Bauang, officially the Municipality of Bauang (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,449. Bauang 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
Philippine literature is literature associated with the Philippines from prehistory, through its colonial legacies, and on to the present.
Characteristics
According to journalist Nena Jimenez, the most common and consistent element of Philipp ...
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
The MacArthur Highway, officially the Manila North Road (MNR or MaNor), is a , two-to-six lane, national primary highway and tertiary highway in Luzon, Philippines, connecting Caloocan in Metro Manila to Aparri in Cagayan at the north. It is t ...
, 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
The areca nut ( or ) or betel nut () is the fruit of the areca palm ('' Areca catechu''). The palm is originally native to the Philippines, but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1 ...
, 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
Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plants in the genus '' Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chives, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion. Garlic is native to central and south Asia, str ...
''“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 northern
Caboloan (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
Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan (, ; ; ), is a coastal Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capital is Lingayen, Pangasinan, Lingayen while San Carlos, Pangasi ...
.
These settlers were mostly fisherfolk and traders, living in coastal communities that actively engaged in commerce with neighboring groups such as the
Igorots
The indigenous peoples of the Cordillera in northern Luzon, Philippines, often referred to by the exonym Igorot people, or more recently, as the Cordilleran peoples, are an ethnic group composed of nine main ethnolinguistic groups whose domains ...
,
Tagalogs
The Tagalog people are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the Philippines, particularly the Metro Manila and Calabarzon regions and Marinduque province of southern Luzon, and comprise the majority in the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, N ...
, and even foreign traders from
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
and
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
.
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
Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in ...
, 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
Miguel López de Legazpi (12 June 1502 – 20 August 1572), also known as ''Adelantado, El Adelantado'' and ''El Viejo'' (The Elder), was a Spanish conquistador who financed and led an expedition to conquer the Philippines, Philippine islan ...
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
The monarchy of Spain or Spanish monarchy () is the constitutional form of government of Spain. It consists of a Hereditary monarchy, hereditary monarch who reigns as the head of state, being the highest office of the country.
The Spanish ...
, which they agreed to, though no permanent settlement was established. Salcedo then continued his journey toward Purao (now
Balaoan
Balaoan, officially the Municipality of Balaoan (; ), is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,339.
Etymology
The name "Balaoan" is derived from the Iloco words ...
) and
Vigan
Vigan, officially the City of Vigan (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
.
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
Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan (, ; ; ), is a coastal Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capital is Lingayen, Pangasinan, Lingayen while San Carlos, Pangasi ...
and was officially recognized as a town, with ''Don Francisco delos Reyes'' serving as its first ''
gobernadorcillo
The (, literally "little governor") was a municipal judge or governor in the Captaincy General of the Philippines, Philippines during the History of the Philippines (1565–1898), Spanish colonial period, who carried out in a town the combined ...
''. On March 2, 1850,
La Union
La Union (), officially the Province of La Union (; ; ; ; ; ), is a coastal province in the Philippines situated in the Ilocos Region on the island of Luzon. The province's capital, the San Fernando, La Union, City of San Fernando, is the most ...
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
Agoo (), officially the Municipality of Agoo (; ; ), is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,028 people.
Etymology
The name "Agoo" is believed to have originate ...
,
Aringay,
Caba,
Naguilian,
San Fernando,
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to:
* San Juan, Puerto Rico
* San Juan, Argentina
* San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines
San Juan may also refer to:
Places Arge ...
, and
Bacnotan from Pangasinan, and Purao (now
Balaoan
Balaoan, officially the Municipality of Balaoan (; ), is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,339.
Etymology
The name "Balaoan" is derived from the Iloco words ...
), Namacpacan (now
Luna
Luna commonly refers to:
* Earth's Moon, named "Luna" in Latin, Spanish and other languages
* Luna (goddess)
In Sabine and ancient Roman religion and myth, Luna is the divine embodiment of the Moon (Latin ''Lūna'' ). She is often presented as t ...
), and
Bangar from
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur (), officially the Province of Ilocos Sur (; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the capital of Vigan, while Candon is ...
.
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
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who became the first List of presidents of the Philippines, president of the Philippines (1899–1901), and the first pre ...
, 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
Spanish Americans (, ''hispanoestadounidenses'', or ''hispanonorteamericanos'') are Americans whose ancestry originates wholly or partly from Spain. They are the longest-established European American group in the modern United States, with a ...
, the Philippines was ceded to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
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
Agoo (), officially the Municipality of Agoo (; ; ), is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,028 people.
Etymology
The name "Agoo" is believed to have originate ...
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
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilisin ...
- now known as the
Japanese Invasion of Lingayen Gulf
The Japanese invasion of Lingayen Gulf (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Golfo ng Lingayen'', Pangasinan language, Pangasinese: ''Inlusob na Hapon ed Gulpo na Lingayen'', Ilocano language, Ilocano: ''Panagraut dagiti H ...
. 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
San Fernando, officially the City of San Fernando (; ), is a component city and the capital of the province of La Union, Philippines. It serves as the regional and administrative center of the Ilocos Region. The city also functions as a hub ...
and
Rosario, La Union
Rosario, officially the Municipality of Rosario (; ; ), is a coastal municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,278 people.
...
, 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
The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...
, heroes of Bauang fought in its beaches, in
Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines, stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central (Luzon), Cordillera Central. The Agno ...
,
Bataan
Bataan (, , , ; ) , officially the Province of Bataan, is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the entire Bataan Peninsula ...
and
Corregidor
Corregidor (, , ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of Cavite City and thus the province of Cavite. It is located west of Manila, the nation's capi ...
(as
USAFIP-NL).
The
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
executed
Manuel Arguilla, poet and journalist, Major Alberto O. Fenit (
USAFFE
United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) ( Filipino: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Estados Unidos sa Malayong Silangan''; Spanish: ''Fuerzas del Ejército de los Estados Unidos en el Lejano Oriente'') was a military formation of the United St ...
), 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
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and Kleptocracy, kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the c ...
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
La Union (), officially the Province of La Union (; ; ; ; ; ), is a coastal province in the Philippines situated in the Ilocos Region on the island of Luzon. The province's capital, the San Fernando, La Union, City of San Fernando, is the most ...
,
including Bauang,
and La Union residents mostly did not speak up about the economic stresses they were experiencing.
[Cortes, Rosario Mendoza. (1990) Pangasinan, 1901-1986: A Political, Socioeconomic, and Cultural History. New Day Publishers.] 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.
[Turner, Mark M. (1989) Elites and Power in a Philippine Town. Under Martial Law, 1972-76. Philippine Studies 37: 283-300.]
Later 20th Century
After Marcos fled into exile after the civilian-led 1986
People Power revolution
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
, 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
The 1990 Luzon earthquake occurred on July 16 at 4:26 p.m. (Daylight saving time in the Philippines, PDT) or 3:26 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time, PST) on the densely populated island of Luzon in the Philippines. The shock had a surfac ...
.
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 South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan island, Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luz ...
. 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
Baguio ( , , ), officially the City of Baguio (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...
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
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...
, 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 from the provincial capital
San Fernando, and from the country's capital city of
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
.
Barangays
Bauang is politically and administratively divided into thirty-nine (39) barangays, which are further subdivided into
puroks, with some barangays also having
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 ...
. According to the
National Statistics Office
The following is a list of national and international statistical services.
Central national statistical services
Nearly every country in the world has set a central public sector unit entirely devoted to the production, harmonisation and dissemin ...
(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
The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...
and a council of
Councilors, while the
Sangguniang Kabataan
A Sangguniang Kabataan (abbreviated as SK; ) is a community council that represents the youth in a barangay in the Philippines. Established to provide young people with a platform for civic engagement and participation in Local government in ...
, represented by a Councilor, focuses on the representation and welfare of the youth in the community.
* Acao
* Baccuit Norte
* Baccuit Sur
* Bagbag
* Ballay
* Bawanta
* Boy-utan
* Bucayab
* Cabalayangan
* Cabisilan
* Calumbaya
* Carmay
* Casilagan
* Central East (Poblacion)
* Central West (Poblacion)
* Dili
* Disso-or
* Guerrero
* Lower San Agustin
* Nagrebcan
* Pagdalagan Sur
* Palintucang
* Palugsi-Limmansangan
* Parian Este
* Parian Oeste
* Paringao
* Payocpoc Norte Este
* Payocpoc Norte Oeste
* Payocpoc Sur
* Pilar
* Pottot
* Pudoc
* Pugo
* Quinavite
* Santa Monica
* Santiago
* Taberna
* Upper San Agustin
* Urayong
Climate
Demographics
As of the 2020 census, Bauang has a population of 78,449, representing 9.5% of the overall population of La Union. The population density is approximately 1,100 people per square kilometer (or about 2,800 people per square mile), with a calculated density of 1,035 individuals per square kilometer. Between 2015 and 2020, the population experienced an annual growth rate of 0.94%.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020, the age distribution in Bauang is as follows: 26.5% of the population (20,692 individuals) are aged 0–14 years, 66.1% (51,721 individuals) are between the ages of 15 and 64, and 7.4% (5,796 individuals) are 65 years old or older. The gender breakdown shows 39,443 males and 38,766 females, with the largest age cohort being those aged 10–19 years, totaling 14,280 individuals.
Religion
About 92% of the population is Catholic, while 2% belong to the Iglesia ni Cristo denomination. The remaining 6% are affiliated with other religious groups.
Languages
The primary language spoken in Bauang is
Iloco, though
Tagalog,
Pangasinan
Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan (, ; ; ), is a coastal Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capital is Lingayen, Pangasinan, Lingayen while San Carlos, Pangasi ...
, and several other dialects are also used. While many residents have a good understanding of English, it is not frequently spoken in everyday conversations. In terms of literacy, an impressive 99.52% of those aged 10 and above are considered literate.
Economy
Bauang is primarily an agricultural municipality, with a large segment of its population relying on farming for their livelihood. Out of a total land area of 7,160 hectares, approximately 60%, or 4,302.09 hectares, is allocated for agricultural activities. However, the area available for lowland agriculture has been declining over time due to land conversion. Crop production is mainly focused on rice, cultivated over 1,722 hectares. A significant majority of the palay is grown in rainfed areas, accounting for 81.42%, while irrigated areas contribute only about 320 hectares.
Bauang has a poverty incidence of 7.5%, ranking it fourth among the municipalities in La Union with the lowest poverty rate.

Bauang Beach, known for its fine grayish sand, is the primary tourist attraction in the region, stretching from Barangay Pagdalagan Sur to Barangay Baccuit. The shoreline is lined with several beach resorts, featuring approximately 12 key tourist accommodation facilities.
While there is no government hospital in the municipality, there is one Rural Health Unit (RHU), 11 Barangay Health Stations (BHS), and a clinic that provides maternity and geriatric care. Additionally, all 36 barangays have operational Barangay Health Centers, and health services are supplemented by five private medical clinics and 11 dental clinics.
The municipality has a reliable water supply for both residential and commercial use, provided by the Metro La Union Water District (MLUWD) and various water station establishments. Bauang enjoys full electricity coverage through LUELCO and LUECO, with the presence of the 1590 Energy Corporation and TransCo.

All 39 barangays are accessible via either paved or gravel roads, with two major national roads traversing the area: the Manila North Road (McArthur Highway) running north to south and the Naguilian Road heading east to west toward Baguio City. The municipality is equipped with advanced communication infrastructure, including digital landlines, cable services, internet providers, and cell towers.
In terms of education, Bauang has 28 elementary schools and 9 secondary schools (comprising six public and three private institutions) distributed across 24 barangays. Only one institution offers tertiary education. The teacher-to-student ratio and classroom-to-student ratio at the elementary level meet the standard of 1:45, indicating sufficient resources. However, at the secondary level, a classroom-to-student ratio of 1:50 suggests a need for additional classrooms.
Tourism
Festivals and local events
The natives, who are predominantly Catholic, speak
Ilocano,
Filipino, and
English. The primary industries are farming, fishing, power plant, and quarrying.
Bauang's main products are rice, corn, guapples and native grapes (barangays Payocpoc, Santiago, Bagbag, and Urayong), mango, lowland vegetables, livestock, tobacco, marine products, saltwater fish politically.
Guapple by-products are also sold in Bauang: bread, buchi, chunky, cocktail, cookies, cupcake, dried, empanada,
espasol, flan,
guinataan,
gulaman
''Gulaman'', in Filipino cuisine, is a bar, or powdered form, of dried agar or carrageenan extracted from edible seaweed used to make jelly-like desserts. In common usage, it also usually refers to the refreshment '' sago't gulaman'', somet ...
,
inipit, jam, jelly, juice, kutsinta, pastilles, maja, marmalade, oatmeal, pie, yema, polvoron, preserved, rolls, siopao, tarts, turrones, macaroons, bars, and fingers as pasalubongs.
Beaches and sunsets of Bauang

Bauang is known for its fine-sand beaches, that stretches on the coast of Barangay Taberna, Baccuit Sur and Norte, Paringao, and Pagdalagan Sur beaches.
Bauang's beaches are accessible from several resorts: Bali Hai Beach Resort (Paringao), Long Beach Resort, Coconut Grove Beach Resort and San Luis del Mar (Baccuit Norte), inter alia.
Manuel Arguilla commemorations
Among Philippines literary circles, Bauang has become a pilgrimage site of sorts for celebrating the life of and works of writer and World War II martyr Manuel Arguilla, with writers visiting the author's hometown to experience the landscapes that inspired him, and which featured prominently in his stories.
The most prominent event celebrating Arguilla was the 2017 run of the Taboan Literary Festival, a celebration of Philippine literature which changes venues every year, organized by the
National Commission on Culture and the Arts
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (NCCA; , ) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. It is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, d ...
during every National Arts Month in February. Among the prominent artists who came to the festival to celebrate Arguilla were writer-academic
Butch Dalisay
Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. (born January 15, 1954) is a Filipino writer. He has won numerous awards and prizes for fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction and screenwriting, including 16 Palanca Awards.
Early life and education
Dalisay was born in Romblo ...
and National Artist of the Philippines
Bienvenido Lumbera
Bienvenido L. Lumbera (April 11, 1932 – September 28, 2021) was a Filipino poet, critic and dramatist. Lumbera is known for his nationalist writing and for his leading role in the Filipinization movement in Philippine literature in the 1960s, ...
.
The ancestral house where Arguilla grew up is still standing at Barangay Nagrebcan in Bauang, bearing a historical marker put in place by the
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP; ) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine history and cultural heritage through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management ...
.
Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church

The Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church (canonically erected on April 25, 1587, by the Augustinian missionaries) celebrates its fiesta every June 29. It is under the jurisdiction of the
Diocese of San Fernando de La Union (Dioecesis Ferdinandopolitana ab Unione, Suffragan of Lingayen – Dagupan, which was created on January 19, 1970, and erected on April 11, 1970, comprising the Civil Province of La Union, under the Titular, St. William the Hermit, February 10). It has been headed by the Most Rev. Rodolfo F. Beltran, D.D., bishop since January 18, 2013. The Church is under a
diocese
In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...
of the
Latin Church
The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...
of the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
in the
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 ...
from the
Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia
The Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It covers the province of Ilocos Sur, on the island of Luzon. The see of the archdiocese is the city of Vigan.
The archdiocese was erected in 1595 in ...
. The Church is also under the pastorship of Rev. Fr. Perpetuo Concepcion. Its Parochial Fiesta is on April 26.

The Saints Peter and Paul Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Damaged by the 1892 earthquake, the Church was restored in 1895. Damaged again in 1944, the stone convent was destroyed in 1955. The Sacred Heart School now stands from the old Convent.
The Church has a rectangular four-storey bell tower (with two bells, restored with cement and hollow blocks in 1973). The Church interior was painted in 1978. The July 16, 1990, quake destroyed the facade which was later rebuilt. In 1901 US Army's (then) Lt. Col.
Thomas Barry, who was chasing
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who became the first List of presidents of the Philippines, president of the Philippines (1899–1901), and the first pre ...
during the
Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Philippine Insurrection, Filipino–American War, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged following the conclusion of the Spanish–American War in December 1898 when the United States annexed th ...
, took the bell as a "token souvenir" and later gave the bell to his alma mater, the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
at
West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York (state), New York, General George Washington stationed his headquarters in West Point in the summer and fall of 1779 durin ...
, where it was housed for over a century. The bell was ceremoniously returned to the Philippines in May 2016 to be reinstalled in the Peter and Paul Church.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is at the foot of the Church.
400-year old San Pedro Bell

On May 23, 2016, the 400-year old "San Pedro" bell made from alloy of gold, silver, and copper has been returned to the
Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church, after American soldiers during the
Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Philippine Insurrection, Filipino–American War, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged following the conclusion of the Spanish–American War in December 1898 when the United States annexed th ...
in 1901 took it from the church to West Point Academy in New York.
Government
Local government
Just as the national government, the Bauang's municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court (; colloquially referred to as the ' (also used in formal writing), is the highest court in the Philippines. It was established by the Taft Commission on June 11, 1901, through the enactment of Act No. 136, which abolished th ...
. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branches.
The executive branch is composed of the mayor and the barangay captain for the barangays. The legislative branch is composed of the
Sangguniang Bayan
The Sangguniang Bayan () is the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines. It is responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions for the administration of a municipality. Its powers are defined by the Local Go ...
(town assembly),
Sangguniang Barangay
The Sangguniang Barangay, known in English as the Barangay Council is the local government of a barangay, the smallest administrative division in the Philippines. Each of the 42,004 barangays in the country has its respective Sangguniang Baran ...
(barangay council), and the
Sangguniang Kabataan
A Sangguniang Kabataan (abbreviated as SK; ) is a community council that represents the youth in a barangay in the Philippines. Established to provide young people with a platform for civic engagement and participation in Local government in ...
for the youth sector.
The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III who holds office since June 30, 2022, at the Bauang Town Hall. The Sangguniang Bayan is the center of legislation.
Elected officials
Infrastructure
1590 Energy Corporation
The Bauang Diesel Power Plant formerly owned by the Bauang Private Power Corporation (BPPC) is a diesel-fired power plant that commenced operations in July 1995 with a 215 MW-capacity. State-owned National Power Corporation and the First Private Power Corp. (FPPC) entered into a Build-Operate-Transfer Agreement for the BPCC for a period of 15 years.
On July 26, 2010, after the BOT expiration, it was turned over to the
NAPOCOR and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) and later to the Provincial Government of La Union. Both Viviant Energy Corporation and Gigawatt Power, Inc. under the 1590 Energy Corp. operates the Bauang power facility provide the additional supply to the Luzon grid.
Major facilities inside the plant include a substation, two 100,000 bbl steel fuel storage tanks, sludge treatment plant, and five auxiliary buildings consisting of an administration building (812 sq.m), maintenance building (981 sq.m), warehouse building (591 sq.m), guest house (583 sq.m), bunkhouse (660 sq.m), and a canteen (550 sq.m).
The world's largest medium-speed power station in Bauang maintains an IMS certification for ISO 9901:2000, ISO 14001:2004, and OHSAS 18001 from Certification International.
PLDT Asia-Pacific Cable Network (APCN) in Baccuit Sur
A Digital Optical Cable System for telecommunications services linking Hong Kong,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
, Singapore, and the Philippines is strategically located at the coastline barangay of Baccuit Norte in Bauang, La Union.
The facility, owned by the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications Company, aims to benefit the users of telecommunications services and consequently stimulate the rapid expansion of business and government intercourse between the Philippines and the foreign countries to be served.
Education
There are two schools district office which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversee the management and operations of all private and public elementary schools and high schools. These are Bauang North Schools District Office, and Bauawang South Schools District Office.
Primary and elementary schools
* Acao Elementary School - Barangay Acao
* Baccuit Elementary School - Barangay Baccuit Sur
* Bagbag Elementary School - Barangay Bagbag
* Ballay Elementary School - Barangay Ballay
* Baratao Elementary School - Sitio Baratao, Barangay Acao
* Bauang North Central School - Barangay Central East
* Bawanta Elementary School - Barangay Bawanta
* Bigbiga Elementary School - Sitio Bigbiga, Barangay Lower San Agustin
* Boy-Utan Elementary School - Barangay Boy-Utan
* Bucayab Elementary School - Barangay Bucayab
* Cabalayangan Elementary School - Barangay Cabalayangan
* Calumbaya Elementary School - Barangay Calumbaya
* Casilagan Integrated School - Barangay Casilagan
* Guerrero Elementary School - Barangay Guerrero
* Palugsi-Limmansangan Elementary School - Barangay Palugsi-Limmansangan
* Parian Este Elementary School - Barangay Parian Este
* Parian Oeste Elementary School - Barangay Parian Oeste
* Paringao Elementary School - Barangay Paringao
* Payocpoc Elementary School - Barangay Payocpoc Sur
* Pudoc Primary School - Barangay Pudoc
* Pugo Elementary School - Barangay Pugo
* Quinavite Elementary School - Barangay Quinavite
* Saint Anthony Montessori Educational Network, Inc. (Private) - Barangay Central East
* Saints Peter and Paul Learning Center (Private) - Barangay Central East, beside the Church
* San Agustin Elementary School- Barangay Upper San Agustin
* Santiago Elementary School - Barangay Santiago
* Santa Monica Elementary School - Barangay Santa Monica
Secondary schools
* Baccuit National High School - Barangay Baccuit Sur
* Ballay National High School - Barangay Ballay
* Bawanta National High School - Barangay Bawanta
* Casilagan Integrated School - Barangay Casilagan
* Don Eulogio de Guzman Memorial National High School - Barangay Calumbaya
* Eulogio Clarence de Guzman Junior Memorial National Vocational HS (formerly ''Acao National High School'') - Barangay Acao
* Paringao National High School - Barangay Paringao
* Sacred Heart School (Private) - Barangay Central East
* Saint Anthony Montessori Educational Network, Inc. (Private) - Barangay Central East
Higher educational institutions
* La Union Colleges of Science and Technology (Private) - Barangay Central West
* Saint Louis College Development Center (Private)
Bauang in literature
Bauang, specifically Barangay Nagrebcan on the shores of the Balili River, features prominently in the works of Philippine literary icons
Manuel Arguilla and
F.Sionil Jose.
Notable personalities
*
Manuel Arguilla, one of the Philippines' most influential English writers, grew up in Bauang's Barrio Nagrebcan
*
Bernabe de Guzman, Filipino senator from 1919 to 1925
Gallery
File:Sts.PeterandPaulParishChurchjf758.JPG, Municipal hall
File:BauangLaUnionjf743.JPG, Police station and Legislative building
File:5624Bauang Caba, La Union Border 60.jpg, Bauang Welcome Arch
File:FvfLaUnion9987 32.JPG, Bauang Commercial Center
File:FvfBauangLaUnion9999 01.JPG, Town plaza overlooking Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church
File:601Central East, Bauang, La Union 30.jpg, Bauang Town Plaza
File:8178Bauang Town Proper 48.jpg, Bauang Bridge
File:9341Naguilian Road Bauang 10.jpg, Along Naguilian Road, Bauang
File:9908Bacquit Taberna, Bauang, La Union 66.jpg, Taberna Beach
File:Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church, Bauang, La Union.jpg, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church
References
Sources
*
External links
*
Bauang Local Government Site*
Philippine Standard Geographic CodePhilippine Census InformationLocal Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control
Municipalities of La Union
Populated places established in 1590