Apalit

Apalit, officially the Municipality of Apalit (Kapampangan: Balen ning Apalit; Tagalog: Bayan ng Apalit), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 107,965 people.[3]

Apalit
Municipality
Municipality of Apalit
Municipal Hall
Seal
Mottoes: 
Pampanga's Gateway to Manila
The Blacksmith Capital of Pampanga
Map of Pampanga with Apalit highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Apalit
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°56′58″N 120°45′31″E
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon (Region III)
ProvincePampanga
District4th District
Barangays12 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorOscar "Jun" D. Tetangco Jr.
 • Vice MayorPedro C. Nucom
 • CongressmanJuan Pablo P. Bondoc
 • Electorate57,794 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total61.47 km2 (23.73 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total107,965
 • Density1,800/km2 (4,500/sq mi)
 • Households
22,801
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence7.05% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)210,170,610.86 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2016
PSGC
035402000
IDD : area code +63 (0)45
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesKapampangan
Tagalog

The town is famous for its Apo Iru Fluvial Procession, which is listed as one of the most significant water-based intangible cultural heritage of the Philippines. The festival happens every June 28–30.

Geography

Apalit is 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Manila, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the provincial capital, San Fernando, and 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Angeles.

Apalit is surrounded by Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin and San Simon in Pampanga, and Calumpit, Pulilan, and Baliuag in Bulacan.

Barangays

Apalit is politically subdivided into 12 barangays:

  • Balucuc (Nuestra Señora de la Divina Pastora)
  • Calantipe (Santo Niño)
  • Cansinala (Nuestra Señora del Rosario)
  • Capalangan (Holy Cross)
  • Colgante (Holy Family)
  • Paligui (Chair of St. Peter / Apung Iru)
  • Sampaloc (San Roque)
  • San Juan (San Juan Nepomuceno) (Poblacion)
  • San Vicente (San Vicente Ferrer) (Business District)
  • Sucad (Santa Lucia)
  • Sulipan (Christ the Eternal High Priest)
  • Tabuyuc (Santo Rosario)

Climate
Climate data for Apalit, Pampanga
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 28
(82)		 30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 23
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 6
(0.2)		 4
(0.2)		 6
(0.2)		 17
(0.7)		 82
(3.2)		 122
(4.8)		 151
(5.9)		 123
(4.8)		 124
(4.9)		 99
(3.9)		 37
(1.5)		 21
(0.8)		 792
(31.1)
Average rainy days 3.3 2.5 3.6 6.6 17.7 22.2 25.2 23.7 23.2 17.9 9.2 5.2 160.3
Source: Meteoblue [5] (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Apalit, was 107,965 people,[3] with a density of 1,800 inhabitants per square kilometre or 4,700 inhabitants per square mile.

Population census of Apalit
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 12,206—    
1918 11,880−0.18%
1939 14,330+0.90%
1948 14,576+0.19%
1960 25,408+4.74%
1970 36,138+3.58%
1975 41,283+2.71%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 48,253+3.17%
1990 62,373+2.60%
1995 65,720+0.98%
2000 78,295+3.82%
2007 97,296+3.04%
2010 101,537+1.56%
2015 107,965+1.18%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][6][7][8]

Religion

Most inhabitants of Apalit are Christian, with a majority professing Catholicism, due to Spanish colonialism and imperialism from the 15th to 19th centuries.

Other prominent Christian groups include Members Church of God International (MCGI, more popularly known as Ang Dating Daan).

Catholicism
1590 San Pedro Apostol Parish, San Juan, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando.
Interior
Main article: San Pedro Apostol Church (Apalit)

Apalit was first established as one of the visitas (mission chapel) under the administration of Convento de Calumpit. In 1597, the Augustinian chapter accepted Apalit as House of Order under the advocacy of San Pedro Apostol where Fray Pedro de Vergara OSA as its first parish priest In conjunction with the annual town fiesta, the Libad was established by the Capitan del Pueblo, Don Pedro Armayan-Espíritu y Macam, on June 28, 1844.Libad fluvial procession also reaching Calumpit even today to signify the old relationship of Apalit to its mother town Calumpit where San Juan Bautista is the patron of the Town.[9]

The first church and convento was constructed under the tenure of Fray Juan Cabello as parish priest from 1641 to 1645. Fray Simón de Alarcia built another church made of concrete and tile in 1854-1860, but it was destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1863. The present neo-classical church was built under Fray Antonio Redondo, who was assigned to Apalit from 1873 to 1886.

Father Gallende wrote in La Iglesia de Apalit:

"Father Antonio Redondo, parish priest of Apalit from 1873 to 1886 laid the foundations of a new one in January 1876, following the plans of Don Ramón Hermosa, assistant officer to the minister of public works. The foreman was a certain Mariano Santos, a native of Guagua. After seven years of work, the church was finally completed in 1883. It was "the pride of Pampanga, an indelible tribute to Fr. Redondo and the people of Apalit.'"

It was officially inaugurated with solemn ceremonies held successively during the town fiesta from 28 to 30 June of the same year. The chronicler remarks that when there was no more sand or bricks, Fr. Redondo would ask the fiscal (sacristan) to go around town pealing the bells. Preceded by the town bands, he would lead the way towards the riverside with an azafate (a basket or hamper) on his head. Unquestioning, the whole town would follow him, and in less than two hours, the masons would have enough sand for two months. "The whole town of Apalit helped either with monetary donations, personal service, or with their good wishes." The church measures 59 meters long and 14 meters wide. The painting was done by a native of Apalit, an industrious pupil of Alberoni. The church possesses the qualities of good construction: "solidity, capacity, light and artistic beauty."

The towers were completed under the guidance of Rev Toríbio Fanjul in 1896. In 1989, a major church renovation was initiated by Monsignor Rústico G. Cuevas.[10]

Feast of Saint Peter

The Libad, a fluvial procession in honour of the town's patron saint Peter the Apostle (known locally Apung Iru), is annually from 28 to 30 June. The event, where a centuries-old ivory image of the apostle is paraded along the Pampanga River, is one of the more famous religious processions in Pampanga.

History of the image

The life-sized, seated image of "Apung Iru" is an heirloom of the Armayan-Espíritu y Macam clan of Sitio Alauli, San Vicente, Apalit. The image, with its ivory face and hands, dates from the last quarter of the 1700s. Family tradition has it that Don Pedro Armayan-Espíritu y Macam (d. 1904)–or his parents Don Calixto Armayan-Espíritu and Doña María Macam, acquired the image from an aunt, Doña Máxima Santos–in exchange for a considerable parcel of agricultural land in Apalit. During the Spanish colonial era, Spanish friars shrewdly assigned the ownership of the town's patron saint to wealthy families, so that the former could be spared the expenses of its upkeep and annual fiesta. The first Libad was held in 1844.

Custody of the image of Apung Iru has passed to the direct descendants of Don Pedro Armayan-Espíritu y Macam, who married three times: first to Doña Dorotea Arnedo; then Máxima Santa Rita; and finally Ysabel Dungo y Nocom. Don Pedro originally bequeathed the image to his favourite, his youngest daughter Doña Ysidora "Orang" Espíritu y Dungo (later Mrs Jesús Justo González), but she did not want the responsibility of being the image's camarera (custodian). She passed it on to her elder, spinster sister Doña Aurea "Ondeng" Espíritu y Dungo. After Doña Aurea's early death, Don Pedro's eldest daughter Doña María "Maruja" Espíritu y Dungo (later Mrs Macario Arnedo) became the image's camarera. In 1928, Doña María translated the image of Apung Iru from the Armayan-Espíritu ancestral home in Sitio Alauli in Barangay San Vicente to her house in Barrio Capalangan, where it has remained since.

Doña María died in 1934, and her second daughter Doña Ysabel "Tabing" Arnedo y Espíritu (later Mrs Fernando Dueñas Reyes) became the image's "camarera" until her own death in 1970. Doña María's third daughter, Doña Rosario Lucia "Charing" Arnedo y Espíritu (later Mrs Augusto Diosdado Sioco González ) became camarera until her death in May 1977. The youngest daughter, Doña Elisa Juana "Ising" Arnedo y Espíritu (later Mrs Fortunato Kabiling Sazon) became the next camarera until her death in May 1987. Doña Elisa's eldest daughter, Dr. Erlinda Crispina "Linda" Arnedo Sazon (later Mrs Enrique Espíritu Badenhop) succeeded her mother as camarera from until her own death in February 2008. Augusto Marcelino "Toto" Reyes González III, Doña Rosario's grandson from her eldest son, Augusto Beda, is the current camarero of Apung Iru, following a stipulation that Doña Rosario and Doña Ysidora made to the family in 1970.

In 1975, Doña Ysidora, Doña Rosario, and the latter's son Brother Andrew Benjamin González, F.S.C., established Saint Peter's Mission, Inc. with the stipulation that Apung Iru and his feast be maintained by the generations to come.

Members Church of God International
ADD Convention Center

The 10-hectare Ang Dating Daan (ADD) compound in Apalit, Pampanga is the Members Church of God International's headquarters in the Philippines.[11] It houses the ADD Convention Center where major church gatherings are held and the chapel, a multipurpose venue for the community prayer, indoctrination sessions, prayer meetings and worship services. Other structures inside the compound include the baptistry, administration office, museum, transient home, orphanages, mini-hospital, dormitories for church officers and volunteers, houses for church ministers and workers and school buildings of La Verdad Christian College.[12][13]

Local government
Facade of town hall

Like other towns in the Philippines, Apalit 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.

Municipal officials

Elected officials 2019:

  • Mayor: Jun Tetangco
  • Vice Mayor: Peter C. Nucom
  • Councilors:
    • Elias Mendoza III
    • Kenneth Nunag
    • Kriz Mangsal
    • Jed Dalusung
    • Tuks Simon
    • Andrew Manlapaz
    • Mavic Mendoza
    • Pol Nabong

Elected officials 2016:

  • Mayor: Peter C. Nucom
  • Vice Mayor: Augusto D. Manlapaz
  • Councilors:
    • Jesus Torres
    • Elias Mendoza III
    • Sanny Mendoza
    • Kenneth Nunag
    • Andrew H. Manlapaz
    • Ma. Ana Theresa Macalino
    • Edmon Simon
    • Fortunato Castro

List of former Town Executives/Mayors

Infrastructure

Transportation

Major roads and bridges:

  • MacArthur Highway - or the National Highway. The major road going to Apalit.
  • Apalit-Macabebe-Masantol Road - going to the towns of Macabebe and Masantol
  • Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez Avenue -going to municipal hall, barangay sucad, and St. Peter's Parish
  • Sulipan-Capalangan-Tabuyuc-Cansinala Road
  • Tabuyuc-Balucuc Farm to Market Road
  • Arnedo Dike Road
  • Sampaloc Road
  • Paligui Road
Panorama of the river and roads

Public transportation

Public transportation within the municipality, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive Tricycles, jeepneys, and buses. Motored boats (or Bancas) are used to transport goods and bring people to the lowest land in case of flood in other barangays,

Tricycles are used for short distance travel.

Various jeepney routes also ply the roads between Apalit and neighboring towns in Pampanga (municipalities of Macabebe, Masantol, San Simon, Minalin and City of San Fernando), in Bulacan (Calumpit, Malolos City and Balagtas).

While the "FX" and "L300" van taxis, from their terminals, and Provincial Buses ( Victory Liner and First North Luzon Transit), which passes through the MacArthur Highway, takes passengers to key places in Bulacan (Calumpit, Malolos City to Guiguinto Tabang Toll Plaza) the "Metro" (Monumento in Caloocan City; Cubao in Quezon City; Divisoria in Manila; and Pasay City) and to northern provinces (Lubao, Floridablanca, Guagua, City of San Fernando in Pampanga; and as far as Olongapo City in Zambales).

Hospitals
ASCCOM De La Salle Friendship Hospital
  • ADD Infirmary
  • Pampanga Premier Medical Center
  • Apalit Doctors Hospital
  • ASCCOM-DLSUMC Friendship Hospital
  • E.D. Lim Maternity and General Hospital

Telecommunication

Landline telephone systems are being provided by the Digitel, Datelcom and PLDT.

Mobile telephony services are provided by Smart Communications, Globe Telecom & Sun Cellular from Digitel.

Internet services are provided through DSL and Cable broadband coverage is provided by PLDT, Digitel and Globe Broadband; and Wireless broadband is provided by (Smart Bro) Smart Communications.

Cable Television are provided by DATELSAT.

Education
Paaralang Bayan Jose Escaler
La Verdad Christian College

For elementary and high school education, Apalit has numerous schools.

Private Schools
  • Apalit Christian Ecumenical School/"ACES" ("formerly Ecumenical Kiddie Lane/EKL")
  • Dominican School of Apalit
  • La Verdad Christian School, Inc.
  • Gonzales Memorial College
  • Holy Child Academy
  • Saint Vincent's Academy
  • Saint James School Inc.

Public schools
  • San Vicente Central School
  • Sampaga Elementary School
  • Jose Escaler Memorial School
  • Sucad Elementary School
  • Sucad National High School
  • Cansinala Elementary School
  • Cansinala National High School
  • Sampaga High School
  • Colgante Elementary School
  • Sampaloc Elementary School
  • Paligui Elementary School
  • Balucuc Elementary School
  • Balucuc High School
  • Calantipe High School (Formerly Balucuc High School Annex)
  • Galang Elementary Memorial School
  • Banag Elementary School
  • Macario Arnedo Elementary School
  • Tabuyuc Elementary School
  • Apalit National High School
  • Bro. Andrew Gonzalez Technical High School (Formerly Apalit Technical Vocational High School)
  • Fausto Sioco Memorial School
  • Sulipan Elementary School

Colleges
  • Asian Caregiving and Technology Education Centers (ACTEC)
  • AMA Computer Learning Center College
  • Eastwoods International Institute of Science and Technology
  • Asian College of Science and Technology
  • La Verdad Christian College

Notable residents
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References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Pampanga". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. "Apalit: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  6. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  7. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  8. "Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  9. http://www.andropampanga.com/history_apalit.htm
  10. Capiling, Alejandro S. "Pampanga's Churches".
  11. "Ang Dating Daan: an unbeaten path". Newsbreak-knowledge.ph. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  12. "Free Education". UNTVweb.com. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  13. "La Verdad Christian School delivers first batch of K-12 scholars". Retrieved 2018-04-26.
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