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Biñan is a first class component city in the Republic of the Philippines. It is located in the Province of Laguna, on the island of Luzon, about 34 kilometres (21 mi) south of Manila, accessible via the South Luzon Expressway and the National Highway. The City of Biñan comes second in Laguna coming from Metro Manila next to San Pedro City.
Biñan has become both a suburban residential community of Metro Manila and a location for some of the Philippines' largest industrial estates and export processing zones. Prior to its cityhood in 2010, Biñan was the richest municipality in the Philippines with an annual gross income of ₱677 million (US$ 14.383 million) and net income of ₱250 million (US$ 5.308 million), as of 2007 by the Commission On Audit. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 283,396, making it the fourth largest in population in the province of Laguna, after Calamba City, San Pedro City, and Santa Rosa City.
By virtue of Republic Act 10658, signed on March 27, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, Biñan will be separated from the First Congressional District of Laguna to form the Lone Congressional District of Biñan. The first representative will be elected on the 2016 elections.
With its proximity to Metro Manila, Biñan is one of the most susceptible places for investments, industries, and other economic activities. The two world-class and premiere industrial parks of the Philippines are located in Biñan, the Laguna International Industrial Park (LIIP) and the Laguna Technopark Incorporated (LTI). The city is now transforming into a more competitive, progressive, and one of the major growth areas in the CALABARZON Region.
History
Laguna, which was named after Laguna de Bay, along with its surrounding areas was occupied by the Spaniards led by Captain Juan de Salcedo in the year 1571. Biñan was founded in June, the same year, and a month after Manila was established by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. On the following years, the Franciscan friars began Christianizing the locals of the province. Biñan was separated from Bay in the year 1769, when Pagsanjan became the provincial capital. During Pablo Faustino’s time, in the year 1771, Sta. Rosa was separated from Biñan and led to decades of bloodshed led by a katipunero from Biñan. Biñan has its place in the Philippines’ historical books as Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, was said to have stayed near the town proper during his formative years and studied in one of the schools in Biñan. A plaque of recognition was placed in the residence where Rizal stayed as a tribute to the nation’s hero, and a monument is also present at the town plaza as a credit to Biñan’s attachment to Rizal.
The towns of Biñan, Calamba and Santo Tomas used to be under the authority of Tabuco, currently known as Cabuyao. In the year 1689, Biñan became a barangays of Sta. Rosa and eventually became a recognized municipality in 1751. Biñan’s town name was believed to have been derived from the word “binyagan,” which locally means “baptism”.
From Revolts to Recovery
The province already had a series of bloody revolts by the Chinese in 1603 and 1693. The authoritative control of Spanish rule brought about uprisings led by locals and was heightened by the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal. By the year 1896, a large number of Filipino patriots joined the revolutionary movement called Katipunan to voice out injustices and abuses of the Spanish rule. The band of revolutionaries was led by Francisco de San Juan. Laguna was among the first of the eight provinces that started the insurrections. The Filipino forces, though lacking in arms and training, fought the Spaniards and was led by General Paciano Rizal, General Severino Taiño, General Agueda Kahabagan and General Miguel Malvar.
Laguna was in full support of the established First Philippine Republic stated publicly in Malolos Bulacan. In the period of 1899-1901, the spark of the Filipino-American war became another highlight to Laguna’s history. The defense of the province headed by General Juan Cailles and General Paciano Rizal eventually gave away to American control. General Cailles then became Laguna’s first governor.
Biñan, along with other towns of Laguna was greatly affected and suffered during World War II. The bloody battles against the Japanese forces became a depressing period in Laguna’s historical past. After the war, Laguna had its share peace time. The province gradually recovered and the towns were eventually rebuilt. Schools, infrastructure and establishments were set up. The development of the Manila Railroad Company’s railway lines extending through the province in 1917 also contributed much to the towns’ rapid progress. Currently, Biñan is one of Laguna’s thriving municipalities and plays an important role to the progressive increase of the provincial economy. (source verbatim from: www.travelgrove.com/)
Etymology
Where Biñan got its name is a mystery. Some deduced that before Captain Juan de Salcedo proceeded to Cainta and Taytay finally reaching Bay, he landed in Biñan. According to the story, Padres Alfonso de Alvarado and Diego Espinar planted a huge wooden cross on the spot where the present day San Isidro Labrador parish stands and co-celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass. Curious natives gathered and the two Spanish missionaries took advantage of the situation. They baptized each one of them. From then on, old folks say they called the place “Binyagan,” which means a baptismal place. The Spanish tongue’s difficulty in pronouncing the local dialect acquired for the once town its name— "Biñan".Geography
The City of Biñan is located in the Philippine province of Laguna, about 34 kilometres (21 mi) south of Manila. It is bounded on the north by San Pedro City on the south by Santa Rosa City and on the west by Carmona, Cavite. On the eastern and northern horizon lies the Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.Biñan City, shaped like the number seven (7) on the map, covers a total land area of 43.50 square km that represents 2.5 percent of the entire Laguna province. In 2008, Biñan had a total population of 269,608. It is the fourth most populated in the province, (9.8% of the provincial population) next only to Calamba City (12.66%), San Pedro City (11.42%), and Santa Rosa City (9.92%).
Topography
Biñan is generally plain with 85.33 percent of its total area having a slope of zero to 2.5 percent. This covers all the 24 barangay except for small portions of Barangay Biñan and San Francisco having a slope ranging from 2.6 to 25 percent, meaning it is gently sloping to strongly sloping. With more than three-fourths of its area generally level to nearly level, this makes Biñan suitable for agricultural and urban development.Climate
The climate of Biñan is characterized by two pronounced seasons; dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rainfall occurs from June to September with an annual average rainfall of 200 mm. Biñan is protected by mountains in the peripheral areas, and thus it is making the area cooler.Soil
]Of the eleven soil series that compose the land area of Laguna, Carmona and Gingua series covers about two types that can only be seen in Biñan. Carmona series covers about 2,577 hectares or 59.24 seen in Biñan's land area. Agricultural land in these areas is primarily devoted to rice and sugar production. Gingua series, on other hand, specifically the fine sandy type covers 315 hectares which is one of the most productive soils in Laguna where a variety of crops especially vegetables are grown profitably. The other two basic soil series comprising Biñan City are Guadalupe series covering 660 hectares and Lipa series with 798 hectares.
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