive and a passion for independence.
Osias was born in Balaoan, La Union on March 28, 1889. His parents were Manuel Osias and Gregoria Olaviano. He studied in
Balaoan, La Union; Vigan, Ilocos Sur and San Fernando, La Union before he was chosen as one of the government scholars to be sent to the United States.
He received his teacher's diploma from the Illinois State Teacher's College in 1905. He went on to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbia University where he also received his graduate diploma in administration and supervision. His public service, particularly in the field of education, has earned for him recognition from Otterbein College in Ohio, United States, which awarded him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1934, and from the National University which gave him an honorary degree of Doctor of Pedagogy in 1961. Osias rose from being a classroom teacher to being the first Filipino division superintendent of schools.
He also became the first president of the National University. A prolific writer, Osias authored such well-known books as Philippine Readers, The Filipino Way of Life, the prize winning Jose Rizal : His life and Times and countless other books and articles, a majority of which were on his favorite subject â€" Rizal.
He also translated many of the hero's major and minor works into English and Ilocano. He was a member of the first Independence Mission to the United States in 1921. In 1929, he went to the United States as resident commissioner to the US Congress until 1935, working zealously for the Independence Bill. As a delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1934 for the first district of La Union, he actively participated in committee work and debates on the floor.
As legislator and Constitutional Convention delegate, Osias was an outstanding champion of academic freedom and civil liberties which he considered as the true foundation of democratic policy.
He was elected senator for the second senatorial district in 1925. Since then, he had been elected several times to the Legislature --- assemblyman in 1935; senator-at-large in 1947 during which he topped the list of winning senatorial candidates; and again as senator in 1961.
Osias always advocated a fair, just and equitable allocation of membership in committees he chaired. His contributions to the government still carry his personality --- the pipe-smoking, gleaming-eyed and impeccably eloquent image of the Filipino as a statesman.
He died on May 20, 1976.
Magnolia W. Antonino, SenatorSenator Magnolia W. Antonino was born in Balaoan, La Union, on December 14, 1915. Daughter of George Welborn and Hipolita Rodriguez, she was married to the late Senator Gaudencio Antonino.
She graduated from the Balaoan public schools and La Union High school and completed combined normal courses from the Philippine Normal School in 1934. She started as home economics teacher, La Union; became principal teacher, Balaoan Elementary School 1934-1936; home economics supervisor, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental 1936-1941.
She was Treasurer of the Antonino Construction Enterprises 1946-1953; secretary-treasurer, then manager, Western Mindanao Lumber Co.; general manager, G. E. Antonio, Inc., treasurer, Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines; director, Philippine Commercial and Industrial Bank and Luzon Cement Corporation.
An Officer and member of various social and civic organizations, including Inner Wheel Club of Manila, WYCA, Manila Girl Scouts Council, Philippine Band of Mercy, Philippine Garden Club, she was elected to the House of Representatives, First District â€" La Union (1965-1969) and was Senator from 1969 to 1972.
*
Philippine Standard Geographic Code*
2000 Philippine Census Information
