Hermosa, Bataan

Hermosa Balen Ning Hermosa
Municipality
Hermosa's Saint Peter of Verona Parish Church
Map of Bataan showing the location of Hermosa
Hermosa Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°50′N 120°30′E / 14.833°N 120.500°E / 14.833; 120.500Coordinates: 14°50′N 120°30′E / 14.833°N 120.500°E / 14.833; 120.500
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Bataan
Legislative district	1st District of Bataan
Established	1852
Barangays	23
Government[1]
• Mayor	Danilo C. Malana (Nacionalista)
• Vice Mayor	Christopher D. Vitug (Nacionalista)
Area[2]
• Total	157.00 km2 (60.62 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	56,997
• Density	360/km2 (940/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2114
Dialing code	47
Income class	1st class

Hermosa is a first class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 56,997 people.^[3] "Hermosa" means "beautiful" in Spanish. It has a total land area of 15,700 hectares (39,000 acres).^[2]

Hermosa is accessible via the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 10.

Etymology

According to legend, a group of Spaniards first came to this place, surprised and amazed they exclaimed, "Que Hermosa! Que Hermosa!", when they saw some pretty maidens with long, black hair washing clothes and bathing in the brook. The boys who accompanied their sisters repeated what they heard from the Spaniards and upon returning home they repeated again and again what the Spaniards exclaimed. When the next group of Spaniards visited the place, they asked for its name. The folks didn't understand Spanish but answered "Hermosa, Hermosa". And that was how Hermosa got its name.

Another version was that "Llana Hermosa", meaning beautiful plain of white flowers was the original name of this town. When the province was created, the town was formally named Hermosa, a name that fits the place not only due to the plain's white flowers but more so to the beautiful maidens and places that abound the town.

History

Historically, the town was established in 1756 by the Dominican priests. At that time, it was known as Llana Hermosa and composed of Mabuco and Mabuyan. It was then still part of Pampanga, like the rest of Bataan. It became an independent missionary center in 1756 with St. Peter de Verona as its patron saint.

The town of Hermosa was very peaceful and progressive before World War II. When the war broke out, their quiet routine was disturbed. In the famous Bataan Death March, civilians of Hermosa risked the ire of the Japanese by secretly passing food to Filipino and American soldiers.

Municipal government and politics

Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines",^[4][5] the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Town Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo is the Chief Executive who holds office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones hold office at the Municipal Town Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the Town Hall.

Hermosa, Bataan's incumbent Mayor is Danilo Castillo Malana, The Vice-Mayor is Christopher Dimson Vitug.

Sangguniang Bayan Members are: Johannes Reyes Santos, Ramon Gaza Jaring, Floyd Jaring Tungol, Rex Rivera Jorge, Angelito Nuqui Narciso, Eduardo Del Rosario Yandoc, Vinci John Samaniego Rellosa and Mariangelie Arcenas Alonzo.^[6]

Barangays

Hermosa is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.

Demographics

Economy

Existing industries in Hermosa are garments, handpainted jars, balut and salted egg making. Today, fruit processing particularly of mangoes and bananas, handicrafts, and stuffed toys are the major produce of this town. Probably less known, but existing for a long time is the aquaculture industry, traditionally for bangus, tilapia and crabs, but more recently for prawns, which was found more lucrative.

Hermosa Special Economic Zone

The Zone is adapted for building light to medium industries, recreational and housing facilities for industry and residents inside the zone investments in fruit processing utilizing the abundant supply of mangoes and banana in the province is also a potential investment area. The Subic Hermosa Cybercity is a 93-hectare Special Economic Zone which will host locator Businesses dealing in Information Technology (IT), manufacture of electronic products, IT research and development, and multi-media industries.

Utilities and Amenities

Digitel is the major provider of telecommunication services in the municipality. Hermosa is 100% electrified and is being served by the Peninsula Electric Company (PENELCO). Major source of water for domestic use is ground water. Existing water systems are artesian and open wells, pumps and pipeline with tanks. Two barangays are being served by a common facility through the Local Water Utility Administration (LWUA). In addition, a new facility was installed in barangay Mabuco, which now served the whole poblacion. Hermosa Rural Bank serve the banking needs of the municipality. Major bus lines and mini-bus coming from Manila, San Fernando and Olongapo pass through the town of Hermosa while the most common type of transport within the municipality are jeepneys and tricycles. The newly established Hermosa Public Market in Brgy. Palihan, Hermosa, Bataan has also the terminal of vehicles going to Clark and Mabalacat, Pampanga via SCTEX. The town has a total of 1 bank, 21 schools, 15 medical clinics/health centers, and 2 recreational facilities. Cable TV is now available, provided by three providers, Hermosa Cable, Destiny and Malasimbu. Internet connection is also provided by Digitel, and Smart(SmartBro).

Saint Peter of Verona Parish Church

Left side of the Church

Hermosa's cultural treasure is its 1717 heritage church.

Hermosa, known as "Llana Hermosa" belonged formerly to Orani (composed of Mabuyan and Maboco). It became an independent missionary Pueblo in 1717. In the British invasion of Manila, the Dominicans held there its provincial chapters in 1763. The Hermosa church was destroyed by fire several times. Residents of Hermosa found a boat with a statue of a saint inside it along the river.

Saint Peter of Verona, O.P. (1206 – April 6, 1252), also known as "Saint Peter Martyr", was a 13th-century Italian Catholic priest. He was a Dominican friar and a celebrated preacher. He served as Inquisitor in Lombardy, was killed by an assassin, and was canonized as a Catholic saint.

St. Peter of Verona became the patron of this town.^[7]

The church features a baroque-style façade with marvelous stained-glasses windows amid the splendor of the ornaments inside the church which illuminates the whole of Hermosa. The major retablo of Hermosa is made more attractive by the variations of saints placed in it amid its majestic dome. The church brings remembrance of the colonial past.^[8]

The Parish of Saint Peter of Verona belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga.^[9] Its Feast day is May 3. It is under the Vicariate of Saint Peter Verona, led by Parish Priests, Msgr. Mario Perez and Fr. Josue V. Enero, Parochial Vicar, Fr. Edgardo S. Sigua,^[10][11] with Msgr. Antonio Dimaual, attached. It is also under the Vicariate of Our Lady, Mirror of Justice^[12][13](Dioecesis Balangensis) Suffragan of San Fernando, Pampanga Created: March 17, 1975. Canonically Erected: November 7, 1975. Comprises the whole civil province of Bataan. Titular: St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, April 28. Bishop Most Reverend Ruperto Cruz Santos, DD).^[14][10] [Coordinates: 14°49'48"N 120°30'28"E].^[15]

Image gallery

<gallery align="center" caption=Inside HB > File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2733 06.JPG|Facade of the Town Hall of Hermosa File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2733 01.JPG|Jose Rizal in Hermosa Park File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2721 12.JPG|Elementary School File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2721 11.JPG|Hermosa park and plaza File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2721 01.JPG|Hermosa Special Economic Zone (Subic Hermosa Cybercity) File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2721 09.JPG|Hermosa Covered Court, Gym File:Hermosa,Bataanjf2721 07.JPG|Dusk photo of the fields </gallery>

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hermosa, Bataan.

• Hermosa, Bataan
• Hermosa Bataan General Information
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information

		Dinalupihan	Floridablanca, Pampanga
	Morong		Lubao, Pampanga
	Hermosa
		Orani	Manila Bay

v t e Province of Bataan Municipalities Abucay Bagac Dinalupihan Hermosa Limay Mariveles Morong Orani Orion Pilar Samal Component city Balanga