Bamban, Tarlac

Bamban
Municipality

Seal

Map of Tarlac showing the location of Bamban
Bamban

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 15°17′N 120°34′E / 15.283°N 120.567°E / 15.283; 120.567Coordinates: 15°17′N 120°34′E / 15.283°N 120.567°E / 15.283; 120.567
Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Province Tarlac
District 3rd District
Founded 1710
Barangays 15
Government[1]
 • Mayor Jose Antonio Tiglao Feliciano
Area[2]
 • Total 251.98 km2 (97.29 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 62,413
 • Density 250/km2 (640/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2317
Dialing code 45
Income class 2nd class

Bamban is a second class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines.[2] According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 62,413 people.[3]

The municipality of Bamban is the southernmost gateway of the melting pot province of Tarlac in the Central Plain of Luzon in the Philippines.

Being the southernmost town in the province, it has a common boundary with Mabalacat, Pampanga, and in the west, with Zambales. The boundary is defined by the Parua River, which is a source of irrigation water, food, and sand and gravel for infrastructure projects. The mountainous region situated in the western part comprises almost two-thirds of the total land area, which used to be within the US Military Reservations. Nestled in this part are the BLISS projects and to the north, the MAR settlement project, which when completely developed will be a source of livelihood and food supplies for Central Luzon.

Barangays

Bamban is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.[2]

History

Long before settlers came, the place which was to become the town of Bamban, was a vast track of wild land extending eastward; and on the west side, composed of foothills and mountains lush with vegetation and tall trees extending deep into the Zambales ranges. The thick forest and mountains were then inhabited by the Aetas (locally known as Baluga), and the Zambal, both of whom subsisted only on fishing and native or wild animals which abounded in the place. Occasionally, daring traders from Pampanga and the Tagalog province, mostly enterprising Chinese, braved the wilderness to go northward to Capas and Tarlac.

Before the advent of the Spanish era, small settlers came, attracted by the fertile land and the glittering silver of the river that cut through the mountain to spill down the flat land, making it fertile. The settlers started small clearings in the thick growth of bamban plants which covered vast portions of the land bordering the river a small distance from the foothills.(because of these plants, the place was eventually named Bamban).

Settlers upon settlers came to carve clearings in the land, and soon a small community was formed. About 1700, Agustinian Recollects came and established the Mission de Pueblos de Bamban. But the pueblo was then a part of Pampanga. In 1837, a new boundary line was established, thereby permanently making Bamban part of the province of Tarlac.

Official recognition as a town was sanctioned by the gobernadorcillo in the town of Tarlac. Don Martín Sibal was subsequently appointed head and commissioned with the rank of "Capitán". Among the first settlers were the Sibal, Lugtu, Dayrit, Macale, Vergara, Manipon, and de la Cruz clans.

Children on roof of a school in Bamban, that was buried by lahars during the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

During the revolution of 1896, Bamban was one of the first towns to take up arms against the Spaniards. Northwest of the town situated among the hills are remnants of strongholds built by brave bands of Bambanenses who joined Gen. Servilliano Aquino in the uprising in Tarlac. Up to this time, a portion of the foothills in the area is called "Batiawan" or look-out point. Many a brave son died in this movement for liberation.

When the Americans came in 1900, the small pueblo gradually grew into a teeming town. The Bamban Sugar Central was established and further gave impetus to its growth. Don Pablo Lagman was the first to be appointed presidente and Don Laureano Campo as vice-presidente under the American military government. Other prominent families then took over the helm of government. During the Commonwealth era, the Sibals, the Lumboys, the Santoses, the Punsalangs, to mention a few, enjoyed political power until the outbreak of World War II.

Bamban was like the legendary phoenix, which locals felt must be resurrected from its ashes. The whole población was devastated and burned during the liberation. Undaunted, the people returned from hiding and began rebuilding even while the campaign was raging deep in the mountains. Growth was fast because of proximity of Clark Air Base. But Bamban can not be the same again. The aftermath of the war was felt for a long time. Consequently, prominent families left the town for the city to establish big business and names for themselves.

The 1991 Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption and the subsequent flow of lava and mud to the lowlands of Bamban forced residents to move out or to stay at the Dapdap Resettlement Area, which is on higher grounds.

Demographics

Population census of Bamban
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 35,639—    
1995 37,115+0.76%
2000 46,360+4.88%
2007 61,644+4.01%
2010 62,413+0.45%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][4]
Santo Niño Parish Church

Attractions and points of interest

See also

Images

References

  1. ↑ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Province: Tarlac". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "Province of Tarlac". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 11 September 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bamban, Tarlac.
 Capas
Botolan, Zambales Concepcion
   Bamban  
Porac, Pampanga Mabalacat, Pampanga
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