Bauang

Bauang, officially the Municipality of Bauang (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

The mumicipality is recognized as the "Fruit Basket and Beach Capital of the North," known for its pristine beaches, which remain a popular destination for swimming, as well as its cultivation of grapes and guapples.

In the annals of Philippine literature and history, Bauang holds significance as the birthplace of the renowned literary figure and World War II martyr, Manuel Arguilla. The municipality is strategically located along the MacArthur Highway, with a key junction connecting to Naguilian Road, one of the main routes leading to Baguio City.

Etymology

The origins of the name "Bauang" are attributed to several interpretations. One theory suggests it comes from the word "buá" referring to the betel nut, which was plentiful in the area now known as Barangay Nagrebcan, where the old Spanish Church was constructed.

Spanish Colonial Era

In 1572, following his successful conquest of Southern Luzon, Juan de Salcedo was directed by Miguel López de Legazpi to explore Northern Luzon and "pacify the people" there, as noted by Mendoza-Corte in the book Pangasinan: 1572-1800. At that time, the region was a thriving trading hub, especially known for its gold trade with Japanese and Chinese merchants. In June of that year, Legazpi arrived in Atuley, where he found the locals to be welcoming. He negotiated with them to pay tribute to the Queen of Spain, which they agreed to, though no permanent settlement was established. Salcedo then continued his journey toward Purao (now Balaoan) and Vigan.

By 1587, Augustinian friars had established towns along the coast, converting the locals to Christianity. These settlements were grouped together under the names “Baratao, Buratao, and Balitao.” Bauang became the center of the "ministerio" of Baratao and was initially placed under the patronage of Sts. Peter and Paul. The first priest of the Parish of the Chair of St. Peter was Fr. Miguel Sano, an Augustinian missionary. The parish was later renamed after its original patrons, Sts. Peter and Paul.

In 1590, Bauang was formally established as a settlement, with Fray Agustin Mino serving as its first minister. Like other towns in the region, Bauang endured devastating attacks from Moro pirates, known locally as “tirong.” These pirates often raided the town at night, killing residents, kidnapping women and children to sell as slaves, stealing cattle, and looting the town’s churches of valuable items.

These pirate invasions led to the construction of coastal watchtowers, known as baluarte, at strategic locations, including the mouth of the Bauang River. These towers served as fortresses to defend against the pirates and as refuges for locals who couldn’t escape to the hills. Today, only the foundations of these watchtowers remain.

In 1765, Bauang, along with neighboring towns, became part of the province of Pangasinan and was officially recognized as a town, with Don Francisco delos Reyes serving as its first gobernadorcillo. On March 2, 1850, La Union was established as a new province, and Bauang became one of its founding towns. Other towns that initially formed La Union included Santo Tomas, Agoo, Aringay, Caba, Naguilian, San Fernando, San Juan, and Bacnotan from Pangasinan, and Purao (now Balaoan), Namacpacan (now Luna), and Bangar from Ilocos Sur. who often drew inspiration from his upbringing in Bauang and the nearby countryside.

World War II

Japanese Invasion of Lingayen Gulf

Bauang, along with the nearby towns of Agoo and Caba were the first places the Japanese invasion force sought to control during the main effort to capture Luzon at the beginning of World War 2 - now known as the Japanese Invasion of Lingayen Gulf. Capturing the three towns which were connected by a high-quality road and protected on either side by naturally occurring geographical features meant that the Japanese forces were easily able to establish a secure beachhead. Once they had done so, they launched attacks against defense forces in San Fernando, La Union and Rosario, La Union, and from there deployed southwards across the plains of Pangasinan and Tarlac to take Fort Stotsenburg in Pampanga, then Bulacan, and finally Manila.

Resistance of Philippine and US forces

During the Pacific War, heroes of Bauang fought in its beaches, in Lingayen Gulf, Bataan and Corregidor (as USAFIP-NL).

The Japanese executed Manuel Arguilla, poet and journalist, Major Alberto O. Fenit (USAFFE), and Bauang Mayor Ambrosio Rimando. A town plaza monument today honors these Bauang heroes.

Retaking of Bauang

On March 14, 1945, the Allied Forces, along with guerillas and local inhabitants successfully captured the Bauang Bridges from the Japanese forces. The bridge was heavily guarded by the Japanese Army as it is the feasible route to Baguio, which the Japanese continued to hold as the city was virtually inaccessible from any ground attack. The capture of the two bridges is one of the more noted small unit actions of World War II.

Postwar Era

After the international recognition of Philippine independence in the wake of World War II, Bauang became known as the Beach Capital of the Philippines (1970, the shorelines of Baccuit Sur to Pagdalagan Sur). Bauang's Research Reef, a dive spot for local and foreign scuba divers, was recognized as a natural treasure.

Bauang from 1965 to 1986

The beginning of the 1970s marked a period of turmoil and change in the Philippines because Ferdinand Marcos had used foreign debt to fund too many public works projects as he headed his 1969 reelection campaign, which led to the 1969 Philippine economic crisis and the First Quarter Storm protests. La Union residents mostly did not speak up about the economic stresses they were experiencing, but when Marcos declared martial law in 1972, Bauang was included with the rest of the country. This was because Marcos took advantage of strong political ties to La Union, and allowed the powerful family factions (which had dominated La Union politics since before the American colonial era) to stay in place.

Later 20th Century

After Marcos fled into exile after the civilian-led 1986 People Power revolution, Manuel N. Sanglay was appointed OIC Mayor under the new Provisional Revolutionary Government. He was then properly elected into office when the Fifth Philippine Republic was established, serving until 1992.

In 1990, Bauang was heavily affected by the 1990 Luzon earthquake.

Geography

left|thumb|Taberna Beach, around Baranagay Bacquit or Taberna

The Municipality of Bauang is bordered to the north by the City of San Fernando, to the east by Naguilian, to the south by Caba, and to the west by the South China Sea. The municipality covers a total land area of 7,315 hectares, extending along the western coastline of the province. It is situated between longitudes 16° 20' to 16° 40' and latitudes 120° 30'. Bauang is also lying west of Baguio via Naguilian Road.

thumb|Bauang River aroung Barangay Nagrebcan

Out of Bauang's total area of 7,160 hectares, around 91.55 percent (6,555 hectares) is classified as alienable and disposable lands, while 8.4 percent (605 hectares) consists of public forestlands. These public forests can be found in the barangays of Sta. Monica, Cabalayangan, Ballay, and San Agustin. The protected forest area, characterized by slopes exceeding 50%, is estimated to cover 464 hectares. Bauang is classified as grassland or shrubland, featuring hilly and mountainous, forested terrain. The Balili (Bauang) River runs through the town and splits it with several creeks and streams.

left|thumb|Grassland around Barangay Baccuit Sur

The town accounts for 4.90% of La Union's total land area of 149,309 hectares. Barangay Sta. Monica is the largest barangay, encompassing approximately 711 hectares, or 9.72% of Bauang's total area, followed by Barangay Casilagan (676 hectares), Upper San Agustin (470 hectares), Acao (444 hectares), and Cabalayangan (424 hectares). Conversely, Barangay Pilar is the smallest, covering roughly 17 hectares, with its area diminishing annually due to severe coastal erosion. Barangay Guerrero occupies 29 hectares, making up 0.040% of the municipality's total land area, along with other barangays such as Pagdalagan Sur (31 hectares) and Nagrebcan (34 hectares), both of which have areas below 50 hectares.

Bauang is situated from the provincial capital San Fernando, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Bauang is politically and administratively divided into thirty-nine (39) barangays, which are further subdivided into puroks, with some barangays also having sitios. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), four (4) of these barangays are classified as urban: Calumbaya, Central East, Central West, and Quinavite. The remaining thirty-five (35) barangays are rural, and among them, fourteen (14) are coastal barangays. Each barangay is governed by a Chairman and a council of Councilors, while the Sangguniang Kabataan, represented by a Councilor, focuses on the representation and welfare of the youth in the community.

| date = April 26, 2020

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Bauang has a population of 78,449, representing 9.5% of the overall population of La Union. The population density is approximately 1,100 people per square kilometer (or about 2,800 people per square mile), with a calculated density of 1,035 individuals per square kilometer. Between 2015 and 2020, the population experienced an annual growth rate of 0.94%.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020, the age distribution in Bauang is as follows: 26.5% of the population (20,692 individuals) are aged 0–14 years, 66.1% (51,721 individuals) are between the ages of 15 and 64, and 7.4% (5,796 individuals) are 65 years old or older. The gender breakdown shows 39,443 males and 38,766 females, with the largest age cohort being those aged 10–19 years, totaling 14,280 individuals.

Religion

About 92% of the population is Catholic, while 2% belong to the Iglesia ni Cristo denomination. The remaining 6% are affiliated with other religious groups.

Languages

The primary language spoken in Bauang is Iloco, though Tagalog, Pangasinan, and several other dialects are also used. While many residents have a good understanding of English, it is not frequently spoken in everyday conversations. In terms of literacy, an impressive 99.52% of those aged 10 and above are considered literate.

Economy

left|thumb|Tobacco field in Bauang

Bauang is primarily an agricultural municipality, with a large segment of its population relying on farming for their livelihood. Out of a total land area of 7,160 hectares, approximately 60%, or 4,302.09 hectares, is allocated for agricultural activities. However, the area available for lowland agriculture has been declining over time due to land conversion. Crop production is mainly focused on rice, cultivated over 1,722 hectares. A significant majority of the palay is grown in rainfed areas, accounting for 81.42%, while irrigated areas contribute only about 320 hectares.

Bauang has a poverty incidence of 7.5%, ranking it fourth among the municipalities in La Union with the lowest poverty rate.

thumb|276x276px|La Union Agri-Tourism Grape Farm

Bauang Beach, known for its fine grayish sand, is the primary tourist attraction in the region, stretching from Barangay Pagdalagan Sur to Barangay Baccuit. The shoreline is lined with several beach resorts, featuring approximately 12 key tourist accommodation facilities.

While there is no government hospital in the municipality, there is one Rural Health Unit (RHU), 11 Barangay Health Stations (BHS), and a clinic that provides maternity and geriatric care. Additionally, all 36 barangays have operational Barangay Health Centers, and health services are supplemented by five private medical clinics and 11 dental clinics.

The municipality has a reliable water supply for both residential and commercial use, provided by the Metro La Union Water District (MLUWD) and various water station establishments. Bauang enjoys full electricity coverage through LUELCO and LUECO, with the presence of the 1590 Energy Corporation and TransCo.

left|thumb|Bauang town proper

All 39 barangays are accessible via either paved or gravel roads, with two major national roads traversing the area: the Manila North Road (McArthur Highway) running north to south and the Naguilian Road heading east to west toward Baguio City. The municipality is equipped with advanced communication infrastructure, including digital landlines, cable services, internet providers, and cell towers.

In terms of education, Bauang has 28 elementary schools and 9 secondary schools (comprising six public and three private institutions) distributed across 24 barangays. Only one institution offers tertiary education. The teacher-to-student ratio and classroom-to-student ratio at the elementary level meet the standard of 1:45, indicating sufficient resources. However, at the secondary level, a classroom-to-student ratio of 1:50 suggests a need for additional classrooms.

Manuel Arguilla commemorations

Among Philippines literary circles, Bauang has become a pilgrimage site of sorts for celebrating the life of and works of writer and World War II martyr Manuel Arguilla, with writers visiting the author's hometown to experience the landscapes that inspired him, and which featured prominently in his stories.

The most prominent event celebrating Arguilla was the 2017 run of the Taboan Literary Festival, a celebration of Philippine literature which changes venues every year, organized by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts during every National Arts Month in February. Among the prominent artists who came to the festival to celebrate Arguilla were writer-academic Butch Dalisay and National Artist of the Philippines Bienvenido Lumbera.

The ancestral house where Arguilla grew up is still standing at Barangay Nagrebcan in Bauang, bearing a historical marker put in place by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church

thumb|left|The 1587 Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church

The Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church (canonically erected on April 25, 1587, by the Augustinian missionaries) celebrates its fiesta every June 29. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Fernando de La Union (Dioecesis Ferdinandopolitana ab Unione, Suffragan of Lingayen – Dagupan, which was created on January 19, 1970, and erected on April 11, 1970, comprising the Civil Province of La Union, under the Titular, St. William the Hermit, February 10). It has been headed by the Most Rev. Rodolfo F. Beltran, D.D., bishop since January 18, 2013. The Church is under a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines from the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. The Church is also under the pastorship of Rev. Fr. Perpetuo Concepcion. Its Parochial Fiesta is on April 26.

thumb|Interior of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church

The Saints Peter and Paul Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Damaged by the 1892 earthquake, the Church was restored in 1895. Damaged again in 1944, the stone convent was destroyed in 1955. The Sacred Heart School now stands from the old Convent.

The Church has a rectangular four-storey bell tower (with two bells, restored with cement and hollow blocks in 1973). The Church interior was painted in 1978. The July 16, 1990, quake destroyed the facade which was later rebuilt. In 1901 US Army's (then) Lt. Col. Thomas Barry, who was chasing Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine–American War, took the bell as a "token souvenir" and later gave the bell to his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where it was housed for over a century. The bell was ceremoniously returned to the Philippines in May 2016 to be reinstalled in the Peter and Paul Church.

The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is at the foot of the Church.

400-year old San Pedro Bell

thumb|San Pedro Bell Returned to Bauang on May 23, 2016

On May 23, 2016, the 400-year old "San Pedro" bell made from alloy of gold, silver, and copper was returned to the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church, after American soldiers during the Philippine–American War in 1901 took it from the church to West Point Academy in New York.

Government

Local government

Just as the national government, the Bauang's municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branches.

The executive branch is composed of the mayor and the barangay captain for the barangays. The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly), Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III who holds office since June 30, 2022, at the Bauang Town Hall. The Sangguniang Bayan is the center of legislation.

Elected officials

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"

|+ Members of the Municipal Council<br />(2025-2028)

! Position

! Name

| Representative,

La Union 2nd Legislative District

| style="text-align:center;" | Dante S. Garcia

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Ma. Clarissa "Manang Bong" T. Lee

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Tanya Roberta A. de Guzman

| rowspan="10" | Sangguniang Bayan Members

| style="text-align:center;" | Raymond C. Ganaden

| style="text-align:center;" | Ryan Andre "Rayray" M. Estigoy

| style="text-align:center;" | Veronica T. Bernardo

| style="text-align:center;" | Donny Ceazar D. Baradi

| style="text-align:center;" | Gabriel A. Sotto

| style="text-align:center;" | Bonifacio "Kit" A. Malinao, Jr.

| style="text-align:center;" | Felix P. Sanchez

| style="text-align:center;" | Angelo "Bong" S. Aquino

| style="text-align: center;" |Edgar B. Beninsig (ABC President)

| style="text-align: center;" |Rich Carlo A. Barnachea (SKF President) These are Bauang North Schools District Office, and Bauawang South Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

Acao Elementary School - Barangay Acao
Baccuit Elementary School - Barangay Baccuit Sur
Bagbag Elementary School - Barangay Bagbag
Ballay Elementary School - Barangay Ballay
Baratao Elementary School - Sitio Baratao, Barangay Acao
Bauang North Central School - Barangay Central East
Bawanta Elementary School - Barangay Bawanta
Bigbiga Elementary School - Sitio Bigbiga, Barangay Lower San Agustin
Boy-Utan Elementary School - Barangay Boy-Utan
Bucayab Elementary School - Barangay Bucayab
Cabalayangan Elementary School - Barangay Cabalayangan
Calumbaya Elementary School - Barangay Calumbaya
Casilagan Integrated School - Barangay Casilagan
Guerrero Elementary School - Barangay Guerrero
Palugsi-Limmansangan Elementary School - Barangay Palugsi-Limmansangan
Parian Este Elementary School - Barangay Parian Este
Parian Oeste Elementary School - Barangay Parian Oeste
Paringao Elementary School - Barangay Paringao
Payocpoc Elementary School - Barangay Payocpoc Sur
Pudoc Primary School - Barangay Pudoc
Pugo Elementary School - Barangay Pugo
Quinavite Elementary School - Barangay Quinavite
Saint Anthony Montessori Educational Network, Inc. (Private) - Barangay Central East
Saints Peter and Paul Learning Center (Private) - Barangay Central East, beside the Church
San Agustin Elementary School- Barangay Upper San Agustin
Santiago Elementary School - Barangay Santiago
Santa Monica Elementary School - Barangay Santa Monica

Secondary schools

Baccuit National High School - Barangay Baccuit Sur
Ballay National High School - Barangay Ballay
Bawanta National High School - Barangay Bawanta
Casilagan Integrated School - Barangay Casilagan
Don Eulogio de Guzman Memorial National High School - Barangay Calumbaya
Eulogio Clarence de Guzman Junior Memorial National Vocational HS (formerly Acao National High School) - Barangay Acao
Paringao National High School - Barangay Paringao
Sacred Heart School (Private) - Barangay Central East
Saint Anthony Montessori Educational Network, Inc. (Private) - Barangay Central East

Higher educational institutions

La Union Colleges of Science and Technology (Private) - Barangay Central West
Saint Louis College Development Center (Private)

Bauang in literature

Bauang, specifically Barangay Nagrebcan on the shores of the Balili River, features prominently in the works of Philippine literary icons Manuel Arguilla and F.Sionil Jose.

Notable personalities

Manuel Arguilla, one of the Philippines' most influential English writers, grew up in Bauang's Barrio Nagrebcan
Bernabe de Guzman, Filipino senator from 1919 to 1925

Gallery

File:Sts.PeterandPaulParishChurchjf758.JPG|Municipal hall

File:BauangLaUnionjf743.JPG|Police station and Legislative building

File:5624Bauang Caba, La Union Border 60.jpg|Bauang Welcome Arch

File:FvfLaUnion9987 32.JPG|Bauang Commercial Center

File:FvfBauangLaUnion9999 01.JPG|Town plaza overlooking Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church

File:601Central East, Bauang, La Union 30.jpg|Bauang Town Plaza

File:8178Bauang Town Proper 48.jpg|Bauang Bridge

File:9341Naguilian Road Bauang 10.jpg|Along Naguilian Road, Bauang

File:9908Bacquit Taberna, Bauang, La Union 66.jpg|Taberna Beach

File:Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church, Bauang, La Union.jpg|Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church