Balilihan

photo by nurpu

The Municipality of Balilihan is an interior town lying northeast of Tagbilaran City, about 22 kilometers away. Estimated travel time from Tagbilaran is 30 minutes via Cortes (thru CPG North Avenue) or Corella (thru JA Clarin St.). The town is blessed with a vista of rugged hills, mountains and verdant fields.

The town is considered to be a 4th class municipality according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) and has a population of 17,131 people according to the 2007 census. With a land area of 15,022 hectares, it occupies the 4th largest land mass in Bohol and is part of the 1st Congressional District.

Balilihan is politically subdivided into 31 barangays namely: Baucan Norte, Baucan Sur, Boctol, Boyog Norte, Boyog Proper, Boyog Sur, Cabad, Candasig, Cantalid, Cantomimbo, Cogon, Datag Norte, Datag Sur, Del Carmen Este (Poblacion), Del Carmen Norte (Poblacion), Del Carmen Sur (Poblacion), Del Carmen Weste (Poblacion), Del Rosario, Dorol, Haguilanan Grande, Hanopol Este, Hanopol Norte, Hanopol Weste, Magsija, Maslog, Sagasa, Sal-ing, San Isidro, San Roque, Santo Niño and Tagustusan.

Hanopol was formerly the biggest barrio of Balilihan and is said to be the rice granary of the town. Aside from rice, the people of Balilihan also produce corn, bananas, cassava, and all sorts of vegetables and other root crops such as sweet potato (camote) and gabi. The people are also into basket weaving, handbag making, sinamay and saguran making, buri mat weaving and hat making.

photo by lizza22

At present, Mayor Victoria Chatto is geared towards making Balilihan the vegetable basket of the province. Farmers have formed the Balilihan Vegetable Growers Association and have marketed their harvests as a group. As a group, specific vegetable production can be attained to meet the requirements of eventual big markets where linkage can be established.

The barangays Del Carmen Norte and Del Carmen Weste at the Poblacion are classified as “Urban” while all the rest are rural barangays according to the June 2006 report of the National Statistics Office (NSO). Populations in these urban barangays are 748 and 835, respectively, based on the records of the 2007 census.

photo by lizza22

Majority of Balilihan’s population are Roman Catholics and are deeply religious. The town celebrates its feast day on July 16 with the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel as their patron saint. Barangay Hanopol was established into a separate parish and their then biggest chapel was converted into the Santo Niño Parish Church. The church is 33 kilometers from Tagbilaran City and 11 kilometers from the Poblacion of Balilihan.

Educational Institutions Elementary Schools

Balilihan Central Elementary School
Baucan Elementary School
Boctol Elementary School
Boyog Primary School
Cabad-Candasig Elementary School
Cantomimbo Primary School
Cogon-Tagustusan Elementary School
Datag Elementary School
Dorol Elementary School
Haguilanan Grande Elementary School
Hanopol Elementary School
Magsija-Maslog Elementary School
Sagasa Elementary School
Sal-ing Elementary School
San Isidro Primary School
San Roque Elementary School

Secondary Schools

Congressman Pablo Malasarte Memorial High School (CPMMHS)
Carmel Academy (CA)
Hanopol High School (HHS)

Central Visayas State College of Agriculture Forestry and Technology - Tagbilaran City Campus, Balilihan Extension Class (CVSCAFT I.T. Campus)

Municipality of Balilihan

The Municipality of Balilihan is an interior town lying northeast of Tagbilaran City, about 22 kilometers away. Estimated travel time from Tagbilaran is 30 minutes via Cortes (thru CPG North Avenue) or Corella (thru JA Clarin St.). The town is blessed with a vista of rugged hills, mountains and verdant fields.

Balilihan Festival

The Municipality of Balilihan has set its foundation day on September 29, 1828; supposedly the day when the town was separated from its mother town, Baclayon. The date is questionable though, for per historical records, its founding date was officially recorded on another date. How and why this is so is yet to be clarified.

Balilihan Attractions

The Camugao Falls has a beautiful backdrop of green and lush vegetation with lots of ferns and other tropical plants, about 22 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. The Kawasan Falls is accentuated by a green backdrop of tropical plants and rugged cliffs which is beautiful to behold and cascades into a natural pool. Niluksoan Falls. Magsija Swiming Pool. Mt. Carmel Hill. Mt. Carmel Church.

Balilihan Church

The town and parish of Balilihan were from Baclayon in 1829, to make room for Dagohoy?s followers after the revolt, which lasted eight decades, were put to an end by a massive assault by Spanish troops from Cebu. The Recollects administered the parish until 1898. The present church was probably completed in the early 20th century.

History of Balilihan

For Balilihan, its name was derived from a grass called balili which grew in abundance in the locality. ?Balilihan? means a place where plenty of "balili" grows.