Batac

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."{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Brief Historical Background – City Government of Batac |url=https://batac.gov.ph/brief-historical-background/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |language=en-US}}

The word batac also translates to "pull" in the Ilocano language. More loosely, it refers to "the people's pulling their efforts together."

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{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}.

{{main|Cities of the Philippines}}

{{Hatnote|For further information, see League of Cities of the Philippines v. COMELEC.}}

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.

The City of Batac is located in the northwest of Luzon island, about {{convert|11|km}} 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 situated {{convert|17.53|km}} from the provincial capital Laoag, and {{convert|466.38|km}} from the country's capital city of Manila.

Batac is politically subdivided into 43 barangays, 14 of which constitute the poblacion.{{PSGC detail|area}} Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2024 |title=Barangays in the City of Batac |url=https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/barangays/0102805000 |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=Philippine Statistics Authority}}

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Ablan Pob.
• Acosta Pob.
• Aglipay
• Baay
• Baligat
• Baoa East
• Baoa West
• Barani
• Ben-agan
• Bil-loca
• Biningan
• Bungon
• Callaguip
• Camandingan
• Camguidan
• Cangrunaan
• Capacuan
• Caunayan
• Colo
• Dariwdiw
• Lacub
• Mabaleng
• Magnuang
• Maipalig
• Nagbacalan
• Naguirangan
• Palongpong
• Palpalicong
• Parangopong
• Payao
• Pimentel
• Quiling Norte
• Quiling Sur
• Quiom
• Rayuray
• Ricarte Pob.
• San Julian
• San Mateo
• San Pedro
• Suabit
• Sumader
• Tabug
• Valdez Pob.

{{div col end}}

{{stack|float=left|{{Weather box

| location = Batac City, Ilocos Norte

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 27

| Jan low C = 20

| Feb high C = 28

| Feb low C = 20

| Mar high C = 30

| Mar low C = 21

| Apr high C = 32

| Apr low C = 23

| May high C = 31

| May low C = 25

| Jun high C = 31

| Jun low C = 25

| Jul high C = 30

| Jul low C = 25

| Aug high C = 30

| Aug low C = 25

| Sep high C = 30

| Sep low C = 24

| Oct high C = 29

| Oct low C = 23

| Nov high C = 28

| Nov low C = 22

| Dec high C = 27

| Dec low C = 21

| Jan precipitation mm = 38

| Feb precipitation mm = 37

| Mar precipitation mm = 37

| Apr precipitation mm = 49

| May precipitation mm = 181

| Jun precipitation mm = 214

| Jul precipitation mm = 264

| Aug precipitation mm = 251

| Sep precipitation mm = 243

| Oct precipitation mm = 229

| Nov precipitation mm = 129

| Dec precipitation mm = 96

| Jan rain days = 11.6

| Feb rain days = 10.7

| Mar rain days = 12.4

| Apr rain days = 15.2

| May rain days = 22.6

| Jun rain days = 25.0

| Jul rain days = 26.1

| Aug rain days = 24.9

| Sep rain days = 24.3

| Oct rain days = 19.2

| Nov rain days = 16.4

| Dec rain days = 15.4

| source 1 = Meteoblue

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/batac-city_philippines_1726339

| title =Batac: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| access-date = March 4, 2020 }}

| date = March 4, 2020

}}}}

{{clear left}}

{{Philippine Census

| align = left

| cols = 2

| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}

| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}

| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}

| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}

| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}

| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}

| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}

| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}

| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}

| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}

| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}

| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}

| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}

| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}

| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}

| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}

| 2025 =

| 2030 =

| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

}}

In the 2020 census, the population of Batac was 55,484 people,{{PH census|current}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|55,484/161.06|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}.

The primary language spoken in Batac is Ilocano.

{{clear left}}

{{stack|float=left|{{PH poverty incidence}}}}

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.{{clear left}}

File:Marcos Monument Batac Ilocos Norte.jpg

File:Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center sign.jpg

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. [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial_of_Ferdinand_Marcos#:~:text=The%20burial%20of%20Ferdinand%20Marcos,Taguig%2C%20Metro%20Manila%2C%20Philippines]. 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.

{{main|Sangguniang Panglungsod}}

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.

*Finishing Jaime Tanagon Sr.'s term (her father) until June 30, 2025.

{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• 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

}}

The Batac City Schools Division Office governs all public and private education within the municipality. It has two schools district offices which manage the operations of public and private elementary and high schools. These are Batac I Schools District Office, and Batac II Schools District Office.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=Department of Education}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Baay Elementary School
• Baligat Elementary School
• Baoa East Elementary School
• Baoa Elementary School
• Batac Puericulture & Family Planning Center Preparatory School
• Benigno Macadaeg Memorial Elementary School
• Bil-loca Elementary School
• Biningan Elementary School
• Camandingan Elementary School
• Catalino Acosta Memorial Elementary School Special Education Center
• Colo-Mabaleng Elementary School
• Dariwdiw Elementary School
• Cumcumraas-Manggaddi-Pitpitac Elementary School
• Graceland Saviour's Institution (Elementary)
• Hilario Valdez Memorial Elementary School
• Living Rock Christian School of Excellence
• Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School
• Magnuang Elementary School
• Maipalig-Quiom Elementary School
• Nagbacalan Elementary School
• Naguirangan-Capacuan Elementary School
• P.Q. Pimentel Elementary School
• Parangopong Elementary School
• Payao Elementary School
• Rayuray Elementary School
• Quiling Elementary School
• San Mateo Elementary School
• Sumader Elementary School
• Tabug Elementary School

{{div col end}}

Batac National High School (BNHS) is the most popular high school in the city. It has three campuses: Poblacion, Bungon and Payao. 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.

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Batac Institute
• Batac National High School
• Crispina Marcos Valdez NHS
• City of Batac National High School Payao
• City of Batac National High School Poblacion
• City of Batac National High School Rayuray
• Eureka High School
• Gen. Artemio Ricarte Senior High School
• Graceland Saviour's Institution
• Ferdinand E. Marcos Senior High School
• Immaculate Concepcion Academy
• Maranatha Christian Academy

{{div col end}}

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.

• Batac Junior College
• Mariano Marcos State University

File:MarcosinWashington1983.jpg|alt=An image of Ferdinand Marcos in 1983|Ferdinand Marcos – former President of the Philippines

File:President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. State of the Nation Address (SONA).png|alt=Bongbong Marcos delivering his first SONA|Bongbong Marcos – President of the Philippines

File:The Most Rev. Gregorio L. Aglipay- Obispo Maximo I.jpg|Gregorio Aglipay – Co-founder and the First Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church.

File:Artemio Ricarte.jpg|Artemio Ricarte – A Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. Considered the "Father of the Philippine Army".

File:Rodolfo Biazon.jpg|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.{{Cite journal |last=Josue |first=Ericson |date=2009 |title="Ili a Baluarte": Revisiting the Cradle of Aglipayanism |journal=Philippiniana Sacra |volume=44 |issue=130 |pages=129–186 |doi=10.55997/ps1008xliv130a8 |issn=0115-9577 |doi-access=free}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|http://www.batac.gov.ph/}}
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081120024509/http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html Philippine Census Information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120502154204/http://www.blgs.gov.ph/lgpmsv2/cmshome/index.php?pageID=23&frmIdDcfCode=7&fLguType=CM&frmIdRegion=2&frmIdProvince=18&frmIdLgu=197 Local Governance Performance Management System]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Batac

|North = San Nicolas

|Northeast = Sarrat

|East = Banna

|Southeast = Nueva Era

|South = Pinili

|Southwest = Currimao

|West = Paoay

}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Articles Related to Batac

|list =

{{Ilocos Norte}}

{{Ilocos Region Provinces}}

{{Philippine cities}}

{{Metropolitan areas of the Philippines}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Ilocos Norte

Category:Populated places established in 1587

Category:1587 establishments in the Philippines

Category:Component cities in the Philippines