San Felipe, Zambales

History

San Felipe was one among the little villages along the coastal region of Zambales during the pre-Spanish period. The first inhabitants were the Malay Zambas who lived in lowland which they themselves called Hindol. There were also Negritoes but most of them lived in mountains.

A few years after the discovery of the Philippines, all places in the country had been explored by the Spanish authorities and the exploration of Zambales began in 1572 by Juan de Salcedo, grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines. Juan de Salcedo and Spanish followers made a survey of its coastal region and organize communities which were first called encomiendas but which were later called pueblos. As the population of the villages increased which was caused by the steady immigration of Ilocanos from the Ilocandia region before 1800 until 1860, more pueblos were organized.

The first waves of Ilocanos found their way to Hindol, which was later called Sindol, and less than the kilometers south of Sindol was the place called Bobulon. Hindol was a Zambal Aeta name of a tree than abundant in the place. Bobulon was also a kind tree then abundant at the Public Plaza. However, there was another version why it was called Bobulon. It was said that the first voyage of Ilocano settlers had all the favorable wind ( bulon ) from Paoay, Ilocos Norte to this village. The other waves of Ilocano settlers, who were mostly merchants and fishermen, came from Vigan and San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.

The first seat of the pueblo government was in Sindol and the head of the pueblo was called Capitan Municipal who as head of the pueblo was responsible in paying the taxes which could not be collected from his barangays which were headed by Cabezas de barangay. As gathered from reliable sources, one of the town executives when the seat of the government was still here in Sindol was Capitan Municipal Pedro Farañal, father of the late Municipal President Juan Farañal. The pueblo was later transferred from Sindol to Bobulon because the latter was already more populated, had a wider area for residential purposes, and it was farther from the mountains were the aetas, still wild lived. The name Bobulon was changed to San Felipe when it was founded in 1853. As to how the town of San Felipe got its present name, the most reliable fact learned so far was that four “saintly” brothers from Ilocandia, namely Marcelino, Antonio, Narciso and Felipe settled in the about to be organized pueblos which were later named San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso and San Felipe. As a matter of fact, most of the inhabitants of these four towns were Ilocanos from the Ilocos region. Under the Spanish regime and during the early part of American regime, San Felipe was a separate town. Its first Municipal President was Don Saturnino Pastor who was the town executive from January 1, 1901 to December 31, 1902. For the purpose of governmental administration, San Felipe was incorporated with San Narciso, The Municipal President of the combined towns of San Felipe and San Narciso was Don Simeon Maranon and Nicolas Amagna was the Municipal Vice-President. Being a smaller town, San Felipe was only entitled to four Councilors while San Narciso had five. The councilors for San Felipe were – Don Juan Farañal, Don Victorino Amancio, Don Alejo Apostol and Don Macario Manglicmot. These officials, together with some others in San Felipe, later worked for the separation of San Felipe from San Narciso through Don Alberto Barretto, who was then a member of the first Philippine Assembly. Meanwhile, before the separation Don Angel Dumlao y Farrales, from San Narciso, took over as Municipal President for San Felipe – San Narciso covering the period from January 1, 1905 to February 28, 1908.

Under the combined leadership of Nicolas Amagna, Flaviano Dumlao, Severo Amagna, Nemesio Farrales, Isidoro Fuenticilla and Joaquin Feria a resolution was adopted to effect the final separation of San Felipe from San Narciso. On March 1, 1908, San Felipe was formally separated from San Narciso and the first Municipal officials after separation were;

Barangays (district) in the poblacion and barangays (barrios) outside the town proper.

Barangays in the poblacion and their names :

Barangay Apostol has been named in honor of the late Capitan Municipal Juan Apostol, Barangay Manglicmot has been named in honor of the late Capitanes Municipal – Julian Manglicmot, Casimiro Manglicmot and Lope Manglicmot. Barangay Feria has been named in honor of the late Capitan Municipal Ambrosio Feria, Barangay Amagna has been named in honor of Municipal President Nicolas Amagna. Barangay Rosete has been named in honor of the late Capitan Municipal Pedro Rosete. Barangay Farañal has been named in honor of the late Capitan Municipal Pedro Farañal when the seat of the government was still in Sindol.

Barangays outside the poblacion and their names :

Barangay Balincaguing’s name was derived from the Zambal word balin which means house or home and caguing which means wild bats.

Barangays

San Felipe is subdivided into 11 barangays. 

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of San Felipe, Zambales, was 23,183 people, with a density of 210 inhabitants per square kilometre or 540 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

There are local Christian churches belonging to the Methodist, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, and Roman Catholic Church denominations. The local parish of the Catholic Church is dedicated to San Roque.

Education

There are private, public and parochial elementary, high schools and technological college in San Felipe

Elementary

Public:

Private:

High Schools

Public:

Private:

Colleges

Landmarks and places of interest