Pampanga

This article is about the Philippine province. For other uses, see Pampanga (disambiguation).
Pampanga
Province
Province of Pampanga

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): Culinary Capital of the Philippines

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°04′N 120°40′E / 15.07°N 120.67°E / 15.07; 120.67Coordinates: 15°04′N 120°40′E / 15.07°N 120.67°E / 15.07; 120.67
Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Founded December 11, 1571
Capital San Fernando
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Lilia G. Pineda (NUP/KAMBILAN)
 • Vice Governor Dennis "Delta" G. Pineda (NPC/KAMBILAN)
Area[1]
 • Total 2,002.20 km2 (773.05 sq mi)
Area rank 59th out of 80
  (excluding Angeles City)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 2,014,019
 • Rank 9th out of 80
 • Density 1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
 • Density rank 5th out of 80
  (excluding Angeles City)
Divisions
 • Independent cities
 • Component cities
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays
 • Districts 4
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups
 • Languages
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2000–2024
IDD : area code  +63 (0)45
ISO 3166 code PH-PAM
Website www.pampanga.gov.ph

Pampanga or Pampaŋga (PSGC: 035400000; ISO: PH-PAM; ) is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, 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. Its capital is the City of San Fernando; Angeles City, while geographically within Pampanga, is classified as a first-class, highly urbanized city and is governed independently of the province.

The name La Pampanga was given by the Spaniards, who encountered natives living along the banks (pampáng) of the Pampanga River. Its creation in 1571 makes it the first Spanish province on Luzon Island (Cebu is older as it was founded by the Spaniards in 1565). The town of Bacolor in the province briefly served as the Spanish colonial capital when Great Britain invaded Manila as part of the Seven Years' War. At the eve of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Pampanga was one of eight provinces placed under martial law for rebellion against the Spanish Empire; it is thus represented on the Philippine national flag as one of the eight rays of the sun.

Pampanga is served by Clark International Airport, which is in Clark Freeport Zone, some 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of the provincial capital. The province is home to two Philippine Air Force air bases, Basa Air Base in Floridabalanca, and the former United States Clark Air Base in Angeles City.

History

Ancient Pampanga's territorial area included portions of the modern provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zambales. Pampanga was re-organized as a province by the Spaniards on December 11, 1571. For better administration and taxation purposes, the Spanish authorities subdivided Pampanga into 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 encomenderos, King Philip II of Spain in 1574 prohibited the further awarding of private estates, but this decree was not fully enforced until 1620. In a report of Philippine encomiendas on June 20, 1591, Governor-General Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas reported to the Crown that La Pampanga's encomiendas were Bataan, Betis y Lubao, Macabebe, Candaba, 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 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 who served the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, known as Papangers[3] part of the larger Mardijkers community. Their legacy can be found in North Jakarta,[4] however, there are few traces of their descendants, except for a small community in Kampung Tugu.

Pampanga, 1899

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 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 fought side by side in the province of Pampanga, attacking and retreating the Japanese Imperial forces for over three years of fighting and invasion.

The establishment of the military general headquarters and military camp bases of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was active from 1935 to 1946. The Philippine Constabulary was active from 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, the local guerrilla resistance fighters and Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas, helped the U.S. military forces fight the Imperial Japanese armed forces.

In the 1945 liberation of Pampanga, Kapampangan guerrilla fighters and the Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas supported combat forces from Filipino and American ground troops in attacking Japanese Imperial forces during the Battle of Pampanga until the end of the Second World War. Local military operations 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 recaptured and liberated the province of Pampanga and fought against the Japanese Imperial forces during the Battle of Pampanga.

After the Second World War, operations in the main province of Pampanga was downfall insurgencies and conflicts between the Philippine Government forces and the Hukbalahap Communist rebels on 1946 to 1954 during the Hukbalahap Rebellion.

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

Geography

Physical

The province has a total land mass of 206,247 hectares (509,650 acres).[1] 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 314 square kilometres (121 sq mi); Candaba comes in second with 176 square kilometres (68 sq mi); followed by Floridablanca with 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi). Santo Tomas, with an area of 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), is the smallest.[5]

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.

Climate data for Pampanga
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.5
(86.9)		 31.5
(88.7)		 33.1
(91.6)		 34.5
(94.1)		 34.0
(93.2)		 32.6
(90.7)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.2
(88.2)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.6
(88.9)		 31.4
(88.5)		 30.5
(86.9)		 32.03
(89.65)
Average low °C (°F) 21.6
(70.9)		 21.8
(71.2)		 22.9
(73.2)		 24.1
(75.4)		 25.0
(77)		 25.0
(77)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.8
(76.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.5
(74.3)		 22.3
(72.1)		 23.66
(74.58)
Average rainy days 5 3 4 5 13 20 22 22 22 17 15 8 156
Source: Storm247 [6]
Political divisions

Administrative divisions

Pampanga comprises 19 municipalities and three cities (one highly urbanized and two component).

  •  †  Provincial capital and component city
  •  ∗  Component city
  •      Municipality
  •  ‡  Highly urbanized city (geographically within but independent from the province)

City or municipality[A] District[5] Population (2010)[5][7] Area[5] Density Brgy. Coordinates[B]
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Angeles ‡ 1st — 326,336 60.27 23.27 5,400 14,000 33 15°08′24″N 120°35′16″E / 15.1399°N 120.5879°E / 15.1399; 120.5879 (Angeles)
Apalit 4th 5.0% 101,537 61.47 23.73 1,700 4,400 12 14°57′01″N 120°45′36″E / 14.9502°N 120.7599°E / 14.9502; 120.7599 (Apalit)
Arayat 3rd 6.0% 121,348 134.48 51.92 900 2,300 30 15°09′00″N 120°46′03″E / 15.1501°N 120.7675°E / 15.1501; 120.7675 (Arayat)
Bacolor 3rd 1.6% 31,508 71.70 27.68 440 1,100 21 14°59′47″N 120°39′05″E / 14.9965°N 120.6513°E / 14.9965; 120.6513 (Bacolor)
Candaba 4th 5.1% 102,399 176.40 68.11 580 1,500 33 15°05′33″N 120°49′39″E / 15.0925°N 120.8276°E / 15.0925; 120.8276 (Candaba)
Floridablanca 2nd 5.5% 110,846 175.48 67.75 630 1,600 33 14°58′33″N 120°31′43″E / 14.9759°N 120.5287°E / 14.9759; 120.5287 (Floridablanca)
Guagua 2nd 5.5% 111,199 48.67 18.79 2,300 6,000 31 14°57′55″N 120°38′01″E / 14.9654°N 120.6336°E / 14.9654; 120.6336 (Guagua)
Lubao 2nd 7.5% 150,843 155.77 60.14 970 2,500 44 14°56′16″N 120°36′01″E / 14.9378°N 120.6004°E / 14.9378; 120.6004 (Lubao)
Mabalacat ∗ 1st 10.7% 215,610 83.18 32.12 2,600 6,700 27 15°13′22″N 120°34′24″E / 15.2228°N 120.5733°E / 15.2228; 120.5733 (Mabalacat)
Macabebe 4th 3.5% 70,777 105.16 40.60 670 1,700 25 14°54′30″N 120°42′53″E / 14.9084°N 120.7147°E / 14.9084; 120.7147 (Macabebe)
Magalang 1st 5.1% 103,597 97.32 37.58 1,100 2,800 27 15°12′53″N 120°39′42″E / 15.2147°N 120.6618°E / 15.2147; 120.6618 (Magalang)
Masantol 4th 2.6% 52,407 48.25 18.63 1,100 2,800 26 14°53′04″N 120°42′35″E / 14.8845°N 120.7098°E / 14.8845; 120.7098 (Masantol)
Mexico 3rd 7.3% 146,851 117.41 45.33 1,300 3,400 43 15°03′53″N 120°43′12″E / 15.0648°N 120.7200°E / 15.0648; 120.7200 (Mexico)
Minalin 4th 2.2% 44,001 48.27 18.64 910 2,400 15 14°58′04″N 120°41′09″E / 14.9677°N 120.6859°E / 14.9677; 120.6859 (Minalin)
Porac 2nd 5.5% 111,441 314.00 121.24 350 910 29 15°04′20″N 120°32′28″E / 15.0723°N 120.5411°E / 15.0723; 120.5411 (Porac)
San Fernando † 3rd 14.2% 285,912 67.74 26.15 4,200 11,000 35 15°01′45″N 120°41′34″E / 15.0292°N 120.6928°E / 15.0292; 120.6928 (San Fernando, Pampanga)
San Luis 4th 2.4% 49,311 56.83 21.94 870 2,300 17 15°02′21″N 120°47′27″E / 15.0393°N 120.7908°E / 15.0393; 120.7908 (San Luis)
San Simon 4th 2.4% 48,353 57.37 22.15 840 2,200 14 14°59′42″N 120°46′45″E / 14.9950°N 120.7793°E / 14.9950; 120.7793 (San Simon)
Santa Ana 3rd 2.6% 52,001 39.84 15.38 1,300 3,400 14 15°05′41″N 120°45′57″E / 15.0946°N 120.7659°E / 15.0946; 120.7659 (Santa Ana)
Santa Rita 2nd 1.9% 38,762 29.76 11.49 1,300 3,400 10 14°59′56″N 120°37′05″E / 14.9990°N 120.6180°E / 14.9990; 120.6180 (Santa Rita)
Santo Tomas 4th 1.9% 38,062 21.30 8.22 1,800 4,700 7 14°59′38″N 120°42′16″E / 14.9939°N 120.7045°E / 14.9939; 120.7045 (Santo Tomas)
Sasmuan (Sexmoan) 2nd 1.4% 27,254 91.80 35.44 300 780 12 14°56′10″N 120°37′21″E / 14.9362°N 120.6226°E / 14.9362; 120.6226 (Sasmuan)
Total[C] 2,014,019 2,002.20 773.05 1,000 2,600 505 (see GeoGroup box)
  1. ^ Former names are italicized.
  2. ^ Coordinates mark the city/town center, and are sortable by latitude.
  3. ^ Total figures exclude the highly urbanized city of Angeles.

Demographics

Based on the 2010 census, the population of the province excluding the independent Angeles City is 2,014,019 or 2,340,355 including Angeles City.[2]

The inhabitants of Pampanga are generally referred to as Kapampangans (alternatively spelled Capampañgan), Pampangos, or Pampangueños.

Kapampangan is one of the eight provinces in the country to have revolted against Spain. The population has 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.
Population census of Pampanga
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 1,295,929—    
1995 1,401,756+1.48%
2000 1,618,759+3.13%
2007 1,911,951+2.32%
2010 2,014,019+1.91%
(excluding Angeles City)
Source: National Statistics Office[2]
Population census of Pampanga
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 1,882,730—    
2007 2,226,444+2.34%
2010 2,340,355+1.83%
(including Angeles City)

Religion

Our Lady of Grace Parish in Mabalacat

The province of Pampanga is composed of many religious groups, but it is predominantly Roman Catholic, followed by the Members Church of God International, colloquially called Ang Dating Daan headed by Eliseo Soriano, with its headquarters in Apalit, Pampanga.

Other prominent religious groups include Aglipayan Church, Iglesia ni Cristo, United Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus, Jesus is Lord Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Evangelicals, Islam, Aglipayan, Jesus Miracle Crusade and many others.

Economy

Farming and fishing are the two main industries. Major products include rice, corn, sugar cane, and tilapia. In addition to farming and fishing, the province supports thriving cottage industries that specialize in wood carving, furniture-making, guitars, and handicrafts. Every Christmas season, the province of Pampanga becomes the center of a thriving industry centered on handcrafted lighted lanterns called parols that display a kaleidoscope of light and color. Other industries include its casket industry and the manufacturing of all-purpose vehicles in the municipality of Santo Tomas.

The province is famous for its sophisticated culinary work. Kapampangans are well known for their culinary creations. Famous food products range from the ordinary to the exotic. Roel's Meat Products, 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 longanizas (Philippine-style sausages and cured meats).

Specialty foods such as the siopao, pandesal, tutong, lechon (roasted pig) and its sarsa (sauce) are popular specialty foods in the region. The more exotic betute tugak (stuffed frog), kamaru (mole crickets) cooked 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, Panecillos de San Nicolas, which is known as the mother of all Philippine cookies, is made here, famously made by Lillian Borromeo.[8]

Tourism is a growing industry in the province of Pampanga. Clark Freeport is home to Clark International Airport, designated as the Philippines' future premier gateway. Other developing industries include semiconductor manufacturing for electronics and computers mostly located within the freeport.

Within the Clark Special Economic Zone are well-established hotels and resorts. Popular tourist destinations 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 hot air balloon festival in Clarkfield in 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.

Infrastructure

Telecommunication

Telephone services 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.[9]

Several Internet service providers are available. 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. Their hubs are in the Clark Freeport Zone. They are complemented by four local couriers operating as the communication and baggage of the province. There are three postal district offices and 35 post office stations distributed in the 20 municipalities and two cities of the province.[10]

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).[9]

Transportation

The province of Pampanga is strategically located at the crossroads of central Luzon and is highly accessible by air and land. The province is home to two airstrips: Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, which is used by the military, and Clark International Airport in Clark Freeport Zone. Pampanga has five municipal ports that function as fish landing centers. These are in the municipalities of Guagua, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sasmuan.[9]

Land travel is made easy by buses that travel the routes of Manila-Pampanga-Bataan, Manila-Pampanga-Zambales, Manila-Pampanga-Tarlac, Manila-Pampanga-Nueva Ecija, Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga, and Manila-Pampanga-Dagupan.

The 84 kilometres (52 mi) North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) extends from Balintawak in Metro Manila to Sta. Ines in Pampanga. It passes through the large cities of San Fernando, Angeles and ends through Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, which is Clark Field, and municipalities of Minalin and San Simon

The 94 kilometres (58 mi) four-lane Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) to date, is the longest toll expressway in the Philippines. Its southern terminus is in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales and passes through the Clark Freeport Zone in two interchanges: Clark North and Clark South. The expressway is linked to the North Luzon Expressway through the Mabalacat Interchange. Its northern terminus is located at the Central Techno Park in Tarlac City, Tarlac.

Education

International schools

  • American International Learning Academy
  • Brightwoods School
  • Clark Education City (Clark)
  • Diamond Montessori School Incorporated
  • Global Standard English Language School
  • Ivoline Clark
  • L'Altra Montessori
  • Living Stone International School (Angeles City)
  • Mount Zion Sanctuary International School Foundation, Inc. (Angeles City)
  • Noblesse International School (Angeles City)
  • Pax et Lumen International Academy (Angeles City)
  • Royal International School (Angeles City)
  • Saint Paul American School (Clark)
  • Springhill Montessori School
  • Saint John Integrated School (Angeles City)
  • Stedar International Montessori
  • Walen International School
  • Westfields International School (Angeles City)

Colleges and universities

Tourist attractions

Festivals

  • Every week of January "Sunday" — Ding labas larawan king Masantol (Masantol)
  • April 10–13 — Lubao International Balloon Festival (Lubao)
  • Every Last Saturday and Sunday of April — "PISTA ning INDU" - Festivity of Nuestra Señora dela Paz, REINA DE BATALYA / Apung Maria ning Macabebe - Ing Indung Lugud ning Balen (Macabebe)
  • September 24 — feast day of Nuestra Señora De La Merced Mercedarian Festival Apung Dela Merced (Candaba)
  • May 1 — Pinukpukan Festival (Floridablanca), Libad king San Pedro (San Simon, Pampanga)
  • May 8 — Batalya ng San Miguel karing Morus Masantol "Batalla Festival" (Batalya) (Masantol)
  • April every 3rd or 4th Sunday — Tabang Talangka Festival, San Roque de Montpelier (Masantol)
  • August 15, 16, 17 — Batala Festival (Batalya) Batalya ng San Roque de Montpelier (Masantol)
  • May 13 — Batalya ng San Nicolas (Masantol)
  • December 13 Batalaya ng Apu Lucia (Masantol)
  • January 1 — Aguman Sanduk (Minalin)
  • January 6–10 — Kuraldal (Sasmuan)
  • February — Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta (Clark Field, Angeles City)
  • February 28–29 — Caragan Festival (Mabalacat)
  • March/April (Good Friday) — San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites (Mal a Aldo) (City of San Fernando)
  • May 5 — Sampaguita Festival of Lubao
  • May — Sabat/Santacruzan
  • May (first week) — El Circulo Fernandino
  • June 15 — Mt. Pinatubo Day (Aldo ning Bunduc Pinatubo)
  • June 28–30 — Apung Iru Fluvial Procession (Apalit)
  • August 27 — Apung Monica Fluvial Procession (Minalin)
  • September 10 — Sanikulas Festival (Mexico)
  • September 28 — San Lorenzo Ruiz Feast (Mabalacat City)
  • October — Pyestang Tugak (Frog Festival) (City of San Fernando)
  • October — Fiestang Kuliat-Twin Fiesta (La Naval de Angeles and Apung Mamacalulu) (Angeles City)
  • Last Friday and Saturday of October — Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan (Angeles City)
  • November — Makatapak Festival (Bacolor)
  • November (Last week of November) — Duman Festival (Santa Rita)
  • December — Sisig Festival (Sadsaran Qng Angeles) (Angeles City)
  • December 1–7 — Sinukwan Festival (City of San Fernando)
  • December 11 — Aldo Ning Kapampangan (Pampanga Day)
  • December — "Dukit Festival" (Betis)
  • July and December — "Serenata" (Betis)
  • December - La Purisima Concepcion Festival (Minalin)
  • December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) — Ligligan Parul (Giant Lantern Festival) (City of San Fernando)
  • December 16–24 — Lubenas (various towns in Northern Pampanga)
  • El Circulos de Masantoleños
  • Maharajah Macabebean

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"
  • Betis — July and December "Santiago Apostol"
  • 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 honoring a particular patron saint.

Roman Catholic churches and other shrines

Historical landmarks

Angeles City historical sites
  • Fort Stotsenburg
  • Old Pamintuan Residence
  • Don Juan Nepomuceno Residence
  • Holy Family Academy Building
  • Camalig
  • Bale Herencia
  • Angeles Post Office Building (now houses the Angeles Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center)
  • Lily Hill
  • Bale Matua
  • Bayanihan Park (formerly Astro Park)
  • Salakot Arch
  • Museo Ning Angeles
  • Old PNR Railway (now renovated to a park)
City of San Fernando Heritage District
Bacolor historical sites
  • San Guillermo Parish Church (the Sunken Church)
  • The Sunken Shrine (Cabetican)
  • Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University
  • Monument to Simon de Anda y Salazar
  • Monument to Juan Crisostomo Soto
  • Monument to Felix Galura Y. Napao
  • 100th kilometre Bataan Death March Marker
  • Museo de Bacolor or Recuerdos Sagrados de Bacolor (Sacred Memorabilia of Bacolor)
Mabalacat historical site
  • Kamikaze Shrine
Lubao historical site
  • San Agustin Parish Church, Lubao Old Church
  • Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Residence/Library and Museum
Arayat historical sites
  • Saint Catherine Alexandria Parish Church
  • Mount Arayat
  • Cong. Dadong Dam

Natural parks

  • Mount Arayat National Park (Arayat)
  • Scenic Candaba Swamps and Wild Duck & Birds Sanctuary (Candaba)
  • Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake (Pampanga/Tarlac/Zambales)
  • Dara Falls (Porac) — Pampanga's version of the Pagsanjan Falls of Laguna
  • Miyamit Falls & Porac Peak (Porac)
  • Hot Spring of Sitio Puning (Porac via Sapang Bato, Angeles City)
  • Maruring Falls (Mabalacat)
  • Lahar Canyon (Porac & Bacolor)
  • Muñoz Park (Minalin)
Pinatubo Crater Lake

Government and politics

Like other Provinces in the Philippines, Pampanga is governed by a Governor and Vice Governor who are elected to three-year terms. The Governor is the executive head and leads the Province's departments in executing the ordinances and improving public services. The Vice Governor heads a legislative council (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) consisting of Board Members from the Districts.

Provincial government

Pampanga Provincial Capitol

Just as the national government, the provincial 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 Governor for the province, mayors for the cities and municipalities, and the barangay captains for the barangays.Local Government Code of the Philippines, Book III, Department of Interior and Local Government official website. The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces, Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities, Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of Government is vested upon the Governor and other elected officers who hold office at the Provincial Capitol building. The Sanguniang Panlalawigan is the center of legislation.

Court system

The Supreme Court of the Philippines recognizes Pampanga regional trial courts and metropolitan or municipal trial courts within the province and towns, that have an over-all jurisdiction in the populace of the province and towns, respectively.[13]

Façade of Halls of Justice (view from the rear of the Capitolio)

Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, created Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal Trial and Circuit Courts. The Third Judicial Region includes RTCs in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Palayan and San Jose, inter alia: xxx. There shall be - (c) Seventy-five Regional Trial judges shall be commissioned for the Third Judicial Region: Twenty-two branches (Branches XLI to LXII) for the province of Pampanga and the city of Angeles, Branches XLI to XLVIII with seats at San Fernando, Branches XLIX to LIII at Guagua, Branches LIV and LV at Macabebe, and Branches LVI to LXII at Angeles City;

The law also created Metropolitan Trial Court in each metropolitan area established by law, a Municipal Trial Court in each of the other cities or municipalities, and a Municipal Circuit Trial Court in each circuit comprising such cities and/or municipalities as are grouped together pursuant to law: three branches for Cabanatuan City; in every city which does not form part of a metropolitan area, there shall be a Municipal Trial Court with one branch, except as hereunder provided: Three branches for Angeles City;

In each of the municipalities that are not comprised within a metropolitan area and a municipal circuit there shall be a Municipal Trial Court which shall have one branch, except as hereunder provided: Four branches for San Fernando and two branches for Guagua, both of Pampanga.[14]

Governors

Main article: Governor of Pampanga

Notable people from Pampanga

Politics
  • Pedro Tongio Liongson — lawyer, born on January 31, 1865 in Bacolor, Pampanga, he served as Bacolor's Justice of the Peace and interim judge of Pampanga's Court of First Instance (1892-1898), member of the Malolos Congress (1898-1899), Judge Advocate General of the Army of the First Philippine Republic (1899-1900) and Bacolor's Municipal Councilor 1901.
  • José Abad Santos — born in San Fernando, Pampanga, the 5th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed acting president by President Quezon with full authority to act on behalf of the President of the Philippines in areas unoccupied by the Japanese. He was killed by Japanese forces during the occupation of the Philippines in World War II.
  • Pedro Abad Santos — founder of the Socialist Party. Ideological mentor of Luis Taruc.
  • Diosdado Pangan Macapagal — 9th president of the Republic of the Philippines and a native of Lubao, Pampanga.
  • Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — 14th president of the Republic of the Philippines. She is the daughter of the 9th President of the Republic Diosdado Macapagal. She was the country's second female president after Corazon Aquino. She was the country's first female vice president during the tenure of the deposed former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada. She currently serves as the representative of the 2nd District.
  • Joe Lingad — a one-term governor and congressman. Served as Secretary of Labor during Macapagal administration. Identified with the political opposition during the Marcos regime, he was assassinated in 1980 while campaigning for election as Pampanga governor.
  • Eddie Panlilio — born in Minalin, Pampanga, was the first Filipino priest to be elected governor in Philippine history.
  • Reynato Puno
Businessmen
Artists and entertainers
  • Francisco Alonso Liongson — playwright. Born on July 1, 1896 in Bacolor, Pampanga. Considered one of the Philippines outstanding Spanish playwright and was the founding president of Circulo Escenico, the Philippines premier Spanish dramatics club (1922-1980).
  • Helen Gamboa — singer/actress, wife of Sen. Vicente Sotto III
  • Rogelio dela Rosa — a native of Lubao, Pampanga. one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century and was elected to the Senate in 1957—the first film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a political career, paving the way for other Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians. He had an equally famous brother, Jaime dela Rosa, also a matinee idol in the 1950s.
  • Rosa Rosal — born Florence Lansang Danon in Manila. Her mother hailed from Santa Rita, Pampanga, while her father was of French and Egyptian descent.[15]
  • apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) — founding member of the Grammy-award winning group, The Black Eyed Peas, born in Sapang Bato, Angeles City. Known for his patriotic song called "The Apl Song" found on the Peas' 2003 album Elephunk.
  • Melanie Marquez — beauty queen turned actress from Mabalacat. Miss International 1979 and was voted as the Most Beautiful Miss International in 2000. Sister of another local actor, Joey Marquez.
  • Vanessa Minnillo — American television personality born in Clark Air Base, Angeles City and raised in the US. She was Miss Teen USA 1998 and is currently a host on MTV's Total Request Live.
  • Donita Rose — born in the US, she moved to Angeles City, where her father was designated at the US Clark Air Base, when she was five years old. She went on to become a famous local actress and MTV VJ in Asia.
  • Lea Salonga — Tony Award-winning singer and actress who is best known for her portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. She spent the first six years of her childhood in Angeles City before moving to Manila.
  • Aurelio Tolentino — original member of the Katipunan and nationalist playwright. He was born in Guagua. He was one of the so-called seditious playwrights whose works became the foundation for the nation's political theater. His most famous work is "Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas" written in 1903. The Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, commonly known as the Little Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines is named after him.
  • Brillante Mendoza — Filipino film director who won Best Director for his film Kinatay at the recently concluded 62nd Cannes Film Festival in France.
  • Yves Flores — model and actor who was a "Housemate" in Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Teen Edition 4, and most recently appeared in the hit primetime TV series "Got to Believe." He was born in Pampanga and his family later moved to Tarlac.
Religious leaders
Others
Sports
  • Victonara Galang — Filipino volleyball athlete. She is currently an Open Hitter and the team captain of the De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
  • Ato Agustin — from Lubao, Pampanga. Better known as Ato "The Atom Bomb" Agustin, is a former Filipino professional basketball player. He played college ball for the Lyceum of the Philippines, before moving on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. PBA one-time MVP, multiple championship as a player and solitary title as coach. One of the fastest coach to win a title. One-time MBA Champion and Best Guard (1998 maiden season).
  • Chris Tiu — team captain of Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball Championship. Currently host of Pinoy Records. He has a Chinese-Kapampangan ancestry.
  • Efren "Bata" Reyes — referred to as "The Magician" a Filipino billiards player who hails from Angeles City. He is considered to be one of history's greatest practitioners of billiards.
Others

Other notable local personalities known to be Kapampangan or at least to have Kapampangan parents are Sharon Cuneta, Helen Gamboa, Dolphy, Fernando Poe, Jr.,[18] Vilma Santos, Kris Aquino, Dong Puno, Jay Sonza, Lorna Tolentino, Robin Padilla, Randy David, Kara David, Joe Taruc, Judy Ann Santos, Nanette Medved, Sarah Geronimo, Glydel Mercado, Abbygale Arenas, Liza Lorena, Tonton Gutierrez, Yeng Guiao, Rudy Fernandez, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Rosal Rosal, Arwind Santos, JC Intal, Dennis Espino, Mark Macapagal, Jojo Duncil, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, Jordan Clarkson, Justin Melton, Jean Garcia, Miriam Quiambao, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Lito Lapid and Manny Villar, Jacklyn Jose, Marvin Agustin

References

  1. 1 2 "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  3. ↑ East of Bali: from Lombok to Timor - Colonial Kupang
  4. ↑ Citerep Palace Opera (Indonesian)
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Province: Pampanga". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Weather forecast for Pampanga, Philippines". Storm247.com. StormGeo AS, Nordre Nøstekaien 1, N-5011 Bergen, Norway: StormGeo AS. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010 (Central Luzon)" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  8. ↑ http://www.clarkisit.com/pampanga-culinary-tour-kusina-ni-atching-lillian-2/
  9. 1 2 3 Province of Pampanga, A Profile of Region III September, 2001.
  10. ↑ Official website of the Province of Pampanga
  11. ↑ http://www.clcst.edu.ph
  12. ↑ http://www.pac.edu.ph/
  13. ↑ http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8369.htm
  14. ↑ http://www.chanrobles.com/bataspambansabilang129.html
  15. ↑ "The 1999 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service: Biography of Rosa Rosal". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  16. ↑ Hoy! Pinoy Ako!
  17. ↑ wcbstv.com - Kristine Johnson
  18. ↑ Ivan About Town: Ninoy and FPJ death masks on display in Pampanga

External links

 Tarlac Nueva Ecija
Zambales Bulacan
   Pampanga  
Bataan Manila Bay
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