Pilar, officially the Municipality of Pilar (Tagalog: Bayan ng Pilar), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 46,239 people.

The Bataan Government Center and the historic Mount Samat National Shrine (Dambana ng Kagitingan) are both situated within the municipality in Barangays Diwa and Ala-uli, respectively.

Etymology

The town was named in the honor of the image of the Our Lady of the Pillar, hence the town was called "Pilar".

History

One of the oldest towns of Bataan, Pilar was previously part of Pampanga. Spaniards in the galleon landed in a sitio of Balanga and were greeted by the natives.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2016)

Geography

Pilar is located in eastern part of Bataan Peninsula, bordering Balanga (the provincial capital) to the north, Orion to the south, Bagac to the west, and Manila Bay to the east. It is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Balanga and 125 kilometres (78 mi) from Manila.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 37.60 square kilometres (14.52 sq mi)  constituting 2.74% of the 1,372.98-square-kilometre- (530.11 sq mi) total area of Bataan.

Climate

Barangays

Pilar is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020		2010
030811001	Ala‑uli	9.6%	4,458	3,895	▴	1.36%
030811003	Bagumbayan	3.1%	1,427	1,370	▴	0.41%
030811005	Balut I	2.5%	1,151	1,259	▾	−0.89%
030811006	Balut II	2.7%	1,260	1,311	▾	−0.40%
030811007	Bantan Munti	1.0%	467	550	▾	−1.62%
030811009	Burgos	2.7%	1,227	1,166	▴	0.51%
030811011	Del Rosario (Poblacion)	4.0%	1,847	1,886	▾	−0.21%
030811012	Diwa	5.4%	2,491	2,253	▴	1.01%
030811013	Landing	2.8%	1,311	1,246	▴	0.51%
030811014	Liyang	5.1%	2,345	1,839	▴	2.46%
030811016	Nagwaling	6.5%	3,006	2,568	▴	1.59%
030811019	Panilao	11.9%	5,488	5,250	▴	0.44%
030811020	Pantingan	3.1%	1,442	1,282	▴	1.18%
030811021	Poblacion	3.0%	1,399	1,346	▴	0.39%
030811022	Rizal (Poblacion)	1.8%	847	1,082	▾	−2.42%
030811023	Santa Rosa	15.0%	6,942	6,549	▴	0.58%
030811025	Wakas North	2.4%	1,109	1,501	▾	−2.98%
030811026	Wakas South	3.5%	1,616	1,497	▴	0.77%
030811027	Wawa	4.3%	1,990	1,937	▴	0.27%
	Total		46,239	39,787	▴	1.51%

Demographics

Population census of Pilar

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 3,397 —     1918 4,138 +1.32% 1939 5,346 +1.23% 1948 5,805 +0.92% 1960 9,667 +4.34% 1970 14,087 +3.83% 1975 16,699 +3.47% 1980 18,549 +2.12%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 25,244 +3.13% 1995 28,207 +2.10% 2000 32,368 +2.99% 2007 43,213 +4.07% 2010 39,787 −2.96% 2015 41,823 +0.95% 2020 46,239 +1.99%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, Pilar had a population of 46,239. The population density was 1,200 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,100/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Pilar

2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 2006 7.20 2009 8.86 2012 7.66 2015 12.56 2018 7.29 2021 9.51 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Government

Local government

Pursuant to the Local Government Code of the Philippines", the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the Spanish period, the Gobernadorcillo was the Chief Executive who held office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (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 Pilar Municipal Council
(2022-2025)

Position	Name of official
District Representative (2nd Legislative District, Bataan)	Jose Enrique S. Garcia III
Municipal Mayor	Alice D. Pizarro
Municipal Vice Mayor	Marino Caguimbal
Municipal Councilors	Fatima Elisa E. Nalus
	Cecilia R. Garcia
	Rodelio A. Paguio
	Gerry S. Sanchez
	Edgardo Z. Lulu
	Cipriano P. Paguio
	Reno C. Gatdula
	Aurea L. Iguico

Pilar, Bataan's elected officials are Mayor Alice D. Pizarro (National Unity) and Vice Mayor Marino Caguimbal (National Unity).

The eight Sangguniang Bayan Members led by the Vice Mayor hold office at the Pilar Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.

Tourism

Landmarks and festivals of Pilar include:

• Mount Samat Zipline — longest zipline in Luzon
• Veterans Park — located in Poblacion, Piazza Della Virgen del Pilar
• Mount Samat National Shrine — 92-metre-high (302 ft) War Memorial Cross some 555 metres (1,821 ft) above sea level.
• The Flaming Sword — located at Panilao, is a landmark depicting a hand holding a flaming sword up in the air, which symbolized the Filipino patriots' courage and gallantry as they face the adversary and threats to their democracy and freedom. The ESPADA was inaugurated on April 8, 1967.
• Dunsulan Falls
• Araw ng Kagitingan — celebrated every April 9

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church

The 1801 Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church (Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parish Church, belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga (Dioecesis Balangensis) Part of the Ecclesiastical Province of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Notable personalities

• Mel Tiangco — Barangay Santa Rosa - news Anchor of GMA7
• Manuel C. Herrera — lawyer, an instructor in the University of the Philippines

Gallery

• 
  The Flaming Sword Shrine
• 
  Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church
• 
  Museo ng Kagitingan
• 
  Health center
• 
  Light house
• 
  Port and bancas