Macabebe, Pampanga

History

Macabebe, an ancient town in the province of Pampanga is intimately linked to the Pampanga River (Rio Grande de la Pampanga). 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: 'bordering the river banks' describes the historical heritage of the ancient town.

The Macabebe dialect is said to be harsher and louder than others due to how the towns people must have had to 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 banks.

The province of Pampanga is also the traditional homeland of the Kapampangan people. The Kapampangan of Macabebe have played a dynamic and at times conflicting role in the history of the Philippines. They fought against the Spanish in 1571, but 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 fell upon the guards and quickly overwhelmed them and the weary Aguinaldo.

During World War II, many Japanese fighter and bomber planes was crashed and air raid invading the municipalities in Macabebe on December 1941 under the Japanese Invasion and they occupied by the Imperial Japanese troops was entered the municipalities on 1942 under the Japanese Occupation.

Many Kapampangan guerrillas and Hukbalahap resistance was downfall invading the municipalities in Macabebe was the siege of three year conflicts and attacking Japanese troops. After the insurgencies, many Kapampangan guerrillas and Hukbalahap resistance was downfall retreating by the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces in the town municipalities. When the last stand of the Japanese military garrisons and invading guerrillas and Hukbalahap resistance and they captured and victory by all Kapampangan guerrillas and Hukbalahap resistance groups and before the local Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units has entering the municipal towns on 1945 before the liberation.

When the Battle of Macabebe begins on 1945. When the all stronghold of local Filipino soldiers and military officers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army 3rd, 32nd, 36th and 37th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 3rd Infantry Regiment was came liberated and recapturing battles and re-invaded the town municipalities in Macabebe and helping Kapampangan guerrillas and Hukbalahap communist resistance groups and defeats Imperial Japanese armed force and ending aftermath of World War II.

Barangays

165.237.158.176

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.

Religion

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.

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.

Healthcare

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. Malago ku

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.

Town Fiesta

The town's fiesta is held annually on September 10 in honor of San Nicolas de Tolentino (St. Nicholas of Tolentino), the town's patron saint.

Barangay Fiestas