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Balaoan
Municipality
Municipality of Balaoan
Balaoan town center
FlagSeal
Nickname: The Sea Urchin Capital of the North
Map of La Union with Balaoan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
BalaoanLocation within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°49′N 120°24′E / 16.82°N 120.4°E / 16.82; 120.4
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	La Union
District	1st district
Barangays	36 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Aleli U. Concepcion
• Vice Mayor	Carlo Castor U. Concepcion
• Representative	Pablo C. Ortega
• Municipal Council	Members Joanna Katrina L. Ledda Rogelio O. Concepcion Rogelio E. Opinaldo Michael D. Marron Rosie M. Is-isa Herminia M. Ordinario Emiliana P. Portacio Marife C. Hermosura
• Electorate	26,142 voters (2022)
Area
• Total	68.70 km (26.53 sq mi)
Elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Highest elevation	311 m (1,020 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population
• Total	40,339
• Density	590/km (1,500/sq mi)
• Households	10,204
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	9.48% (2021)
• Revenue	PHP 1,067,287,083.40 billion (410.46%) (2021)
• Assets	PHP 1,757,187,696.71 billion (99.14%) (2021)
• Equity	PHP 1,700,436,716.76 billion (112.55%) (2021)
• Expenditure	PHP 175,850,099.75 million (-42.80%) (2021)
• Liabilities	PHP 56,750,979.95 million (-31.10%) (2021)
Service provider
• Electricity	La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2517
PSGC	013305000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)72
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.balaoan.gov.ph

Balaoan, officially the Municipality of Balaoan (Ilocano: Ili ti Balaoan; Filipino: Bayan ng Balaoan), is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,339.

Etymology

The town's name in Ilocano translates to “no bullets” or “bullets no more.” Historically, it has been spelled as either “Balauan” or “Balaoang” in old records. According to one epic tale, early native Ilocanos bravely defended their territory, shouting “bala” (meaning “bullets”) and “aoan” (meaning “no more”) as they resorted to using only their bolos and bare hands, facing the challenge of running low on ammunition while fending off intruders armed with superior weaponry.

Another, lighter version of the story involves the local inhabitants teasing patrolling Spanish soldiers by asking if their guns had bullets with the phrase “Aoan Bala?” This phrase eventually morphed into “Bala-oan,” which also translates to “no bullets?” or “bullets no more.” As this new term caught on among the locals, the town became known as the place where the Spanish guns had “no bullets” or “bullets no more.”

• Dr. Camilo Osias - name of a former senator who was born in Balaoan
• Nagsabaran (as Nagsabaran Norte & Nagsabaran Sur) – This name (meaning "place where branches out") was given to the place because the national road branched out to this barrio. The root word is sabar, meaning "to branch out".
• Pantar (as Pantar Norte & Pantar Sur) - Ilocano term of "lively".

History

According to William Scott, "Balaoan itself was an emporium for the exchange of Igorot gold."

Balaoan, formerly "Puraw" (meaning "white') was originally part of Ilocos Sur. The town's present name originated during the Spanish colonial era. A group of Spanish soldiers were on patrol and went on to rest on a sitio. The villagers were curious about the soldiers because of their unusual descent and fair skin color (others have olive skin, which is still lighter than the skin tone of villagers). They flocked the soldiers touching their guns, too afraid that the guns might explode accidentally, one villager asked the soldier in a local vernacular.. "Aoan bala?" ("Awan bala?" in modern spelling, meaning "No bullets?"). The soldier did not understand what the villager meant, he uttered the last word first, and remembering the last, he said "Bala-aoan", which is pronounced on its modern town name "Balaoan".

During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, a secret society of insurrectos was organized in the municipality. Its purpose was to fight and revolt against the Spanish Government in the area. On the eve of the revolution, a traitor told the Spanish of their plan. The Spanish soldiers, without any investigation, arrested seven members of the secret society and executed them the same night. Only one, Fernando Ostrea, escaped with leg wounds. He informed the people about what had happened. In memory of the seven Martyrs, a masonic lodge, Siete Martires Lodge No. 177, was organized.

Balaoan is one of the oldest municipalities in La Union, having been founded in 1704. Its first Capitan is Ignacio Duldulao.

Geography

Balaoan is situated north of Bacnotan, south of Bangar, east of Luna and west of Santol. Located 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of San Fernando City, the provincial capital of La Union and the regional capital of Region I. Balaoan is 299 kilometres (186 mi) north of Metro Manila. Barangay Paraoir is Balaoan's pristine coastal community on the South China Sea.

Balaoan can be reached from Manila using the MacArthur Highway, or by airplane via Canaoay Airport in San Fernando City.

Its land area of 6,870 hectares (17,000 acres) consists mostly of agricultural lands. It occupies 4.3% of the total area of the province.

Barangays

Balaoan is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.  Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Almeida
• Antonino
• Apatut
• Ar-arampang
• Baracbac Este
• Baracbac Oeste
• Bet-ang
• Bulbulala
• Bungol
• Butubut Este
• Butubut Norte
• Butubut Oeste
• Butubut Sur
• Cabuaan Oeste
• Calliat
• Calungbuyan
• Camiling
• Dr. Camilo Osias Poblacion
• Guinaburan
• Masupe
• Nagsabaran Norte
• Nagsabaran Sur
• Nalasin
• Napaset
• Pagbennecan
• Pagleddegan
• Pantar Norte
• Pantar Sur
• Pa-o
• Paraoir
• Patpata
• Sablut
• San Pablo
• Sinapangan Norte
• Sinapangan Sur
• Tallipugo

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Balaoan was 40,339 people, with a density of 590 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,500 inhabitants per square mile.

The dominant language spoken in Balaoan is Ilocano.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Balaoan

Festivities

The church of Balaoan is under the advocacy of the town's patron saint, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, whose feast day is celebrated on September. Balaoan's town fiesta is celebrated every December 21 to 23 of the year.

Government

Local government

Balaoan, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of La Union, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

Education

Elementary Schools

• Almeida Elementary School
• Apatut Elementary School (Apatut)
• Ar-arampang Elementary School (Ar- Arampang,Balaoan)
• Balaoan Central School (Antonino and Cabua-an)
• Balaoan Christian Foundation (Nalasin)
• Bulbulala Elementary School (Bulbulala)
• Bungol Elementary School (Bungol)
• Butubut Elementary School (Butubut Sur)
• Butubut Norte Elementary School (Butubut Norte)
• Calliat Elementary School (Calliat)
• Guinaburan Elementary School (Guinaburan)
• Masupe Elementary School (Masupe)
• Nagsabaran Sur Elementary School (Nsgsabaran Sur)
• Osias Educational Foundation (Dr. Camilo Osias)
• Pantar Norte Elementary School (Pantar Norte)
• Pantar Sur Elementary School (Pantar Sur)
• Paraoir Elementary School (Paraoir)
• Patpata Elementary School (Patpata)
• San Nicolas Academy (Dr. Camilo Osias, Nalasin and Antonino)
• Sinapangan Norte Elementary School (Sinapangan Norte)
• Sinapangan Sur Elementary School (Tal-lipugo)

High Schools

• Bungol National High School (Bungol)
• Butubut National High School (Butubut Norte)
• Castor Z. Concepcion Memorial National High School (Nalasin and Antonino)
• Osias Educational Foundation (Dr. Camilo Osias)
• Paraoir National High School
• San Nicolas Academy
• Sinapangan National High School (Tal-lipugo)

Notable personalities

• Camilo Osías, former Senator
• Magnolia Antonino, former Senator

Gallery

• Welcome arch
• Municipal hall
• Public market
• Street view
• Tricycle terminal

References

1.  Municipality of Balaoan | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ Census of Population (2020). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "History of Balaoan". Official Website of Municipality of Balaoan. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
6. Scott, William (1974). The Discovery of the Igorots. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. p. 58. ISBN 9711000873.
7. "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
8. "Balaoan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
9. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
10. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
11. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
12. "Province of La Union". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
13. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
14. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
15. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
16. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
17. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
18. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
19. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
20. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
21. "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 5, 2022.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

v t e Places adjacent to Balaoan
Luna / Bangar Sudipen South China Sea Balaoan Santol Bacnotan San Gabriel

• Municipalities of La Union
• Populated places established in 1704
• 1704 establishments in the Spanish Empire