Balayan, officially the Municipality of Balayan (Tagalog: Bayan ng Balayan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 95,913 people.^[5]

This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2017)

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Balayan
Municipality
Municipality of Balayan
Roundabout in Balayan
Seal
Map of Batangas with Balayan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Balayan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°56′N 120°44′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Calabarzon
Province	Batangas
District	1st district
Founded	December 8, 1578 [1][2]
Barangays	48 (see Barangays)
Government  [3]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Emmanuel Salvador P. Fronda II
• Vice Mayor	Efren Chavez
• Representative	Joseph Eric R. Buhain
• Municipal Council	Members Raquel R. Aniwasal (NP) Raymund Nonnatus I. de la Vega (NP) John Albert I. Mapalad Z (NP) Vitaliano B. Santos Jr. (NP) Alfredo L. Solis III (NPC) Demetrio P. Hernandez (NP) Bernardo C. Pantoja (NP) Elmer V. del Carmen (NP)
Area [4]
• Total	108.73 km2 (41.98 sq mi)
Elevation	33 m (108 ft)
Highest elevation	264 m (866 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[5]
• Total	95,913
• Density	880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
• Households	24,391
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	10.41 % (2018)[6]
• Revenue	₱ 366.4 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 1,013 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 291 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Batangas 1 Electric Cooperative (BATELEC 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4213
PSGC	041003000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)43
Native languages	Tagalog
Website	www.balayan.gov.ph

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The town is rich among the natural resources of sugarcanes, coconuts and corn. Significant events includes the Parada ng Lechon (every June 24) and the Feast of Immaculate Conception celebrated annually every December 8. Widely known products originating from the area include the Bagoong Balayan.^{[citation needed]}

Balayan is derived from the Old Tagalog word balayan, ^[7] meaning "to walk past the paddy, from a basket to another"^[8] and "carry or accomplish anything with the tip of any batten".^[9] Other possible source is from the old Tagalog word balayang which means "wood".^[8]

This section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (November 2016)

Tagalog literatures in Balayan were lost and destroyed at the coming of the Spaniards.^[10] Jesuit Father Chirino testified they found (300) three hundred pre-colonial manuscripts in Balayan but to facilitate them the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith, early Jesuit missionaries destroyed the records.^{[citation needed]}

Scholars and historians^[who?] believed that Tagalog songs: Kumintang and Kundiman originated from Balayan.^[11] Spanish writer and historian Wenceslao E. Retana recorded the lyrics of a popular Kundiman when he visited Batangas in 1888.^[12]

Balayan has a close affinity to early history. The towns position on the basin of a good harbour was one of the reasons it became the first lands for local settlements in the Philippines, with existing records of local indigenous residents exchanging barter goods with Chinese traders dating back to the mid-14th century.^{[citation needed]}

The indigenous inhabitants of Balayan had close ties with the Kingdom of Maynila under the leadership of Rajah Sulayman and his uncle Rajah Matanda. There are historical accounts that Rajah Sulayman I stayed on this area when he tried to battle the Spaniards around Intramuros.^[13]

In 1578, Balayan covered the modern-day municipality and some areas of Calaca, Calatagan, Lian, Nasugbu and Tuy. It became the capital of Balayan Province (present-day Batangas) from 1597 to 1732.^[14] It was the most progressive town of the Province and the traditional center of governance. The eruption of the Taal Volcano destroyed a significant portion of the town, moving the provincial capital to Bonbon (present-day Taal) in 1732 and the name of the province was renamed after that town.^[15]

Despite the presence of Spanish forces protected by the newly built stonefort in nearby Maynilad or Manila, Fort Santiago and Fort Intramuros Philippines, due to its natural harbor, a number of areas around the archipelago were often become launching grounds of counterattacks from the seafaring Moro people.

These events prompted local Spanish officials to set up a fort to prevent yearly Moro counterattacks.

From 3rd class municipality in 1992, Balayan jumped to 2nd class municipality in 1995, and to 1st class in July 1996, suggesting the continuous improvement of Balayan's financial status.^[16]

Balayan is a lowland town in western Batangas. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 108.73 square kilometers (41.98 sq mi) ^[17] constituting 3.49% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometer- (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

Balayan is bounded on the north by Tuy, west by Calatagan and Lian, east by Calaca, and south by Balayan Bay.

Distance from Manila, the country's capital, is 106 kilometers (66 mi) and 48 kilometers (30 mi) from Batangas City, the provincial capital.

In the 2020 census, Balayan had a population of 95,913.^[5] The population density was 880 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,300/sq mi).

The main language used by the people in Balayan is Tagalog but some can still speak and understand basic Spanish^{[citation needed]}. Literate people can speak English but it is often used in formal occasions or events only.

This section does not cite any sources. (August 2017)

Poverty Incidence of Balayan

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[24][25]
[26][27][28][29][30][31]}

• Phil Steel Corporation (Steelcorp) – manufacturer of coated steel sheets, coils and irons
• Batangas Sugar Cane Central – the mother company of Muscuvado Food Sugar Corp. and processes sugar cane
• ProGreen Distillery (Emperador)
• Walter Mart Balayan
• Me & City Shoppers Mall Balayan

In January 2009, Balayan renovated a mini park called Balayan BayWalk Park which provides locals and tourists a view of Balayan Bay similar to what is seen in the country's capital Manila.

Hospitals in Balayan include:

• Medical Center Western Batangas
• Balayan Bayview Hospital and Medical Center
• Don Manuel Lopez Memorial District Hospital
• Metro Balayan Medical Center

Balayan has several schools, institutions and university both public and private located within and outside the Poblacion.

Public schools include:

• Balayan East Central School
• Balayan West Central School
• Balayan National High School
• Balayan Senior High School
• Batangas State University – Balayan Campus

Private schools include:

• Sixto C. López – propagandist and negotiator for Philippine independence from the United States
• Leo Martinez - actor, comedian, and director
• Kim de Leon - winner of 7th season of StarStruck