Guagua, Pampanga

Guagua, officially the Municipality of Guagua (Kapampangan: Balen ning Guagua; Tagalog: Bayan ng Guagua), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 117,430 people.[4]

Guagua

Uaua
Municipality
Municipality of Guagua
Downtown area
Map of Pampanga with Guagua highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Guagua
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°58′N 120°38′E
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon (Region III)
ProvincePampanga
District2nd District
FoundedMay 15, 1590 [1]
Barangays31 (see Barangays)
Government
 [2]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorDante D. Torres
 • Vice MayorSajid Khan M. Eusoof
 • CongressmanJuan Miguel M. Arroyo
 • Electorate64,985 voters (2019)
Area
 [3]
 • Total48.67 km2 (18.79 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[4]
 • Total117,430
 • Density2,400/km2 (6,200/sq mi)
 • Households
24,964
Demonym(s)English: Guaguan;
Spanish: guagüeño -a
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence7.73% (2015)[5]
 • Revenue (₱)228,146,371.02 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2003
PSGC
035407000
IDD : area code +63 (0)45
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesKapampangan
Tagalog
Websitewww.guagua.gov.ph

The town of Guagua belongs to the Second District of Pampanga, along with the towns in the south-western part of the province. It is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the capital city of San Fernando and 76 kilometres (47 mi) from Metro Manila. The town is bounded on the north by the towns of Bacolor and Santa Rita; on the south by the towns of Sasmuan and Lubao; on the east, Macabebe and Sasmuan; and on the west, Porac and Floridablanca.

History

Wawa (Lán-nâng: 偎岸, Hua-hua), which means "river mouth" (Kapampangan: alua or bukana), was the earliest recorded form of the town's name according to records dating back to 1590. The town is strategically located along a river which played a vital role in trade and transportation during the precolonial era.

Wawa was already a prosperous settlement when Spanish colonists took control of the town in the year 1561, from then on calling it Guagua, which is a Hispanised form of the original name. Indeed, archeological artifacts have been excavated in a nearby town which affirmed the existence of a prehistoric community in Guagua.

Early inhabitants opted to stay in the town because it was here that they could engage in barter trade with people from different islands, along with other means of livelihood like fishing and farming. The navigable river with which the town was endowed allowed shipping vessels to transport commodities to and from other chief localities, particularly the imperial Manila. The first cargo boat to arrive in Guagua was the Doña Dominga on 7 May 1884. Much later it was followed by the steamships Kaibigan and Kababayan, which anchored at the pier in Bgy Santo Niño, better known as the Yañgco Landing.

In 1892, when the Manila–Mabalacat railroad was inaugurated, Guagua was virtually the port of embarkation to and from Manila that served the province. Commerce was further improved when the San Fernando–Guagua line of the railroad was chartered on 17 November 1907.

The Chinese have long been part in Guagua's social and economic mainstream. In the 18th century, they sought refuge in the town to escape discrimination and persecution in Manila. After their near-total slaughter, the Chinese lived in relative peace while they freely practiced their craft and mingled hand-in-hand with the local residents. The Chinese residents were merchants, masons, woodcarvers, carpenters, agriculturists and labourers. Their influence on the cultural and economic life of Guagua cannot be overlooked. The town could not have prospered so well without the economic services provided by the Chinese.

The town took significant part in the revolutionary struggles against the foreign intruders. A house near a church was made a secret cell of the Katipuneros in August 1897. In March 1898, a massacre of all Spanish sympathisers in Guagua marked the end of Spanish colonialism and the outset of American rule. Moreover, during the Philippine–American War and the ensuing Second World War, Guagua became an important battleground.

At the turn of the twentieth century, a new system of education was introduced and made popular and available to the Filipinos. The Guagua Elementary School in Bgy Santa Filomena, is believed to be the first to be established in the town in the year 1901. Later in that year, an English teacher came to Betis district and opened a primary school which functioned on a regular basis. In 1908, Colegio del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (now St Mary's Academy in Bgy San Roque) was established in a two-storey building donated by a charitable matron, in downtown Guagua. Later in 1918, Guagua National Institute (now Guagua National Colleges in Bgy Santa Filomena) was founded at the convent of the Catholic church. Further, in 1941, the then-parish priest felt the need for another high school in town, so he opened Saint Michael's College.

At the overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, the local government carried out a sustainable development program to address the town's destitute state. From its income classification in 1986 as a third-class municipality, Guagua grew to a first-class one. Guagua garnered several outstanding citations for its achievement, including of several "Most Outstanding LGU" awards.

Guagua was severely devastated by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991.

Geography

Topography

The town is mostly flat and is suitable to any kind of development; agricultural, industrial, commercial and others. It is only a meter above sea level.

Soil type

In general, the soils of Guagua are of recent alluvial origin consisting of fine sand, silt loam and hydrosol. The average chemical analysis of its top soils is : nitrogen, 0.02 to 0.1; phosphorus, 0.06 to 0.28; potassium, 0.46 to 1.74; organic carbon, 0.41 to 3.02; and pH value (acidity and alkalinity), 5.61 to 6.99

Flora and fauna

The climate and topographical features of the vast land of Guagua make it ideal for the growing of fruit trees and vegetables. Among the fruit trees most fitting to be planted are mangoes, guavas, santol, star apples, and bananas. For vegetables, sitao, upo, ampalaya, gabi and cucumber are the most commonly produced by farmers and which thrive best in the community.

Being void of forest areas, its fauna are mostly the domesticated ones like, chicken, ducks, cattle, and others.

Climate
Climate data for Guagua, Pampanga
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °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)
Average low °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 [6]

Barangays

Guagua is divided into four (4) districts, subdivided into 31 barangays:

San Rafael was constituted from Dock Island in 1956.[7]

Demographics
Population census of Guagua
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 15,151—    
1918 15,962+0.35%
1939 22,331+1.61%
1948 34,738+5.03%
1960 40,126+1.21%
1970 58,270+3.80%
1975 65,336+2.32%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 72,609+2.13%
1990 88,290+1.97%
1995 95,363+1.45%
2000 96,858+0.33%
2007 104,601+1.07%
2010 111,199+2.25%
2015 117,430+1.04%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[4][8][9][10]

In the 2015 census, the population of Guagua, Pampanga, was 117,430 people,[4] with a density of 2,400 inhabitants per square kilometre or 6,200 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

Roman Catholic 88%, Members Church of God International 4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 3%, Seventh-day Adventists 3%, Others (Including Buddhism,Islam and Other Religionist) 2%.

Local government
1937 Town hall

Like other towns in the Philippines, Guagua 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.

1937 Heritage Town hall

The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the Town hall. The Sanguniang Bayan is the center of legislation.

Education
Immaculate Concepcion Academy
St. Mary's Academy

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

Public
  • Bancal Elementary School
  • Betis Elementary School
  • Guagua Elementary School
  • San Agustin Elementary School
  • San Juan Nepomuceno Elementary School
  • San Miguel Elementary School
  • San Pedro Elementary School
  • San Rafael Elementary School
  • Santa Ines Elementary School
  • Santa Ursula Elementary School
  • Ascomo Elementary School
  • Lambac Elementary School
  • Magsaysay Elementary School
  • Maquiapo Elementary School
  • Mauli Elementary School
  • Natividad Elementary School
  • Pulungmasle Elementary School
  • Rizal Elementary School
  • San Antonio Elementary School
  • San Antonio Elementary School - San Isidro PS (Annex)
  • San Juan 1st Elementary School
  • San Matias Elementary School
  • San Vicente Elementary School
  • Siran Elementary School
  • Talang Elementary School
  • Guillermo D. Mendoza National High School
  • Betis National High School
  • Natividad NationalHigh School
  • Pulungmasle High School

Private

Landmarks and List of Cultural Properties

The town has interesting culture and heritage attractions and landmarks, including Rufino Santos Catholic Center, Capt. Ruben P. Sonco Freedom Square, Monument of Aurelio Tolentino (1867-1915). The Guagua National Colleges is also declared as a national historical landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines during the college's 75th Foundation anniversary in 1993.

Cultural Property
wmph identifier		 Site name Description Province City/municipality Address Coordinates Image
Saint James the Apostle Parish Church declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines Pampanga Guagua, Pampanga Barangay San Nicolas II 14.975596°N 120.642936°E / 14.975596; 120.642936 (Saint James the Apostle Parish Church)

Immaculate Conception Parish Church 18th-century Roman Catholic church, with marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines Pampanga Guagua, Pampanga Barangay Plaza Burgos 14.964644°N 120.634049°E / 14.964644; 120.634049 (Immaculate Conception Parish Church)

The Lopez Mansion (Bale Matua) Built in 1929 by the sugar magnate, Don Alejandro Lopez (b. 16 May 1883) of Guagua. It was coined as the first all-concrete house in Pampanga and in the 1935 telephone directory the house was named as “The Pride of Guagua Pampanga”. The Guagua Mansion or popularly known as the Lopez Mansion (Bale Matua) was restored in 2016 to be an events venue. Pampanga Guagua, Pampanga 72 San Nicholas 1st

Guagua, Pampanga

 14.968628°N 120.634161°E / 14.968628; 120.634161 (The Lopez Mansion (Bale Matua))

Goseco Ancestral House Pampanga Guagua, Pampanga Barangay Plaza Burgos 14.964421°N 120.634447°E / 14.964421; 120.634447 (Goseco Ancestral House)

Rizal Monument Pampanga Guagua, Pampanga Barangay Plaza Burgos 14.965949°N 120.633126°E / 14.965949; 120.633126 (Rizal Monument)

Guagua Municipal Hall Built in 1937 Pampanga Guagua, Pampanga Barangay Plaza Burgos 14.965006°N 120.633609°E / 14.965006; 120.633609 (Guagua Municipal Hall)

Santiago Apostol Parish Church
Main article: Betis Church

The 1607 Santiago Apostol Parish Church, commonly known as Betis Church is a Baroque (heritage) Church, located in Guagua, Pampanga (Betis Area). It is a Spanish-era church declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and the NCCA (under R.A. 4896 as amended by P.D. 374 and R.A. 8492), on November 5, 2001 (one of only 26 churches in the country bestowed that honor). It is part of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. In 2009, the National Museum installed a marker of its 2005 Proclamation.[11]

Immaculate Conception Parish Church

The first church edifice was constructed in 1587 but was unfortunately razed by fire. The current Church structure was constructed in 1772 under the administration of the Augustinians. The Church was greatly improved in 1862 until 1870. The interiors are simple and the centerpiece attraction is the main altar, a creation of noted local artist Willy Layug. While still simple, the exteriors on the other hand, are marked by massive strength. The Cathedral-type church is located immediately adjacent to the Guagua Municipal Building and houses the Cardinal Santos Catholic Center and the Immaculate Conception Parochial School.

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References
  1. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1503390
  2. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  3. "Province: Pampanga". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  4. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. "Guagua: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  7. "An Act Creating the Barrio of San Rafael in the Municipality of Guagua, Province of Pampanga". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
  8. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. 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.
  10. "Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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