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Los Baños | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Los Baños | |
     From top, left to right:Mount Makiling, Los Baños Municipal Hall, Tadlac lake, Paciano Rizal Shrine, andUPLB Academic Heritage Monument | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Etymology: lit:The Bath orThe Bathing Place | |
| Nickname: Special Science and Nature City[1] | |
 Map of Laguna with Los Baños highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Los Baños | |
.svg)  Los Baños Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:14°10′N121°13′E / 14.17°N 121.22°E /14.17; 121.22 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Calabarzon |
| Province | Laguna |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | September 17, 1615 |
| Barangays | 14 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Neil Andrew N. Nocon |
| • Vice Mayor | Marlo Pj A. Alipon Jr. |
| • Representative | Ramil L. Hernandez |
| • Municipal Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 73,968 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 54.22 km2 (20.93 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 118 m (387 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1,095 m (3,593 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[4] | |
• Total | 117,030 |
| • Density | 2,158/km2 (5,590/sq mi) |
| • Households | 32,017 |
| Demonym | Los Bañense |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 7.46 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 491.5 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 1,243 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 385 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 278.8 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Manila Electric Company (Meralco) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 4030, 4031 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)49 |
| Native languages | Tagalog |
| Website | losbanos |
Los Baños (IPA:[lɔs bɐˈɲɔs]), officially theMunicipality of Los Baños (Tagalog:Bayan ng Los Baños), colloquially 'Elbi' or simply LB, is amunicipality in theprovince ofLaguna,Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 117,030 people.[6]
It was declared as theSpecial Science and Nature City of the Philippines through Presidential Proclamation No. 349.[7] The proclamation, however, does not convert the municipality to a city or give it corporate powers that are accorded to other cities.
Los Baños is derived fromSpanish for "thebaths", also referring to the hot springs. It was named as such in 1589 whenFr. Pedro Bautista built public baths in the present-day town.[8]
This town of Los Baños takes its name from the thermal baths that exist within its territory. Formerly, Barrio "Maynit" (which means "Hot") was a visita called 'San Nicolás de Tolentino', belonging to the town of Bay when it was under the administration of the Discalced Augustinian Friars.
In 1590, a Franciscan Priest,Fray Pedro Bautista y Blasquez, which is now a saint (and founder and second patron of Los Baños) came to Maynit and discovered the medicinal properties of the hot spring on the said area and later on Franciscan Friars built a hospital dedicated to "Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas" (Our Lady of Holy Waters) near the spring.[9]
A public deed granted by the notary Don Luis Vela on September 17, 1613 which ceded the administration of said visita and area from Agustinian Discaled Friars to the Apostolic Province of San Gregorio (Franciscan Friars.) From that date, it remained as servants of the aforementioned hospital under their administration, not becoming a formal town until the year 1640 when Don Juan Castañeda was appointed the first captain or gobernadorcillo.
The town did not have its own parish church from 1613 to 1627 and used the hospital’s chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas. The chapel enthroned the image of Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas, Santo Cristo and Nuestra Señora de la Purificacion y Candelaria (which this image is now in and patroness of Mabitac, Laguna.)[10]
In 1727, a fire destroyed the hospital and its chapel. A temporary church made of bamboo and nipa palm was built beside the hospital under the same patronage (Virgen de Aguas Santas) but was later also destroyed by fire.
A stone church was constructed under Fr. Domingo Mateo in 1790 but its roof remained made of nipa palm. Fr. Manuel Amat renovated the church, replaced the nipa roof with tiles. He also built the bell tower with two bells. He Constructed the sacristy and painted the church interior and renovated under the same administration in 1842.[11]
In 1849, Rev. Fr. Juan Carrillo facilitated the construction of a road through Mount Lalacay by blasting through solid rock to connect Los Baños to Bay and Calamba.
In summary, Los Baños’ identity has always been tied to its thermal springs and hospital ministry which served as its foundation for settlement. Despite multiple destructions by fire, the town rebuilt its religious and civic infrastructure with significant contributions from the Franciscans. Its strategic location near Mount Maquiling and Laguna de Bay made it rich in natural resources fostering its development. The local population remained modest in size during the Spanish colonial period.[12]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(January 2022) |
In 1909, the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA) was established.
The UPCA became a Japanese prisoner of war camp for nationals of theAllied countries, a target of Kempetai punitive measures, and the headquarters of a secret organization of guerrillas. On February 23, 1945, US forces of the First Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Eleventh Airborne Division led a combinedamphibious and airborne raid against the prison camp, rescuing over 2,000 Allied nationals. They killed the 250-man Japanese garrison. In order to force the prisoners to leave behind their belongings and speed up the evacuation before the Japanese could send reinforcements, US forces and Filipino guerrillas burned the camp. OnlyBaker Hall, the university gymnasium until 2010, remained intact.[13]General Yamashita, the most famous World War 2 General of the Japanese, was tried and executed forwar crimes in Los Baños, Laguna.[14]
In 1959, the10th World Scout Jamboree was held in Los Baños, with the theme "Building Tomorrow Today" with an attendance of 12,203 Scouts.
TheInternational Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established in 1960 during the administration of PresidentCarlos P. Garcia,[15] and soon after PresidentDiosdado Macapagal had started his term, IRRI had begun work on the development of the new“Miracle Rice” (IR8) variety, which would later increase Philippine rice production significantly.[15]
The social unrest which arose whenFerdinand Marcos' debt-driven campaign spending led to the1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis[16][17] spread beyond the capital and also triggered protests by students in UP Los Baños, most prominently in the form of a 13-day strike which saw barricades established at the UPLB Gate and Los Baños Highway Junction areas.[18] This unrest coincided with another issue, which was the call for the UP College of Agriculture to become independent from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.[18]
When martial law was declared in September 1972, Marcos cracked down on any form of criticism or activism, leading to the arrest of many of Los Baños residents. Among those who experienced arrest and torture during martial law were the UPLB Institute of Chemistry's Dr.Aloysius Baes, while among those who became desaparecidos wereTish Ladlad,Cristina Catalla,Gerardo "Gerry" Faustino,Rizalina Ilagan, UPLB ProfessorJessica Sales, and PCARRD artist-illustrator Manny Ontong.[19] Among those confirmed to have been martyred for their beliefs wasManuel Bautista, the student leader who had spearheaded the establishment of UPLB's Textbook Exchange and Rental Center (TERC).[18][20]
In 1979, the evolution and development of academic excellence in Los Baños moved the people of Los Baños to request president Marcos to declare the municipality as "A Special University Zone", granted on June 15, 1982, by virtue of letter of instruction No. 883.
Los Baños was further declared as an "Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences Community" on March 17, 1982, by virtue of Executive Order No. 784 (Section 23).[21]
On August 7, 2000, Los Baños was declared aSpecial Science and Nature City of the Philippines by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 349. It was signed by then-PresidentJoseph Estrada.[7] The Proclamation is in recognition of the town's important contribution in country. The municipality has remained as the country's hub of science and nature with the presence of national and international research institutions collaborating towards the advancement of science research.[22]
The 6th Flora Malesiana, a triennial gathering of people with botanical expertise regarding "Malesia", was held from September 20 to 24, 2004. It provided a forum for Flora Malesiana members and encouraged publications on Malesian plants.
During the2005 Southeast Asian Games, Los Baños played host to the aquatics events, with the newly built Trace Aquatic Center atTrace College serving as the venue.
The headquarters of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)Center for Biodiversity was opened on August 8, 2006. It leased office spaces until late 2010s from the DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), located at the College of Forestry,University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) until it moved to its newly built own buildings at a parcel of land near the University Health Service (UHS/'Infirmary') towards the late 2010s/early 2020s, which coincided with a foundation anniversary celebrations of the organization. The Philippines assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 and played host to the 12th ASEAN andEast Asia Summits (held inMetro Cebu, January 2007).
In January 2007, the 5th ASEAN Inter-Club Age-Group Swimming Championships was held in the Trace Aqua Sports Center.
Los Baños also plays host to theUAAP, as the Trace Aquatics Center has served as the venue for the league's swimming competitions sinceUAAP Season 70 untilUAAP Season 76.
Currently, Los Baños is probably the densest habitat of academicians in South East Asia.[23] Although it is a small town, it has contributed widely through scientific achievements and contributions locally and worldwide particularly on agriculture.[citation needed]
On December 3, 2020, firing from outside the perimeter walls, its incumbent mayorCaesar P. Perez was assassinated inside the municipal office premises by an armed assailant,[24] with a former oppositioncouncilor suspected to be the mastermind.[25]
Los Baños is nestled between two of Southern Luzon's most dominant geographical features –Mount Makiling to the south and south-west andLaguna de Bay to the north.[26] In fact, Laguna de Bay's southernmost tip is at Barangay Bambang, and Barangay Bagong Silang is already halfway up Mount Makiling. Both the mountain and the lake are volcanic features – Makiling being a potentially active volcano whose geothermal activities gave birth to the hot springs after which the town was named, and Laguna de Bay being the filled-in caldera of a massive prehistoric volcano.
Another notable geological feature isTadlac Lake, amaar lake whose almost perfectly round shape and uncharted waters have led some locals to call it "the enchanted lake". Others call it "alligator lake", a reminder that it served as the last bastion of Laguna de Bay's once-plentiful crocodile population, which has since been wiped out and is now just another legendary part of Philippine history.
It has a total land area of 56.5 square kilometers (21.8 sq mi) and is bordered on the south and south-west byMount Makiling andSanto Tomas inBatangas, on the north byLaguna de Bay, on the north-west byCalamba and on the east by the town ofBay. The town is located 63 kilometers (39 mi) southeast ofManila and is easily accessible via theSouth Luzon Expressway along with Manila South Road andCalamba–Pagsanjan Road.
The municipality lies on the northern slopes of the long dormant volcanoMount Makiling and is known among tourists for its hot spring resorts.
The town of Los Baños is crossed by five rivers or creeks:[26]
Los Baños has atropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classificationAm).
| Climate data for Los Baños, Laguna | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.7 (81.9) | 29.3 (84.7) | 31.3 (88.3) | 31.2 (88.2) | 29.9 (85.8) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.7 (83.7) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.9 (84.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.1 (75.4) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.6 (78.1) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.5 (81.5) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.9 (78.6) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 24.7 (76.5) | 25.8 (78.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.3 (72.1) | 23.1 (73.6) | 24.3 (75.7) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.5 (76.1) | 24.1 (75.4) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.7 (74.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 49 (1.9) | 34 (1.3) | 40 (1.6) | 45 (1.8) | 181 (7.1) | 259 (10.2) | 386 (15.2) | 312 (12.3) | 332 (13.1) | 193 (7.6) | 108 (4.3) | 143 (5.6) | 2,082 (82) |
| Average rainy days | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 152 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 80 | 79 | 77 | 75 | 79 | 85 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 84 | 83 | 83 |
| Source: Climate-data.org[27] | |||||||||||||
Los Baños is politically subdivided into 14barangays, as indicated below and in the image herein. Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 3,352 | — |
| 1918 | 6,337 | +4.34% |
| 1939 | 9,612 | +2.00% |
| 1948 | 10,954 | +1.46% |
| 1960 | 21,519 | +5.79% |
| 1970 | 32,167 | +4.10% |
| 1975 | 38,351 | +3.59% |
| 1980 | 49,555 | +5.26% |
| 1990 | 66,211 | +2.94% |
| 1995 | 71,683 | +1.50% |
| 2000 | 82,027 | +2.93% |
| 2007 | 98,631 | +2.58% |
| 2010 | 101,884 | +1.19% |
| 2015 | 112,008 | +1.82% |
| 2020 | 115,353 | +0.62% |
| 2024 | 117,030 | +0.35% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[28][29][30][31][32] | ||
In the 2024 census, the population of Los Baños was 117,030 people,[33] with a density of 2,200 inhabitants per square kilometer or 5,700 inhabitants per square mile.
Like other LGUs in the Philippines (perhaps with the exception of theBARMM), the town holds election every three years, which will cover from Mayor, Vice Mayor, and up to the councilors.
| Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | ||
| Ramil Hernandez | Lakas | |
| Mayor | ||
| Neil Andrew N. Nocon | ||
| Vice Mayor | ||
| Marlo PJ A. Alipon | ||
| Councilors | ||
| Leren Mae M. Bautista | Bigkis | |
| Marlo PJ A. Alipon | Bigkis | |
| Jonathan Bryan S. Siytiap | Bigkis | |
| Miko C. Pelegrina | Independent | |
| Mark Lester B. Dizon | PDP–Laban | |
| Julius A. Moliñawe | Reporma | |
| Benedicto S. Alborida | Reporma | |
| Mike Dexter A. Concio | Bigkis | |
Poverty incidence of Los Baños
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]
Aside from its importance in academics, science and research, Los Baños is a well-known tourist destination. Because of the town's proximity toMetro Manila, Los Baños'shot spring resorts (along with those in the preceding city of Calamba starting at Barangay Pansol) are frequent weekend or summer getaways for residents of the vast metropolis and tourists from primarily the National Capital Region (Metro Manila area) and other places in the Philippines, and abroad[citation needed]. Tourists who visit Los Baños also come to the several native delicacies stores in the town to buy the town's famousbuko pie (coconut meat pie) as well as a home-grown brand of chocolate cake.[42][43] Currently, it is Laguna's richest municipality in terms of assets amounting to₱652.95 million as of 2017.[44]
The Los Baños Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[45]
There are 16 daycare schools in Los Baños, managed by DSWD and local government.
Los Baños also hosts two constituent universities of theUniversity of the Philippines System: theUniversity of the Philippines Los Baños andUniversity of the Philippines Open University, along with other foreign and local and international research centers, such as theInternational Rice Research Institute, theASEAN Center for Biodiversity, thePhilippine Rice Research Institute,Philippine Carabao Center, and theSoutheast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture(SEAMEO-SEARCA) at UPLB making the town a temporary home for tens of thousands of both local and foreign undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and support staff.
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Places adjacent to Los Baños, Laguna | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
