Paombong, Bulacan

Municipality of Paombong Bayan ng Paombong
Municipality
Seal
Nickname(s): Vinegar Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Sikad Paombong, Ang Bayan ay Uusbong Tungo sa Pagyabong
Map of Bulacan showing the location of Paombong
Paombong Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°49′52″N 120°47′21″E / 14.83111°N 120.78917°E / 14.83111; 120.78917Coordinates: 14°49′52″N 120°47′21″E / 14.83111°N 120.78917°E / 14.83111; 120.78917
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Bulacan
District	1st District
Founded	1619
Barangays	14
Government[1]
• Mayor	Isagani "Ganid" G. Castro (Independent)
• Vice Mayor	Marissa Jumaquio-Ramos (Liberal Party)
Area[2]
• Total	46.34 km2 (17.89 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	50,940
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Demonym	Paombongenyo
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	3001
Dialing code	44
Languages	Tagalog and English
Income class	3rd Class; Partially Urban

Paombong (Filipino: Bayan ng Paombong) is a third class partially urban^[4] municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Dubbed as the "Vinegar Capital of the Philippines", Paombong is famous for its vinegar^[5] extracted from the sap of sasa (nipa), thus the term "sukang Paombong" (Paombong vinegar) became known in Luzon and other parts of the Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,940 inhabitants.^[3]

Etymology

Local legend has it that the name "Paombong" was taken from the long bamboo tube called "bumbong" or "tukil" which is used for collecting nipa sap. The practice of extracting nipa sap with bumbongs made the town known as the town with many bumbongs.

The local people claimed that the Spaniards who first visited the place were so amused with the bumbong that, after learning its name from the natives, they named the town after the container, a name which later evolved to Paombong.

History

In the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadores expand their pacification drive in Luzon moving from one place to another. In 1578, they reached a large tract of land consisting of two sister towns. The newly discovered pueblo was then named Malolos. However, the Spanish friars also attended to the spiritual needs of the people living west of Malolos, which is later to be known as Paombong. This relationship continued until the early 17th century when the natives of Paombong manifested their desire to be liberated from the parochial leadership of Malolos. The Spaniards then established Paombong as a pueblo in 1619, becoming the seventh town in Bulacan founded by the Augustinian Order. From 1619 to 1650, a Spanish friar ruled Paombong, just like any other Augustinian-controlled place. Not long after, civilian rulers took over, but their reigns were dictated upon and was under the mercy of the prailles.

In the middle of the 17th century, Paombong grew into a modest community from what was once a cogon land inhabited by a handful of Tagalogs. Paombong was created a municipal organization on November 28, 1650 with Agustin Mananghaya^[6] as its first civilian ruler.

During the Spanish regime, Paombong’s coastal area, more specifically, Barangays Masukol and Binakod, played a significant role in Philippine History being known encounter sites between Spanish soldiers and Katipuneros. General Isidoro Torres^[7] used to retreat with his troops to Barangay Masukol and Barangay Binakod to avoid the advancing Spanish forces.^[8] In the latter village, he organized the Katipunan militia of Paombong.^[9]

It is from these encounters, in fact, that Barangays Binakod and Masukol earned their present names. In one encounter, Binakod was where the enemies where "fenced in" (binakuran) and it was in Masukol where they were eventually "cornered" (nasukol) and defeated.

In 1898, the first civilian in the person of Don Victorio de Leon headed the Municipal Government until 1900. The seat of the local government was first established at the ground floor of the Paombong Church Convent then popularly called "silong". It was later transferred to the house of Numeraino Lindayag located in Poblacion, then was transferred to the location of the present Rural Health Center I. Eventually it was moved to the place where it is presently located which since has been the seat of the Municipal Government since then. In 1941, the head of the Municipal Government was later on called Municipal Mayor.

Geography

Paombong is situated southwest of the province of Bulacan, with a total land area of 46.34 square kilometers. It is bounded by the municipality of Calumpit on the north, Malolos City on the east, municipality of Hagonoy on the west and Manila Bay on the south. The municipality is approximately 47 kilometers from Metro Manila, it is a by-pass town and can be accessed via North Luzon Expressway and MacArthur Highway.

Barangays

Paombong is politically subdivided into 14 barangays (6 urban, 8 rural):^[2]

• Binakod
• Kapitangan - This barangay is a famous pilgrimage site during the Holy Week, particularly Good Friday. Some devout Catholic worshippers flagellate and/or allow themselves to be crucified to repent and share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ.^[10]
• Malumot
• Masukol
• Pinalagdan
• Poblacion
• San Isidro I
• San Isidro II
• San Jose - cradle the largest "sasahan" in town, subdivided into 7 political sitio or "purok" (Sitio Uno, Gitna, Sitio Tres, Sitio Wawa, Sitio Pantay, Sito Gunao and Sitio Kulis ). It is also a political hot spot every election for National and Local Positions. The San Jose Fishport located at Sitio Wawa cradles the motor boats or "bangka" which serves as the major transportation going to the three barangays near the Manila Bay, namely, Sta. Cruz, Masukol and Binakod.
• San Roque
• San Vicente
• Sta. Cruz - There are 2 main resources of this barangay, fishponds and "asinan" or salt making. In this coastal barangay you can see some salt evaporation ponds.
• Sto. Niño
• Sto. Rosario

Demographics

Local government

Town hall

Just as the national government, the municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branch.

The executive branch is composed of the mayor and the barangay captain for the barangays.^[11] The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly), Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the Town hall. The Sanguniang Bayan is the center of legislation.

Municipal officials

The following officials were elected on May 13, 2013 to serve a three-year term.^[1]

• Mayor: Isagani "Gani" G. Castro - (independent)
• Vice Mayor: Marissa Jumaquio-Ramos - (Liberal Party)

Councilors

• Myrna G. Valencia - (Liberal Party)
• Arnold Mendoza - (Liberal Party)
• Frank Valencia - (Independent)
• Luisito "Louie" S. Arellano - (Independent)
• James Jester Santos - (Liberal Party)
• Max Tanghal - (Liberal Party)
• Erning Sulit - (Liberal Party)
• Toto Estrella - (Liberal Party)

Trade and commerce

Public market

Trade and commerce in Paombong is concentrated at the town center where the public market, municipal hall, church, schools, hospital, clinics, and commercial spaces are situated. The town has various resorts, services, centers, ponds and industries, like salt making and fishing.

The San Jose Fishport in Sitio Wawa is the center of fish trades. Fish ends at the market. Ponds are also sources of fishes.

Attractions

• St. James the Apostle Parish Church: The town's treasure is the 1639 Heritage Church which survived many fires, calamities and disasters.
• Ciudad Clementino, the prime resort of the small town was the venue of Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako soap opera.^[12]
• Kapitangan Good Friday Crucifixion: International media focuses every Good Friday on the Crucifixion at Barangay Kapitangan. It is known as a pilgrimage area, spiritual healers' haven and venue of a reenactment of the Passion of Christ is held by local devotees and penitents.

• 

  St. James the Apostle Parish Church

• 

  Ciudad Clementino, main pool

• 

  Chapel

Transportation

• First North Luzon Transit (from Hagonoy terminal going to Cubao Divisoria and Pasay)
• Baliwag Transit (from Hagonoy terminal going to Cubao, Divisoria and Pasay)
• Jeepneys (going to Malolos Bayan, Malolos Crossing, Bocaue, Balagtas and Meycauayan)
• Tricycles (most common mean of transportation locally)
• Pedicab (a bicycle with a sidecar)
• Bangkas or motor boats (most common mean of transportation in Sta. Cruz, Binakod, Lantad and Masukol)
• Fx

Health and Nutrition

San Pascual Baylon Hospital

There is one hospital operating in Paombong and a main rural health care center unit. The San Pascual Baylon Maternity Hospital, situated at Barangay Sto. Niño that offers secondary healthcare services. And the main rural health care center is one of the district rural health center owned and controlled by the Provincial Government of Bulacan. It offers primary healthcare services which also includes laboratory and dental and maternity services.

Education

Private schools

• Binuya's Kiddie School
• St. Martin de Porres Catholic School
• Paombong High School
• Holy Rosary School of Paombong
• St. Dominic School in Hangga San Isidro II

Public schools

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paombong.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information

		Calumpit
	Hagonoy		Malolos
	Paombong
		Manila Bay

v t e Province of Bulacan Municipalities Angat Balagtas Baliuag Bocaue Bulacan Bustos Calumpit Doña Remedios Trinidad Guiguinto Hagonoy Marilao Norzagaray Obando Pandi Paombong Plaridel Pulilan San Ildefonso San Miguel San Rafael Santa Maria Component cities Malolos Meycauayan San Jose del Monte