Balayan, Batangas

Balayan is derived from the Old Tagalog word balayan, meaning "to walk past the paddy, from a basket to another"[9] and "carry or accomplish anything with the tip of any batten".[10] Other possible source is from the old Tagalog word balayang which means "wood".[9]

Tagalog literatures in Balayan were lost and destroyed at the coming of the Spaniards.[11] Jesuit Father Chirino testified they found (300) three hundred pre-colonial manuscripts in Balayan but to facilitate them the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith, early Jesuit missionaries destroyed the records.

Scholars and historians believed that Tagalog songs: Kumintang and Kundiman originated from Balayan.[12] Spanish writer and historian Wenceslao E. Retana recorded the lyrics of a popular Kundiman when he visited Batangas in 1888.[13]

Balayan has a close affinity to early history. The towns position on the basin of a good harbour was one of the reasons it became the first lands for local settlements in the Philippines, with existing records of local indigenous residents exchanging barter goods with Chinese traders dating back to the mid-14th century.

It was once the capital of a Moro Sultanate named Bon-bon whose area includes Mindoro to Cavite and even some parts of Metro Manila. The indigenous inhabitants of Balayan has close ties with the Brunei Sultanate of Maynilad under the leadership of Rajah Sulayman I and his uncle Rajah Matanda. There are historical accounts that Rajah Sulayman I stayed on this area when he tried to battle the Spaniards around Intramuros.[14]

Despite the presence of Spanish forces protected by the newly built stonefort in nearby Maynilad or Manila, Fort Santiago and Fort Intramuros Philippines, due to its natural harbor, a number of areas around the archipelago were often become launching grounds of counterattacks from the seafaring Moro people.

These events prompted local Spanish officials to set up a fort to prevent yearly Moro counterattacks.

Balayan is a lowland town in western Batangas. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 108.73 square kilometres (41.98 sq mi) [5] constituting 3.49% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometre- (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

Balayan is bounded on the north by Tuy, west by Calatagan and Lian, east by Calaca, and south by the Balayan Bay.

Distance from Manila, the country’s capital, is about 107 kilometres (66 mi) and approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi) from Batangas City.

In the 2015 census, Balayan had a population of 90,699.[7] The population density was 830 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,100/sq mi).

The main language used by the people in Balayan is Tagalog but some can still speak and understand basic Spanish. Literate people can speak English but it is often used in formal occasions or events only.

Religion

Balayan Church

Churches:

• Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Balayan)
• Ermita Church
• Jesus the Peace Maker Christian Church
• Jesus Is Lord Church

Casa Cacao

• Phil Steel Corporation (Steelcorp) – manufacturer of coated steel sheets, coils and irons
• Batangas Sugar Cane Central – the mother company of Muscuvado Food Sugar Corp. and processes sugar cane
• ProGreen Distillery (Emperador)

Balayan BayWalk Park – On January 2009, Balayan renovated a mini park which will provide locals and tourists a view of Balayan Bay similar to what is seen in the country’s capital.

Hospitals in Balayan include:

• Medical Center Western Batangas
• Balayan Bayview Hospital and Medical Center
• Don Manuel Lopez Memorial District Hospital
• Metro Balayan Medical Center

Immaculate Conception College

Balayan has several schools, institutions and university both public and private located within and outside the Poblacion.

Public schools include:

• Balayan East Central School
• Balayan West Central School
• Balayan National High School
• Batangas State University – Balayan Campus

Private schools include:

• Sixto C. López – propagandist and negotiator for Philippine independence from the United States

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balayan, Batangas.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Balayan.

• Official website
• Balayan Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code