Baras, officially the Municipality of Baras (), is a municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

History

Spanish colonial era

In 1595, the Franciscan missionaries under the leadership of Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Diego de Oropesa, founded a “visita” for Morong on the present site of Bosoboso, south of Painaan with Apostol Santiago Mayor y Matamoros as its patron saint. It was known as “Visita de Santiago” or Santiago until such time that it became Baras. Baras was then inhabited by 400 Aetas and other mountain people.

In 1636, the town was transferred to a place called Ibayo, 1.5 leagues southeast of the first site due to the hostility of the Aetas and the mountaineers who burned part of the town and church in 1635. The Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as San Salvador in Spanish became their Patron. However, the town and church of Baras was burned by Chinese rebels in 1639, who were retreating from Manila to the Sierra Madre mountains.

The ecclesiastical administration of Baras returned by the Jesuits to the Franciscans in 1679. In 1682, the town was transferred to its present site where they would not be menaced by marauding tribes of the mountaineers.

Baras was under the jurisdiction of the province of Laguna from 1606 to 1853. Its administration was transferred to the newly created Distrito Politico-Militar de los Montes de San Mateo. This district was renamed to Distrito de Morong in 1857 whose capital was in Antipolo but was later transferred to Morong.

The 1818 Spanish census recorded the area having 466 native families and 3 Spanish-Filipino families.

In July 1895, the representatives of the Katipunan came to inform the people of Morong, Tanay, Antipolo, Baras and Pililla about the cause of the secret society. The Katipunan of Baras established the Real or Military Camp at sitio of Gogo or Pamitinan. On November 21, 1896, the Katipunan attempted to capture the town of Morong but were driven by the Guardia Civil. By 1898, Baras had joined the Revolutionary Government of Emilio Aguinaldo.

After the defeat of the Spaniards in Morong, the Aguinaldo Headquarters ordered the establishment of the municipal township. A special election was held. However, the Revolutionary Government of Aguinaldo did not last because of the outbreak of the Filipino-American War. On March 29, 1900, Military Order No. 40, by Governor General Wesley Merritt came in effect. This order was for the election of an Alcalde Municipal, Vice Alcalde, and the Municipal Council. This was implemented in October of the same year.

American colonial era

Act No. 942 was passed by the Philippine Commission in 1901, providing the establishment of the province of Rizal to be comprised in part of towns from the former Distrito de Morong. Baras effectively became part of the new province. However, on October 12, 1903, it was annexed to the town of Morong.

On January 16, 1906, Baras was annexed to Tanay by virtue of Act No. 1442. But as Baras was not represented as a barrio of Tanay, and previously under Morong, there was a movement for the separation of Baras as an independent town. Under the leadership of Leopoldo Digma, the clamor was realized through Executive Order No. 57, dated November 24, 1920, establishing the Municipality of Baras. !! Area

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| Evangelista || 4,249 ||

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| Rizal (Poblacion) || 2,451 ||

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| San Jose || 5,328 ||

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| San Salvador || 12,724 ||

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| Santiago|| 4,204 ||

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| Concepcion || 1,413 ||

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| San Juan || 4,970 ||

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| San Miguel || 1,301 ||

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| Mabini|| 2,925 ||

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| Pinugay || 51,534 ||

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| Total || 91,099 ||

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Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Baras was 91,099 people, with a density of .

Economy

Tourism

Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Joseph (Baras Church)

thumb|251x251px|Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Joseph

The oldest and most notable landmark in Baras is the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Joseph, it enshrines the miraculous venerated image of San Jose de Baras. The Church was built by the Franciscan missionaries in 1682, the same year the town was transferred to its present site. It was completed in 1686 and was dedicated to Saint Joseph, the town's patron saint. It is known for having bats in its ceiling. The Church has been seen in films, TV series and commercials.

Education

The Baras Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Academy of the East Pinugay
  • Baras Elementary School
  • Baras Pinugay Elementary School
  • Evangelista Elementary School
  • Israel Light Learning Center
  • Malalim Elementary School
  • Painaan Elementary School
  • Pinugay Elementary School
  • Saint Joseph Parish School
  • Santiago Elementary School
  • San Roque Elementary School
  • Shepherd Angels Christian School
  • Sisters of Our Lady of Amersfoort School

Secondary schools

  • Baras National High School
  • Baras Pinugay National High School
  • Baras Pinugay Phase 2 National High School
  • Baras Senior High School

References

  • Baras Profile at PhilAtlas.com
  • Baras Rizal Online - Community website of the People of Baras, Rizal
  • Official Website of the Municipal Government of Baras, Rizal
  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System