Mount Batulao, the gold mountain in the ancient country of ma-yi <ma-it>.The mythical and majestic Batulao Mountain has an elevation of 811 meters above sea level and is located at Nasugbu, Batangas <former big barrio of Balayan>. The name “Batulao” was derived from the word “Batung-Dilaw” meaning “Gold”. Legend has it, that the aboriginal inhabitants of Balayan settlement, the Sagubangs and the Tayakads, settled in said Mountain of Gold <Batung-Dilaw>. From Balayan the view of the twin mountains to the east appears quite distant or afar from each other. More fascinating is that same scene if viewed from Batulao is different. Those same twin mountains seem to move closer to each other. It looks different from the usual mountains in the Philippines and it does not have trees in its peak but cogon grass instead making it look more like a snow-capped mountain.
Noteworthy, due to its favorable geographic location, Balayan served as an important trading center of Chinese goods which bartering was the medium of transaction and the use of gold for barter was very common in the pre-Hispanic period. It has been figured out as center of “Mayi1 or Ma-i <Ma-it>” by early Chinese traders. As early as 872 A.D., Balayan, Mindoro, Manila and other coastal settlements of Luzon traded with Canton because of their proximity to each other. A Chinese chronicle of 1225 A.D. gave the first documented evidence concerning Chinese trading4 in Mindoro and Balayan. Records show that the centre of commerce was in Balayan, as since the 10th Century, it was already established Chinese Trade Route. For more historical facts visit Balayan Public Library and read books about the ancient settlement of Balayan.
Last Update on September 6, 2010 by julieto b culili
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