Bataan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Province of Bataan Lalawigan ning Bataan Lalawigan ng Bataan
Province
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Forward Bataan
Map of the Philippines with Bataan highlighted
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Founded	1754
Capital	Balanga City
Government
• Type	Province of the Philippines
Area
• Total	1,372.98 km2 (530.11 sq mi)
Area rank	72nd out of 80
Population  (2015)
• Total	760,650
• Rank	39th out of 81
• Density	554.014/km2 (1,434.889/sq mi)
• Density rank	8th out of 81
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	1
• Municipalities	11
• Barangays	237
• Districts	1st and 2nd districts of Bataan
Time zone	UTC+8 (PHT)
ZIP Code	2100 - 2114
Dialing code	47
Spoken languages	Tagalog, Kapampangan, English

Bataan is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital city is Balanga. Bataan is located on the Bataan Peninsula, which is part of Luzon island.

To the north, Bataan borders the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga. The peninsula faces the South China Sea on its west side. To the north-west is Subic Bay, and to the east, it surrounds Manila Bay.

Bataan is famous in history for the Battle of Bataan during World War II. This was a major stand by American and Filipino soldiers. They fought bravely against Japanese forces. The sad Bataan Death March was named after this province. This march began here after the soldiers surrendered.

Discovering Bataan's Past

Early Settlers and Communities

The first people to live on the Bataan peninsula were the Ayta Magbeken. They are one of the earliest Negrito groups in the Philippines. Later, Tagalog communities from southern Luzon moved into parts of Bataan. By the end of the 16th century, the Ayta Magbeken people had moved more towards the mountain areas.

Colonial Times

In 1647, Dutch naval forces arrived in the Philippines. They tried to take the islands from Spain. During this time, the Dutch attacked the people of Abucay in Bataan.

Historian Cornelio Bascara notes that the province of Bataan was officially created on January 11, 1757. It was formed by Governor-General Pedro Manuel Arandia. He used land from Pampanga and the area of Mariveles. At that time, Mariveles also included Maragondon, Cavite, which is across Manila Bay.

Bataan in World War II

Bataan played a very important role during World War II. Before the Japanese invasion in 1941, Bataan was a military zone. It was used to defend the fortress island of Corregidor. The US Army stored a lot of gasoline and weapons there. At the southern tip of the peninsula, the U.S. Navy had a small base at Mariveles port.

March 1942: burning houses after a Japanese bombing raid in Bataan

In December 1941, the Japanese Army invaded the country. The combined US and Filipino forces were slowly being defeated. General Douglas MacArthur moved his troops to the Bataan Peninsula. He hoped to hold out there until help could arrive from the US.

Japanese forces began a siege of the peninsula on January 7, 1942. They launched a big attack on April 3. Many tough battles had already happened before this. The Bataan campaign was the last time a regular cavalry unit of the U.S. Army, the Philippine Scouts 26th Cavalry, fought on horseback. On January 16, 1942, Lt. Edwin Ramsey led the last cavalry charge. They rode into the town of Moron and pushed back the Japanese soldiers. Sadly, as food ran out for the troops in Bataan, the horses were eventually used to feed the starving soldiers.

Most American and Filipino forces surrendered on April 9. They were forced to march over 100 kilometers (62 mi) from Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. This terrible event became known as the Bataan Death March.

Bataan's Natural Beauty

Bataan as seen from Manila Bay

Bataan province covers an area of 1,372.98 square kilometres (530.11 sq mi). It takes up the entire Bataan Peninsula. This peninsula is a rocky part of the Zambales Mountains. It extends into the South China Sea and surrounds Manila Bay.

In the northern part of the peninsula is Mount Natib, which is 1,253 metres (4,111 ft) high. It has surrounding mountains. These are separated from Mount Samat and the Mariveles Mountains in the south by a pass.

The eastern side of the province has a narrow coastline plain. The western coast has many ridges, cliffs, and headlands.

People of Bataan

The population of Bataan in 2015 was 760,650 people. This means there were about 550 people per square kilometer.

Ethnic Groups

The three main ethnic groups in Bataan are the Tagalogs, the Kapampangans, and the Ayta Magbeken. The Ayta Magbeken group has a smaller population, even though they were the first inhabitants. The Kapampangans mainly live in the northeast of the province. They are also found in the provincial capital, but in smaller numbers.

Religions in Bataan

People in Bataan follow different religious groups. However, Roman Catholicism is the most common religion. About 85.46% of Bataan's population are Roman Catholics. Other Christian and non-Christian faiths include Iglesia Ni Cristo (4.47%), Evangelicals (2.06%), Aglipayans (1.60%), and other groups.

Learning in Bataan

Universities and Colleges

Fun Places to Visit in Bataan

Historical Sites

Churches to See

• Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church – Morong
• Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church – Pilar
• Nuestra Señora, Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario Church – in Orani, this church was given the special title of Minor Basilica by Pope Francis in 2019. It holds the amazing image of the Our Lady of Orani.
• San Francisco de Asis Church – Limay
• Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral-Parish of Saint Joseph – Balanga City, this is a special church and the main church for the Diocese of Balanga.
• San Juan Bautista Church – Dinalupihan
• San Miguel Arcangel Church – Orion
• San Nicolas de Tolentino Church – Mariveles
• San Pedro Martir de Verona Church – Hermosa
• Santa Catalina de Alexandria Church – Bagac
• Santa Catalina de Siena Church – Samal
• Santo Domingo de Guzman Church – Abucay, this is the oldest church in Bataan, built in 1587.

Other Interesting Places

• Bataan Tourism Center – Balanga
• Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar – Bagac
• Philippine Refugee Processing Center – Morong
• Ocean Adventure – Mabayo, Morong (SBFZ)
• Zoobic Safari – Mabayo, Morong (SBFZ)
• Major General Edward P. King (Grave) – Lamao
• Sinagtala Farm Resort & Adventure Park – Orani
• Vista Tala Resort & Recreational Park – Orani
• Camaya Coast (Camaya Sands Resorts and Leisure) – Mariveles
• Montemar Beach Club – Bagac
• Duhat Bike Trail – Orion
• GICC Technopark - Freeport Area of Bataan
• Pawikan Conservation Center - Morong

Natural Wonders

Bataan's Infrastructure

Power Supply

Generating Electricity

GN Power Mariveles

Bataan is a big producer of electricity. Most of the power generated here goes to the Luzon Grid. Many power plants in Bataan use fossil fuels like oil and coal. However, some also use renewable energy sources, mainly solar power. The total power from existing plants is 2068.1 MW. New power plants will increase this to 4224.1 MW.

Plants using fossil fuels produce 2020 MW. These are mostly in Limay and Mariveles. Examples include the GN Power Mariveles Coal Power Plant (660 MW) and the Panasia Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant (620 MW). Two new plants are being built. They will add another 1936 MW.

Renewable energy, mostly solar power, produces 48.1 MW. These plants are in the northern part of the province. Existing solar plants include YH Green Energy Solar Power Plant (12.6 MW) and Citicore Solar Power Plant (18 MW). Three new projects will add 220 MW more.

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong was designed to produce 600 MW. It was supposed to be the first nuclear power plant in the Philippines. It was meant to start in 1986. But it was stopped due to concerns about nuclear power. There is talk about either fixing the old plant or building a new one.

Distributing Electricity

Bataan electric utilities

Electricity in Bataan is mostly distributed by the Peninsula Electric Cooperative (PENELCO). Some large users get their power directly from the main transmission grid. This grid is run by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Their 69,000-volt lines supply PENELCO's substations. In the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) and certain villages, power is supplied by the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) – FAB branch.

Ports and Terminals

• Mariveles Grain Terminal – Freeport Area of Bataan, Mariveles
• Seasia-Nectar Mariveles Dry Bulk Terminal – Freeport Area of Bataan, Mariveles
• Port of Lucanin – Mariveles
• Port of Lamao – Limay
• Port Capinpin – Orion
• Subic Bay International Container Port – Cubi Point, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Morong

Since late 2017, ferry services have restarted. You can take a ferry from Mall of Asia in Pasay City to Port Capinpin in Orion. A land trip usually takes two and a half hours. But the ferry trip takes only one hour. Shuttles are available at Orion to take passengers to Balanga or Mariveles.

Airport

• Subic Bay International Airport – Cubi Point, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Morong

Roads and Highways

Bataan has a network of national highways and one expressway. The Roman Superhighway (N301) and Jose Abad Santos Avenue (N3) are key national highways. The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway is a toll road. It connects Bataan with Pampanga and Tarlac. Other roads like Bataan/Old National Road and Governor J.J. Linao National Road connect smaller towns to the main highway system.

Famous People from Bataan

Images for kids

• 

  Bataan peninsula's strategic location in the west of Manila Bay, directly across Metro Manila

• 

  Bataan as seen from the entrance of Manila Bay

• 

  Political map of Bataan
• 

  The 180,000 bpsd Petron Bataan Refinery in Limay, Bataan is the sole integrated oil refinery and petrochemical complex in the Philippines

• 

  The Freeport Area of Bataan, formerly known as Bataan Export Processing Zone/Bataan Economic Zone until June 30, 2010, is the fastest growing freeport in the country in terms of investments

• 

  Capitol Drive in Balanga

• 

  Genpact is the largest Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company operating in the province of Bataan of Bataan.

• 

  A solar power facility in Tipo, Hermosa area of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, Philippines

• 

  Aerial view of Subic Bay International Airport

• 

  Port of Mariveles in Bataan

• 

  Tipo Interchange in Hermosa, Bataan, before the toll system integration with NLEx.

See also

In Spanish: Bataán para niños