Kabayan, Benguet

Kabayan
Municipality
Seal
Location in the province of Benguet
Kabayan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Province	Benguet
District	Lone district of Benguet
Barangays	13
Government
• Mayor	Faustino Minas Aquisan
Area
• Total	242.69 km2 (93.70 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	13,588
• Density	56/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2606
Dialing code	74
Income class	4th class

Kabayan is a fourth class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 13,588 people.

The town is the site of centuries-old Ibaloi mummies buried inside caves scattered around its villages.

The third highest mountain in the Philippines, Mount Pulag, is located in the territorial boundary of the vegetable farming town.

History

Etymology

The name "Kabayan" was derived from the term "Kaba-ayan", from the Ibaloi word "ba-ay", a root crop vine thriving in the place. Most of the early Ibaloi settlements, in the area, which include Eddet and Duacan, were named after grasses in the heavily-forested area.

Pre-colonial period

The first Ibaloi settlers in Benguet arrived at Imbose (or Embosi), located in present-day Kabayan.

Mummification of the dead was practiced long before Spanish colonizers reached the place.

Spanish period

In the late 1800s, Spanish colonizers reached Kabayan via trails constructed throughout the mountain region. Organized into three rancherias, namely Adaoay, Kabayan, and Lutab (or Dutab), Kabayan was registered under the comandancia politico-militar of Benguet in 1846. Lutab (currently barangay Poblacion or Kabayan Central) was later integrated into the Kabayan rancheria.

The practice of mummification of the dead was discouraged by the Spaniards, until it eventually died out.

American period

During the American rule, Kabayan and Adaoay were established as two of the 19 townships of the province of Benguet, upon the issuance of Act No. 48 by the Philippine Commission on November 22, 1900.

On August 13, 1908, Benguet was established as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876. Six townships of Benguet were later abolished, including Adaoay, which was integrated into the township of Kabayan.

Post-war Era

On June 25, 1963, then-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. Kabayan was among them.

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

Geography

Kabayan is bounded by Buguias on the north, Kibungan on the north-west, Atok on the south-west, Bokod on the south, Kayapa on the southeast, and Tinoc on the north-east.

Barangays

The 13 barangays of the Municipality of Kabayan

Rank	Barangay	Population	Rank	Barangay	Population
1	Ballay	2,623	8	Eddet	740
2	Bashoy	1,597	9	Tawangan	734
3	Poblacion (Central)	1,567	10	Duacan	709
4	Gusaran	1,330	11	Adaoay	670
5	Pacso	1,247	12	Kabayan Barrio	337
6	Batan	944	13	Anchukey	296
7	Lusod	794	Kabayan Total		13,588

^{*Italicized names are former names}

Anchukey was registered as the least populous barangay in the province of Benguet, according to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing.

Demographics

Population census of Kabayan
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	10,306	—
1995	10,510	+0.37%
2000	12,344	+3.51%
2007	12,657	+0.35%
2010	13,588	+2.62%
Source: National Statistics Office

Education

Public schools

As of 2014, Kabayan has 22 public elementary schools and 3 public secondary schools.

Elementary (2013-2014) School Barangay Abucot Elementary School Eddet Adaoay Elementary School Adaoay Anchokey Primary School Anchokey Asokong Pacso Elementary School Gusaran Asokong Pacso Elementary School - Annex Pacso Awing Primary School Adaoay Ballay Elementary School Ballay Bashoy Elementary School Bashoy Batan Elementary School Batan Bio B. Midol Elementary School Ballay Chapides Primary School Gusaran Duacan Primary School Duacan Eddet Elementary School Adaoay Kabayan Barrio Elementary School Kabayan Barrio Kabayan Central School Poblacion Lebeng Primary School Bashoy Lusod Elementary School Lusod Mongoto Elementary School (Timbac) Mt. Pulag Primary School Bashoy Tamang Elementary School Batan Tawangan Elementary School Tawangan Tinaleb Elementary School Ballay

Secondary (2013-2014) School Barangay Adaoay National High School Adaoay Kamora National High School Gusaran Tawangan-Lusod National High School Tawangan

Tourism

Kabayan is best known for the antiquated centuries-old mummies and Mount Pulag, the third highest mountain in the Philippines. The Kabayan mummy burial caves are officially proclaimed Philippine National Cultural Treasures pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 374, and is under consideration as a World Heritage Site. The mummified body of Apo Annu, a tribal leader, was stolen but recovered by an antique collector and was returned to the town. Archaeologists from various countries have visited the town to promote preservation of the mummies due to deterioration of the cadavers. The caves containing the cadavers of these mummies have been declared by Monument Watch as one of the "100 Most Endangered Sites" in the world.

Further information: Kabayan Mummies

Mount Pulag is a destination for mountaineers, hikers, including picnickers. At its summit, the climbers can see the surroundings of the whole north Luzon.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Kabayan Mummies Verge Decay
• Benguet Mummies Now Off Limits to Visitors