Balbalan

Spanish colonial era

The Spaniards made at least 10 incursions^{[nb 1]} into the land of the Kalingas from the early 1600s to the late 1800s, four of which were made from the west (Abra) primarily targeting the regions of Banao and Guinaang.^[6] Although they succeeded around the mid-1800s in establishing a telegraph station in Balbalasang (where, incidentally, they appointed the noted Banao leader Juan Puyao as a gobernadorcillo or councilor) and subsequently hacking out an Ilocos-Abra-Kalinga-Cagayan trail, they failed to establish a foothold in Kalinga.^[7]

Prior to the establishment of American rule in Kalinga, the ethnic sub-groups covered by the present geopolitical configuration of Balbalan were, like other Kalinga communities at that time, organized according to an indigenous system or concept of local governance operating within a “bilateral kinship group” circumscribed by semi-permanent territorial boundary.^{[nb 2][8]}

This period saw the rise of several community leaders often mentioned in Balbalan orature: Sagaoc, Balutoc, Masadao, Gaddawan, Dawegoy, Lang-ayan, Bayudang, Gammong, et al.

American colonial era

When the Americans imposed their system of government over the archipelago, the land of the Kalingas became one of the highlights of their so-called “pacification campaign.” On 18 August 1907, Kalinga, then a sub-province of Lepanto-Bontoc, came under the control of Lt. Gov. Walter Franklin Hale who established his seat of government in Lubuagan where he organized the sub-province into four districts: Tinglayan-Tanudan; Balbalan-Pasil; Pinukpuk-Tobog (Tabuk), and Liwan (Rizal).^[9]

A year later, Act 1870 of the Philippine Commission carved the old Mountain Province out of northern Luzon with Kalinga as one of its five sub-provinces. Kalinga was immediately reorganized into five municipal districts — Lubuagan (including Tanudan and Pasil), Balbalan (including Balinciagao), Tabuk (with Liwan or Rizal), Tinglayan, and Pinukpuk — each led by presidents. Among these municipal chiefs was Puyao^{[nb 3]} who served in that capacity for close to 24 years under five subprovincial chief executives: Walter F. Hale (1907–1915), Alex F. Gilfilan (1915), Samuel E. Kane (1915–1919), Tomas Blanco (1918–1923), and Nicasio Balinag (1923–1936). Puyao did not run for office during the first local elections in the area in 1934, and was succeeded by Awingan. Three years later, municipal chief executives became known as “Municipal District Mayors.”^[10]

In 1942 a Japanese garrison was established in Balbalan.

Barangays

Balbalan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Local government

Balbalan, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Kalinga, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal 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.

Elected officials

History of Mayors President Juan Puyao (1908-1935) Hon. George Awingan, Sr. (Municipal Mayor, 1935-1937) Hon. George Bonggawon (Municipal Mayor, 1938-1940) Hon. Juan Magayam (Municipal Mayor, 1941-1945) Hon. Luciano Cabannag (Municipal Mayor, 1945-1949) Hon. Geronimo Manggad (Municipal Mayor, 1950-1952) Hon. Semeon Bog-acon (Municipal Mayor, 1953-1959) Hon. Marcos Duguiawe (Municipal Mayor, 1959-1963) Hon. Isabelo C. Gacuya (Municipal Mayor, 1963-1967) Hon. Pedro S. Sagalon (Municipal Mayor, 1968-1971) Hon. Fabian Dongui-is (Municipal Mayor, 1971-1979) Hon. John Dongui-is (Municipal Mayor, 1980-1986) Hon. Agustin Battoyong (Municipal Mayor, 1986-1988) Hon. Leonardo Banganan (Municipal Mayor, 1988-1992) Hon. Edward Calumnag (Municipal Mayor, 1992-1995) Hon. Rosendo S. Dakiwag (Municipal Mayor, 1995-2001) Hon. Allen Jesse "Sonny" Capuyan Mangaoang (Municipal Mayor, 2001-2010) Hon. Kenneth Dale Capuyan Mangaoang (Municipal Mayor, 2010-2015) Hon. Eric Gonayon (Municipal Mayor, 2015-2022) Hon. Almar Malannag (Municipal Mayor, 2022-Present)

Secondary schools