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Baclayon

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Overview

The historic town of Baclayon lies 6 km east along the seashore from Tagbilaran city on the Visayan island of Bohol in the Philippines. It was the first town established in Bohol by the Spaniards. Its 16th-century church

Facts

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia908 words

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A quiet base for island‑hopping

Baclayon’s modest scale makes it an ideal staging point for exploring Bohol’s maritime charms without the crowds of Tagbilaran. Early morning ferries glide past its sleepy pier, and the town’s low‑rise streets keep traffic to a gentle crawl, allowing cyclists and walkers to drift from the shoreline to the inland rice paddies at a leisurely pace. From here, day‑trippers can launch to the sand‑capped islands of Panglao or the lesser‑known sandbars of Manjuyod, returning in time for dusk when the town’s church bells toll. The lack of high‑rise hotels means lodging is chiefly family‑run inns, where hosts can arrange bespoke boat hires and share insider tips about tide‑timed snorkeling spots that larger operators often overlook.

Culinary quietude beyond the tourist trail

While Bohol is famed for its lechon, Baclayon offers a quieter palate of home‑cooked fare that reflects the town’s agrarian roots. Small eateries line the main road, serving rice cakes infused with locally harvested coconut milk and fresh fruit jams made from nearby mango groves. The market’s early‑hour stalls showcase a variety of sea‑snails and squid, still glistening with the morning tide, ready to be grilled on charcoal over a fragrant hibiscus fire. Visitors who linger over a simple breakfast will notice the subtle influence of neighboring Visayan islands in the seasoning blends, a culinary dialogue that rarely appears in guidebooks focused on the more commercialised dining districts.

Preserving heritage through community festivals

Beyond its historic church, Baclayon sustains a living tradition of patronal feasts that thread the town’s calendar. These celebrations, usually held in late summer, involve processions of intricately carved wooden statues, drums that echo through the narrow lanes, and communal banquets where neighbours share dishes prepared in communal kitchens. The festivities are not merely spectacle; they act as a social safety net, reinforcing ties among the 17 barangays and providing a platform for younger residents to learn traditional dance steps and oral histories. Travelers timing their visit to coincide with these events gain a nuanced understanding of how heritage is woven into everyday life, far beyond the static monuments highlighted in mainstream tourism literature.

Introduction

Municipality in Bohol, Philippines Municipality in Central Visayas, PhilippinesBaclayonMunicipalityMunicipality of BaclayonBaclayon Municipal Hall FlagMap of Bohol with Baclayon highlightedInteractive map of BaclayonBaclayonLocation within the PhilippinesCoordinates: 9°37′22″N 123°54′48″E / 9.622681°N 123.913472°E / 9.622681; 123.913472CountryPhilippinesRegionCentral VisayasProvinceBoholDistrict 1st districtFounded1595Barangays17 (see Barangays)Government  • TypeSangguniang Bayan • MayorHon. Atty. A. Alvin J. Uy, ECE • Vice MayorHon. Atty. Jodel Theodore C. Cabahug, CPA • RepresentativeHon. John Geesnell Yap II • Municipal CouncilMunicipal Councilors: Hon. Romulo A. Balangkig Hon. Francis Florfin C. Abay-abay Hon. Romulo S. Caballo Hon. Rosendo B. Guingguing Hon. Clarice Elaine B. Davila Hon. Engr. Edilberto M. Salamat Jr. Hon. King King L. Tacusalme Hon. Atty. Amon Uy Ex-Officio Member, LNB President: Hon. Ulyses M. Tomarong Ex-Officio Member, SK Federated President: Hon. Johanna Mae Adovo SB Secretary: Erico Joseph T. Cañete  • Electorate14,164 voters (2025)Area • Total34.43 km2 (13.29 sq mi)Elevation43 m (141 ft)Population (2024 census) • Total22,754 • Density660.9/km2 (1,712/sq mi) • Households5,096Economy • Income class4th municipal income class • Poverty incidence11.98% (2021) • Revenue₱ 166.7 million (2024) • Assets₱ 369.4 million (2024) • Expenditure₱ 85.7 million (2024) • Liabilities₱ 77.18 million (2024)Service provider • ElectricityBohol 1 Electric Cooperative (BOHECO 1)Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)ZIP code6301PSGC071205000IDD : area code +63 (0)38Native languagesBoholano dialect Cebuano TagalogWebsitewww.baclayon.gov.ph Baclayon, officially the Municipality of Baclayon (Cebuano: Munisipalidad sa Baclayon; Tagalog: Bayan ng Baclayon), is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 22,754 people. It is the home town of actor Cesar Montano, and physicist Caesar Saloma. Baclayon celebrates its feast day every 8 December to honor the town patron, The Immaculate Conception.

History

[edit] Baclayon was the first municipality to be established in Bohol by the Spaniards and included originally the areas now made up by the municipalities of Alburquerque, Balilihan, Corella, and Sikatuna. Its original name was Bacayan, from the root word bacay, meaning "detour" in reference to the fact that travellers used to make a detour there around a rocky cliff. In 1595, two Jesuit priests, Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sanchez, arrived in Bohol to convert the local populace to Catholicism. With native help, they built a stone church which is considered one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines, and marked the beginning of the town. In 1600, Moros raided the fledgling settlement, which prompted the Jesuits to relocate their residencia to Loboc. In 1717, Baclayon gained status of a parish. In 1742, Tagbilaran was separated from Baclayon. The 1818 census recorded 3,549 native families and 3 Spanish-Filipino families.: 609  The separation from Baclayon by Alburquerque happened in 1868, Balilihan in 1828, and Corella in 1884.

Geography

[edit] Baclayon is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Tagbilaran, the provincial capital. The municipality also has jurisdiction over Pamilacan Island. Barangays[edit] Baclayon is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a. 2024 2010 071205003 Buenaventura 1.7% 395 426 ▾ −0.53% 071205001 Cambanac 1.8% 407 395 ▴ 0.21% 071205002 Dasitam 3.3% 752 700 ▴ 0.51% 071205004 Guiwanon 6.5% 1,474 1,249 ▴ 1.18% 071205005 Landican 3.8% 869 708 ▴ 1.46% 071205006 Laya 4.7% 1,068 1,001 ▴ 0.46% 071205007 Libertad 5.8% 1,315 1,219 ▴ 0.54% 071205008 Montana 7.6% 1,719 1,613 ▴ 0.45% 071205009 Pamilacan 6.2% 1,418 1,422 ▾ −0.02% 071205010 Payahan 4.0% 920 821 ▴ 0.81% 071205011 Poblacion 8.8% 2,009 1,905 ▴ 0.38% 071205012 San Isidro 4.0% 919 775 ▴ 1.21% 071205013 San Roque 6.5% 1,478 1,424 ▴ 0.26% 071205014 San Vicente 5.5% 1,249 1,130 ▴ 0.71% 071205015 Santa Cruz 8.4% 1,913 1,442 ▴ 2.02% 071205016 Taguihon 8.2% 1,877 1,689 ▴ 0.75% 071205017 Tanday 3.6% 809 711 ▴ 0.92% Total 22,754 18,630 ▴ 1.43% Climate[edit] Climate data for Alburquerque, Bohol Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28(82) 29(84) 30(86) 31(88) 31(88) 30(86) 30(86) 30(86) 30(86) 29(84) 29(84) 29(84) 30(85) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23(73) 22(72) 23(73) 23(73) 24(75) 25(77) 24(75) 24(75) 24(75) 24(75) 23(73) 23(73) 24(74) Average precipitation mm (inches) 102(4.0) 85(3.3) 91(3.6) 75(3.0) 110(4.3) 141(5.6) 121(4.8) 107(4.2) 111(4.4) 144(5.7) 169(6.7) 139(5.5) 1,395(55.1) Average rainy days 18.6 14.8 16.5 16.7 23.9 26.4 25.6 24.1 24.4 26.3 23.7 20.5 261.5 Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)

Tourism

[edit] Baclayon church Baclayon church (during a wedding) Baclayon is known for its historic Catholic church, declared a National Cultural Treasure in 1995 because it is considered the best preserved of its kind in the region. Its first structure was built in 1595, but the current building is from 1724 and is of Spanish Colonial architecture. The church includes a small museum, with relics dating back to the early 16th century, and adjoining 21-metre (69 ft) high bell tower. Nearby are centuries-old stone buildings like the hermita, and elementary school, as well as the historic public marketplace, a Spanish-era building with giant stone columns supporting the roof. In 2013, the church and bell tower were severely damaged by the 2013 Bohol earthquake. There are 67 or more Spanish colonial ancestral houses in the municipality, many of them along the main road. The houses, in various stages of preservation or neglect, show Spanish-Filipino wooden craftsmanship and styling, some of which were constructed as early as 1853. They are often utilized for cultural shows and tours, festivals and fiestas, as well as some having been turned into inns. The island of Pamilacan is a tourist destination for dolphin- and whale-watching.