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Batan, officially the Municipality of Batan ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Batan''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Batan''; ), is a third-class
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
in the
province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Aklan Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Its capital and largest town is Kalibo. The province is situated in the northwest portion of Panay, Panay Islan ...
,
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,484 people.


History


Pre-Hispanic Period

Batan was believed to be the seat of the government of Datu Bendahara Kalantiaw III, the promulgator of the Code of Kalantiaw in 1433.. Biyahero.net. Retrieved on 2025-03-08. The code is a collection of 17 laws said to have been used during the time of the
Datu ''Datu'' is a title which denotes the rulers (variously described in historical accounts as chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs) of numerous Indigenous peoples throughout the Philippine archipelago. The title is still used today, though no ...
before the coming of the
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...
."Batan"
. Aklan Directory. Retrieved on 2011-11-03.
The Code of Kalantiaw was later proven to be a fraud.


Spanish Colonial Era

Batan is one of the oldest towns founded in Aklan. Batan was formerly an ''encomienda'' of Miguel Rodriguez in 1591. The parish in Batan was established by the
Augustinians Augustinians are members of several religious orders that follow the Rule of Saint Augustine, written about 400 A.D. by Augustine of Hippo. There are two distinct types of Augustinians in Catholic religious orders dating back to the 12th–13 ...
in 1601 under the patronage of '' Our Lady of Immaculate Conception''. Batan was first incorporated into ''Aclan'' or Aklan (now
Kalibo Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo (Aklanon language, Aklanon: ''Banwa it Kalibo''; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Kalibo''; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, ...
) in 1603 and in 1789 it became an independent municipality. In 1903, Batan was again incorporated to the new town of New Washington and became independent again in 1931.


Independent Philippines

In 1957, the ''Kalantiaw National Shrine'' marker was erected by the Philippine Historical and Cultural Society to honor the significance of Datu Kalantiaw where it displays a copy of the “original manuscript” of the Code. It was built on a former school building near the municipal seaport which houses the town's historical mementos and antiques, including the original manuscript of the code which the Spaniards obtained from an old chief and translated. In 2004 however, after years of investigation and historical findings, the
National Historical Institute The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP; ) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of history of the Philippines, Philippine history and culture of the Philippines, cultural heritage through ...
concluded that the Code of Kalantiaw was fake and a
hoax A hoax (plural: hoaxes) is a widely publicised falsehood created to deceive its audience with false and often astonishing information, with the either malicious or humorous intent of causing shock and interest in as many people as possible. S ...
. Remnants of the Kalantiaw National Shrine marker still remain in Batan, Aklan and the site area was renovated as a park for tourists and locals.


Geography

Batan is from the provincial capital of
Kalibo Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo (Aklanon language, Aklanon: ''Banwa it Kalibo''; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Kalibo''; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, ...
and from
Roxas City Roxas (, ), officially the City of Roxas (Capiznon language, Capiznon/; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the 2 ...
. According to the
Philippine Statistics Authority The Philippine Statistics Authority (; PSA) is the central statistical authority of the Philippine government that collects, compiles, analyzes, and publishes statistical information on economic, social, demographic, political affairs, and gene ...
, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Aklan.


Climate


Barangays

Batan is politically subdivided into 20
barangay The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...
s. Each barangay consists of
purok A ''purok'' () is an informal division within a barangay in the Philippines. While not officially considered a local government unit (LGU), a ''purok'' often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. ''Pur ...
s and some have
sitios A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...
.


Demographics

In the 2020 census, Batan had a population of 33,484. The population density was .


Language

Aklanon is the main dialect of Batan while Hiligaynon is also spoken and understood in the municipality. Capiznon is also used due to Batan’s proximity to
Capiz Capiz (), officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon language, Capiznon/Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the central part of the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines ...
.


Economy


Government

Based on the official results of the May 2025 Philippine Mid-Term Elections, Batan's local government unit is led by: • Mayor - Mike Ramos (AKSYON) • Vice Mayor - Bodjyk Demeterio (AKSYON) The members of the Sangguniang Bayan (Councilors/Konsehals) of the Lone District of Batan are: 1. William Bautista Jr. (LAKAS) 2. Pogi Perlas (NPC) 3. Chan Chan David (LAKAS) 4. Eric Del Rosario (NPC) 5. Kap Nonong Jacinto (AKSYON) 6. Bong Penalba (AKSYON) 7. Joy Ramos (LP) 8. Doc Dee Bautista (LAKAS)


Tourism

* Tinago Lake or locally known as ''Tinagong Dagat'', is located between the town (near Brgys. Magpag-ong, Ipil and Tabon) and Altavas. It is an long and wide "hidden sea" from Batan's bay by two islands. Fringed with mangroves and thick undergrowth, it has a rocky beach and it is one of the town's rich fishing grounds. It is also ideal for speed boating and water skiing. It is also one of the sources of fresh oysters in Batan. * Ob-Ob Hill – The high and rocky Ob-Ob Hill is located east of Poblacion, Batan in barangay Songcolan and it has a sweeping view of the Sibuyan Sea, fish ponds and rice fields. At the foot of the hill is a beach ideal for underwater cave diving, scuba diving, fishing, and water sports. It is also one of the rich fishing grounds in Batan. * Kalantiaw Shrine Marker is a historical marker named after Datu Bendahara Kalantiaw III, the third chief of
Panay Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and a total population of 4,542,926, as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City of Il ...
, who is said to have instituted the Code of Kalantiaw in Batan in 1433. * Mambuquiao Marine Protected Area and Fish Sanctuary is a coral reef turned into a fish sanctuary. Locally called ''pito'', it has the highest live coral cover in Salian Bay. It is ideal for boating, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. * Macawiwili Mountains is located in Barangay Lalab. * Puting Bato is a protected wildlife area located in Barangay Angas. * Pandan Hills is a verdant hill in Barangay Bay-ang overlooking the
Sibuyan Sea The Sibuyan Sea is a small sea in the Philippines separating Luzon and the Visayas. It is bounded by the island of Panay to the south, Mindoro to the west, Masbate to the east, and to the north Marinduque and the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon. ...
. It is dubbed as Batan, Aklan's version of Batanes' Marlboro Hills. * Old Spanish relics from the Spanish colonization period such as the Spanish cannon, Spanish distilleries and old Spanish cemeteries with brick facades can still be seen in Batan, Aklan. * Aroma Beach Resort is located in Barangay Napti. It features a saltwater pool. * Borabucay Beach Resort is located in Barangay Songcolan. It is the favorite hangout place of Batangnons and Capiznons. * Waterfront Beach Resort is located in Barangay Songcolan. It is one of the newest resorts in Batan that is just beside the Borabucay resort. * Mambu Rise Beach Resort is located in Barangay Mambuquiao. It is a lifestyle resort and features live bands during weekends. * Paradwys Beach Resort is located in Barangay Napti. * Casa Del Mar is located in Barangay Ambolong. * RainForest Botanical Garden is located in Barangay Ambolong. It is an event place that features vegetables, herbal plants, fruit-bearing trees, and flowering plants. * The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Poblacion, Batan. It is considered as one of the oldest churches in Aklan. The church celebrated its quadri-centennial (400 years) of parish existence in 2002. * Punta, Magpag-ong is a refreshing place to go because it features a sweeping view of the sea. Perfect for those who want to relax and enjoy with its floating BALSA and meditate with nature. * Batan Municipal Seaport is a port located in Poblacion and considered the oldest in the province of Aklan. It is L-type and made up of concrete materials having a total length of 130 meters. It can accommodate inter-island shipping. The port is the shortest route entry and exit from Batan to the capital town of Kalibo via Dumaguit. A ferry boat service is available every 15 minutes, with a travel time of 4–5 minutes. * San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish Church is a parish church in Barangay Camaligan dedicated to San Ruiz de Manila, the first Filipino Martyr and Saint, at the time of his beautification and canonization by Pope John Paul II at Vatican City formal religious ceremonies in Manila, Philippines. * Camanci Falls is a waterfall that attributes to the natural scenery of Brgy. Camanci and features freshness among the wilderness. Batan still has pristine beaches, abundant marine life, seafood (Batan is known for its crabs, lobsters, and shrimps), coconut products, grain produce, root crops, fruits, and large forests. If you're lucky, you can find or dig local edible clams called 'kagaykay' that can be found along Batan's shorelines especially in Brgy. Songcolan, Brgy. Mandong, Brgy. Napti, and Brgy. Mambuquiao. Batan is also known for a special puto cake or steamed rice cake in several different flavors such as cheese and buko. It is a filling and ideal snack because it is about 6-8 inches in diameter, big enough to fill the stomachs of a small group. An advanced reservation is needed to taste this local delicacy that is unique to Brgy. Mandong in Batan.


Local Festivals

* Santo Niñohan or Ati-Ati and Malakara Festival (in honor of the Holy Child) is celebrated every third Saturday and Sunday of January. This festival is very similar to the well-known Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Aklan. Its difference from Kalibo's Ati-Atihan is that participants are required to use native and indigenous materials as the main components of their costumes and props. *
Immaculate Conception The Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Mariology, Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Debated by medieval theologians, it was not def ...
, Batan's Municipal and Religious Fiesta, is celebrated every December 8. It is a weeklong celebration composed of various activities like street parades, foodfest, dance competition, basketball tournament, drum & lyre competition, boat race, marathon, a showcase of local products from each barangay, consecrated mass & flower offering at Kalantiaw Shrine, Lakambini ni Kalantiaw beauty pageant, merrymaking and a concert at the local playground or park performed by DJs, dance groups and OPM bands or artists like Rocksteddy, Hale, Siakol, Brownman Revival and Arnel Pineda. * Juez De Cuchillo is always held every October 19 to commemorate the capture and beheading of 79 innocent Batangnon civilians on October 19, 1943, by the
Japanese Imperial Army The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...
. A program, re-enactment, and flower offering are held at the site where the victims were beheaded and slaughtered by the Japanese soldiers. A marker was erected by local officials and relatives of the victims for their remembrance.


Education


Elementary

* Batan Elementary School * Batan Learning Center * Bay-ang Elementary School * Nicolas R. Delgado Elementary School * Cabugao Elementary School * Caiyang Elementary School * Camaligan Elementary School * Camanci Elementary School * I Learn Child Center – Batan * Ipil Elementary School * Lalab Elementary School * Lupit Elementary School * Magubahay Elementary School * Mambuquiao Elementary School * Mandong Integrated School * Man-up Elementary School * Napti Elementary School * Palay Elementary School * Songcolan Elementary School * Tabon Elementary School * Talangban Elementary School


Secondary

* Angas Integrated School * Batan Academy (A National School) * Batan Academy (A National School) – Lalab Extension * Bay-ang – Magpag-ong National High School * Camaligan National High School * Camanci National High School * Ipil Integrated School * Kalantiaw Institute (KI) * Napti Integrated School * Rizal J. Rodriguez Sr. National High School * Tabon Integrated School * Mandong Integrated School


Tertiary

* Batan Integrated College of Technology (formerly BCC or Batan Community College)


References


External links

* Philippine Standard Geographic Code {{Authority control Municipalities of Aklan