Baao, Camarines Sur

Baao
Municipality
Map of Camarines Sur showing the location of Baao
Baao Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°27′22″N 123°21′50″E / 13.4561°N 123.3639°E / 13.4561; 123.3639Coordinates: 13°27′22″N 123°21′50″E / 13.4561°N 123.3639°E / 13.4561; 123.3639
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region (Region V)
Province	Camarines Sur
District	5th District
Founded	1590
Barangays	30
Government[1]
• Mayor	Melquiades I. Gaite (Lakas Kampi CMD)
Area[2]
• Total	106.63 km2 (41.17 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	58,849
• Density	550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4432
IDD : area code	+63 (0)54
Income class	1st class, partially urban

Baao, (Rinconada Bikol: Banwāan ka Baao; English: Municipality of Baao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Baao) is a first class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 58,849 people.^[3]

The municipality of Baao is within the 5th Congressional District of the province of Camarines Sur. The town is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Pili and Ocampo, on the east by the city of Iriga, on the west by Bula and south by the municipality Nabua. The town is approximately 480 kilometres (300 mi) south-east of Metro Manila, 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Naga City, 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) west of Iriga City, and 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Legazpi City.

Barangays

Baao is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.^[2]

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Baao, Camarines Sur, was 58,849 people,^[3] with a density of 550 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,400 inhabitants per square mile.

Language

Rinconada Bikol is the main language of the population. Baaoeños used the Baao variant, a lowland dialect (sinaranəw) of Rinconada Bikol which is different of that in Iriga.

Tagalog and English are also spoken in formal gatherings and occasions. The latter is widely used in schools as well as in business transactions.

Religion

As one of the historical towns of Catholicism in the Bicol region, Baao has a majority of Roman Catholic adherents. Iglesia Ni Cristo on the other hand is the second largest group with a very fast phase of growing membership. Islam has already set off in the town and they are composed of Muslim merchants/immigrants from Mindanao. Various Protestants religions are also present.

Economy

Baao is the biggest egg-producing town in the region.

Baao town hall

Transportation

Accessible only by land transportation, it is along the main route of the Maharlika Highway and the Philippine National Railways. Commuter rail services are provided by PNR serving from Naga City as its terminus and stops at Baao Station up to Ligao City in Albay then back again northward to Naga. Yet rail service to Manila is currently suspended due severe damages brought by Typhoon Reming in 2006. However, this is overtaken by bus companies that serve daily intercity trips. From Naga City, the easiest way to go to Baao is to ride a bus going to Iriga City from the Naga City Central Bus Terminal and disembark at Baao bus stop.

Fiestas and festivals

The town fiesta (Feast of St. Bartolomew) or "Pintakasi" of Baao is celebrated from August 23 to 25. The only festival at Baao is the Barlin Festival; it commemorates the birthday of the First Filipino Bishop, Jorge I. Barlin. It is celebrated annually during the month of April.

Education

St. Monica Academy

Baao National High School

Baao Community College the lone state school offering tertiary courses for college students.

St. Monica Academy is a private catholic school run by Augustinian sisters. It offers both elementary and secondary quality education with the purpose of creating graduates not only of high caliber but also with hearts that are "in one" with the poor.

Rosary School Inc. (formerly Rosary Learning Center) is a private educational institution offering complete preschool, elementary and secondary courses.

Ave Maria Early Childhood Impressions Center is a private catholic school for toddlers and pre-schoolers ages 2 yrs. old and above.

Other schools include:

• Agdangan High School
• Baao Central School
• Baao High School
• Baao West Central School
• Eusebia Paz Arroyo Memorial High School
• Nonito Paz Arroyo Memorial High School

Notable people

• Jorge Barlin y Imperial (1850-1909), First native Filipino bishop.
• Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J., J.S.D. Lawyer, Jesuit priest, constitutional law scholar, writer and newspaper columnist.
• Joker P. Arroyo, Filipino lawyer, politician and Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.
• Beatriz Saw, Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 Big Winner, actress

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baao, Camarines Sur.

• Baao Historical Society
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information

		Ocampo
	Bula		Iriga
		Baao
		Nabua

Province of Camarines Sur
Pili (capital)
Municipalities	Baao Balatan Bato Bombon Buhi Bula Cabusao Calabanga Camaligan Canaman Caramoan Del Gallego Gainza Garchitorena Goa Lagonoy Libmanan Lupi Magarao Milaor Minalabac Nabua Ocampo Pamplona Pasacao Pili Presentacion Ragay Sagñay San Fernando San Jose Sipocot Siruma Tigaon Tinambac
Component city	Iriga
Independent component city	Naga (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Camarines Sur by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)