Bacolor

Bacolor
Bacolor
Municipality
	Municipality of Bacolor
	The half-buried San Guillermo Parish Church
	Flag Seal
	Etymology: Level ground
	Nickname: Athens of Pampanga
	Motto: "Non Plus Ultra" (English: "No Further Beyond")
	Map of Pampanga with Bacolor highlighted
	OpenStreetMap
	Bacolor Location within the Philippines
	Coordinates: 14°59′54″N 120°39′10″E / 14.998428°N 120.65265°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Pampanga
District	3rd district
Founded	October 8, 1762
Barangays	21 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• mayor of Bacolor[*]	Eduardo "Diman" G. Datu
• Vice Mayor	Ron Earvin E. Dungca
• Representative	Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr.
• Councilors	List
• Electorate	49,843 voters (2022)
Area
• Total	71.70 km2 (27.68 sq mi)
Elevation	11 m (36 ft)
Highest elevation	53 m (174 ft)
Lowest elevation	−3 m (−10 ft)
Population (2020 census)
• Total	48,066
• Density	670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
• Households	11,679
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	6.48% (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 240.8 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 505.4 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 155.5 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 192.6 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Pampanga 2 Electric Cooperative (PELCO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2001
PSGC	035404000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)45
Native languages	Kapampangan; Tagalog
Website	www.bacolorpampanga.gov.ph

Bacolor, officially the Municipality of Bacolor (Kapampangan: Balen ning Bakúlud; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bacolor), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,066 people.^[4]

Bacolor is the birthplace of Father Anselmo Jorge de Fajardo, considered the "Father of Kapampangan literature"^[6] for writing the 1831 Kapampangan "kumidya" Don Gonzalo de Cordova.

History

Spanish colonial era

Historical records show that Bacolor has been in existence as a proposed settlement as early as 1571, the same year Manila was founded by the Spanish. The original name of the settlement was Bakúlud, which became Hispanicized as "Bacolor" (cf. Bacolod and Bacoor). The original name is Kapampangan for "high level rocky place" or "plateau."^[7]

Bacolor officially became the capital of Pampanga in 1755. According to Spanish chronicler Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, before 1755, Mexico town “es la corte de Pampanga,” while Bacolor “es la capital” and Guagua “es igualmente.” Historian Dr. Luciano Santiago theorizes that before Bacolor was formally recognized as provincial capital, it was already informally functioning as capital although other provincial administrative offices were elsewhere in Mexico and Guagua.^[8]

Monument to Simón de Anda y Salazar in Bacolor

During the British occupation of Manila, when Manila fell to the British, it became capital of the exiled government of Governor General Simón de Anda y Salazar from October 6, 1762, to May 30, 1764. The provincial offices were temporarily moved to Factoría (now San Isidro, Nueva Ecija). Through a decree of the King of Spain on November 9, 1765, Bacolor became Villa de Bacólor, one of the only three villas in the Philippines and was granted a special coat of arms. Simón de Anda organized an army of natives for the defense of Bacolor and with the aim of recapturing Manila.^[9]

American invasion era

Bacolor remained the capital of Pampanga until the provincial seat of government was transferred to neighboring San Fernando in 1904. Moves to transfer the provincial capital to San Fernando actually began as early as 1852 with an expediente from the alcalde mayor. The King of Spain granted the request in a real cedula dated September 11, 1881.^[10] Despite royal approval, the transfer was not executed until August 15, 1904, by virtue of Act No. 1204.^[11]

The coming of the American colonizers broke up the military form of government and instead political and economic reforms were introduced. A civil form of government was organized and was inaugurated on February 13, 1901, by Com. William H. Taft which took place in the old Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Bacólor, later known as the Pampanga School of Arts and Trade and now the Don Honorio Ventura State University, the first state university in Pampanga.

The first provincial Civil Governor was Don Ceferino Joven and the first Municipal President of Bacolor was Don Estanislao Santos. Pampanga was acknowledged as the first province to have organized civil government in the Philippines by General Grant, the then President of the United States of America.

Japanese occupation era

When the Second World War broke out, Japanese fighter and bomber planes invaded the municipal town in Bacolor in December 1941 until the town was occupied by the Imperial Japanese forces in 1942. Pampangan guerrillas and Hukbalahap Communist groups joined in an insurgency centered around the municipality of Bacolor, supported by local soldiers and military officers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Their attacks against the Japanese occupation continued until 1945, when Filipino and American forces liberated the municipality of Bacolor. ^{[further explanation needed]}

Philippine independence

In 1956, the sitio of Mesalipit was converted into a barrio.^[12]

Due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 15, 1991, the municipality was hit by lahar flows from 1991 to 1995 which buried the town by 20 feet (6.1 m), killing hundreds of people and destroying livelihood. 18 out of the 21 barangays of Bacolor were buried. The lahar from Mount Pinatubo raised the town to its current level of an approximate 37 meters above sea level. Subsidence caused the constant reclaiming of parts of Pampanga by the sea.

Geography

Bacolor is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from San Fernando, 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Angeles, and 75 kilometres (47 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Bacolor is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Balas
Cabalantian
Cabambangan (Poblacion)
Cabetican
Calibutbut
Concepcion
Dolores
Duat
Macabacle
Magliman
Maliwalu
Mesalipit
Parulog
Potrero
San Antonio
San Isidro
San Vicente
Santa Barbara
Santa Ines
Talba
Tinajero

Climate

Climate data for Bacolor, Pampanga
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	30 (86)	31 (88)	33 (91)	34 (93)	33 (91)	31 (88)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	30 (86)	31 (87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	20 (68)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	8 (0.3)	9 (0.4)	15 (0.6)	34 (1.3)	138 (5.4)	203 (8.0)	242 (9.5)	233 (9.2)	201 (7.9)	126 (5.0)	50 (2.0)	21 (0.8)	1,280 (50.4)
Average rainy days	3.7	4.1	6.5	11.2	21.2	24.9	27.7	26.5	25.5	21.8	12.6	5.6	191.3
Source: Meteoblue^[13]

Demographics

Population census of Bacolor

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	13,493	—
1918	15,302	+0.84%
1939	19,129	+1.07%
1948	22,920	+2.03%
1960	29,634	+2.16%
1970	40,212	+3.10%
1975	46,044	+2.75%
1980	50,942	+2.04%

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	67,259	+2.82%
1995	13,097	−26.40%
2000	16,147	+4.59%
2007	25,238	+6.35%
2010	31,508	+8.41%
2015	39,460	+4.38%
2020	48,066	+3.96%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]

In the 2020 census, the population of Bacolor, Pampanga, was 48,066 people,^[4] with a density of 670 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,700 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Bacolor

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2006
5.50

2009
6.23

2012
4.36

2015
9.39

2018
3.63

2021
6.48

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]

Government

Local government

Like other towns in the Philippines, Bacolor is governed by a mayor and vice mayor who are elected to three-year terms. The mayor is the executive head and leads the town's departments in executing the ordinances and improving public services. The vice mayor heads a legislative council (Sangguniang Bayan) consisting of councilors from the barangays or barrios.

Town hall

The municipal building is the former site of the Venturas house, one of Bacolor's most prominent families. On July 8, 1953, the new town hall was completed during the tenure of Mayor Manuel de Jesus. Its construction was a project of Senator Pablo Ángeles y David, a native of Bacolor.^[26]

Tourism

The main landmark of the town is the San Guillermo Parish Church known as the 'sunken church', one of the structures that was half-buried by the lava flow from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The church has since been renovated and is currently operational and may be accessed through what were once the second floor windows, now converted into doorways. The sunken church and town of Bacolor served as the main production location of the 2009–2010 ABS-CBN and 2013 Jeepney TV religious-oriented television series May Bukas Pa from January 15, 2009 to February 5, 2010 (with the show's uncut airing version where a deleted scene of the finale episode was aired from March 11 to December 5, 2013). The municipality also made an appearance in various films such as the 1996 movie Istokwa, 2006 movie Summer Heat and 2008 movie Jay, and in the music video of the song Promise Me by J Brothers. The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Cabetican is also famous for its annual pilgrimage and barrio fiestas.

Other notable landmarks in Bacolor include Memorial Kilometer Posts of the Bataan Death March along the Old National Road, the oldest trade school in Far East, the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University; the Simón de Anda y Salazar monument at the town hall; monument to the Kapampangan writer and revolutionary leader Juan Crisostomo Soto (1867–1918); and Monument to Felix Galura Y Napao.^[27]

Bacolor's festivals are the Feast of San Guillermo and Nuestra Senora del Santissimo Rosario (La Naval) which are celebrated every 10th day of February and 3rd Sunday of November, respectively.

The Sunken Shrine

Buried by the devastating lahar flows of Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes of Cabetican (abbreviated as "Maluca"), now more popularly known as the Sunken Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes of Cabetican, remains at the center of the Marian Concordia Pilgrimages and Healing in Pampanga. Originally built as an annex to the older, smaller shrine, it is under the care of Fr. Ronnie Cao, Healing Priest and Rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine.

Notable personalities

Mamerto Natividad, Filipino military leader
Pablo Ángeles y David, was a Filipino magistrate and statesman. During his career, he became a judge, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, Governor of Pampanga and a member of the Senate of the Philippines.
Francisco Tongio Liongson, former Senator of the Philippines
Francisco Alonso Liongson, the son of Francisco Tongio Liongson
Pedro Tongio Liongson, Filipino lawyer and member of the Malolos Congress
Práxedes Fajardo, Filipina revolutionary
Jayson Castro, is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Zoilo Galang, Filipino writer from Pampanga
Jordan Clarkson, Filipino-American professional basketball player

References

^ Baluyut, Joelyn G. (October 10, 2012). "Bacolor celebrates 250th anniversary with unveiling of statue of Spanish official". PIA Gitnang Luzon. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
^ Municipality of Bacolor | (DILG)
^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
^ Santiago, Luciano (2002). Laying the Foundations: Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church, 1592-2001. Angeles City: The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies. ISBN 971-92417-1-3. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
^ Forman, Michael Lawrence (2019). Kapampangan Dictionary. University of Hawaii Press. p. 20. ISBN 9780824881122.
^ "Tantingco, Robby P. The Moveable Capital of Pampanga. Singsing, Vol. 4 No. 1" (PDF). Center for Kapampangan Studies.
^ Orejas, Tonette (November 18, 2016). "Pampanga town that survived Mt. Pinatubo reclaims Spanish name and seal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
^ "Henares, Ivan Anthony. 1881-1904: How San Fernando Became Capital of Pampanga. Singsing, Vol. 4 No. 1" (PDF). Center for Kapampangan Studies.
^ "Henares, Ivan Anthony. Timeline of San Fernando History. Singsing, Vol. 4 No. 1" (PDF). Center for Kapampangan Studies.
^ "An Act Creating the Barrio of Mesalipit in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga". LawPH.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
^ "Bacolor: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
^ "Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
^ "Municipal building". Baculud.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
^ "Historical sites". Baculud.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.

External links

[1] Baluyut, Joelyn G. (October 10, 2012). "Bacolor celebrates 250th anniversary with unveiling of statue of Spanish official". PIA Gitnang Luzon. Retrieved December 4, 2022.

[2] Municipality of Bacolor | (DILG)

[popcen2015_r3-3] "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.

[PSA20–03-4] Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

[5] "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.

[6] Santiago, Luciano (2002). Laying the Foundations: Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church, 1592-2001. Angeles City: The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies. ISBN 971-92417-1-3. Retrieved October 14, 2019.

[Forman-7] Forman, Michael Lawrence (2019). Kapampangan Dictionary. University of Hawaii Press. p. 20. ISBN 9780824881122.

[8] "Tantingco, Robby P. The Moveable Capital of Pampanga. Singsing, Vol. 4 No. 1" (PDF). Center for Kapampangan Studies.

[Orejas-9] Orejas, Tonette (November 18, 2016). "Pampanga town that survived Mt. Pinatubo reclaims Spanish name and seal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 24, 2023.

[10] "Henares, Ivan Anthony. 1881-1904: How San Fernando Became Capital of Pampanga. Singsing, Vol. 4 No. 1" (PDF). Center for Kapampangan Studies.

[11] "Henares, Ivan Anthony. Timeline of San Fernando History. Singsing, Vol. 4 No. 1" (PDF). Center for Kapampangan Studies.

[12] "An Act Creating the Barrio of Mesalipit in the Municipality of Bacolor, Province of Pampanga". LawPH.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2011.

[met_norms-13] "Bacolor: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 5, 2020.

[PSA15–03-14] Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.

[NSO10–03-15] Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.

[NSO07-03-16] Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.

[LWUA-PopulationData-17] "Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.

[18] "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.

[19] "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.

[20] "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.

[21] "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.

[22] "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.

[23] "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.

[24] "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.

[25] "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.

[26] "Municipal building". Baculud.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.

[27] "Historical sites". Baculud.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.

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Bacolor

History

Spanish colonial era

American invasion era

Japanese occupation era

Philippine independence

Geography

Barangays

Climate

Demographics

Economy

Government

Local government

Town hall

Tourism

The Sunken Shrine

Notable personalities

References

External links

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