History of Los Banos

clan whom are all related to each other. Currently although most of these pioneering families have migrated to other municipalities and overseas, the clan are still in monopoly on agriculture, business and education.

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.

In 1909, the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA) was established. UPCA, in successions, became a Japanese camp for prisoners of war, an internment camp for allied nationals, a target of Kempetai punitive measures, and the headquarters of a secret organization of guerillas. On February 23, 1945, American paratroopers and Filipino guerrillas staged a rescue of the civilians in the internment camp, killing all the guards and burning down the makeshift barracks in what is now the athletic field. Only Baker Hall, the armory-gymnasium, remained. While all the foreign civilians were rescued, the Japanese raided the area in reprisal a few days afterward, burning and killing.

In early 50's a batch of bright young Filipino forestry graduates of the University of The Philippines College of Forestry (UPCF) made their way to "British North Borneo" (Sabah) on a pioneering quest that has contributed in the establishment of the "Sabah Forestry Department" in Malaysia, including the famous "Sepilok Research Centre" where it also shelters the world famous orang utan sanctuary. (Prominent UPLB foresters in Sabah, Malaysia: T.V.Eusebio, Udarbe, Alavaso, Sario, Pascua, Dotimas, Padua)

In 1959, the 10th World Scout Jamboree was held in Los Baños, with the theme "Building Tomorrow Today" with an attendance of 12,203 scouts