The present town of Lian, Batangas was historically a cross-roads settlement along the northern boundary of Nasugbu. It had a long and vibrant history of barter trade with pioneering Chinese sea-faring merchants going back centuries before Magellan discovered the Philippines. Legend has it that the first group of Spaniards who landed in the beaches of the barrio chanced upon a Chinese trader named Li An. The conquistadors asked the Chinaman the name of the place and, speaking no Spanish, the Chinaman replied “Li An,” thinking he was being asked for his name. The rest, as they say, is history. In 1914, a prominent member of the community named Kapitan Isko led the successful move to separate Barrio Lian from the town of Nasugbu and become a town in its own right. From 1915 to 1917, Francisco “Kapitan Isko” Lejano served as its first “Municipal President.”

Since the 1970s, the beaches of Matabungkay have been a favorite destination for tourists and locals alike, with the songs they sing to its praises remaining the same to this day: long stretches of cream-colored sand, an unforgettable tropical sunset, and an unobstructed view of the vast China Sea. Matabungkay, quotes the tales of wayfarers, soothes the soul and recharges the spirit with every contemplative visit. The balsa, or the train of bamboo rafts that decorate the offshore horizon of Matabungkay like a randomly strewn reed necklace, has become emblematic of the town’s pristine beaches, the relaxed attitude of the locals, and the town’s leisurely perception of time.

The Balsa is one of the unique sights to behold along the beaches of Matabangkuay. One story has it that the balsa actually originated out of need. Since the waters along the shore of the town are shallow, especially at low tide, the fishermen had difficulty returning to shore in conventional fishing boats with their catch. Hence, they made bamboo rafts that were not only roomier but more stable as well. The wives of the fishermen, waiting by the shore, then served food on the balsa. During the fishing season, lighted balsas scatter the Matabungkay shore waiting for fishermen with their bounty. Their safe return was welcomed with festivities.