Buguias

Buguias
Municipality
Municipality of Buguias
Houses near rice terraces in Buguias
Flag Seal
Nickname:  The Vegetable Panorama of the Philippines
Map of Benguet with Buguias highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Buguias Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°48′12″N 120°49′16″E / 16.8033°N 120.8211°E / 16.8033; 120.8211
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Province	Benguet
District	Lone district
Founded	February 9, 1942
Barangays	14 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• mayor of Buguias[*]	Ruben L. Tinda-an
• Vice Mayor	Dione E. Baucas
• Representative	Nestor B. Fongwan
• Electorate	24,686 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	175.88 km2 (67.91 sq mi)
Elevation	1,684 m (5,525 ft)
Highest elevation	2,342 m (7,684 ft)
Lowest elevation	1,129 m (3,704 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	44,877
• Density	260/km2 (660/sq mi)
• Households	11,937
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	26.18 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 165.3 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 362.5 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 105.8 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 64.07 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2607
PSGC	141105000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)74
Native languages	Kankanaey Ibaloi Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.buguias.gov.ph

Buguias, officially the Municipality of Buguias, (Ilocano: Ili ti Buguias; Tagalog: Bayan ng Buguias), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,877 people.^[3] The municipality is home to the mummy of Apo Anno, one of the most revered and important folk hero in Benguet prior to Spanish arrival.

According to folklore, Buguias got its name from the word bugas (or begas) which means "rice".^[5][6]

Another version of its origin would be an Igorot settlement during the pre-Spanish time called Bogey-yas, which was modernized and spelled as Buguias by Spanish authorities.^[7]

Nabalicong village in Barangay Natubleng was the center of the area's cultural and political domains prior to Spanish colonization. In the 12th century,^[8] a folk hero, known as Apo Anno, lived with the people of the area and was a spiritual leader, hunter, and demigod. The people believed Apo Anno was a son of a Benguet goddess. His body was filled with tattoos, symbolizing his high status in the community. During his protectorate of the domain, prosperity spurred. He died before the arrival of the Spaniards, and thus, was given mummification and death rites in the traditional way.^[9]

The arrival of Spanish colonizers in Buguias were primarily due to the construction of Spanish trails leading to the mountain region. Buguias and Loo were two separate rancherias during the Spanish Regime.^[6]

During the American rule, Buguias was established as one of the 19 townships of the province of Benguet, upon the issuance of Act No. 48 by the Philippine Commission on November 22, 1900.^[7][10][11]

On November 23, 1900, the township of Loo was abolished and integrated into the township of Buguias with the issuance of Act No. 49.^[5][12] On August 13, 1908, Benguet was established as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876. As a result, six townships of Benguet were abolished, but Buguias remained a constituent town of Benguet sub-province.^[11]

In 1918, the mummy of Apo Anno was stolen by foreign treasure hunters. An earthquake and pestilence followed afterwards, prompting the people to campaign for the return of Apo Anno to his resting place.

On June 25, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 42 converting eight (8) of the thirteen (13) towns (designated as municipal districts) of Benguet sub-province into regular municipalities. Buguias was among them.^[13]

On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Buguias remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province.^[11][14]

In 1984, a Filipino antique collector bought an auctioned mummy, only to discover it was the mummy of Apo Anno. He donated it to the National Museum of the Philippines afterwards for better care of the national treasure. The people of Buguias made diplomatic channels with the National Museum until it was agreed that the National Museum would return the mummy of Apo Anno to its resting place in barangay Nabalicong after Benguet officials agreed to install iron grills in the burial cave and provide funds for its upkeep. Later that year, Apo Anno was returned to its burial cave, through elaborate death rituals last performed in the 16th century and a hero's homecoming conducted by the people of Buguias.^[9]

There have been scholars campaigning for the declaration of Apo Anno's mummy and resting place as a collective National Treasure or Important Cultural Property of the Philippines.

Buguias is located at 16°48′12″N 120°49′16″E / 16.8033°N 120.8211°E / 16.8033; 120.8211, at the northeastern section of Benguet. It is bounded by Mankayan on the north-west, Bakun on the mid-west, Kibungan on the south-west, Kabayan on the south, Tinoc on the east, Hungduan on the north-east, and Bauko on the north.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 175.88 square kilometres (67.91 sq mi) ^[15] constituting 6.35% of the 2,769.08-square-kilometre- (1,069.15 sq mi) total area of Benguet.

Buguias is 83 kilometres (52 mi) from Baguio, 78 kilometres (48 mi) from La Trinidad, and 333 kilometres (207 mi) from Manila.

Buguias is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.^[16] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[3]		2010[17]
141105001	Abatan	7.9%	3,548	2,780	▴	2.47%
141105002	Amgaleyguey	7.0%	3,139	3,538	▾	−1.19%
141105003	Amlimay	5.2%	2,347	2,197	▴	0.66%
141105004	Baculongan Norte	6.6%	2,974	2,157	▴	3.26%
141105014	Baculongan Sur	8.2%	3,698	3,169	▴	1.56%
141105006	Bangao	11.9%	5,319	4,269	▴	2.22%
141105007	Buyacaoan	8.7%	3,884	3,160	▴	2.08%
141105008	Calamagan	2.1%	931	739	▴	2.34%
141105009	Catlubong	7.5%	3,369	2,758	▴	2.02%
141105015	Lengaoan	4.7%	2,092	1,488	▴	3.46%
141105010	Loo	10.9%	4,881	4,388	▴	1.07%
141105012	Natubleng	6.1%	2,746	2,513	▴	0.89%
141105013	Poblacion (Central)	6.9%	3,108	3,472	▾	−1.10%
141105016	Sebang	6.3%	2,841	2,643	▴	0.72%
	Total		44,877	44,877		0.00%

In the 2020 census, Buguias had a population of 44,877.^[3] The population density was 260 inhabitants per square kilometre (670/sq mi).

Poverty incidence of Buguias

Buguias is primarily an agricultural town. It is one of the leading producers of highland vegetables, especially carrots,^[30] in the province of Benguet.^[7][31]

Most of the vegetables produced in the town are sold at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post or are marketed to other parts of the country.^[32]

Buguias, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Benguet, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal 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.

As of 2014, Buguias has 43 public elementary schools and 6 public secondary schools.^[36][37][38]

The Veteran Memorial Marker marks the liberation of Abatan and Buguias on July 27, 1945, that was fought between the Japanese Imperial Army and the combined Filipino and American ground troops. Through municipal council resolution No. 19, July 27, 1945, was declared as the Liberation Day and local holiday in the municipality. Festivals during this date include parades, programs and wreath-laying.

The World War II 66th Infantry Shrine monument, located in Lengaoan along Halsema Highway, symbolizes the bravery of the combined Filipino and American soldiers who stood their ground defending the area and firing their cannons against the Japanese forces.

The 12th century burial site, which was later used again for Apo Anno's reburial in 1999,^[9] is one of the most important cultural sites in Benguet. The burial site is home to the mummy of one of Benguet's folk heroes whose remains are still preserved in present time.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code