Botolan, Zambales
Encyclopedia
Botolan is a 1st class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 51,675 people in 9,629 households.
Botolan is the largest municipality in terms of land area in the province. Located just south of the provincial capital of Iba
, Botolan is known for its larger Aeta
population, gray sand beaches, and as the location of the famous Mount Pinatubo
.
s.
Beyangue
fields left by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo
, and views of Mount Pinatubo itself.
The Fiesta Poon Bato, held January 23-24, is a religious festival that attracts up to 500,000 devotes. Features include cultural dancing from local Aeta
tribes in the town plaza on the first night.
The Domorokdok Festival, held May 3-4, includes street parades, street dancing, a beauty pageant and displays of Botolan products and industries.
in the 17th Century, Aeta natives had discovered a carved wooden image
on a large rock that they called "Apo Apang" (Little Queen) On the arrival of Recoletos missionaries in 1607, the natives made the association with the Roman Catholic image of the Virgin Mary
and it was adopted by the Church and named "Ina Poon Bato" (Mother of Poon Bato). In 1991 the shrine
was moved to the nearby resettlement area of Loob-Bunga after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo
destroyed the original site.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 51,675 people in 9,629 households.
Botolan is the largest municipality in terms of land area in the province. Located just south of the provincial capital of Iba
Iba, Zambales
Iba is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Zambales. According to the latest census, it has a population of 44,344 people in 7,260 households....
, Botolan is known for its larger Aeta
Aeta
The Aeta , Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured...
population, gray sand beaches, and as the location of the famous Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located in the Tri-Cabusilan Mountain range separating the west coast of Luzon from the central plains, and is west of the dormant and...
.
Barangays
Botolan is politically subdivided into 31 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
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Tourism
The barangay of Binoclutan is the "Beach Capital" of Botolan, featuring several first class resorts. The area is a habitat of sea turtles, as is all of the Zambales coastline. Olive Ridley, Green and Hawksbill turtles nest along the beaches of Botolan every year between September and January. A turtle hatchery located is located in Binoklutan. The area also has many other attractions, beach resorts, waterfalls, hiking paths, views of the laharLahar
A lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water. The material flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley. The term is a shortened version of "berlahar" which originated in the Javanese language of...
fields left by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located in the Tri-Cabusilan Mountain range separating the west coast of Luzon from the central plains, and is west of the dormant and...
, and views of Mount Pinatubo itself.
The Fiesta Poon Bato, held January 23-24, is a religious festival that attracts up to 500,000 devotes. Features include cultural dancing from local Aeta
Aeta
The Aeta , Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured...
tribes in the town plaza on the first night.
The Domorokdok Festival, held May 3-4, includes street parades, street dancing, a beauty pageant and displays of Botolan products and industries.
Fiesta Poon Bato
The festival Poon Bato stems from the homage to a religious artifact deemed to be able to perform miracles. Legend has it that before the arrival of the SpanishSpanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
in the 17th Century, Aeta natives had discovered a carved wooden image
Cult image
In the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents...
on a large rock that they called "Apo Apang" (Little Queen) On the arrival of Recoletos missionaries in 1607, the natives made the association with the Roman Catholic image of the Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
and it was adopted by the Church and named "Ina Poon Bato" (Mother of Poon Bato). In 1991 the shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
was moved to the nearby resettlement area of Loob-Bunga after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located in the Tri-Cabusilan Mountain range separating the west coast of Luzon from the central plains, and is west of the dormant and...
destroyed the original site.