Burauen (IPA: [bu'ɾaʊen]), officially the Municipality of Burauen (; ), is a First Income Class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of people.
Etymology The name “Burauen” evolved from the word “haru” which means “spring”. This is because Burauen is the fountainhead of several rivers: the big Daguitan and Marabong rivers, the Guinarona and Hibuga rivers that pass through several neighboring towns, as well as several smaller ones. The legend behind the name speaks of a drought when several tributaries of these rivers dried up, forcing people to flock to a cluster of large springs in the town. The place was duly called “Buraburon” which, according to Justice Norberto Lopez Romualdez Sr., is the “multiplicative construction of the word “haru” (spring), which indicates “abundance”. Over the years, the name “Buraburon” (“having many springs”) evolved into “Burawon” and finally into “Burauen”.https://burauenleyte.gov.ph
Elected Officials
+ 2025-2028 Burauen, Leyte OfficialsPosition Name Party Mayor Fe S. Renomeron Vice Mayor Warren V. Hermano Councilors Bryan R. Cinco George Bensen S. Tan Leo S. Apostol Juanito E. Renomeron Cheeryl Y. Ducentes Hermenia C. Camasin Sean T. Cordero Andres Rey L. Cagara Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ABC President TBD SK Federation President TBD
History
Early history and foundation Burauen is one of the oldest inland settlements on the island of Leyte. Historical accounts indicate that Jesuit missionaries formally established the settlement in 1595 during the Spanish colonial era as part of the Christianizing central Leyte.
The municipality derived its name from the local term burabod or buraburon, meaning “spring” or “water source,” referring to the abundance of natural springs in the area.
Archaeological discoveries in the municipality, including burial jars, stone tools, and Chinese ceramics, suggest that the area had established settlements and trade activities prior to Spanish colonization.
Spanish Colonial Era Between 1609 and 1616, Burauen emerged as one of the largest and most populous settlements in Leyte and Samar during the Spanish era. Due to its fertile plains and strategic inland location, the town developed into an important agricultural and missionary center in Eastern Visayas. The municipality became known for rice cultivation, coconut production, root crops, and abacá (Manila hemp), which later became one of the town’s major economic drivers.
By the early 20th century, Burauen had become one of the wealthiest municipalities in the Visayas due to its flourishing abaca industry.
Philippine–American War
During the Philippine–American War, revolutionary forces led by General Ambrosio Mójica operated extensively within Burauen and neighboring towns. On 4 July 1900, American forces burned large portions of the town during military operations against Filipino resistance fighters.
The destruction of the municipality contributed to the rise of the Pulahan movement in Leyte, an anti-American resistance and religious movement active in the early 1900s.
In the early 1900s, Burauen became one of the leading economic centers in Eastern Visayas due to the rapid expansion of the abaca trade. Several notable developments occurred during this period such as the establishment of irrigation systems in 1912, installation of one of the earliest electric systems in Leyte and Samar in 1916, opening of one of the first cinematographic houses in the region, and modernization of municipal infrastructure and public markets.
Historical accounts also state that the municipality’s revenue at one point exceeded the provincial income of Surigao because of the booming hemp industry.
World War II During World War II, Japanese Imperial forces occupied Burauen.
The outbreak of World War II stunted the economic growth of Burauen. The Japanese Military encamped the eastern part of the poblacion there were many encounters between the Japanese forces and the guerillas who were firmly established in their mountain strongholds. In August 1944, the Japanese established a "comfort station" in the town, where the invaders enslaved local girls, teens, and young adults into becoming sex slaves called "comfort women", who were routinely gang-raped and murdered by Japanese soldiers. During the Allied liberation of Leyte on October 20, 1944, Burauen was among the most devastated towns in Leyte, thousands of civilians were killed and a number of properties were destroyed.
Post-war period to present Following the devastation of the War, Burauen entered a long period of rehabilitation and modernization that reshaped the municipality into one of the important inland economic and educational centers of Leyte. The town had suffered extensive destruction during the liberation of Leyte in 1944, with heavy casualties and widespread damage to homes, public infrastructure, and agricultural lands.
Immediate Post-war Rehabilitation (1945–1950s) In the years immediately after the war, the people of Burauen focused on rebuilding agriculture, restoring public institutions, and reviving local commerce. Educational recovery became one of the municipality’s earliest priorities. In 1946, the Burauen High School was established, while the historic Gabaldon school buildings were rehabilitated.
The rehabilitation of public utilities followed shortly afterward. In 1948, the Burauen Water System began operations with technical assistance from the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA), improving access to potable water for residents.
Private educational institutions also emerged during this period. The founding of the Burauen Catholic Institute and Rizal Colleges in 1950 strengthened secondary and tertiary education opportunities within the municipality.
However, recovery was repeatedly disrupted by natural disasters. In 1951, Burauen was struck by a powerful typhoon, followed by several additional storms that damaged farms, roads, and public buildings. Despite financial hardship, the municipal government repaired the municipal hall in 1952 using local funds, symbolizing the community’s determination to rebuilt.
Economic and Institutional Expansion (1960s–1970s) The 1960s marked the beginning of renewed economic growth. On March 2, 1962, the Rural Bank of Burauen was established, becoming the first rural bank in both Leyte and Samar. The institution played an important role in supporting farmers, traders, and small entrepreneurs in the post-war rural economy.
Infrastructure development also accelerated during this era. Roads, bridges, irrigation systems, and public markets were expanded, improving agricultural productivity and trade connections between Burauen and neighboring municipalities.
Healthcare services improved significantly with the opening of the Burauen General Hospital on April 1, 1972. The facility expanded medical access for residents of central Leyte and nearby upland communities.
Local Governance and Modernization (1980s–2000s) After the 1986 EDSA Revolution and the implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991, Burauen benefited from increased Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) funding from the national government. These funds enabled the municipality and its barangays to pursue major infrastructure and public service projects.
Throughout the 1990s, the local government invested heavily in farm-to-market roads, particularly in upland barangays where agriculture remained the primary source of livelihood. In 1998, the municipality acquired heavy equipment to support road opening and widening projects, helping farmers transport products more efficiently.
The municipality also undertook major improvements to its water infrastructure. In 2004, the Burauen Water Works System underwent rehabilitation and expansion to address increasing demand from both urban and rural communities.
In 2009, the municipal government completed the Burauen Commercial Complex, which included sections for dry goods, grains, fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, transport terminals, and market facilities. The project modernized commercial activity in the town center and reinforced Burauen’s role as a trading hub in inland Leyte.
Disaster Resilience and Contemporary Development (2010s–Present) Burauen continued modernizing its infrastructure during the 2010s. In compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), the municipality established a sanitary landfill facility that began operations in April 2015.
The same year, the municipality inaugurated a new four-storey Executive and Legislative Building housing the offices of the mayor, treasury department, and Sangguniang Bayan.
Like many parts of Eastern Visayas, Burauen was heavily affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. Recovery efforts involved support from the national government, non-government organizations, and international aid agencies. Rehabilitation focused on restoring infrastructure, housing, and community services.
The municipality also benefited from regional infrastructure connectivity projects. The development and rehabilitation of the Burauen–Albuera road network improved transport links between eastern and western Leyte, allowing faster movement of agricultural goods and easier market access for upland farmers.
In recent years, Burauen has increasingly positioned itself as an emerging educational, agricultural, and service center in central Leyte. Expansion in healthcare, public education, transportation infrastructure, and local governance projects has contributed to its continuing urban and economic rise.
Timeline
In 1595, Spanish Jesuits discovered the settlement of Burauen. Its community was used as their base in the Christianisation on the central part of Leyte.
Between the years 1609 to 1616 Burauen was the most populous town of Leyte and Samar and it consistently registered the highest tax collection during the same period in the region.
In 1873, from being a missionary church under the diocese of Dagami, Burauen was carved out and declared as a separate town.
In 1912, municipal administrations of that time were able to put up irrigation system.
In 1916, the first electric system and cinematographic house in Leyte and Samar was established in Burauen.
In 1918, La Paz detached itself from Burauen to become an independent municipality.
In 1928, the Burauen Academy, the first secondary school in the municipality was founded.
In 1949, or just a few years after world war 2, President Elpidio Quirino issued an executive order no.278 separating Julita from burauen.
In the 1950s, several prominent encargado or tenyente del barrio improved the system in Burauen. Binatac, Reataza, Coral, Gaspay and Estrada are among the prominent encargado.
In 1962, the Rural Bank of Burauen was established. Making it the very first rural bank in both islands of Samar and Leyte.
Geography Burauen is located in the central part of Leyte Island, bounded to the north by Dagami and Tabontabon, on the east by Julita, south by La Paz and Macarthur, on the west by Albuera and Ormoc City and on the southwest by Baybay City.
Barangays
Burauen is politically subdivided into 77 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Abuyogon Anonang Arado Balao Balatson Balorinay Bobon Buenavista Buri Caanislagan Cadahunan Cagangon Calao Cali Calsadahay Candag-on Cansiboy Catagbacan Dumalag Damulu-an Dina-ayan Esperansa Gamay Gitablan Hapunan Hibonawan Hugpa East Hugpa West Ilihan Kagbana Kalipayan Kaparasanan Laguiwan Libas Limburan Logsongan Maabab Maghubas Mahagnao Malabca Malaguinabot Malaihao Matin-ao Moguing Poblacion District I Poblacion District II Poblacion District III Poblacion District IV Poblacion District V Poblacion District VI Poblacion District VII Poblacion District VIII Poblacion District IX Paghudlan Paitan Pangdan Patag Patong