Macabebe

Macabebe
Municipality
Municipality of Macabebe
Municipal Hall
Seal
Motto(s): "Memalen Macabebe, tapat makiabe!"
Map of Pampanga with Macabebe highlighted
Macabebe Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°54′29″N 120°42′56″E / 14.9081°N 120.7156°E / 14.9081; 120.7156Coordinates: 14°54′29″N 120°42′56″E / 14.9081°N 120.7156°E / 14.9081; 120.7156
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Pampanga
District	4th District
Barangays	25 (see Barangays
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Annette Flores Balgan
• Vice Mayor	Vince Flores
• Congressman	Juan Pablo P. Bondoc
• Electorate	41,642 voters (2016)
Area [2]
• Total	105.16 km2 (40.60 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	75,850
• Density	720/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2018
PSGC	035410000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)45
Climate type	Tropical monsoon climate
Income class	1st municipal income class
Revenue (₱)	146,444,457.22 (2016)
Native languages	Kapampangan Tagalog

Macabebe, officially the Municipality of Macabebe, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 75,850 people.^[3]

Geography

Macabebe is located in the southern part of Pampanga. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Minalin, Guagua and Apalit; to the east by the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; to the west by the municipality of Sasmuan; and to the south by the municipality of Masantol and Manila Bay.

History

Macabebe, an ancient town in the province of Pampanga is intimately linked to the Pampanga River (Rio Grande de la Pampanga). The town was named Macabebe because it is geographically situated along the shores or banks of Rio Grande de Pampanga. Some called it Macabibi because the river was abundantly grown with corals and shells during the early times. The Macabebes were the first known Kapampangans. In the Spanish Colonial period of the Philippines, Macabebe was considered one of the oldest and most important communities of Pampanga.

The ancient town of Macabebe owes its importance to its location along the Rio Grande de la Pampanga (Pampanga River). The river's routes and its northern tributaries provided the pathways to the early major settlements in Pampanga. The English translation of Macabebe, meaning: 'surrounded by rivers' describes the historical heritage of the ancient town.^[4]

The Macabebe dialect is said to be harsher and louder than others due to how the townspeople communicate across the river.

The Pampanga River is of great importance to Macabebe. Fishing is still a major source of sustenance and income for its residents. A number of fisheries can be found along the river.

The province of Pampanga is also the traditional homeland of the Kapampangan people. The Kapampangan of Macabebe had played a dynamic and at times conflicting role in the history of the Philippines. They fought against the Spanish in 1571, such as the case when the youthful Tarik Soliman (Bambalito)^[5] became the first Kapampangan and Filipino martyr who fought against Spanish rule.^[6] They also defended the last Spanish garrison against revolutionaries in 1898.

In 1901, American General Frederick Funston and his troops captured Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela, with the help of some Kapampangans (called the Macabebe Scouts after their home locale) who had joined the Americans' side. The Americans pretended to be captives of the Macabebes, who were dressed in Philippine Army uniforms. Once Funston and his "captors" entered Aguinaldo's camp, they immediately apprehended Aguinaldo and his men.

During World War II, the Japanese fighter and bomber planes air raided the municipalities of Macabebe on December 1941. Macabebe was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942.

Demographics

Public Market

In the 2015 census, the population of Macabebe, Pampanga, was 75,850 people,^[3] with a density of 720 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,900 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church

San Gabriel Chapel

In religion, the town has Catholics 87%, Members Church of God International 5%, Iglesia ni Cristo 3%, Evangelicals 2%, others 3%.

Churches

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando has jurisdiction over the 1575 San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church. It was founded in 1575 under the advocation of San Nicolas de Tolentino. The heritage church measures 70 metres (230 ft) long, 17 metres (56 ft) wide and 11 metres (36 ft) high. The facade of the church has scantly ornamentation and its architectural symmetry is lost amid and the various forms assumed the windows and the main entrance. Simple neo-classic lines of the facade.^[10]

Macabebe is also home to San Gabriel Chapel. This newly erected chapel is a replacement of the old chapel that has been devastated by the flooding after the Mt. Pinatubo erpution and was then formally constructed in 2002, by the then Chairman of the Aguman Damayan San Gabriel, Romeo Paras. Who was born in this barrio and migrated to the United States of America in 1979. The chapel has come into completion as inaugurated in May 2010.

And one of the most visited church at Macabebe is the Sta Maria Chapel, the home of the barangay's Queen and Patroness (NUESTRA SENIORA DELA PAZ). The chapel is under the jurisdiction of San Rafael Archangel Parish Church. The newly erected chapel is a replacement of the old chapel because its always been flooded during rainy seasons. So the completion of its renovation is inaugurated last April 2005 and blessed by its Excellency Archbishop Paciano Aniceto. Based on the history, before, the place where the church is erected was called "baliti". Because in ancient times at that exact place, a Big Baliti Tree is planted.

Local government

Like other towns in the Philippines, Macabebe 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 of barrios.

Tourism and culture

The town is rich in its past and treasures. Its town hall and churches reveal the wealth of the town's heritage.

Healthcare

Our Lady of Rosary Hospital

The town provides medical missions and free medical operations, including fully functional health facilities serves in every barangay. There are few hospitals in the town and a market in the town. The District Office of the Congressional representative stands near the town centre.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macabebe.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System