The highland province is known as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines due to its huge production of upland vegetables.[1][2][6]
Situated within the interior of Benguet is the highly urbanized city of Baguio, which is administered independent from the province and also its largest city.
History
Early history
The mountainous area now covered by Benguet is generally presumed to have been settled from at least the 14th century by tribes coming from the surrounding lowlands, lured by the abundance of natural resources such as gold, hides, and wax. Two of these groups, the Ibaloi and the Kankanaey, are dominant ethnolinguistic groups of the area. In the pre-conquest period, these tribes enjoyed flourishing trade with lowland groups immediately to their west and south, such as the Pangasinans. Governor Juan "Oraa" Cariño (1913-1918), one of Benguet’s governors, was the first Filipino governor.
The Kankanaey occupied the northern highlands of the province, while the Ibaloy occupied the southern portion, while all Igorots practiced animism and ancestor worship. Rituals were proscribed by the priests, mambunong. The economy of the region was based on rice terraces, root cropswidden farming, livestock raising, hunting, foraging, plus the mining and trading of gold. These Igorot gold mines were located in Suyoc, Tabio, Acupan, and Antamok. Gold panning took place in placer deposits along the Agno River, the Bued River, the Suyoc River, and the Amburayan River. Gold was also mined from lodeveins within andesite and diorite. Gold in Mankayan was associated with copper. Gold mining resulted in social stratification, with the upper class consisting of the mine owners, the baknang, followed by the gold workers, or abiteg, and then the bagaen, or slave class. These slaves were made up of war captives, and their children. Gold mines were inheritable kinship property, while original ownership was bestowed on those individuals discovering the gold location, and then developing the property.[7][8]: 183
Spanish colonial era
At the beginning of the Spanish Era, colonisers heard of the rich gold mines in the mountains and attempted to colonize the highlands, but failed. In 1572, Spanish conquistadorJuan de Salcedo led a small expedition into the southern part of Benguet, but the natives forced it to retreat.[6] The first major expedition into the mountains occurred in 1620, when Spanish explorers went into the La Trinidad Valley, followed by a second expedition in 1623, and a third in 1624. This was the last attempt to occupy the Baguio gold mines by the Spanish until the Galvey expeditions (1829-1839).[7]: 473–475
In the 1800s, Spanish colonizers made more serious attempts such as expeditions under Col. Guillermo Galvey[9]: 280 and succeeded in establishing a presence in the La Trinidad Valley, named after Galvey's wife.[6]
This area later became a district of the new province of LaMontañosa (or LaMontaña)[10][11] in 1846. Eight years later, in 1854, Benguet became a separate comandancia politico-militar. Parts of the present province were established as component territories of other comandancias such as Lepanto and Amburayan.[6]
American colonial era
When the Americans took control of the Philippines, they established local civil governments in many parts of the country. American civilian government was established in Benguet on November 23, 1900, through Act No. 48, with Canadian journalist H.P. Whitmarsh appointed as the province's first governor.[12]
When Baguio was converted into a chartered city in 1909, barrio Tuba was separated from the city and incorporated into the township of Twin Peaks.[14]
Upon the American colonial government enacting Act No. 1876 on August 18, 1908, which created Mountain Province from areas of the old La Montañosa, Benguet (along with Amburayan, Apayao, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Lepanto) became sub-provinces of this new province.[6][15] A year later in 1909, the township of Baguio was abolished upon its conversion into a chartered city. In 1920, portions of the sub-provinces of Amburayan and Lepanto were incorporated into Benguet.[6]
Mining companies started operating in the province in the 1930s. This brought jobs, and many lowlanders migrated to Benguet, especially in towns surrounding the gold mines, such as Itogon, Mankayan and Tuba.[16]
On June 22, 1973, as part of the Integrated Organization Plan of President Ferdinand Marcos, Benguet was placed under the jurisdiction of the Ilocos Region.[19]
The main gold base metalmineralization zone is approximately 8 km wide, trends north south for tens of kilometers, and is centrally located at 16° 20' to 16° 26' N latitude and 120° 37' 30" to 120° 43' 30" E longitude. The western boundary of this zone is defined by a volcanic belt, just west of Baguio, while the eastern boundary is defined by an intrusive belt, just east of the Itogon and Antamok mines. The Agno quartz diorite batholith is further east near Binga Dam. Key mines, starting from the south, include the Philex (Cu), Acupan (Au), Itogon (Au), Black Mt. (Cu), Benguet Exploration (Cu), Atok (Au), Antamok (Cu and Au), and Baguio Gold (Au), where Baguio Gold and Antamok are east of Baguio. Continuing northwards, key mines include the King Solomon (Cu), St. Nino (Cu), Boneng (Cu), Lobo (Cu), Gambang (Cu and Au), and Lepanto (Cu and Au).
By 1979, underground mining had reached Level 1850 in the Antamok Mine.[23][24][8]
Benguet covers an area of 2,769.08 square kilometres (1,069.15 sq mi) occupying the southwestern tip of the Cordillera Administrative Region. If Baguio is included for geographical purposes, the total area of Benguet is 2,826.59 square kilometres (1,091.35 sq mi).[25]
Several natural lakes, small in size, are found within the hinterlands. The largest are the "Four Lakes" in Kabayan; Lake Bulalacao, Lake Detepngepos, Lake Incolos and Lake Tabeyo.[26]
Most of Benguet falls under the subtropical highland climate (KöppenCwb) zone, experiencing annual average highs of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in April and lows of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) in January.[27]
The province suffers from crop damage resulting from seasonal frost during the cold months of December to March, especially in high-altitude towns such as Atok, Buguias, Mankayan and Kibungan.[28][29] In February 2007, Benguet suffered crop damage due to temperatures reaching as low as 7 °C (45 °F).[30]
The highly urbanized city of Baguio, although administratively independent from Benguet, is situated in the interior of the province, surrounded by the municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan and Tuba. The city used to be part of the province but became independent when the city's charter was enacted in 1909.
^Total figures exclude the highly urbanized city of Baguio.
Barangays
The 13 municipalities of the province comprise a total of 140 barangays, with Pico in La Trinidad as the most populous in 2010, and Anchokey in Kabayan as the least.[33]
The population of Benguet in the 2020 census was 460,683 people,[5] making it the most populous province in the region. It had a density of 170 inhabitants per square kilometre or 440 inhabitants per square mile. If the highly urbanized city of Baguio is included for geographical purposes, the population is 791,590, with a density of 280/km2 (725/sq mi).
In the May 2000 census, Benguet had a total population of 330,129. This figure is up by 16,296 from 313,833 persons recorded in the 1995 census, giving an annual growth rate of 1.09% during the 5-year period compared to the national average of 2.43%. The province registered 63,123 households, an increase of 4,588 households over the 1990 figure. This gave an average household size of 5.20 persons, slightly higher than the national average of 4.99.
According to the 2000 Philippine census, Kankanaeys comprised 42.96% (141,434) of the entire provincial household population of 329,216 at the time, while 29.15% (95,968) were identified as Ibalois, and 3.69% (12,147) were Ikalahan/Kalanguya. Major resident lowland ethnic groups included Ilocanos at 13.36% (43,984) and Tagalogs at 2.36% (7,773). Ilokano population particularly doctors, teachers, businessmen and public servants arrived during the American period for the improvement of the health condition and for the education of the people. The pioneer Ilocanos helped establish La Trinidad as a commercial and political center.This resulted in an improved healthcare, education and economic life of the people' lives. It also established a closer ties between the Ilocanos and the Cordillerans.
[35]
Benguet is a major producer of highland vegetables in the country.
Agriculture, mining, and tourism are the major industries in Benguet. Its cool climate and high altitude has made it an ideal place for producing highland vegetables. Benguet is often called the Salad Bowl of the Philippines.[2][6][37] The La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in the capital town of La Trinidad serves as the hub of vegetable trading in the province, attracting farmers, merchants and traders from the local community and the Philippines' different provinces.[53] Major crops produced which include potatoes, Baguio beans, peas, strawberries, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, sayote and carrots are shipped throughout the country.[6][54][55][56]
Horticulture and floriculture are practiced in the province.[57] The province supplies flowers to the different municipalities, including Baguio, as well as to Metro Manila, including other parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.[58][59][60]Roses are produced, particularly in Barangay Bahong in La Trinidad, earning the barangay the title Rose Capital of the Philippines.[61] Apisang (scientific name: Pittosporum resiniferum), a plant endemic to the Philippines (as well as Malaysia), is grown in the municipalities of Kapangan and Kibungan as a potential alternative source of fuel and energy, rivaling the jatrophabiofuel plant.[62][63]
Mining is a major industry in Benguet, which is one of the country's leading gold producers.[6] The Benguet Corporation, the first and oldest mining company in the Philippines, has extracted gold, copper and chromite in Itogon since 1903.[65][66]
Other mineral deposits are silver, copper, pyrite, and limestone. Silver smithing is a large industry in Benguet, and many entrepreneurs sell silver works at lower prices in Baguio compared to Manila. In 2006, revenues from mining reached 4 billion pesos from just two (Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation and Philex Mines) of many mining firms operating in the province. The province's mining vigor has never translated into better quality of life of the Benguet people, simply because a bulk of the mining firm's taxes are not paid directly to the province.[67] The two mining corporations, like many others around the country, have principal offices in the City of Makati, a set-up that makes Makati the prime mining tax beneficiary.
The location of Baguio within Benguet draws many tourists from the lowlands. Often, people who go to Baguio also explore the province, especially the strawberry fields in La Trinidad.
The province is a major tourist destination in the country,[1] with most of its tourist spots centered on culture and nature.[70]Baguio's location within the province provides a boost to the tourism industry of the province.[71] Notable interesting places in the province include Mount Pulag along Kabayan, Kennon Road in Tuba, Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Binga Dam in Itogon, strawberry and flower farms in La Trinidad, and the Palina and Naguey rice terraces in Atok.
Tuba and Tublay hot springs are usually flocked by local tourists from the neighboring provinces. Vegetable terraces can be seen along the Halsema Highway, especially during the growing season. Kabayan is known for its centuries-old mummies, while Buguias is visited for its hot springs and the Apo Anno.
^"List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
^ abcdefghijklmLancion, Conrado M. Jr.; de Guzman, Rey (cartography) (1995). "The Provinces". Fast Facts about Philippine Provinces (The 2000 Millenium ed.). Makati, Metro Manila: Tahanan Books. p. 38. ISBN978-971-630-037-6. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
^"LGU-Pugo-History". Provincial Government of La Union (official website). Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2014. (Note: Pugo was part of the municipal district of Benguet Province until February 4, 1920)
^"Act No. 1876". PhilippineLaw.info. August 18, 1908. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
^Fernandez, Henry; Damasco, Florian (1979). "Gold Deposition in the Baguio Gold District and Its Relationship to Regional Geology". Economic Geology. 74 (8): 1852–1868. Bibcode:1979EcGeo..74.1852F. doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.74.8.1852.
^Bagamaspad, Anavic; Hamada-Pawid, Zenaida (1985). A People's History of Benguet Province. Philippines: Baguio Printing & Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 72–76.
^Aro, SC (October 25, 2008). "Mt Pulag climb slated October 31-November 2". Philippine Information Agency. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016. From Tawangan where the trekkers will spend the second night, they will visit the four mystic lakes namely Tabeyo, Bulalacao, Incolos, and Detepngepos described as icy cool and crystal clear water and lush green foliage that refreshes the soul.
^Catajan, Maria Elena (January 2, 2014). "Frost affects towns". Sun.Star Baguio. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
^Angela E. Obnial (December 2005). "La Trinidad veggie trading post revisited". Bureau of Agricultural Research Chronicle. Bureau of Agricultural Research. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
^Agreda, JM (July 8, 2015). "Highland vegetable prices increase in Benguet". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016. Benguet produces more than 1.6 million kilograms of vegetables daily to Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Benguet province currently supplies 80 percent of highland vegetables such as carrots, sayote, potatoes, lettuce, cabbage among other semi-temperate vegetables being sold in Metro Manila public markets and supermarkets.
^Catajan, Maria Elena (December 24, 2015). "Benguet ships 11 tons of vegetables for Christmas". Sun.Star Baguio. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016. BENGUET farmers have shipped 2.5 million kilos of vegetables from Saturday to Tuesday as they try to keep out with bulk orders for the Christmas holiday. ... Benguet provides 80 percent of the country's vegetable needs. ... As many as 140 trucks haul vegetables from the Benguet Trading Post mainly to Metro Manila.
^Agreda, JM (October 30, 2015). "Baguio flowers sell fast despite price increase". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016. Majority of flowers sold in Dangwa in Metro Manila are being propagated in Benguet. The province produced more than 30 million metric tons of cut flowers in 2014, making it the top flower producer and supplier for most of Luzon including Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao and providing farmers of millions of pesos in earnings annually.
^Polonio, Jessa Mardy (February 27, 2016). "Flower power in Bahong". Sun.Star Baguio. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016. Aside from strawberries, the municipality of La Trinidad is also known for its flower growing villages where eco-farm tourism is being developed as a complimentary [sic] destination outside Baguio. The towns of La Trinidad, Atok, Tublay, Kapangan, Kibungan and Buguias have been producing cut flowers sold in several local markets around the country. Barangay Bahong in La Trinidad is dubbed as the famous flower growing community declared as the Rose Capital of the Philippines in 1998 by then Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
.jpg)
(2018-11-26).jpg)
![[icon]](File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
