Baao

Baao, officially the Municipality of Baao (Rinconada Bikol: Banwāan ka Baao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Baao) is 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 61,493 people.

The municipality of Baao is within the 5th Congressional District of the province of Camarines Sur. The town is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Pili and Ocampo, on the east by the city of Iriga, on the west by Bula, and south by the municipality Nabua. Baao is 15 km from Pili and 465 km from Manila.

Barangays
Baao is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


 * Agdangan Pob. (San Cayetano)
 * Antipolo
 * Bagumbayan
 * Cristo Rey
 * Del Pilar
 * Del Rosario (Poblacion)
 * Iyagan
 * La Medalla
 * Caranday (La Purisima)
 * Lourdes
 * Nababarera
 * Sagrada
 * Salvacion
 * San Antonio (Buluang)
 * San Francisco (Poblacion)
 * San Isidro (Oras)
 * San Jose (Poblacion)
 * San Juan
 * San Nicolas (Poblacion)
 * San Rafael (Ikpan)
 * Pugay (San Rafael/San Jose)
 * San Ramon (Poblacion)
 * San Roque (Poblacion)
 * San Vicente
 * Santa Cruz (Poblacion)
 * Santa Eulalia
 * Santa Isabel
 * Santa Teresa (Vega)
 * Santa Teresita (Tara-tara)
 * Tapol

Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Baao, Camarines Sur, was 61,493 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

As of 2020 50,419 or 82% of people lived in urban areas while the remaining 11,074 18% people live in rural areas.

Language
Rinconada Bikol is the main language of the population. Baaoeños used the Baao variant, a lowland dialect (sinaranəw) of Rinconada Bikol which is different of that in Iriga.

Tagalog and English are also spoken in formal gatherings and occasions. The latter is widely used in schools as well as in business transactions.

Religion
As one of the historical towns of Catholicism in the Bicol region, Baao has a majority of Roman Catholic adherents. Iglesia ni Cristo on the other hand is the second largest group. Islam has already set off in the town and they are composed of Muslim merchants/immigrants from Mindanao. Various Protestant religious sects are also present.

Transportation
Accessible only by land transportation, it is along the main route of the Maharlika Highway and the Philippine National Railways. Commuter rail services are provided by PNR serving from Naga City as its terminus and stops at Baao Station up to Ligao City in Albay then back again northward to Naga. Yet rail service to Manila is currently suspended due severe damages brought by Typhoon Reming in 2006. However, this is overtaken by bus companies that serve daily intercity trips. From Naga City, the easiest way to go to Baao is to ride a bus going to Iriga City from the Naga City Central Bus Terminal and disembark at Baao bus stop.

Fiestas and festivals
The town fiesta (Feast of St. Bartolomew) or "Pintakasi" of Baao is celebrated from August 23 to 25. The only festival at Baao is the Barlin Festival; it commemorates the birthday of the First Filipino Bishop, Jorge I. Barlin. It is celebrated annually during the month of April.

Education
Baao Community College the lone state school offering tertiary courses for college students.

La Consolacion College Baao (formerly, the Sta. Monica Academy) is a private catholic school run by Augustinian sisters. It offers both elementary and secondary quality education with the purpose of creating graduates not only of high caliber but also with hearts that are "in one" with the poor.

Rosary School Inc. (formerly, the Rosary Learning Center) is a private educational institution offering complete preschool, elementary and secondary courses.

Ave Maria Early Childhood Impressions Center is a private catholic school for toddlers and preschoolers ages two years old and above.

Other schools include:
 * Agdangan High School
 * Baao Central School
 * Baao High School
 * Baao West Central School
 * Eusebia Paz Arroyo Memorial High School
 * Nonito Paz Arroyo Memorial High School

Notable people

 * Jorge Barlin é Imperial (1850-1909), First native Filipino bishop.
 * Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J., J.S.D. Lawyer, Jesuit priest, constitutional law scholar, writer and newspaper columnist.
 * Luis Dato, writer, poet and educator
 * Rodolfo Dato, Dean of the University of Nueva Caceres
 * Joker P. Arroyo, Filipino lawyer, politician and Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.
 * Beatriz Saw, Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 Big Winner, actress