Bataan Province

Country - Philippines
Region - Central Luzon (Region III)
Founded - 1754
Capital - Balanga City
Government
• Type - Province of the Philippines
• Governor - Albert S. Garcia (NUP)
Figure 1. Seal of Bataan Province
• Vice Governor - Efren Dominic E. Pascual, Jr. (LP)
Area
• Total - 1,372.98 km2 (530.11 sq mi)
Area rank - 72nd out of 80
Population (2010)
• Total - 687,482
• Rank - 40th out of 80
• Density - 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
• Density rank - 8th out of 80
Divisions
• Independent cities 0
• Component cities 1
• Municipalities 11
• Barangays 237
Figure 2. Map of Bataan
• Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Bataan
Demographics
• Ethnic groups Tagalog (88%), Kapampangan (4%), Ilocano (2%), Others (3%)
• Languages Tagalog, Kapampangan, English

Overview
Bataan (/bɑːtɑːˈɑːn/) is a province of the Philippines occupying the entire Bataan Peninsula on
Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is
bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north. The peninsula faces the South China
Sea to the west and Subic Bay to the north-west, and encloses Manila Bay to the east.
The Battle of Bataan is famous in history as one of the last stands of American and Filipino
soldiers before they were overwhelmed by the Japanese forces in World War II. The Bataan Death March
was named for this province, where the infamous march started. This is also the location of the Bataan
Nuclear Power Plant located in the Municipality of Morong.
Geography
Physical
The Bataan Peninsula is a rocky extension of the Zambales Mountains, on Luzon in the
Philippines. It separates the Manila Bay from the South China Sea. The peninsula features Mount Natib
(elevation 1,253 metres (4,111 ft)) in the north and the Mariveles Mountains in the south, which
includes Mount Samat, the location of the historical marker for the Bataan Death March.
Mariveles, at the southern tip, can be reached via jet ferry plying the Mariveles-to-Manila route
that has an approximate travel time of 40 minutes.

Subdivisions
Bataan is politically subdivided into 11 municipalities and 1 component city.

City: Balanga
Municipalities:
Abucay, Bagac, Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Limay, Mariveles, Morong, Orani, Orion, Pilar, Samal

History
In 1647, Dutch naval forces landed in country in an attempt to seize the islands from Spain. The
Dutch massacred the people of Abucay in Bataan.
Historian Cornelio Bascara documents that the province of Bataan was established in January 11,
1757 by Governor-General Pedro Manuel Arandia out of territories belonging to Pampanga and the
corregimiento of Mariveles which, at the time, included Maragondon, Cavite across the Manila Bay.[3]

World War II
March 1942: burning houses after a Japanese bombing raid in Bataan
Bataan featured prominently during World War II. Prior to the 1941 Japanese invasion, the US
Army stored nearly 1,000,000 US gallons (3,800 m3) of gasoline there.
Shortly after the Japanese Army invaded the country in December 1941, the combined US and
Filipino forces were being gradually overrun and General Douglas MacArthur moved his troops to the
Bataan Peninsula in an attempt to hold out until a relief force could be sent from the US. Japanese forces
started a siege of the peninsula on January 7, 1942, and launched an all-out assault on April 3, a few
months after the Battle of the Points. The majority of the American and Filipino forces surrendered on
April 9 and were forced to march more than a 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Bataan to Tarlac, which
became known as the Bataan Death March.

Demographics
Religion
Various religious groups are exercised by the people but Roman Catholicism is the predominant
religion comprising 85% of Bataan population, in fact Bataan has some of the most beautiful historical
Catholic Churches in the country. Aglipayan as well as several Christian faiths are the minority.

Major Industries
Bataan remains basically an agricultural province in spite of the rapid industrialization
during the last decade. Mariveles is the site of an export-processing zone that accounts for
heavy industry in the province. Cattle and carabao fattening, hog raising and poultry industry,
especially broilers and ducks and egg production are some of the promising livelihood programs
in the province.
Festivals
o Senakulo
The people of Calaguiman had been practicing this tradition since 1947, which
was started by one family in this barangay.
A traditional Lentenpresentation renacting the life and passion of Christ
presented by the local folks of Calaguiman in major roads, culminating at the town plaza.
Early on Good Friday people would flock down the main streets to watch the senakulo, a
passion play depicting the suffering of Jesus Christ starting with the betrayal of Judas up
to the funeral of Jesus. The participants are all dressed in costumes depicting the role
they portray.
o Bataan Day Celebration
Araw ng Kagitingan or Bataan Day is an annual event, a national holiday April 6-
9,that commemorates the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers during WW II.
Defeat/ fall of Bataan and honors the bravery of Filipino soldiers who offered their lives
for freedom of the country The president of the country, together with other
dignitaries, war veterans and officials of the province usually leads celebration of the
Bataan Day at the Shrine of Valor in Mt. Samat.
o Banga Festival
It is said that the name “Balanga” was derived from a kind of pot used for
cooking or fetching water. The cooking pot is made of a special clay and is locally known
as “banga”. To commemorate this humble beginning of the now progressive city, the
Banga Festival is being celebrated.
o Pagbubunyi Festival
It is said that the name “Balanga” was derived from a kind of pot used for
cooking or fetching water. The cooking pot is made of a special clay and is locally known
as “banga”. To commemorate this humble beginning of the now progressive city, the
Banga Festival is being celebrated.
o Palis Lasa Festival
An agro- religious festival held annually in Mabatang, Abucay. It starts with a
thanksgiving mass and a street dancing where participants adorn themselves with
colorful costumes made of tiger lass or “lasa” used to make walis tambo.
o Feast Day of Nuestra Senora del Pilar
The feast day is celebrated every 12th day of October to honor the miraculous
Nuestra Señora del Pillar.
o Alimango Festival
Celebrated every second Sunday of October to honor the miraculous Virgin Mary
of the Rosary.
o Pawikan Festival
For the past years, the Bantay Pawikan, Inc. and the Morong local government
unit have been conducting the Pawikan Festival during the last week of November. For
the past years, the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with the
Provincial Government and the Provincial Tourism Office, had organized series of
activities that aims to generate awareness and gather funds for the continuous
development and rehabilitation of the conservation center. This symbolic celebration,
 usually held at the end of November, will hopefully bring sustainable progress to Bataan
in terms of safeguarding the natural environment and unify people from all walks of life
under the preservation program.

Religious Sights
o First Abucay Catholic Church

Built by Father Geronimo de Belen in the early 1600’s. It was burned in 1870 and
rebuilt by Father Jose Diego Pelaez. The Spiritual Ministration of Abucay was entrusted
to the Dominicans in 1588. A fierce battle between the Dutch and the Pampango
Defenders was fought in this court on June 23, 1647. Nearly two hundred Pampangos
were put to death and forty others together with the Spanish Alcalde Mayor of
Pampanga, Don Antonio de Cabrera, Father Geronimo Sotomayor and Father Tomas
Ramos were taken to Batavia on June 23, 1647. The present church was badly damage
by the earthquake of September 16, 1852.
o Virgen Milagrosa Del Rosario del Pueblo de Orani Shrine

The "Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Orani" Church was also declared as a
"Dambana ng Paglalakbay" (Pilgrim Shrine) on August 22, 2004 by then Bishop of
Balanga ang now Archbishop of Lingayen Socrates B. Villegas. On September 25, 2012,
the church of Orani also became an Affiliate Church of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in
Rome, with all the rights and privileges conveyed by the Roman Pontiff on the latter. This
means that the faithful, after fulfilling certain conditions, can avail of plenary
indulgences when they pray at the Church of Orani, as if they had visited the Basilica in
Rome.
Historical Sights
o Mount Samat - Shrine of Valor

It is built in honor and remembrance of the mighty Filipino and American soldiers
who fought and died in the Battle of Bataan during the World War II. There is a viewing
gallery at the arms of the memorial cross. You have to ride an elevator to get there. You
will have a magnificent view of Bataan, Corregidor Island and Manila (on a clear day). At
the shrine complex, there is a museum with lots of collections and memorabilia from the
WWII and the Battle of Bataan.
o Zero Kilometre Death March Marker

The Death March of the Filipino and American prisoners of war in 1942 started
from two points in Bataan, on April 10 from Mariveles and on April 11 from Bagac going
to Camp O’ Donell in Capas, Tarlac. An obelisk and a bayonet thrust to the ground now
marks these sights
o Bataan First Line of Defence

It marks the first strong line of defense of combined Philippines USAFFE Troops
against Japanese invasion during WW II.
Symbolic of the tragedy that befell Bataan and the gallantry of Filipino and
American heroes who restored our country and people to a government of free peoples
is a monument in the center of rotunda in Layac, Dinalupihan, Bataan. This monument
was erected by the 38th Infantry division, Army of the United States, in memory of the
 defenders of Bataan, living and dead, including the 38th Tank Company of Harrodburg,
Kentucky, a unit of said division, in December 1941 to February 1942.
o Bataan Death March Marker

The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer from Saisaih Pt. and Mariveles
to Camp O'Donnell by the Imperial Japanese Army of 60,000–80,000 Filipino and
American prisoners of war which began on April 9, 1942, after the three-month Battle of
Bataan in the Philippines during World War II. About 2,500–10,000 Filipino and 100–650
American prisoners of war died before they could reach their destination.
Natural Sights
o Bataan National Park

Bataan National Park іs а protected area оf the Philippines located іn the

mountainous interior оf Bataan province іn Central Luzon Region. The park straddles
the northern half оf Bataan Peninsula near іts border wіth Subic Bay Freeport Zone,
Zambales. The park wаs fіrst established іn 1945 under Proclamation No. 24 wіth аn
initial area оf 31,000 hectares аnd included portions іn Subic, Zambales. The park
wаs reduced іn 1987 tо іts present size оf 23688ha аnd іs nоw wholly located іn
Bataan province. The park encompasses the Bataan towns аnd cities оf Hermosa,
Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga, Bagac аnd Morong.
o Roosevelt Park Protected Landscape

The Roosevelt Protected Landscape, also known as Roosevelt Park, is a

protected area in the Central Luzon region in the Philippines. It occupies an area of
786.04 hectares of grasslands and old growth forest in northern Bataan province
near Olongapo and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
o Ambon-ambon(Lumutan) Falls

Ambon-ambon and Limutan falls (about 50 meters away from each other) are
Located in Brgy. Binukawan Bagac, Bataan. Limutan falls is about 20 meters high and
6 feet deep at the center While Ambon Ambon falls is 60 meters high.
o Dunsulan Falls

Dunsulan Falls is a waterfall located at the foot of Mount Samat, northeast of

the National Shrine in Brgy Liyang, also in Pilar town. Dunsulan falls and river is the
main drainage on the crater side of Mount Samat.