Los Baños, Laguna

Los Baños
Municipality

Seal
Nickname(s): Special Nature and Science City of the Philippines[1]

Map of Laguna showing the location of Los Baños
Los Baños

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°10′N 121°13′E / 14.167°N 121.217°ECoordinates: 14°10′N 121°13′E / 14.167°N 121.217°E
Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Laguna
District 2nd District of Laguna
Founded September 15, 1615
Barangays 14
Government[2]
 • Mayor Caesar P. Perez
 • Vice Mayor Copie A. Alipon
Area[3]
 • Total 54.22 km2 (20.93 sq mi)
Population (2010)[4]
 • Total 101,884
 • Density 1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Demonym Los Bañense
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 4030, 4031
Dialing code 49
Income class 1st
Website www.losbanos.gov.ph

Los Baños is a first class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 101,884 inhabitants.[4] It has a total land area of 56.5 square kilometers and is bordered on the south and southwest by Mount Makiling, on the north by Laguna de Bay, on the northwest by Calamba City and on the east by the town of Bay. The town is located 63 kilometres (39 mi) southeast of Manila and is accessible via the South Luzon Expressway.

The municipality lies on the northern slopes of the long dormant volcano Mount Makiling and is known among tourists for its hot spring resorts that dot the area. Los Baños also hosts the University of the Philippines, along with other foreign and local and international research centers, such as the International Rice Research Institute, the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Carabao Center at UPLB, and SEAMEO-SEARCA, making the town a temporary home for tens of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and expatriates.

Aside from its importance in academics, science and research, Los Baños is a well-known tourist destination. Because of the town's proximity to Metro Manila, Los Baños' hot spring resorts are frequent weekend or summer getaways for residents of the vast metropolis and tourists from other places in the Philippines and abroad. Tourists who visit Los Baños also come to the several native delicacies stores in the town to buy the town's famous Buko pie (coconut meat pie).

Geography

Rice fields near Los Banos

Los Baños is nestled between two of Southern Luzon's most dominant geographical features - Mount Makiling to the south and southwest and Laguna de Bay to the north.[5] In fact, Laguna de Bay's southernmost tip is at Barangay Bambang, and Barangay Bagong Silang is already halfway up Mount Makiling. Both the mountain and the lake are volcanic features - Makiling being a potentially active volcano whose geothermal activities gave birth to the hot springs after which the town was named, and Laguna de Bay being the filled-in caldera of a massive prehistoric volcano.

Another notable geological feature is Tadlac Lake, a maar lake whose almost perfectly round shape and uncharted waters have led some locals to call it "the enchanted lake." Others call it "alligator lake", a reminder that it served as the last bastion of Laguna de Bay's once-plentiful cayman population, which has since been wiped out and is now just another legendary part of Philippine history.

Rivers

The town of Los Baños is crossed by five rivers or creeks:[5]

Barangays

Los Baños is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.

Barangay Captain Population (2010)[4]
Anos Celerino L. Balasoto 7,446
Bagong Silang Rufino A. Maloles 577
Bambang Joselito C. Manzanares 7,021
Batong Malake Nilo R. Lapiz 11,884
Baybayin (poblacion) Anselmo M. Lapitan 1,307
Bayog Cesar L. Moldez 9,671
Lalakay Gaudencio P. Macatangay 4,253
Maahas Ferdinand P. Vargas 6,800
Malinta Rolando L. Erroba 6,258
Mayondon Victorio A. Reyes 16,181
Putho Tuntungin Ronaldo N. Oñate 8,692
San Antonio Cecilio Magsino 13,173
Tadlac Juan Marvin S. Bautista 3,342
Timugan (poblacion) Florencio D. Bautista 5,279

Climate

Los Baños has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw).

Climate data for Los Baños, Laguna
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29.1
(84.4)		 30.2
(86.4)		 31.9
(89.4)		 33.5
(92.3)		 33.6
(92.5)		 32.5
(90.5)		 31.5
(88.7)		 31.2
(88.2)		 31.1
(88)		 31.0
(87.8)		 30.2
(86.4)		 29.2
(84.6)		 31.3
(88.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.3
(77.5)		 25.9
(78.6)		 27.1
(80.8)		 28.5
(83.3)		 28.8
(83.8)		 28.2
(82.8)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.2
(81)		 27.1
(80.8)		 26.6
(79.9)		 25.7
(78.3)		 27.1
(80.8)
Average low °C (°F) 21.5
(70.7)		 21.6
(70.9)		 22.3
(72.1)		 23.5
(74.3)		 24.1
(75.4)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.4
(74.1)		 23.3
(73.9)		 23.0
(73.4)		 22.3
(72.1)		 23.0
(73.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 55
(2.17)		 27
(1.06)		 30
(1.18)		 38
(1.5)		 159
(6.26)		 208
(8.19)		 280
(11.02)		 258
(10.16)		 246
(9.69)		 252
(9.92)		 226
(8.9)		 163
(6.42)		 1,942
(76.46)
Source: [6]

History

Precolonial Times and the Spanish Colonial Period

Los Baños started as a settlement, a barrio of Bay, called Mainit, the Tagalog term for "hot" and alludes to the thermal springs at the foot of Mount Makiling. By 1589, through a Franciscan Friar, it became popularly called by its present name: "Los Baños," which is Spanish for "bathing place."[7]

In 1595, a temporary building made of bamboo and cogon was built to serve as shelter for the patients who journeyed to Mainit to seek cures for their ailments. It was on September 15, 1615 when the Friars administered Los Baños as a separate town from Bay.[7]

The early traders from Las Pinas such as the "Eusebio clan" and from Manila the "Lopez clan" are considered the earliest to have established farming and business establishment in the area followed by the Kalaws, Clemente and De Castro clan who are all related to each other. Presently although most of these pioneering families have migrated to other municipalities and overseas, the clan are still in monopoly on agriculture, business and education. In 1671, more permanent structures like churches and hospitals were built only to be destroyed by a fire in 1727. The structures were re-erected at a slow rate. The church which now stands in the municipal center of Los Baños dates back to 1851. The Spanish Governor's palace was built in 1879 but was only completed in 1892.

The American Colonial Period and UPLB

In 1909, the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA) was established.

The UPCA became a Japanese camp for prisoners of war, an internment camp for allied nationals, a target of Kempetai punitive measures, and the headquarters of a secret organization of guerrillas. On February 23, 1945, US forces of the First Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment led a combined amphibious and airborne raid against the Japanese prison of war camp, rescuing over 2,000 allied nationals. In order to haste the evacuation of civilians from their belongings, US forces and Filipino guerrillas were forced to burn the barracks before Japanese reinforcements would arrive to the area. Only Baker Hall, the armory-gymnasium, remained. Among those liberated, was a civilian purser named Frank W. Buckles, who subsequently lived to become America's last surviving veteran of World War I.[8]

In early 50's a batch of bright young Filipino forestry graduates of the University of The Philippines College of Forestry (UPCF) made their way to "British North Borneo" (Sabah) on a pioneering quest that has contributed in the establishment of the "Sabah Forestry Department" in Malaysia, including the famous "Sepilok Research Centre" where it also shelters the world famous orangutan sanctuary. (Prominent UPLB foresters in Sabah, Malaysia, retired Forestry Officers: Mendoza, T.V.Eusebio Sr, Udarbe, Alavaso, Sario, Pascua, Dotimas, Padua, Siruno)

In 1959, the 10th World Scout Jamboree was held in Los Baños, with the theme "Building Tomorrow Today" with an attendance of 12,203 scouts.

In 1962, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) began its operation.

From "Special University Zone" to "Special Science and Nature City", and Onwards

In 1979, the evolution and development of academic excellence in Los Baños moved the people of Los Baños to request then president Ferdinand Marcos to declare the municipality as "A Special University Zone", granted on 15 June 1982 by virtue of letter of instruction No. 883.

Los Baños was further declared as an "Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences Community" on 17 March 1982 by virtue of Executive Order No. 784 (Section 23).

On August 7, 2000, Los Baños was declared as a "Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines" through Presidential Proclamation No. 349 in recognition as a center for science and technology in the development of agriculture and preservation of the environment.

The 6th Flora Malesiana, a triennial gathering of people with botanical expertise regarding "Malesia," was held from September 20 to 24 in 2004. It provided a forum for Flora Malesiana members and encouraged publications on Malesian plants.

During the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, Los Baños played host to the aquatics events, with the newly built Trace Aquatic Center at Trace College serving as the venue.

The headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Center for Biodiversity was opened on August 8, 2006 at the DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, located at the College of Forestry, University of the Philippines Los Baños. It coincided with the foundation day celebrations of the organization. The Philippines assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 and played host to the 12th ASEAN and East Asia Summits (held in Metro Cebu, January 2007).

In January 2007, the 5th ASEAN Inter-Club Age-Group Swimming Championships was held in the Trace Aqua Sports Center.

Los Baños also plays host to the UAAP, as the Trace Aquatics Center has served as the venue for the league's swimming competitions since UAAP Season 70.

Currently, Los Banos has the largest scientist community in South East Asia. Although it is a small town, it has contributed widely through scientific achievements and contributions locally and worldwide particularly on agriculture. A search through Google results in a list of international scientists in a range of fields who have come here to study.

Demographics

Los Baños Town Hall
Population census of Los Baños
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 66,211—    
1995 71,683+1.50%
2000 82,027+2.93%
2007 98,631+2.58%
2010 101,884+1.19%

Places of interest

Gate of University of the Philippines at Los Banos

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Information for Prospective Students – University of the Philippines Los Baños
  2. ↑ "2013 Election Results". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Elections. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Province: LAGUNA". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010". 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Plan of Road Network for Municipality of Los Baños, Province of Laguna, Island of Luzon (Map). Los Baños Municipal Planning and Development Office.
  6. ↑ "Climate data for: Los Baños". Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.losbanosweb.com/history.htm?preloadSite=[type+Function]&loadingCall=1
  8. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/28/AR2011022800165_3.html

External links

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