Los Baños (IPA: [lɔs bɐˈɲɔs]), officially the Municipality of Los Baños (Tagalog: Bayan ng Los Baños), colloquialy 'elbi' or simply LB, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 115,353 people.[4]
It has a total land area of 56.5 square kilometers (21.8 sq mi) and is bordered on the south and south-west by Mount Makiling and Santo Tomas in Batangas, on the north by Laguna de Bay, on the north-west by Calamba and on the east by the town of Bay. The town is located 63 kilometers (39 mi) southeast of Manila and is easily accessible via the South Luzon Expressway along with Manila South Road and Calamba–Pagsanjan Road.
Los Baños was declared as the Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines through Presidential Proclamation No. 349.[6] The proclamation, however, does not convert the municipality to a city or give it corporate powers that are accorded to other cities.
Aside from its importance in academics, science and research, Los Baños is a well-known tourist destination. Because of the town's proximity to Metro Manila, Los Baños's hot spring resorts are frequent weekend or summer getaways for residents of the vast metropolis and tourists from other places in the Philippines and abroad. Tourists who visit Los Baños also come to the several native delicacies stores in the town to buy the town's famous buko pie (coconut meat pie) as well as a home-grown brand of chocolate cake.[7][8] Currently, it is Laguna's richest municipality in terms of assets amounting to ₱652.95 million as of 2017.[9]
Los Baños is derived from Spanish for "the baths", also referring to the hot springs. It was named as such in 1589 when Fr. Pedro Bautista built public baths in the present-day town.[10]
Los Baños started as a settlement, a barrio of Bay called Mainit, the Tagalog term for "hot", alluding to the thermal springs at the foot of Mount Makiling. By 1589, through a Franciscan friar, it became popularly called by its present name, Los Baños.
In 1595, a temporary building made of bamboo and cogon was built to serve as shelter for the patients who journeyed to Mainit to seek cures for their ailments. It was on September 17, 1615, when the friars administered Los Baños as a separate town from Bay.[10]
In 1671, more permanent structures like churches and hospitals were built only to be destroyed by a fire in 1727. The structures were re-erected at a slow rate. The church which now stands in the municipal center of Los Baños dates back to 1851. The Spanish Governor's palace was built in 1879 but was only completed in 1892.[11]
The Dampalit river, which is named after an edible herb, dampalit (), which often grows near river shores, originates on the north face of Mt. Makiling east of the Philippine High School for the Arts, and feeds into Laguna lake at the boundary of Barangays Lalakay and Bambang.[24]
Sesuvium portulacastrum
The Saran creek, whose headwaters begin somewhere near the municipal dumpsite, flows through Barangay Anos near the municipal cemetery, and feeds into the lake at Barangay Malinta.
The Pele creek, named after the (Canarium ovatum), flows through the west side of Barangay Batong Malake and has its mouth at the boundary of Barangays Malinta and Mayondon.[24]
pili tree
The , most familiar to UPLB students because it flows through the UPLB campus and the Makiling Botanic Gardens, is named after the Molave tree (Vitex parviflora).
Molawin River
The Maitim river, whose name means "black", flows through the westernmost portions of Los Baños, marking the town's boundary with its neighboring town of Bay. The Molawin and Maitim rivers merge just a few meters before feeding into Laguna de Bay at the shore of Barangay Maahas.
[24]
University of the Philippines Los Baños
Mount Makiling
University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)
University of the Philippines Open University
(PCAARRD)
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development
Department of Science and Technology Regional Office for Region IV (DOST IV)
Magnetic Hill
Dampalit Falls
– a centuries-old church at the town proper (Poblacion/Bayan)
Immaculate Conception Parish
Paciano Rizal ShrinePaciano Rizal Shrine – house of Paciano Rizal, brother of National Hero Jose Rizal
Paciano Rizal Park – park dedicated to Paciano Rizal, brother of National Hero
Jose Rizal
Trace Aqua Sports Complex and Museum – aquatic sports venue for the 2005 SEA Games and Philippine Olympic Festival
Yamashita Shrine – execution site of Gen. Homma and Gen. Yamashita
University of the Philippines Los Baños
University of the Philippines Open University
Laguna State Polytechnic University (Los Baños Campus)
Christian School International
Maquiling School Incorporated
Trace College
Colegio De Los Baños
Saint Anthony School-LB
Los Baños National High School
Los Baños National High School – Poblacion
Tuntungin-Putho Integrated National High School
Liceo de Los Baños
University of the Philippines Rural High School
Los Baños Central Elementary School
Lopez Elementary School
Bernaldo N. Calara Elementary School
Liceo de Los Baños
South Hill School Inc.
San Antonio Elementary School
The Learning Place International
Morning Star Montessori School Inc.
Maranatha Elementary School
Hasik Bagong Buhay Christian School
Joy in Learning School
Los Baños Faith Christian School
Lalakay Elementary School
Malinta Elementary School
Mayondon Elementary School
Tuntungin Elementary School
Bayog Elementary School
Tadlac Elementary School
Bagong Silang Elementary School
There are 16 daycare schools in Los Baños, managed by DSWD and local government.
– military general and revolutionary; older brother of José Rizal
