Bauang, officially the Municipality of Bauang (Ilocano: Ili ti Bauang; Pangasinan: Baley na Bauang; Filipino: Bayan ng Bauang), is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 77,670 people.
The municipality 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.
A more widely accepted explanation is that it derives from the Ilocano word for garlic “báwang or baoang”, which was also abundant at the time of the Spaniards' arrival. Another explanation links the name to the term "buang," meaning "river split into two," reflecting the town's geographical feature where the Bauang River divides into two branches before emptying into the sea.
History
Early history
Bauang was a pre-colonial settlement located in the province of La Union, originally part of pre-colonial Pangasinan and referred to as Atuley, which now covers the present areas of Bauang, San Fernando, and San Juan.
The area was primarily inhabited by the Samtoys (Ilocano), along with smaller populations of Pangasinan. These settlers were mostly fisherfolk and traders, living in coastal communities that actively engaged in commerce with neighboring groups such as the Igorots, Tagalogs, and even foreign traders from Japan and China.
Commonly traded goods included gold, jars, silk, woven textiles, ceramics, and glass beads, reflecting the region's economic activity. Their belief system was rooted in animism, where natural objects and phenomena were considered to have spirits, guiding their cultural and religious practices.
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.
1898 Philippine Revolution
During the late Spanish colonial period, resistance to Spanish rule grew among the people of Bauang, largely due to colonial oppression and abuses. As the Philippine Revolution unfolded in the late 19th century, the people of Bauang joined the nationwide movement to gain independence from Spain.
Led by General Manuel Tinio y Bondoc, a revolutionary allied with Emilio Aguinaldo, locals in Bauang and nearby areas fought against Spanish forces in Northern Luzon. The town played a key role in the eventual expulsion of Spanish forces from La Union. Notable revolutionary leaders from Bauang, such as Remigio Patacsil and Mauro Ortiz, led the charge, contributing to the eventual victory of Filipino forces in the area.
American Colonial Era
Following the 1898 Spanish-American War, the Philippines was ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris. This marked the beginning of American colonization in the town and the wider province, bringing about significant political, economic, and social transformations under the new colonial administration. During the Philippine-American War, Bauang witnessed military conflicts as American forces sought to establish control over the area.
Once the Americans secured the province, they introduced democratic governance, leading to the election of La Union's first Civil Governor, Don Joaquín Joaquino Ortega, in 1901. This was a pivotal moment in local politics. However, by 1913, several of Bauang’s barrios, including Pagudpud, Pagdalagan, Sevilla, Bungro, Tanquigan, and Sibuan-Otong, were transferred to the jurisdiction of San Fernando.
Prominence of Manuel Arguilla
Bauang became well known in literary circles during the Commonwealth era because of the prominence of the writer Manuel Arguilla, 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.
Marcos' efforts to consolidate political power did not get much resistance in the La Union, including Bauang, and La Union residents mostly did not speak up about the economic stresses they were experiencing. 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
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.
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.
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 10.61 kilometres (6.59 mi) from the provincial capital San Fernando, and 256.61 kilometres (159.45 mi) 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.