Apalit, Pampanga

Apalit
—  Municipality  —

Seal
"The Pampanga's Gateway To Manila" "The Blacksmith Capital of Pampanga"

Map of Pampanga showing the location of Apalit.

Apalit
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country  Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Province Pampanga
District 4th District
Barangays 12
Government
 • Mayor Oscar Tetangco, Jr.
Area
 • Total 72.14 km2 (27.9 sq mi)
Population (2007)
 • Total 97,296
 • Density 1,348.7/km2 (3,493.1/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2016
Income class 1st class
Population Census of Apalit
Census Pop. Rate
1995 65,720
2000 78,295 3.83%
2007 97,296 3.04%

Apalit is a Philippine municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. It is situated in the Luzon Island. According to the latest census, it has a population of 97,296 inhabitants in 15,072 households.

Its nearby towns are Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin and San Simon of Pampanga and Calumpit of Bulacan.

Contents

Barangays

Apalit is politically subdivided into 12 brgys

Political Composition. (2010-2013)

Mayor

Oscar Tetangco, Jr.

Vice Mayor

Peter C. Nucom

Councilors

History

Malayan immigrants that settled along the banks of Rio Grande de la Pampanga at the beginning of the 14th century were the ancestors of many Apaliteños. The art and culture of this early settlers' civilization reached the Zambales mountains and the rest of Central Luzon.

At the time Apalit was settled, there was a big sturdy tree Pterocarpus indicus or Apalit (also known as Narra) in Kapampangan at the present site of the Catholic Parish Church of Saint Peter. Apparently, the town got its name from that big legendary tree which is now the National tree of the Philippines.

Apalit was formally established as an independent municipality in 1582 during the term of office of Spanish Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa. It was initially composed then of four encomiendas namely, Apali (Pale), La Castilla, Cabambangan and Capalangan. La Castilla was made the town proper (Poblacion) and was renamed later as San Juan Nepomuceno.

It was not until 1597 when the Apalit Parish of Saint Peter was created after its separation from the Parish of Calumpit. Fr. Pedro de Vergara was appointed as the first Parish Priest to attend to the spiritual needs of the Catholic community of Apalit. In conjunction with the annual town fiesta, the traditional fluvial parade of Saint Peter was initiated by Capitan del Pueblo Don Pedro Armayan Espiritu on June 28, 1844.

The town of Apalit is located in the southern part of Pampanga bounded in the south by Calumpit, Bulacan, in the north by the town of San Simon and in the west by the municipality of Macabebe.

With about 72 square kilometers in land area, the town of Apalit has a population of about 78,295 people (per the year 2000 census) in its twelve barangays.

Barrio Capalangan which derived its name from the Kapampangan word "Palang" meaning machete or bolo is believed to have been founded by the son of a certain Gatbonton named Pangpalung who in his in youth was called Macapagal. This barangay was the home of Panday Pira, the first known Filipino maker of cannons. He manufactured cannons called lantakas for the troops of Rajah Soliman and after the Spanish conquest of Manila, he worked for Adelantado and Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

Puerto Sulipan was once the haven of Philippine high society and elite circles of the rich and famous in politics and in business during the time of Capitan del Pueblo Don Joaquin Arnedo-Cruz and his beautiful and highly sophisticated wife, Dona Maria de la Paz Sioco y Arnedo-Cruz. Their palatial home was the venue of big parties attended by high government officials from Manila and European royalty. Their son Don Macario Arnedo, a four-term elected governor of Pampanga during the early years of the 20th century continued with his wife Dona Maria Espiritu Arnedo the traditional luxurious banquets and balls in barrio Sulipan. The people of Sulipan are famous for their exquisite cuisine which they acquired from Spanish and European chefs while Spanish ships were anchored in Puerto Sulipan for repairs and maintenance. Don Emilio Gonzalez, Capitan Juan Padilla, Anacleto Indiongco, Barrio Chieftain Simeon Torres-Simon and his four younger brothers, Lorenzo, Isaac, Miguel and Francisco Simon were among these Apalitenos who mastered the art of Spanish and European cooking and baking which have been carried by Kapampangans from generation to generation.

Apalitenos are also noted for their cottage industries such as weaving of cloth, mats, hats, pottery and metal working in gold, iron and silver. Many Apalitenos work as tailors in Manila and some of them own and manage their own shops and mens stores such as the late Atty. Amado Carlos of Toppers of Manila, Lorenzo K. Guarin, married to an Apalitena, the founder of L. K. Guarin Tailoring and Mens Wear and Remigio Danganan of Remars Tailoring and Fashion Shop.

Apalit is also a farming and fishing town. However, during the last few years, commercial and manufacturing firms have been established in this town. Among these manufacturing corporations are two large alcohol refineries and a big depot of a multi-national oil corporation in sitio Alauli of barrio San Vicente. Some banking institutions, shopping malls, and restaurants are also flourishing in the business area of the town.

Notable residents

Orlando Punsalan - Famous radio announcer and father of movie actress Princess Punsalan.

(Remarks To All Apaliteños: Please Classified our Posting of Notable Apaliteños/ Pride & Dignity of the Person is very important)

List of Apalit Municipal Town Executives/Mayors 1713 - Present

Years Name Years Name

Education

For elementary and high school education, Apalit has numerous schools.

Private Schools

Public schools

Colleges

Religion

Feast of Saint Peter

The Apung Iru (or Grandfather Peter) Fluvial Procession which is annually held during June 28, 29 and 30, is the most widely recognized religious procession in the province of Pampanga. Here the venerated ivory image of St. Peter the Apostle is paraded along the Pampanga River

Major Roads in Apalit

Subdivisions/Villages

SM Savemore Market Apalit / SM Center Apalit

SM Savemore Market Apalit is a stand alone shopping mall located along Mc. Arthur Hi-Way, San Vicente, Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines. This is the 2nd SM Savemore Market to be opened in the Province of Pampanga after SM Savemore Market Angeles. The former Apalit Commercial Complex Building, SM Savemore Market Apalit is located directly at Apalit Crossing 50 meters from the intersection of Apalit-Macabebe-Masantol Road and Mc. Arthur Hi-Way. The mall is highly accessible through Mc. Arthur Hi-Way from Calumpit and nearby towns of Bulacan, and other towns of Pampanga like Macabebe, Masantol, San Simon, & Santo Tomas. Most Apaliteñios consider known as SM Center Apalit. The mall has a gross floor area (GFA) of 23,000 sq.m. slightly smaller than SM Center Pasig in Pasig City Metro Manila.They plan to expand the mall soon.

Hospitals

Memorial Parks and Cemeteries

Public transportation

Public transportation within the municipality, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive Tricycles, jeepneys,and buses. Motored boats (or Bancas) are used to transport goods and bring people to the lowest land in case of flood in other barangays,

Tricycles are used for short distance travel.

Various jeepney routes also ply the roads between Apalit and neighboring towns in Pampanga(municipalities of Macabebe,Masantol, San Simon, Minalin and City of San Fernando), in Bulacan (Calumpit, Malolos City and Balagtas).

While the "FX" and "L300" van taxis, from their terminals, and Provincial Buses ( Victory Liner and First North Luzon Transit), which passes through the MacArthur Highway, takes passengers to key places in Bulacan (Calumpit, Malolos City to Guiguinto Tabang Toll Plaza) the "Metro" (Monumento in Caloocan City; Cubao in Quezon City; Divisoria in Manila; and Pasay City) and to northern provinces (Lubao, Floridablanca, Guagua, City of San Fernando in Pampanga; and as far as Olongapo City in Zambales).

Telecommunications and Communications

Landline telephone systems are being provided by the Digitel, Datelcom and PLDT.

Mobile telephony services are provided by Smart Communications, Globe Telecom & Sun Cellular from Digitel.

Internet services are provided through DSL and Cable broadband coverage is provided by PLDT, Digitel and Globe Broadband; and Wireless broadband is provided by (Smart Bro) Smart Communications.

Cable Television are provided by DATELSAT.

References

[1]

External links