Кабаян муниципалитеті: Филиппиннің тарихи және мәдени орталығы

Municipality in Benguet, Philippines

Kabayan, officially the Municipality of Kabayan (; ), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 15,806 people. Kabayan is the site of centuries old Ibaloi mummies buried inside caves scattered around its villages. The third highest mountain in the Philippines, Mount Pulag, is located in the territorial boundary of the vegetable farming town.

The name Kabayan was derived from the term Kaba ayan, from the Ibaloi word ba ay, a root crop vine thriving in the place. Most of the early Ibaloi settlements, in the area, which include Eddet and Duacan, were named after grasses in the heavily forested area.

The first Ibaloi settlers in Benguet arrived at Imbose (or Embosi), located in present day Kabayan.

In the late 1800s, Spanish colonizers reached Kabayan via trails constructed throughout the mountain region. Organized into three rancherias, namely Adaoay, Kabayan, and Lutab (or Dutab), Kabayan was registered under the comandancia politico militar of Benguet in 1846. Lutab (currently barangay Poblacion or Kabayan Central) was later integrated into the Kabayan rancheria.

In the 2020 census, Kabayan had a population of 15,806. The population density was .

Kabayan, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Benguet, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

+ Members of the Municipal Council(2022 ) Position Name CongressmanEric G. Yap (elected) Mayor Florante B. Bantales Jr. Vice Mayor Mike E. Badival Councilors Rex Alwin G. Aquisan Sario M. Minas Roli Francis L. Wakit Orlan W. Kelcho Roli Nover L. Baskial Ghislyn F. Lucio Marave Rudy B. Alos Marylou B. Cosalan

Kabayan is best known for the antiquated centuries old mummies and Mount Pulag, the third highest mountain in the Philippines. The Kabayan mummy burial caves are officially proclaimed Philippine National Cultural Treasures pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 374, and is under consideration as a World Heritage Site. The mummified body of Apo Annu, a tribal leader, was stolen but recovered by an antique collector and was returned to the town. Archaeologists from various countries have visited the town to promote preservation of the mummies due to deterioration of the cadavers. The caves containing the cadavers of these mummies have been declared by Monument Watch as one of the "100 Most Endangered Sites" in the world. Mount Pulag is a destination for mountaineers, hikers, including picnickers. At its summit, the climbers can see the surroundings of the whole north Luzon.

In May, 2024, the National Museum of the Philippines RAOD Chief Paolo Mar Chan announced the PHP25 million rehabilitation of National Museum Kabayan's Site 1, the home to female mummies. It houses a geological collection and natural history artifacts on local death rites and rituals, mummies, plants used in mummification process and Kabayan Ibaloi people items. The Museum also conserves and protects the Timbac burial caves and the mummy rocks, which features the famous “Apo Anno” mummy, a revered ancestor, in Buguias, Benguet. Timbac fire mummies are kept and preserved in the Timbac Mummy Rock Shelters or Timbac Caves in Mount Timbak (Mt. Singakalsa, 2717 meters above sea level, Luzon's 3rd highest and the 9th highest in the Philippines, especially in Barangay Pacso, Kabayan). Kabayan is home to Ibaloi Bendian festival where the 15th Eco Tourism and Bindiyan Festival Bendian dance 2024 was held in May 1. Kabayan mummies sites are the Opdas Mass Burial Cave, Tinongchol Burial Rock, Timbac Burial Rock Shelter, Pongasan and Kangal and Kabayan Museum.