Masantol, Pampanga

Masantol
Municipality
Motto: Kayabe Kabang Bie

Map of Pampanga showing the location of Masantol
Masantol

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°54′N 120°43′E / 14.900°N 120.717°E / 14.900; 120.717Coordinates: 14°54′N 120°43′E / 14.900°N 120.717°E / 14.900; 120.717
Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Province Pampanga
District 4th District
Founded 1907
Barangays 26
Government[1]
  Mayor Danilo Sonza Guintu
  Vice Mayor Alvin Ignacio
Area[2]
  Total 48.25 km2 (18.63 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
  Total 52,407
  Density 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2017
Dialing code 45
Income class 2nd class
Website masantolpampanga.gov.ph

Masantol is a second class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,407 people.[3] The town is named after the santol trees that used to grow abundantly in the area.[4]

Etymology

The town got its name from the fruit tree, either because there was a proliferation of santol trees in the area, or because the town was where santol fruits were heavily bartered (Kapampangans being fond of 'sinigang' dish).

A legend of how the town got its name goes like this: 'A Spanish missionary came to the town for the first time. Upon reaching a roadside corner store, he parked his horse-driven vehicle and inquired from the store keeper the name of the place. A middle-aged woman vendor, believing that the Spanish priest was asking for the name of the fruits she was selling, readily responded in broken Spanish language, Padre, todos dulce Masantol. The priest took from his pocket a pencil and a small diary and wrote down the word mas santol, referring to the name of the place he has visited. At the time, the locality abounded with santol trees, and santol fruits were in season when the priest visited the place.'

History

Tarik Sulayman was an indigenous leader from the Masantol area who refused to ally with the Spaniards and therefore mounted an attack against the Spanish forces of Miguel López de Legazpi during the Battle of Bankusay Channel on June 3, 1571. The Macabebe forces were defeated, and Tarik Sulayman himself was killed. Consequently, this victory enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city and its neighboring towns.

Originally named San Miguel de Masantol and a part of the town of Macabebe, three of the town's leading patriarchs - Manuel Fajardo, Gregorio Bautista, and Juan Lacap - filed a motion on June 26, 1877, to separate the barrios of Bebe, Bulacus, Caingin and Nigui from Macabebe thereby creating a new Spanish pueblo called San Miguel. This new pueblo was approved by Spanish Governor General Domingo Moriones y Murillo and was inaugurated on May 1, 1878. On November 30, 1893, the Catholic Parish of San Miguel was formally acknowledged through a Royal Decree.[5] For a while it came to be known San Miguel Masantol, until popular usage reverted it to the original name.

On July 26, 1904, Masantol once more became part of Macabebe. However, in 1907, Masantol was again reinstated as a separate independent municipality and this lasted up to the present.[5]

Tragedy

On January 7, 2008, one person drowned, another missing and 40 others were injured due to electric shocks, when a live cable hit the floating pagoda boat in the fluvial festival of Virgen La Purisima Concepcion at Barangay Alauli.[6]

Barangays

Masantol is politically subdivided into 26 barangays and 2 independent/dependent barrios.

  • Alauli
  • Bagang
  • Balibago
  • Bebe Anac
  • Bebe Matua
  • Bulacus
  • San Agustin (Caingin)
  • Santa Monica (Caingin)
  • Cambasi
  • Malauli
  • Nigui
  • Palimpe
  • Puti
  • Sagrada (Tibagin)
  • San Isidro Anac
  • San Isidro Matua (Pob.)
  • San Nicolas (Pob.)
  • San Pedro
  • Santa Cruz
  • Santa Lucia Matua
  • Santa Lucia Paguiaba
  • Santa Lucia Wakas
  • Santa Lucia Anac (Pob.)
  • Sapang Kawayan
  • Sua
  • Santo Niño

Barrios:

Demographics

Population census of Masantol
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 41,964    
1995 45,326+1.45%
2000 48,120+1.29%
2007 50,984+0.80%
2010 52,407+1.01%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][7]

Religions

The majority of the population are members of the Catholic church and each village or barangay has its own fiesta. The main Roman Catholic parish church of the town is the San Miguel Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas, established in the late 20th-century.

Education

Masantol is home to several primary and secondary schools, among them are:

Festivals

Images

References

  1. "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. "Province: Pampanga". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 12 December 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 12 December 2012.
  4. Alejandro S. Camiling. "The Town of Masantol, Pampanga". Historical articles. andropampanga.com. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 "The Town of Masantol, Pampanga". Andropampanga. 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-05. External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. chinapost.com.tw, One drowns, 40 injured in Philippine boat mishap
  7. "Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 16 August 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masantol, Pampanga.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 16, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.