Originally, a requirement for Aguman membership -- other than being a Diliman student -- was the ability to speak Capampangan. That's why most members call one province home, Pampanga. Things have changed, however, and now Aguman members come from all over the Philippines -- from Tarlac and Bulacan to Pangasinan and Bataan, even Nueva Ecija. 

Below is information gleaned from various resource books about this land popular for its extraordinarily creative cooks and scrumptious food.

Capital: San Fernando.

Number of cities: 2 -- San Fernando and Angeles

Number of towns: 20 -- Apalit, Arayat, Bacolor, Candaba, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, Porac, San Luis, San Simon, Santa Ana, Santa Rita, Santo Tomas and Sasmuan.

Land area: 218.067 hectares

Date founded: 1571. Officially, the first province of the island of Luzon to be established by the Spaniards, the same year as the City of Manila.

Please click on map for a larger version.

Location: Pampanga occupies the center of the region and is bounded on the south and southeast by Bulacan, on the north by Tarlac and Nueva Ecija and on the northeast and west by Zambales. Its terrain is relatively flat except for some hills which belong to Bataan-Zambales range, along Florida Blanca and Porac, and the majestic Mt. Arayat. 

An extensive river system snakes in and out of Pampanga. Streams and rivers traversing the land are fed and drained by the Pampanga River, which reaches out to the China Sea. Running along these streams and rivers are fertile farms and productive fishponds and irrigation and flood control systems.

History: The province Pampanga is in the central plain of Luzon hemmed at all sides by all provinces in the region. The name "Pampanga" was given by the Spaniards who found the early natives mostly living near the river banks, "Pangpang" meaning river. Its creation in 1571 made it the oldest among the six provinces.

Photo: Sign along the North Expressway.

Ancient Pampanga in fact comprised the whole of the Central Luzon region. The succeeding creation of provinces and creation of "commandancias" reduced the province to what is now its present size.

Pampangos have a long tradition of bravery extending from Rajah Lakandula and Soliman who fought the Spaniards to Pampanga warriors who defeated the British and the Dutch, the general of the Philippine Revolution and fighters in the last World War.

At present distributed within its two riceland and sugarland districts are 21 towns, the city of Angeles and 230 barangays. San Fernando, a bustling commercial and industrial center is both the provincial and regional capital.

The ancestors of the Campampangans came from the Madjapahit Empire at the Malang Region in Central Java. They came with the second wave of Malayan migration -- the last of the three prehistoric migrations that took place in the Philippines between 300 to 200 B.C. These immigrants, led by the Prince Balagtas, settled along the coastal areas of Luzon. These areas became the nucleus of the so-called Pampanga Empire, established and consolidated from 1335 to 1400 by Prince Balagtas, the first Pampango sovereign. This empire included all areas in Luzon from Manila up to Cagayan in the north. The coming of the Spaniards led to the eventual disintegration and diminution (decrease) of his empire.

Photo: The majestic Mt. Arayat.

Before the Spaniards came, the Campampangans had a civilization of their own. Oriental civilization was comparable to any civilization existing that time. They practiced irrigated agriculture producing rice and sugar cane. They cultivated fruit trees, fiber and ornamental plants and spices. They knew the art of weaving and they wove colorfully decorated attires. They knew how to smelt and make tools, weapons, utensils and body ornaments out of metals. They were expert jewelers. They had a syllabary and they knew how to read and write. They had an established government of law.

Principal industries: Farming and fishing are the two main industries. Her fertile plains produce diverse crops from sugarcane to rice, corn rootcrops, vegetables and fruit trees. Her streams and rivers and fishponds abound with bangus, carps, shrimps, crabs and other marine products.

The presence of three big military bases: Clark Air Base; Basa Air Base; Camp Olivas stimulated the establishment of plush subdivisions and commercial complexes. The impact of the American military -- now gone -- can still be seen. Cottage industries like, wood carving, furniture-making, handicraft and several others boost the province's economy.

(Source: Philippine Department of Tourism)

Back to top