Bilogo - History

History

Brgy. Bilogo's existence was first recorded in history since 1870 being one of the earliest barangays of Batangas City. Legend tells that one day, a Spanish soldier wandering around Brgy. Bilogo asked the name of this place from a young boy. However, the latter cannot understand Spanish language. Thinking that the soldier might be asking the name of the Gugo Tree's fruit (Entada phaseoloides or St. Thomas Bean) which was abundant in Brgy. Bilogo during that time, the boy answered "Bayugo". The soldier kept remembering the word until it was transferred from one mouth to another. Time went by, Bayugo however turns to "Biyugo" when it was finally recognized as one of the earliest barangays of Batangas City.

According also to legend, Biyugo was finally changed to "Bilogo" after local natives who found a circular-shaped house in this place exclaimed "bilogo", meaning circle or round.

Bilogo was acquired by a rich Spanish official. Inter-marriages soon followed between foreign and local inhabitants and population gradually increased. Several "Teniente del Barrio" and "Cabeza de Barangay" like Victor Castillo, Miguel Chavez, Miguel Ebe, Jose Manalo, Quintin Manalo, Dionisio Panganiban, Exequiel Perez, Juan Perez, Feluz Sulit and Fortunato Sulit served service of leadership for Brgy. Bilogo.

Years later, Bilogo was reestablished as a sitio and was incorporated to Sitio Maapaz thus gaining a new name, Brgy. Bilogo Maapaz. Progress and rapid increase in population brought Brgy. Bilogo Maapaz to be separated as both sitios became an independent barangays.

Record also cites that by the end of the Pacific War, several houses in Brgy. Bilogo once owned by Eleuterio Canent, Hilarion Lontoc, Pedro Ramos and Francisco Rosales were burned by the retreating Japanese after news came that one of their official was killed there.

During the presidency of Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, the public school was founded in 1960 consisting of Grade I up to IV only. By 1984, Grade V and VI were soon added.

On 1998, Brgy. Bilogo simultaneously achieved a title for being the cleanliest and healthiest barangay in the former Region 4 of the Philippines. This was during the leadership of Barangay Captain Angel Umali.

The latter was succeeded by Alfredo Villanueva. During his leadership, roads were subsequently repaired coupled with the constructions of new canals and improvements of waterworks through the helped of former Gov. Armando Sanchez and Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha. Both politicians donated some three up to five-horse power submersible pumps & cables and 20 GI pipes last June 2006. On the other hand, the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) was founded and constructed in order to maintain proper segregation for solid waste materials. Summer sports leagues for basketball, volleyball and chess were also launched and are conducted every April–May a year.

Alfredo Villanueva was succeeded by Ramil Manalo last 2007. Recently after the Philippine Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections of 2010, James Villena assumed as the barangay captain. On the other hand, the newly appointed Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose P. Perez is a native of Brgy. Bilogo.