| Bauang | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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| Map of La Union showing the location of Bauang. | |||
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Bauang
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Ilocos Region (Region I) | ||
| Province | La Union | ||
| District | 2nd District | ||
| Founded | 1590 | ||
| Barangays | 39 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Eulogio Clarence Martin P. de Guzman III | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 73.15 km2 (28.2 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| • Total | 69,837 | ||
| • Density | 954.7/km2 (2,472.7/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP code | 2501 | ||
| Income class | 1st class; partially urban | ||
| Website | www.bauangtgis.gov.ph | ||
| Population Census of Bauang | |||
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| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 56,189 |
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| 2000 | 63,373 | 2.62% | |
| 2007 | 69,837 | 1.35% | |
Bauang is a 1st class municipality in the Philippine province of La Union. According to the latest census, it has a population of 69,837 people in 12,298 households.
It is bordered by San Fernando City to the north, Caba to the south, Naguilian to the east, and the South China Sea to the west.
McArthur Highway runs through this town, which junctions with Naguilian Road, one of the mountain roads into Baguio City.
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Bauang is politically subdivided into 39 barangays.
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There are three versions on how Bauang was named. First, the name came from the word "bua", which in English mean beetlenut. Beetlenuts grew in abundance at the town site, now Barangay Nagrebcan where an old Spanish Church was built. Second, its name arose from the word "baoang" (garlic). The Spanish colonizers changed the letter "o" into "u";, thus its present name "Bauang". Third, it came from the word "buang", which means "river split in two" before flowing to the sea. As it is, the Bauang River is split into two by a delta.
Like other towns in the province, Bauang also had its share in the devastating invasions of Moro pirates (“tirong” in the local dialect). In the stillness of the night, the Moro pirates would swoop upon the town without any warning, killing people and kidnapping women and children only to be sold into slavery. They stole cattle looted the town and broke into the church and robbed it of its silver and gold.
These invasions gave rise to the construction of watchtowers, locally known as baluarte, by the Gobernadorcillo Don Juan Mallare along the coast and at the mouth of the Bauang River. These watchtowers served as a fortress against the invading pirates. It was also utilized as a refuge for the inhabitants who had no time to flee to the hills whenever the pirates were sighted. However, nothing now remains of the watchtower except the traces of its foundation.
Daring exploits of the people’s forefathers, their heroism, dedication, love and commitment to the ideals of freedom in the 1900s were handed down from generation to generation. During the later part of 1890, Bauang residents succeeded in wrestling the town from the tyrannical administration of the Spaniards after fierce and bloody encounters between the “cazadores” (Spanish soldiers) and the “revolucionarios” (Filipinos). The revolucionarios were led separately by Remigio Patacsil and Mauro Ortiz.
In 1913, some barrios of Bauang were assigned to San Fernando, namely: Pagudpud, Pagdalagan, Sevilla, Bungro, Tanquigan and Sibuan-Otong.
During the Japanese occupation, many unknown and unsung sons of Bauang fought gallantly and spilled their precious blood on the beaches of the town, in Lingayen Gulf, Bataan and Corregidor in defense of freedom. Majority of the youth joined the underground movement. They enlisted in the various regiments of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) without any promise of reward or remuneration. Among the many who were executed by the Japanese were Manuel Arguilla, a poet and journalist and Major Alberto O. Fenit of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). They met their death at the dungeons of Fort Santiago.
The martyrdom and patriotism of Mayor Ambrosio Rimando, elected mayor of Bauang before the outbreak of the war, could be told and retold. He chose not to reveal the whereabouts of his townspeople who were executed in his presence before he himself was beheaded.
Many continued the fight with gallantry and valor in the mountains, Bessang Pass and other battlefields until the country was liberated from the Japanese oppressors. Today, there stands at the town plaza a monument dedicated in honor of the fighting soldiers.
In the early 70’s Bauang earned the appellation as the Beach Capital of the Philippines because of the calm waters, fine sand and languidly swaying coconut trees along the shorelines of Baccuit Sur to Pagdalagan Sur. A newly discovered Research Reef is a favorite dive spot among local and foreign scuba divers.
Bauang also hosts the South China Sea Regatta, a bi-yearly race participated by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
Bauang is also famous for its delicious grapes and guapples grown in barangays Payocpoc, Santiago, Bagbag and Urayong. The grapes industry is an additional income for farmers among the residents in these barangays until imported varieties came in.
Manuel Arguilla, one of the Philippines' most influential English writers, grew up in Bauang's Barrio Nagrebcan and his stories, including the widely anthologized "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," are set in Nagrebcan.[1][2]
Bauang is famous for its, fine-sand beaches. It is the beach capital of the north. It attracts many foreigners because of the low cost of accommodation in the vicinity.
Elementary Schools
Secondary Schools
Tertiary
"Full Gospel Christian Churches"
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