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Visit the Laurel, Batangas page for all information on Laurel.
What you are about to read is the history of Laurel, Batangas taken from the Municipal Planning and Development Office.
Long time ago, this place was originally known as Bugain (from the word “BUGA”—a black cinder formed from fly ashes during Taal Volcano eruption) with very few settlers and a remote barrio of Talisay.
After the year 1911, some changes took place, the human population grew and agricultural cultivation began as their primary source of livelihood. During that time, people had no access leading to some other places except for foot trails along the ridge or shoreline while several bamboo rafts or bancas were the only means of transportation. However, such kind of condition was not a hindrance to enable the place and its people to grow peacefully and progressively. The old folks called the flat area as Nayon ng Bayuyungan (derived from the word “Bayong” which means a native rice bag woven from buri palm) and became the center of all other barrios.
Messrs. Jose Macaraig, Mr. Placido T. Amo (both deceased) and Mr. Severino Amo took initiative to have the people of barrios Berinayan, Balakilong, As-is, San Gabriel, Bugaan, Buso-buso, Ticub and Bayungyungan signed a petition to make this an independent town with its own governing body. It was first endorsed to former Senator Maria Kalaw Katigbak who in turn presented the same to ex-President Diosdado Macapagal. When Mr. Placido T. Amo was elected Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Talisay, the late Jose Macaraig continued to follow up the papers of Bayungyungan whose people were really determined to make it a new town but during that time, a barrio can be converted into a town only upon approval of the Congress and not through Presidential Proclamation.
Vice Mayor Placido T. Amo then presented the issue to Mayor Amando Laurel and the Municipal Councilors as well, who in turn forwarded a resolution to the late Batangas Governnor Feliciano Leviste. The Provincial Board responsively endorsed a resolution to former speaker of the House Hon. Jose B. Laurel, Jr. and finally through House Bill No. 17628 and Republic Act No. 5689 dated June 21, 1969, the Municipality of Laurel (in honor of the late Jose P. Laurel, Sr.) was created with seven (7) barrios while barrio Bayungyungan became the Poblacion area.
The first set of officials acted on November 8, 1971 with Hon. Placido T. Amo (deceased) as Mayor, Hon. Deogracias J. Natanauan (deceased) as Vice Mayor and Hon. Pascual Bihis, Hon. Galicano Barrion (deceased), Hon. Severino Endaya, Hon. Alipio Canta (deceased) and Hon. Gemeniano Palomeno acted as Municipal Councilors.
The Municipality of Laurel celebrated its first Foundation Day on March 9, 1972, in commemoration of the birth anniversary of the late Jose P. Laurel, Sr. Thereafter, the Municipality became prosperous and progressive with a total area of 7, 129.29 hectares envisioned for Agro-eco-tourism.
Such is the brief history of how a known Barrio Bayungyungan long aspiring to have a government of its own by being an independent town, is now popularly known as the Municipality of Laurel.
Last Updated: November 13, 2013
