FACTS & FIGURES
... At a Glance
| Area | 27,752 ha. |
| Total Population (As of Aug 2007) |
12,657 |
| Registered Voters (As of 2004) |
6,093 |
| Population Density (As of Aug 2007) |
2.2 per hectare |
| Number of Barangays (As of Sept 2008) |
13 |
| Income Class (July 2005) |
Fourth Class |
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View CAR PSGC |
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Kabayan is located on the eastern part of Benguet at 120 degrees 45” to 120 degrees 58” east longitude and 16 degrees 33” to 16 degrees 42” north latitude. It is bounded on the north by Buguias, south by Bokod, west by Atok while Tinoc, Ifugao and Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya share the eastern border.
Kabayan is approximately 335 kilometers north of Manila. From Baguio City, Kabayan is 85 kilometers northeast travelling through the Baguio-Ambuclao-Bokod-Kabayan Road. Taking the Halsema Highway, then following the Abatan-Buguias-Kabayan Road, the town can be reached after covering a distance of 118 kilometers.
The municipality has two seasons – dry and wet.
With the municipality’s total land area of 27,752 hectares, the municipality’s land use classification is as follows: agricultural land – 2,524.9 has. where 1,065.6 has. are irrigated and 1,458.7 has. are rainfed, pasture land – 1,014.5 has., forest reserve land – 11,550.0 has., communal forest – 113.0 has., built-up area – 356.6 has., and open area – 11,673.6 has.
Brief History
The Ibaloi, Kalanguya and Kakanaey populate the town of Kabayan. Each of these tribes has its own beginning. The Ibaloi are the majority who trace their origin to a settlement in Kabayan known as Embosi. Hence, Kabayan is known as the seat of Ibaloi culture.
Reportedly, a group from Pangasinan traveled upstream by following the course of the Agno River. They first settled at the sitio Baloy of the Itogon but due to an illness of epedimic proportions, they left the area and continued their journey upstream until they reached Embosi. A Kalanguya hunter from Tinoc, Ifugao running after his injured prey came in contact with them. Having identified themselves as coming from Baloy, they were called Ibaloi, meaning “from Baloy.” There were intermarriages between the Ibaloi and Kankanaey and their occupation of a particular area in the town resulted in the establishment of a Kankanaey-dominated village in southwestern Kabayan. For their part, the Kalanguyan trace their origin to a village known as Ahin in Tinoc, Ifugao.
With the arrival of the Spaniards in the late 1800, Spanish trails were built with some of them still visible and being used today. The Spaniards organized the town into three rancherias, namely: Lucab, Kabayan and Adaoay. The first two were later merged and renamed Kabayan rancheria.
With the coming of the Americans, the rancherias became townships. The townships of Kabayan and Adaoay were later reorganized into a single township. Thus, the township of Kabayan was born with six barrios, namely: Adaoay, Batan, Gusaran, Kabayan, Pacso and Poblacion.
At present, Kabayan is politically subdivided into 13 barangays, namely: Adaoay, Anchokey, Bashoy, Batan, Duacan, Eddet, Poblacion, Ballay, Gusaran, Kabayan Barrio, Lusod, Pacso and Tawangan. The first seven barangays now comprise the first Sangguniang Bayan District and the last six barangays form the second Sangguniang Bayan District.
Leaders of the municipality from 1988 to the present are as follows: Florentino Merino (1988-1992), Ernesto Matuday (1992-1995) and Florentino Merino (1995-1998). Ernesto Matuday made a comeback for the term of office from 1998 to 2001, 2001-2004, and from 2004-2007. Since 2007, Mayor Faustino Aquisan has been at the helm of the town.
The three major tribes that comprise the population are the Ibaloi, Kalanguya and Kankanaey. People from other tribes comprise only 2% of the total population. The major dialects are Ibaloi, Kalanguya, Kankanaey and Ilocano.
Economy
Agriculture is the major industry of the locality where they are known for their kintoman, coffee and cauliflower. The kintoman is a brown aromatic rice.
Points of Interest
- Timbac Caves
- Opdas Caves
- Mt. Pulag
Sources:
Cordillera Almanac, Volume 1
Department of the Interior and Local Government
Cordillera Administrative Region
Photos:
Kabayan Mountains by Russel Ariola (http://www.pbase.com/russel_ariola)
Timbac Cave from
www.madnomad.com
Opdas Cave Kabayan Benguet by
Rubbahumpy (http://rubbahumpy.deviantart.com)
Mt. Pulag by
Pauline Apilado (http://paulineapilado.multiply.com)
Page last updated: June 7, 2011
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