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Bay, Laguna

Coordinates: 14°11′N 121°17′E / 14.18°N 121.28°E / 14.18; 121.28
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bay
Bae
Municipality of Bay
From top, left to right: Sunrise at National Highway, Bay Municipal Hall, San Agustin Parish Church, Tanghalang Bayeños, Liceo de Bay
Flag of Bay
Official seal of Bay
Nicknames: 
  • The Garden Capital of Laguna
  • Old Capital of Laguna
Map of Laguna with Bay highlighted
Map of Laguna with Bay highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Bay is located in Philippines
Bay
Bay
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°11′N 121°17′E / 14.18°N 121.28°E / 14.18; 121.28
CountryPhilippines
RegionCalabarzon
ProvinceLaguna
District 2nd district
FoundedApril 30, 1578[1]
Barangays15 (see Barangays)
Government
[2]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorJose O. Padrid
(PDP–Laban)
 • Vice MayorJohn Paul C. Villegas (Independent)
 • RepresentativeRuth B. Mariano-Hernandez
(PDP–Laban)
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate42,516 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total42.66 km2 (16.47 sq mi)
Elevation
17 m (56 ft)
Highest elevation
336 m (1,102 ft)
Lowest elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[4]
 • Total67,182
 • Rank10 out of 30 (in Laguna)[5][circular reference]
 • Density1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
 • Households
17,848
DemonymBaeño/Bayeño
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
5.38
% (2021)[6]
 • Revenue₱ 219.8 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 524.8 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 169.4 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 123.7 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityManila Electric Company (Meralco)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4033
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)49
Native languagesTagalog

Bay (/b/), officially the Municipality of Bay (Tagalog: Bayan ng Bay), and colloquially known as Bae (Tagalog pronunciation: [bɐˈʔɛ]), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 67,182 people.[4]

It is situated 20 kilometers (12 mi) from Santa Cruz and 67 kilometers (42 mi) southeast of Manila. It is also located at the east of Los Baños, west of Calauan, northeast of Santo Tomas and northwest of Alaminos. The patron saint of Bay is Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose Feast Day is celebrated during August 28.

Laguna de Bay, the country's largest freshwater lake, is named after the town.

Etymology

[edit]

In the old Tagalog language, the name Bay derives from the same phonetic roots as "baybay" (shore) and as "babae" (woman) and "babaylan" (priestess). The name can thus be thought of either as a reference to the shore of the lake, or to a great lady (cf. Sanskrit bai). In the case of the latter, it has been suggested that the great lady might be the same as Maria Makiling, as her mountain was within the scope of Bay's original territory.[7]

The municipality was first inhabited by settlers under Datu Gat Pangil. R.P. Martin de Rada's mission resulted with Gat Pangil and his three daughters converting to the Catholic faith. The colloquial name of Bay, Bae is the old name of the town which came from three daughters of Datu Gat Pangil—Basilisa, Angela and Elena. For the modern or official name (Bay), it became Basilisa, Angela and Y'llena.[8]

History

[edit]
Statue of Jose Rizal situated on a national road in Dila just at the center of two roads (going to San Pablo and Santa Cruz).
Saint Hannibal Monument which was installed at the Bay junction.

Just like the rest of the archipelago, the town of Bay has no record before the coming of Spaniards in the 18th century. Bay existed long before the coming of Spaniards. The Chinese must have come to the lakeshore towns to trade as early as the 9th century. The earliest account of Bay appeared in the conquest of island of Luzon published in April 20, 1572. It was described a great lake of fresh water, 12-league wide and very deep. The villages around the lake had about 25,000 inhabitants when Captain Juan de Salcedo arrived in the area.

Bay is one of the oldest towns in Laguna province, and was the province's first capital. Its original territory covered the areas that are now known as Los Baños, Calauan, Alaminos and San Pablo (in addition to its current territory). The Spaniards pronounced the name of the town "Bah-ee" while the natives called it "Bah-eh."[9] Either way, the similarity in spelling has led to the misconception that the town was named after Laguna de Bay.[10] Instead, the Spaniards named the lake after this ancient Tagalog community.[9]

The "official" recorded history of Bay, may be gleaned from Gaspar de San Agustin's Conquestas de las Islas Filipinas of 1963 and Fr. Joaquin Martines de Zuniga's status of the Philippine Islands in 1800. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, after establishing the city of Manila on June 24, 1571, ordered the exploration and pacification of the surrounding villages and settlements. Martin de Goiti led a contingent towards Pampanga while Juan de Salcedo Legaspi's 22-year-old grandson led a contingent up to the Pasig River towards the inter lands of Laguna de Bay.

With him was Fr. Alonzo Alvarado, an Augustinian who was very zealous in converting the natives. From Taytay and Cainta in Manila, Salcedo proceeded to Bay, Liliw, Nagcarlan and Majayjay and to other towns where up-on Fr. Alvarado's intercession, the natives surrendered peacefully with Fray Diego de Espinar and 60 men. He followed the rugged trails of the mountainous village of Sampaloc towards the Bicol Region to look for gold which he found in the gold mines besides the Bicol River.

In 1571, Fr. Martin de Rada, the superior of the Augustinian religious order who came with the Legaspi expedition in 1565, started to build a bamboo and nipa church under the patronage of Saint Augustine along the lakeshore of Bay (i.e. Aplaya, now San Antonio). He became the first parish priest of Bay. On April 30, 1578, Fr. Joaquin de Zuniega stated in the Historical view of the Philippine Island that Bay was organized both as a town and a parish with Fray Juan Gallegos as the parish priest. On the same day, the village of Sampaloc (now San Pablo) was made a visita of the lake side village where it was believed that the tribunal of Ecclesiastical visitors of Bay was held. Fray Gaspar de San Agustin further wrote that in 1586, the Augustinian Fathers organized the visita into a convent with a priest. The provincial Fr. Diego Alvarez to handle the administration of the Christian natives. Thus, Sampaloc which came to be known as San Pablo de los Montes, ceased to be part of the Bay parish.

The powerful Gat Pangil was Datu of this already thriving community in 1571 when 18-year-old Spanish Capitan Juan de Salcedo landed with Augustinian missionaries Alfonso de Alvarado and Diego Espinar came to claim the territories for Spain. It was salcedo who took the name of the town and named the lake after it – Laguna de Bay (the Lake of [the town of] Bay). Eventually, the Spanish came to call the whole province "La Provincia de la Laguna de Bay."

In 1581, San Antonio de Bay became the capital of the Province of Laguna de Bay and remained so until 1688 when the capital was moved to Pagsanjan.[11]

Geography

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Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Bay, Laguna
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 26
(79)
27
(81)
29
(84)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
26
(79)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 58
(2.3)
41
(1.6)
32
(1.3)
29
(1.1)
91
(3.6)
143
(5.6)
181
(7.1)
162
(6.4)
172
(6.8)
164
(6.5)
113
(4.4)
121
(4.8)
1,307
(51.5)
Average rainy days 13.4 9.3 9.1 9.8 19.1 22.9 26.6 24.9 25.0 21.4 16.5 16.5 214.5
Source: Meteoblue[12]

Barangays

[edit]

Bay is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Bitin
  • Calo
  • Dila
  • Maitim
  • Masaya
  • Paciano Rizal
  • Puypuy
  • San Antonio
  • San Isidro
  • Santa Cruz
  • Santo Domingo
  • Tagumpay
  • Tranca
  • San Agustin (Poblacion)
  • San Nicolas (Poblacion)

Bitin

[edit]

Bitin is in the boundary of the provinces of Laguna and Batangas. The word "bitin" is the Tagalog translation of the English word "short." It is also known for its contribution to the harnessing of geothermal energy as a source of electricity in the Philippines, being the site of the Mak-Ban Geothermal Power Plant.

Calo

[edit]

The history of Barangay Calo started during the Spanish era, where the native Filipino folks lived in the jungle. The Barangay Calo is known for their bird, Kalaw or the Philippine hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax). The Barangay Calo is a place where people often see this Kalaw bird and it is pronounce by the Spanish authorities as Calo.

Dila

[edit]

Its name came from Tagalog word "dila" meaning tongue because it looks like a tongue if viewed from the map of Bay. It is the end eastern part of Bay. This is the barangay where the first Jollibee in Bay was built, the "JolliBay Highway".

Maitim

[edit]

History of barangay Maitim was from the Spanish colonial era. The land and soil of this barangay is colored black, hence people called it "maitim" (Tagalog for black).

Someone said the reason why Maitim is called Maitim because before Maitim is a forest that was burned so they called it Maitim because of coal and ashes left.

Global Care Medical Center

Masaya

[edit]

The Barangay name Masaya means happy. Masaya was part of Tranca and Puypuy during the early times; the upper part from the railway was part of Tranca, while the lower part toward the town was part of Puypuy. When the railroad was built in the early half of the twentieth century, a train station was built in Masaya making it the center of commerce in the upland of Bay, catering five barangays. Grocery stores, dress shops, hardware and sari-sari stores sprouted surrounding the train station where people shopped their primary needs, making it a festive place. When somebody was leaving home to go to the place and another person asked "Where are you going?", he/she will answer "doon sa masaya" and barangay Masaya was born.

Paciano Rizal

[edit]

Named after Paciano Rizal, the eldest brother of national hero Dr. José Rizal who was said to have owned and lived at a farm in this barangay formerly known as Barrio Mainit.

Puypuy

[edit]

History of Barangay Puypuy it was told that a big meteor fall in this Barangay and native people here told to the Spanish authorities that there is a fire falling (meteors) but in a native Tagalog word "apoy" means fire. The Spanish authorities pronounced as Puypuy that is why people in the Spanish colony times called it Puypuy and became a barangay of Bay.

In 2010, jars estimated by experts to date as far back as 800 B.C were found in Puypuy. University of the Philippines anthropologist Dr. Bonifacio Comandante, who headed the team who helped unearth the finds, suggested that the find indicates that "there was a community here and they used the pots and jars for jar-burial", essentially confirming a human presence in Barangay Puypuy as early as 800 B.C.[13]

Arch of Santo Domingo, one of the barangays in Bay. Santo Domingo was once part of the later Barangay Mainit (which is now Los Banos).

San Antonio

[edit]

Named after St. Anthony, this is where the original and first church of the town was situated. Old folks says that the church submerged on the lake (Laguna Lake) when a Super Typhoon hit the town causing massive flooding within the town area. Saint Anthony's feast day is on June 13

San Isidro

[edit]

Named after St. Isidore the Laborer, the patron of farmworkers known for his piety toward the poor and animals. His Feast Day is on May 15.

Santa Cruz

[edit]

Named after the Holy Cross.

Santo Domingo

[edit]

Name after St. Dominic and Don Domingo Ordoveza, who once owned a large part of what is then sitio Tabon. The name was given by Donato Ople who served as a long time school principal in the town of Bay.

The patron of the barangay is St. Isidore the Labrador, the patron of farmworkers known for his piety toward the poor and animals. His Feast Day is on May 15.

The barangay also celebrates annual foundation day and tilapia festival in honor to its well-known tilapia cultivation within the area.

It is one of the fast-growing economy barangays on Bay. The land area is almost covered with commercial buildings and subdivisions (Bay Garden Homes, The Cambria, and soon Camella Homes) that contribute to the income growth of the barangay alone. This is also the barangay where the first mall in town "CityMall Bay" will be soon to rise. [14]

San Agustin (Poblacion)

[edit]
Bay Public Market

Named after St. Augustine, it is one of the barangays that make up the towns proper.

This is where the St. Augustine of Hippo Parish and town's Municipal Hall are situated. It is also one of the busiest barangays since a lot of convenience stores can be found here and it is near to the town's new public market, "Pamilihang Bayan ng Bay".

This is the home of the Tenorio's Bakery, widely famous for their Monay Bay (Monay Bae).

San Nicolas (Poblacion)

[edit]

Named after St. Nicolas, it is one of the barangay that makes up the town proper.

Tagumpay

[edit]

Located in the shores of Laguna de Bay, the barangay is formerly a part of San Antonio which became a separate barangay the moment it became independent. Tagumpay is one of the barangays in town which does not have a school that offers secondary education. Both Tagumpay and San Antonio share the same Patron saint, Saint Anthony.

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Bay
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 2,577—    
1918 3,973+2.93%
1939 6,703+2.52%
1948 7,395+1.10%
1960 11,416+3.68%
1970 16,881+3.98%
1975 19,363+2.79%
1980 22,960+3.47%
1990 32,535+3.55%
1995 37,563+2.73%
2000 43,762+3.33%
2007 50,756+2.07%
2010 55,698+3.44%
2015 62,143+2.11%
2020 67,182+1.54%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18]

In the 2020 census, the population of Bay, Laguna, was 67,182 people,[4] with a density of 1,600 inhabitants per square kilometer or 4,100 inhabitants per square mile. Voter population as of 2016 is estimated to be 34,195, according to the COMELEC.[19]

Government

[edit]

Local government

[edit]

Like other local government units in Laguna, the town of Bay holds election every three years.

Members of Bay Council (since 2022–2025)[19]
Position Name Party
Mayor Jose O. Padrid PDP–Laban
Vice Mayor John Paul C. Villegas Independent
Councilors Chester Myron N. Ramos PDP–Laban
Julian Rod R. Padrid PDP–Laban
Rommel B. Ilagan Independent
Amando K. Dimasuay PDP–Laban
Kier Melvin F. Ebron Independent
Cesar D. Comia UNIDO
Anthony Collioni J. Sanchez Aksyon
Amado M. Ramos Jr. Independent

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Tricycles and jeepneys are popular modes of transportation in Bay. Buses are available to Santa Cruz, Calamba, and Metro Manila.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-06-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ Municipality of Bay | (DILG)
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ^ Laguna (province)#Administrative divisions
  6. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ^ Odal-Devora, Grace P., ""Bae" or "Bai": The Lady of the Lake", in Alejandro, Reyndaldo Gamboa, Laguna de Bay: The Living Lake, Uniliever Philippines, 2002, ISBN 971-92272-1-4.
  8. ^ https://bay.gov.ph/profile/
  9. ^ a b laguna.gov.ph Archived 2014-11-06 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Sheniak, David & Anita Feleo, "Rizal and Laguna: Lakeside Sister Provinces (Coastal Towns of Rizal and Metro Manila)", in Alejandro, Reyndaldo Gamboa, Laguna de Bay: The Living Lake, Uniliever Philippines, 2002, ISBN 971-92272-1-4.
  11. ^ Jocano, F. Landa (1973). Folk Medicine in a Philippine Community. Quezon City: Punlad Research House, Inc. ISBN 971-622-015-4.
  12. ^ "Bay: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Shards of ancient jars found in Laguna town". 30 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Camella Homes | Camella Homes Luzon | Camella Homes Visayas | Camella Homes Mindanao". Archived from the original on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  15. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  16. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  17. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  18. ^ "Province of Laguna". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Dilg Calabarzon". Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
[edit]
First Capital of Laguna
1581–1688
Succeeded by