"Angat Pilar"

Discover the Heart of Pilar

Pilar is often called the “Last Bastion of Democracy in the Philippines.” It is because the town was the site of the bloodiest confrontations between the invading forces of the Japanese Imperial Army and the defending American and Filipino soldiers during the Second World War.

The town is bounded on the North by the City of Balanga; on the South by Orion; on the East by Manila Bay and on the West by Bagac. It has 19 barangays. On its eastern part are the coastal barangays of Balut I, Balut II, Wawa and Landing. On the other hand, four upland barangays are situated around the foot of Mt. Samat and adjacent mountains – Diwa, Liyang, Pantingan and Nagwaling. The remaining 11 barangays are Sta. Rosa, Alauli, Bagumbayan, Del Rosario, Poblacion, Wakas North, Wakas South, Burgos, Bantan Munti, Panilao and Rizal.

Pilar was formerly part of the circa of Balanga (circa 1714). The opportunity to become a regular parish came on March 10, 1801 through the initiatives of the Secular Clergy who replaced all regular Spanish religious missionaries in Luzon, to include Bataan. A month later, Pilar was declared as an independent municipality (April 10, 1801).

It was one secular priest, Fr. Damaso Lintag who became the first parish priest of Pilar. He was also the one who chose Nuestra Señora del Pilar as the patroness of the new town. From 1801 to 1833, however, residents of Sta. Rosa and Panilao did not find their independence from Balanga appealing. They did not appreciate the need for such separation. Records showed that they tried to withdraw from Pilar. Only a decree issued by the civil government in 1825 prevented such separation plan.

In the meantime, Fr. Lintag established the initial chapel of the Lady of the Pillar. It was made of wood and nipa roofing. A Dominican priest, Fr. Jesualdo Miñano initiated the construction of the first stone church of Pilar in 1834. Fr. Fermin de San Julian, on the other hand, was the last Dominican priest of the municipality.

Another stone church was built in 1931 to replace the old church which was burned to the ground during the 1898 revolution in Pilar. It was built across the street facing the old church and was completed phase by phase four years later.

For today, with its mission of increasing agricultural production and intensifying the other sectors of the economy like the agro and TOURISM industries to create employment opportunities/ increase income; provide infrastructure and telecommunication services to priority areas; improve social services and conserve/preserve natural resources and historical spots, we can envision how the people of the Municipality wanted Pilar to really be intensified.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Location: Bounded on the North by the City of Balanga; on the South by Orion; on the East by Manila Bay and on the West by Bagac
Land Area: 67,503,374.60 sq. m (3,760 hectares; 37.60 km2; 14.52 sq mi)
Population: 39,787 (as of 2010)
No. Of Barangays: 19
Major Industries: Fishing, growing crops and raising livestock and aquatic products
Small Scale & Cottage Industries: Several indigenous establishments (dress shops, junk shops, sari-sari stores, carwash, etc.)

Educational

Bataan Trivia

• An annual celebration commemorating the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers who gave their lives in the name of democracy. (“Araw ng Kagitingan” / Bataan Day)
• It is the permanent venue for the annual April 9 celebration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan.” (Dambana ng Kagitingan/ Shrine of Valor)
• Name of an eco-tourism site which means “dugtungan” in Batangas. (Dunsulan Falls)
• It is the longest zipline in Luzon having 540-meter zip from the famous Mt. Samat down to Dunsulan Falls. (Mt. Samat Zipline)
• She is a multi-awarded TV personality, specifically, a multi-awarded news anchor of GMA 7 who was born Sta. Rosa, Pilar, Bataan. (Mel Tiangco)

PRODUCTS

Food & Delicacies