Orani, officially the Municipality of Orani (Tagalog: Bayan ng Orani), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 70,342 people.[3]
Folk etymology
According to legend, while a Spaniard was exploring a dense forest in what is now Orani, Bataan, he encountered a native who was chopping down a large tree. When the Spaniard asked the name of the tree, the native replied "narra." However, the Spaniard misunderstood and thought the native said "no ira," which means "unselfish" in Spanish. The Spaniard rearranged the letters from these words to form the name "Orani," which eventually became the official name of the town.[5]
History
In 1714, the town and church of Orani were established as an independent missionary center. The Dominican friars constructed the church, which served as their quarters in Bataan. Orani grew into a prosperous town, but suffered significant damage during the earthquake of September 16, 1852, which destroyed the church and municipal government building. Reconstruction began in 1891, but progress was interrupted by a major fire on March 16, 1938, which burned most of the town, including schools, the church, and town hall. Reconstruction efforts were halted by the outbreak of World War II, which caused further devastation. However, after the war, the town began rebuilding again.[6]
Geography
Orani is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Balanga and 110 kilometres (68 mi) north-west of Manila and accessible via the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 20. It is bounded on the north by Hermosa, south by Samal, west by Dinalupihan and east by Manila Bay. It has a total land area of 64.90 square kilometres (25.06 sq mi) covering 29 barangays. About 1,231 hectares (3,040 acres) are used for agriculture, 1,943.86 hectares (4,803.4 acres) are forestland, 971.93 hectares (2,401.7 acres) are forest reservation and 1,295.9 hectares (3,202 acres) are reserved for the National Park. The rest are classified as wetland.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 64.90 square kilometres (25.06 sq mi)[7] constituting 4.73% of the 1,372.98-square-kilometre- (530.11 sq mi) total area of Bataan.
Palay, coffee, vegetables, peanut, citrus trees and fruit trees are the major produce. Cutflowers like aster, chrysanthemum and gerbera are locally cultivated while bamboo and jungle vines can be gathered from Orani's forestlands. Aquamarine resources like milkfish, tilapia, prawn, crabs, mussels and oysters are caught in Orani's fishing grounds and fishponds.
Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines",[21][22] the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo was the Chief Executive who held office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones held office at the Municipal Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the Town Hall.
Elected officials
Members of the Orani Municipal Council (2022-2025)
Position
Name of official
District Representative (1st Legislative District, Bataan)
Geraldine B. Roman
Municipal Mayor
Efren Dominic E. Pascual Jr.
Municipal Vice Mayor
Emmanuel R. Roman
Municipal Councilors
Maria Abba N. Sicat
Francis S. dela Torre
Bonifacio F. Cruz Jr.
Mayfair B. Sibug
Lyndon T. Pascual
Jun Anthony I. Reyes
John Paul G. Apostol
June M. Flores
Orani, Bataan's incumbent elected officials are - Mayor Efren Dominic E. Pascual, Jr. and Vice Mayor Emmanuel Bati Roman., including 8 Councilors or Sanguniang Bayan Members:[23][24] Jose Gener Quiambao Pascual, Maria Abba Narciso Sicat, Francis Sevilla Dela Torre, Jun Anthony Ignacio Reyes, Mayfair Bongco Sibug, Bonifacio Francisco Cruz Jr. ,Renato Rodriguez Bugay, Miguel Salonga Paredes. They hold office at the second floor of the Town Hall, particularly the Office of the Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall, respectively.
The 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Orani-Samal, MCTC Judge Ma. Cristina J. Mendoza-Pizzaro holds office in her sala located at the second floor of the MTC building at the back of the Town hall.
The municipality passed an ordinance that protects its people against discrimination based on disability, age, civil status, health status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression in January 2019 - becoming the first Bataan local government unit to do so.[25]
Tourism
Orani Church
Orani's attractions, events and historical landmarks include:[26]
Orani People's Park, center of Poblacion, Plaza
The 1714 Orani Church, commonly known as the "Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church of Orani" ("Our Lady of the Rosary of Orani", "Nuestra Señora del Rosario Parish Church", "Church of Orani" or "Virgen Milagrosa Del Rosario del Pueblo de Orani Shrine") is a Neoclassical (heritage) Diocesan Marian Shrine and Pilgrimage church (recognized by the 1959 Vatican's Papal Bull, located in Poblacion).
Death March Marker (Silahis), Bataan Death March. Kaparangan was used as a temporary prisoners’ camp by the Japanese soldiers starting on April 11, 1942, the second day of the infamous “Death March”. To commemorate the pitiful event, the National Historical Institute constructed a bronze memorial at the corner of Barangay Silahis and the Bataan National Road in 1987.
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