# Batac

Batac, officially the City of Batac (Ilocano: Siudad ti Batac; Filipino: Lungsod ng Batac), is a component city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,484 people.

## Etymology

According to a legend set in pre-Hispanic Batac, a man fell into a deep hole while he was digging for the root crop "camangeg". He struggled to get out but could not despite his best efforts. He cried for help but nobody was around. He waited for hours and had given up hope of being saved. Two men from the neighboring town of Paoay happened to pass by. They heard the man shouting and traced it to where he was trapped. Upon seeing him, they heard the man said "Batakennak! Batakennak!" The two men did not understand until the man explained that he was saying, "Pull me up! Pull me up!" They did just that. When the two men reached their hometown, they told their story to their friends. Since then, the town has been called "Batac," which is derived from the word "batakennak."
The word batac also translates to "pull" in the Ilocano language. More loosely, it refers to "the people's pulling their efforts together."

## History

Batac was founded by the Augustinians in 1587 under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. It is the second oldest town established by the Augustinians in the province of Ilocos Norte. Hence, in 1987, Batac reached its fourth centennial.
Batac was officially organized into a ministry on January 5, 1586. The first priest assigned to cathecize the natives of the community was Esteban Marin, an Augustinian who probably arrived in Batac in 1585. Paoay and Dinglas (Dingras) were then the visitas of Batac.
Folk history states that there were two villages in Batac during the early part of the foundation of the town - one was an Itneg community that occupied sitio Nangalisan, and the other was a Christian community occupying San José.
The first site of the poblacion was in San José, which is now called Barangay Palpalicong. It is said that the ethnic minority groups of Bangui and Nueva Era are the descendants of the early inhabitants of Batac.
The Augustinians considered the people of Batac more civilized than the other tribes, because they were better than the other "Indios" in personal cleanliness.

### Cityhood

Republic Act 9407, the law that converted the Municipality of Batac into a component city in the Province of Ilocos Norte, to be known as Batac City, was overwhelmingly ratified by the people in a plebiscite conducted on June 23, 2007.
The Supreme Court declared the cityhood law of Batac and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Batac and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Batac and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, Batac becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements.
After six years of legal battle, in its board resolution, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Batac and 15 other cities.

## Geography

Batac is located in the northwest of Luzon island, about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the eastern shores of the South China Sea. The municipalities of Banna, Currimao, Paoay, Pinili, Sarrat, Marcos, and San Nicolas form its boundaries.
Batac is 470 kilometres (290 mi) from Metro Manila, 17 kilometres (11 mi) from Laoag, the provincial capital, and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Paoay.

### Barangays

Batac is politically subdivided into 43 barangays, 14 of which constitute the poblacion.  Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Barangay 1-S Valdez (Cauayan) (Poblacion)
* Barangay 1-N Ricarte (Nalasin) (Poblacion)
* Barangay 2 Ablan (Labucao) (Poblacion)
* Barangay 3, Cangrunaan (Poblacion)
* Barangay 4, Nalupta (Suabit) (Poblacion)
* Barangay 5, Callaguip (Poblacion)
* Barangay 6, San Julian (Poblacion)
* Barangay 7, Caunayan (Poblacion)
* Barangay 8, Acosta (Iloilo) (Poblacion)
* Barangay 9, Aglipay (Poblacion)
* Barangay 10-S, Barani (Poblacion)
* Barangay 10-N, Lacub (Poblacion)
* Barangay 11 Ben-Agan (Poblacion)
* Barangay 12, Palpalicong (Poblacion)
* Barangay 13, Baay
* Barangay 14, Bungon
* Barangay 15, Baligat
* Barangay 16-S, Quiling Sur
* Barangay 16-N, Quiling Norte
* Barangay 17, Tabug
* Barangay 18, Magnuang
* Barangay 19, Pimentel (Cubol)
* Barangay 20-S, Mabaleng
* Barangay 20-N, Colo
* Barangay 21, Quiom
* Barangay 22, Maipalig
* Barangay 23, Biningan
* Barangay 24, Sumader
* Barangay 25-N, Camguidan
* Barangay 25-S, Payao
* Barangay 26, Parangopong
* Barangay 27-E, Capacuan
* Barangay 27-W, Naguirangan
* Barangay 28, San Mateo
* Barangay 29, San Pedro
* Barangay 30-E, Baoa East
* Barangay 30-W, Baoa West
* Barangay 31, Camandingan
* Barangay 32, Palongpong
* Barangay 33-S, Rayuray
* Barangay 33-N, Nagbacalan
* Barangay 34, Dariwdiw
* Barangay 35, Bil-loca

### Climate

Climate data for Batac City, Ilocos Norte :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27 (81) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 27 (81) | 29 (85) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38 (1.5) | 37 (1.5) | 37 (1.5) | 49 (1.9) | 181 (7.1) | 214 (8.4) | 264 (10.4) | 251 (9.9) | 243 (9.6) | 229 (9.0) | 129 (5.1) | 96 (3.8) | 1,768 (69.7) |
| Average rainy days | 11.6 | 10.7 | 12.4 | 15.2 | 22.6 | 25.0 | 26.1 | 24.9 | 24.3 | 19.2 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 223.8 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1903 | 19,254 | — |
| 1918 | 23,986 | +1.48% |
| 1939 | 22,207 | −0.37% |
| 1948 | 22,587 | +0.19% |
| 1960 | 27,139 | +1.54% |
| 1970 | 33,114 | +2.01% |
| 1975 | 35,230 | +1.25% |
| 1980 | 37,579 | +1.30% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 43,092 | +1.38% |
| 1995 | 45,534 | +1.04% |
| 2000 | 47,682 | +0.99% |
| 2007 | 50,675 | +0.84% |
| 2010 | 53,542 | +2.02% |
| 2015 | 55,201 | +0.58% |
| 2020 | 55,484 | +0.10% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :
In the 2020 census, the population of Batac was 55,484 people, with a density of 340 inhabitants per square kilometre or 880 inhabitants per square mile.

### Language

The primary dialect spoken in Batac is Ilocano.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Batac
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 2000 35.85
* 2003 26.67
* 2006 11.20
* 2009 15.26
* 2012 10.90
* 2015 7.75
* 2018 4.14
* 2021 3.96
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
The Batac City Public Market touted as one of the biggest in the region offers a wide array of goods – freshly picked local vegetables and fruits, handicrafts, tincrafts, pottery, native delicacies, chicharon, longganisa, wet market treats and many others. The Delicia Center, located adjacent to the City Public Market, contains RTW shops, banks, appliance stores, farm supplies, pharmacies, groceries, a lottery outlet and many more. The Delicia Center and the City Public Market form part of the commercial district of Batac City.
With the presence of the Central Bank of the Philippines Cash Unit in the Batac City Government Center, financial institutions continue to spawn – Philippine National Bank, RCBC, Metrobank, Land Bank, BPI, Bank of Commerce, BDO and other local banks. Proof that Batac is offering a good business climate to investors.
The Plaza Maestro Complex, one of the most modern shopping centers in the province caters to the needs of the new generation, offering two of the country's top fast food chains (Jollibee and Chowking), several boutique shops, a drugstore and a photo shop, among others. A stone's throw away from the commercial complex are bakeshops and a local pizza house.

## Tourism

The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum is situated in the city center. The Mausoleum is where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos was once found. His body was moved November 18, 2016 to Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of [the] Heroes) Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. . The Museum holds the memorabilia of then President, from his stint in the Armed Forces down to his presidency. Other notable figures who hails from Batac include Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the Father of the Philippine Army and Msgr. Gregorio Aglipay, the co-founder of the Philippine Independent Church. Monuments and shrines of these personalities had been erected and named after them, such as the Gregorio Aglipay National Shrine.
The Batac Riverside Empanadaan is a retail and dining center catering to tourist selling food products including the city's primary commodity of Batac, the empanada, and other souvenirs and products.
The city has two festivals, The Farmers Festival and The Empanada Festival. The Farmers' Festival, conducted in the first week of May each year is a celebration of bountiful harvest and a tribute to the farmers of the city. It is participated by the rural barangays of the city. The Empanada Festival is a festivity held on the June 23 in celebration of the city's Charter Day. The main feature of the festival is the street dancing which chronicles the process of preparing the empanada.
The Batac City Fiesta, a month-long festivity commencing on December 8, is the longest fiesta in the Province of Ilocos Norte. The fiesta is celebrated in honor of the city's patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The Electric and Lights Parade marks the beginning of the City Fiesta every December 8.

## Government
### Local government

Batac, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a city council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

### Elected officials

Members of the City Council (2022–2025) :
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Eugenio Angelo M. Barba |
| Mayor | Albert D. Chua |
| Vice-Mayor | Windell D. Chua |
| Councilors | Bismark Angelo A. Quidang |
| Councilors | Mark Christian R. Chua |
| Councilors | Kichel Jomarie G. Pungtilan |
| Councilors | Violeta Eugenia D. Nalupta |
| Councilors | Lucky Rene G. Bunye |
| Councilors | John Gabrielle Dominique M. Daguio |
| Councilors | Christopher B. Lagmay |
| Councilors | Joel R. Garcia |
| Councilors | Jamie Anne-Marie P. Tanagon* |
| Councilors | Avelard Ibarra F. Crisostomo |
| Councilors | Gilbert O. Medina (ABC President) |
| Councilors | Reign Gwendia T. Mirasol (SK President) |
*Finishing Jaime Tanagon Sr.'s term (her father) until June 30, 2025.

### List of local chief executives

* 1900: Sereno Franco
* 1904: Claudio Asuncion
* 1906: Sereno Franco
* 1910: Santiago Espiritu
* 1912: Galo Luzod
* 1916: Higidio Layaoen
* 1917: Mauricio Sabas
* 1919: Higidio Layaoen
* 1922: Isidro Morales
* 1925: Eugenio Mendoza
* 1928: Urbano Arcangel
* 1931: Eugenio Mendoza, Sr.
* 1934: Leon Verano
* 1941: Catalino Acosta
* 1942: Sereno Franco (Japanese Occupation)
* 1942: Catalino Acosta (Liberation)
* 1945: Vicente Castro (Military Government)
* 1946-1952: Mariano Nalupta, Sr.
* 1956-1977: Feliciano Q. Asuncion
* 1977-1987: Fe P. Acosta - Aguinaldo
* 1986-1987: Bonifacio G. Agdigos (OIC)
* 1987-1988: Pastor N. Nalupta
* 1988–1998: Jesus R. Nalupta, Sr.
* 1998-2001: Elena M. Nalupta
* 2001-2007: Jesus R. Nalupta, Sr.
* 2007–2016: Jeffrey Jubal C. Nalupta
* 2016–Present: Albert D. Chua

## Education

Batac National High School (BNHS) is the most popular high school in the city. It has three campuses: Poblacion, Bungon and Payao.
The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is a comprehensive institution of higher learning in the Ilocos Region. MMSU's root anchored deep, its foundation is strong, and its beginnings all proven historical turning points as far back as the early 1900s.
The city has one Catholic School, The Immaculate Conception Academy. It was named after Immaculate Conception, the patron saint of the city. It is under the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS). It was founded in 1963. It is located beside the Immaculate Conception Parish.

## Notable people

* Ferdinand Marcos – former President of the Philippines
* Bongbong Marcos – President of the Philippines
* Gregorio Aglipay – Co-founder and the First Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church.
* Artemio Ricarte – A Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. Considered the "Father of the Philippine Army".
* Rodolfo Biazon – Senator of the Philippines from June 30, 1992, up to June 30, 1995, and from June 30, 1998, up to June 30, 2010.
Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr. - A Filipino politician and human rights lawyer during the Martial Law under Marcos administration, former mayor of Cagayan de Oro from 1980 to 1984; he traced his roots in the city through his mother who came from Batac, then a town at that time.