balanga, the capital of bataan, was formerly a village of abucay before it was established as a mission of the dominican order in the provincial charter of april 21, 1714, and later declared a vicariate on april 18, 1739, under the patronage of saint joseph. upon the establishment of bataan as a separate province in 1754, balanga was made its capital by general pedro manuel arandia due to its favorable location, at the heart of the new territorial jurisdiction.