Pampanga

Pampanga
—  Province  —

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Seal
Map of the Philippines with Pampanga highlighted
Coordinates:
Country  Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Founded December 11, 1571
Capital City of San Fernando
Government
 • Type Province of the Philippines
 • Governor Lilia G. Pineda (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
 • Vice Governor Joseller M. Guiao (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
Area
 • Total 1,984.7 km2 (766.3 sq mi)
Area rank 63rd out of 80
Population (2007)
 • Total 1,911,951
 • Rank 10th out of 80
 • Density 963.3/km2 (2,495.1/sq mi)
 • Density rank 37th out of 80
Divisions
 • Independent cities 1
 • Component cities 1
 • Municipalities 20
 • Barangays 537
 • Districts 4
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code 2000
Spoken languages Kapampangan, Tagalog, English

Pampanga (PSGC: 035400000; ISO: PH-PAM) is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast. Pampanga also lies on the northern shore of Manila Bay.

The name "La Pampanga" was given by the Spaniards who found the early natives living near the river banks. It also served as the capital of the archipelago for two years from 1762-1764 during the British invasion of Manila. However, history shows evidence of the province of Pampanga itself being a descendant of what was known back then as the Kingdom of Tondo, or the Luzon Empire. The word pampang, from which the province's name originates, means river bank. Its creation in 1571 makes it the first Spanish province in the Philippines. The Province of Pampanga is the culinary capital of the Philippines.

Pampanga is served by the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, which is located at Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, some 16 kilometers north of the provincial capital.

The province is home to two Philippine Air Force air bases, Basa Air Base in Floridabalanca, and the former U.S. Clark Air Base in Angeles City.

Contents

People and culture

The inhabitants of Pampanga are generally referred to as Kapampangans (alternatively spelled Capampañgan), Pampangos, or Pampangueños. A little history of Pampanga shows evidence of the inhabitants themselves being descendants of the kingdom known as the Kingdom of Tondo or the Luzon Empire, and that the Kapampangans take pride in their province for being one of the eight provinces in the country to revolt against Spain and having produced two presidents, three chief justices, a senate president, the first Filipino cardinal and many outstanding personalities in public service, education, diplomacy, journalism, the arts and sciences, entertainment and business.

Kapampangan cuisine is widely thought to be among the most evolved and refined of Philippine culinary traditions.

History

Pampanga was the first province and the richest spoil created by the Spaniards in 1571. It was named after the Indung Kapampangan River, the largest river in the former empire. Ancient Pampanga's territorial area used to include portions of the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zambales in the big Island of Luzon of the Philippine Archipelago.

Pampanga, one of the richest provinces in the Philippines, was re-organized as a province by the Spaniards on December 11, 1571. For governmental control and taxation purposes, the Spanish authorities subdivided Pampanga into towns (pueblos), which were further subdivided into districts (barrios) and in some cases into royal and private estates (encomiendas).

Due to excessive abuses committed by some grantees of private estates, the King of Spain prohibited in 1574 the awarding of private estates (encomiendas). However, the royal decree was not fully enforced until the year 1620. In a report of Philippine encomiendas on June 20, 1591, Spanish Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas reported to the King of Spain that La Pampanga's encomiendas were Bataan, Betis y Lubao, Macabebe, Candava, Apalit, Calumpit, Malolos, Binto, Guiguinto, Caluya, Bulacan and Mecabayan. The encomiendas of La Pampanga at that time had eighteen thousand six hundred and eighty whole tributes.

Pampanga which is about 850 square miles (2,200 km2) in area and presently inhabited by more than 1.5 million people, had its present borders drawn in 1873. During the Spanish regime it was one of the richest Philippine provinces. Manila and its surrounding region were then primarily dependent on Pampangan agricultural, fishery, and forestry products as well as on the supply of skilled workers. As other Luzon provinces were created due to increases in population, some well-established Pampanga towns were lost to new emerging provinces in Central Luzon.

During the 17th century, The Dutch recruited men from Pampanga as mercenaries served the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, known as Papangers[1] contingent which was a part of the larger Mardijkers community. Their legacy can still be found in North Jakarta[2], however there are no traces of their descendants, except for a small community currently lives in Kampung Tugu.

The historic province of Bataan which was founded in 1754 under the administration of Spanish Governor General Pedro Manuel Arandia, absorbed from the province of Pampanga the municipalities of Abucay, Balanga, Dinalupihan, Llana Hermosa, Orani, Orion, Pilar, and Samal.

The old Pampanga towns of Aliaga, Cabiao, Gapan, San Antonio and San Isidro were ceded to the province of Nueva Ecija in 1848 during the term of Spanish Governor-General Narciso Claveria y Zaldua. The municipality of San Miguel de Mayumo of Pampanga was yielded to the province of Bulacan in the same provincial boundary configuration in 1848.

In 1860, the northern towns of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion, Victoria, Tarlac, Mabalacat, Magalang, Porac and Floridablanca were separated from Pampanga and were placed under the jurisdiction of a military command called Comandancia Militar de Tarlac. However, in 1873, the four latter towns were returned to Pampanga and the other five towns became municipalities of the newly created Province of Tarlac.

On December 8, 1941, Japanese planes bombed Clark Air base marking the beginning of the invasion of Pampanga.

Between 1941 and 1942, occupying Japanese forces began entering Pampanga.

During the Counter-Insurgencies under the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1944, Kapampangan guerrilla fighters and the Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas was foought side by side around in the province of Pampanga and attacking and retreating the Japanese Imperial forces from the couple of three years and few month of fighting and invasion.

The establishment and built of the military general headquarters and military camp bases of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was active on 1935 to 1946 and the Philippine Constabulary was active on 1935 to 1942 and 1944 to 1946 in the province of Pampanga. During the military engagements of the Anti-Japanese Imperial Military Operations in Central Luzon from 1942 to 1945 in the province of Bataan, Bulacan, Northern Tayabas (now. Aurora) Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales and aided the local guerrilla resistance fighters, Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas and the U.S. military forces against the Imperial Japanese armed forces.

Battle of Pampanga
Part of World War II
Date 1945
Location Pampanga
Result Allied Victory
Belligerents
Philippine Commonwealth

United States

Mexico

Japan
Casualties and losses
15,000 killed
26,000 wounded
19,000 killed
32,000 wounded
3,000 captured

In the 1945 liberation of Pampanga, Kapampangan guerrilla fighters and the Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas supported combat forces from both Filipino and American ground troops in attacking Japanese Imperial forces during the Battle of Pampanga until the end of the Second World War. The sending the local military operations of local Filipino soldiers and officers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 2nd, 21st, 26th, 3rd, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 36th and 37th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 3rd Infantry Regiment was recaptured and liberated the province of Pampanga and fought against the Japanese Imperial forces during the Battle of Pampanga.

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo displaced a large number of people with the submersion of whole towns and villages by lahar.

Religions

The province of Pampanga is composed of many religious groups but it is predominantly Roman Catholic. Pampanga province is also known to be the main seat of the Members Church of God International known to its religious program in television and radio Ang Dating Daan. Other religious groups are Iglesia Ni Cristo, Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus, Jesus Is Lord, Seventh-day Adventist, Evangelicals, Islam, Aglipayan, Jesus Miracle Crusade and many other religious groups.

Economy

Farming and fishing are the two main industries of the province. Major products include rice, corn, sugar cane, and tilapia. In addition to farming and fishing, the province also supports thriving cottage industries that specialize in wood carving, furniture-making, guitars, and handicrafts. Every year during the Christmas season, the province of Pampanga becomes the center of a thriving industry centered on handcrafted lighted lanterns called “parols” that displays a kaleidoscope of light and color. Other industries include its casket industry and the manufacturing of all Purpose Vehicles present in the Municipality of Sto. Tomas.

The province is famous for its sophisticated culinary industry. Kapampangans are well known for their culinary creations. Well known food products range from the ordinary to the exotic. Pampanga's Best and Mekeni Food are among the better known meat brands of the country producing Kapampangan favorites such as pork and chicken tocinos, beef tapa, hot dogs, and longanezas (Philippines-style sausages and cured meats.)

Speciality foods such as the siopao, pandesal, tutong, lechon (roasted pig) and its sarsa (sauce), are popular speciality foods in the region. The more exotic betute tugak (stuffed frog), kamaru (mole crickets) cooked ala adobo, bulanglang (pork cooked in guava juice), lechon kawali, and bringhe (a green sticky rice dish like paella) are a mainstay in Kapampangan feasts. Native sweets and delicacies like pastillas, turonnes de casuy, buro, are the most sought after by Filipinos including a growing number of tourists who enjoy authentic Kapampangan cuisine. The famous cookie in Mexico, Pampanga, Sanikulas, which is known as the mother of all Philippine cookies are one of the best and the best are made in Mexico, Pampanga by Mrs. Lillian Borromeo.

Tourism is a growing industry in the province of Pampanga. Clark Field, in Angeles City, is home to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Luzon's second International Airport and designated as the Philippines future premier gateway site. Within the Clark Special Economic Zone are well established hotels and resorts. Popular tourist destinations in the province include: St. Peter Shrine in Apalit, Mt. Arayat National Park in San Juan Bano, Arayat, the Paskuhan Village in the City of San Fernando, the Casino Filipino in Angeles City, and for Nature and Wildlife "Paradise Ranch and Zoocobia Fun Zoo" in Clark. Well known annual events include the Giant Lantern Festival in December, the annual hot air balloon festival in Clarkfield during the month of February, the San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites celebrated two days before Easter and the Aguman Sanduk in Minalin celebrated on the afternoon of New Year's Day.

Other developing economies include a semiconductor industry involved in the manufacturing of electronics and computers mostly located within the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City.

Geography

Political

Pampanga is subdivided into 20 municipalities and 2 cities.

City No. of
Barangays
Population
(2007)
Area
(km²)
Pop. density
(per km²)
Angeles City[3]
33
267,788
66.16
3,989/km²
City of San Fernando[4]
36
221,857
67.74
3,275/km²
Municipality No. of
Barangays
Population
(2007)
Area
(km²)
Pop. density
(per km²)
Apalit
12
97,296
72
Arayat
30
101,792
Bacolor
21
16,147
Candaba
33
86,066
208.70
Floridablanca
33
85,394
175.48
1,487/km²
Guagua
31
111,259
66.16 km²
3,989/km²
Lubao
44
125,699
155.77
Mabalacat
27
171,045
Macabebe
25
65,346
Magalang
27
77,530
Masantol
26
48,120
Mexico
43
109,481
Minalin
15
40,000
48.27
Porac
29
102,962
343.12
San Luis
17
41,554
San Simon
14
41,253
Santa Ana
14
42,990
Santa Rita
10
32,780
Santo Tomas
8
32,695
Sasmuan
12
23,359

Physical

Terrain

The province has a total land mass of 2,180.68 square kilometers. Its terrain is relatively flat with one distinct mountain, Mount Arayat and the notable Pampanga River. Among its municipalities, Porac has the largest land mass with 343.12 square kilometers; Candaba comes in second with 208.7 square kilometers; followed by Lubao with 155.77 square kilometers.

Climate

The province of Pampanga has two distinct climates, rainy and dry. The rainy or wet season normally begins in May and runs through October, while the rest of the year is the dry season. The warmest period of the year occurs between March and April, while the coolest period is from December through February.

Infrastructure

Telecommunication

Telephone services in the Province are provided by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Digitel, Datelcom the Evangelista Telephone Company and the Pampanga Telecom Company in the town of Macabebe. The province has 24 public telegraph offices distributed among its towns while the facilities of PT&T and RCPI were set up to serve the business centers in Angeles City, San Fernando City and Guagua.[5]

Several Internet Service Providers and available in the province. These include the Angeles Computer Network Specialist, Information Resources Network System, Inc., Mosaic communications Inc., Net Asia Angeles City, Phil World On Line and Comclark Network and Technology Corp.

United Parcel Services (UPS) and Federal Express (FedEx) provide international courier services for the province and the rest of the country. Their hubs are located within the Clark Special Economic Zone. These international courier are complemented by four local couriers operating as the communication and baggage of the province. There are 3 postal district offices and 35 post office stations distributed in the 20 municipalities and 2 cities of the province.[6]

Water and power

Potable water supply in the province reaches the populace through three levels namely: Level I (point source system), Level II (communal faucet system), and Level III (individual connections). A well or spring is the pinpointed water source in areas where houses are few as the system is only designed to serve 15 to 25 households. As of 1997, there were 128,571 Level I water system users in the province. The communal faucet system (Level II) serves the rural areas while the Level III system is managed by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). The system provides individual house connections to all second and first class private subdivisions.

Electric power is distributed to majority of the towns through the distribution centers of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative (PELCO) which include PELCO I, II, III. Small parts of Candaba and Macabebe are also supplied by Manila Electric Company (MERALCO). Angeles City and small parts of Mabalacat, Bacolor, and Porac are supplied by Angeles Electric Corporation (AEC). City of San Fernando is supplied by San Fernando Electric Company (SFELAPCO).[5]

Transportation

The province of Pampanga is strategically located at the crossroads of central Luzon and is highly accessible by both air and land. The province is home to two airstrips: Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, which is utilized by the military, and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (formerly Clark International Airport) in Angeles City. Pampanga also has five existing municipal ports which function as fish landing centers. These are situated in the municipalities of Guagua, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sasmuan.[5]

Land travel to the province is made easy by numerous buses that travel the routes of Manila-Pampanga-Bataan, Manila-Pampanga-Zambales, Manila-Pampanga-Tarlac, Manila-Pampanga-Nueva Ecija, and Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga. These buses are serviced by:

The 83.7 - kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) extends from Balintawak in Metro Manila to Sta. Ines in Pampanga. It passes through the large cities of San Fernando and Angeles and municipalities of Minalin and San Simon through Sta. Ines, which is located near the former U.S. Air Force Base at Clark Field.

The 94-kilometer four-lane Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) to date, is the longest toll expressway in the Philippines. Its southern terminus is located at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, and passes through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) interchange near the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City. Its northern terminus is located at the Central Techno Park in Tarlac City, Tarlac.

Education

The province is home to 45 colleges/universities. They include:

Elementary and secondary schools:

Tourist attractions

Festivals

Throughout the year, various towns and cities within the Province of Pampanga celebrates feasts honoring their patron saint. These fiesta days are listed below:

  • Angeles City — Second Sunday of October "Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de La Naval de Angeles"
  • Apalit — June 28,29 and 30 "San Pedro Apostol"
  • Arayat — November 25 "Santa Catalina Alexandria"
  • Bacolor — Third Sunday of November "Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de La Naval de Bacolor"
  • Candaba — November 30 "San Andres Apostol"
  • Floridablanca — May 1 "San Jose Talapagobra"
  • Guagua — December 8 "La Purisima Concepcion"
  • Lubao — August 28 "San Agustin de Hippo"
  • Mabalacat — February 2 "Nuestra Señora de la Divina Gracia"
  • Macabebe — September 10 "San Nicolas Tolentino"
  • Magalang — August 24 "San Bartolome Apostol"
  • Masantol — May 8 "San Miguel Arcanghel"
  • Mexico — May 4 "Santa Monica"
  • Minalin — Second Sunday of May "Santa Monica"
  • Porac — November 25 "Santa Catalina Alexandria"
  • City of San Fernando — May 30 "San Fernando Rey"
  • San Luis — June 21 "San Luis Gonzaga"
  • San Simon — October 12 "Nuestra Señora del Pilar"
  • Santa Ana — July 26 "Santa Ana"
  • Santa Rita — May 22 "Santa Rita de Casia"
  • Santo Domingo - August 8 "Sto. Domingo De Guzman"
  • Santo Tomas — December 21 "Santo Tomas Apostol
  • Sasmuan — December 13 "Santa Lucia Martir"

In addition to the town fiesta many barangays within each municipality celebrates a local fiesta also honoring a particular patron saint.

Heritage churches and shrines

Recreational facilities and leisure parks

Historical landmarks

Angeles City Historical Sites

Salakot Arch

City of San Fernando Heritage District

Bacolor Historical Sites

Mabalacat Historical Site

Lubao Historical Site

Arayat Historical Sites

Natural parks

Governors of Pampanga

ALCALDES MAYORES 1812 to 1886:[7]

  • 1812-1820 Jose Aviles
  • 1821-1824 Francisco Paula de los Santos and Fulgencio Nuñez
  • 1824-1827 Manuel de Olea
  • 1827-1831 Antonio Chacon y Conde
  • 1831-1836 Juan Garrido
  • 1836-1839 Mariano Valero y Soto
  • 1839-1840 Angel Viniegra
  • 1841-1846 Jose Urbina y Daoiz
  • 1846-1847 Mariano Valero y Soto
  • 1848-1849 Juan Lopéz Cordón
  • 1849-1850 Manuel Gastero Serrano
  • 1850-1852 Fernando Cajigas
  • 1852-1854 José Paez y Lopéz
  • 1854-1855 Jose Sanchez Guerrero
  • 1855-1856 Francisco de Paula Rodriguez
  • 1856-1860 Francisco Hidalgo y Caballero
  • 1860-1862 Jose Maria Barrasa
  • 1862-1864 Ramón Barrueta
  • 1864 Mariano de la Cortina y Oñate
  • 1864-1865 Vega
  • 1865-1866 Juan Muñoz y Alvarez
  • 1867 José Bolaños
  • 1867-1869 Mariano de la Cortina y Oñate
  • 1869-1870 Francisco Godínez y Esteban
  • 1870-1871 Romero
  • 1871-1872 Romay
  • 1873 Jose Dias y Oliver
  • 1873-1874 Jose Feced y Temprado
  • 1875 Emilio Martín Bolaños
  • 1875-1877 Miguel Sanz y Urtasun
  • 1877-1879 Jose Feced y Temprado
  • 1879 Antonio Graciano de Oro
  • 1880 Carmona
  • 1880-1881 Rafael Manzanares
  • 1881-1883 Antonio Graciano de Oro
  • 1883-1884 Pampillon
  • 1884 Gaspar Castaño
  • 1885-1886 Emilio Martín Bolaños

GOBERNADORES CIVILES 1886 to 1898:

  • 1886 Garanto
  • 1886-1887 Requiferos
  • 1887 Luis Goza
  • 1887-1888 A. de Águila
  • 1888-1891 Luis de la Torre Villanueva
  • 1891-1892 José Ignacio Chacón
  • 1892-1893 Joaquin Oliver
  • 1893 Bascaran
  • 1893-1895 Tomás Pérez del Pulgar y O’Lawlor
  • 1895-1898 José Canovas y Vallejo
  • 1898 Mota

REPUBLICA FILIPINA 1898 to 1901:[7]

  • 1898 Mariano Alimurung
  • 1898 Tiburcio T. Hilario
  • 1899 Tomás Mascardo
  • 1900 Francisco Dizon
  • 1900-1901 José M. Alejandrino

U.S. MILITARY GOVERNMENT 1899 to 1901:

  • 1899-1900 Frederick Dent Grant
  • 1900-1901 Arthur MacArthur

CIVIL GOVERNORS 1901 to 1937:

  • 1901-1903 Ceferino Jóven
  • 1904-1911 Macario Arnedo
  • 1911 Mariano Lim
  • 1912-1916 Francisco Tongio Liongson
  • 1916-1922 Honorio Tizon Ventura
  • 1922-1925
  • 1925-1931
  • 1931
  • 1931-1937

JAPANESE OCCUPATION 1942 to 1944:

  • 1942
  • 1942-1944
  • 1944
  • 1944

CIVIL GOVERNORS 1945: (cont.)

  • 1945 Gerardo Limlingan
  • 1945

PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS 1946 to present:

  • 1946-1947
  • 1948-1951 José B. Lingad
  • 1952-1959
  • 1960-1971 Francisco G. Nepomuceno
  • 1972-1976
  • 1976-1980
  • 1980-1986 Estelito P. Mendoza
  • 1986-1995 Bren Z. Guiao
  • 1995-2004 Lito Lapid
  • 2004-2007 Mark Lapid
  • 2007-2010 Rev. Fr. Eddie T. Panlilio
  • 2010–present Lilia G. Pineda

Notable people from Pampanga

References

  1. ^ East of Bali: from Lombok to Timor - Colonial Kupang
  2. ^ Citerep Palace Opera (Indonesian)
  3. ^ Highly urbanized city (independent of province).
  4. ^ Capital city of Pampanga, and regional center of Central Luzon (Region III).
  5. ^ a b c d Province of Pampanga, A Profile of Region III September, 2001.
  6. ^ Official website of the Province of Pampanga
  7. ^ a b Henares, Ivan Anthony S. "Filipino Alcaldes Mayores in the Province of Pampanga"
  8. ^ "The 1999 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service: Biography of Rosa Rosal". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyRosalRos.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-19. 
  9. ^ Hoy! Pinoy Ako!
  10. ^ wcbstv.com - Kristine Johnson
  11. ^ Ivan About Town: Ninoy and FPJ death masks on display in Pampanga

External links