Guagua, Pampanga

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Guagua
Municipality

Downtown

Map of Pampanga showing the location of Guagua

Guagua
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1458N 12038ECoordinates:

1458N 12038E

Country

Philippines

Region

Central Luzon (Region III)

Province

Pampanga

District

2nd District

Barangays

31

Government[1]
Mayor

Dante D. Torres (Liberal Party)

Vice Mayor

Anthony S. Twao

Area[2]
Total

48.67 km2 (18.79 sq mi)

Population (2010)[3]
Total

111,199

Density

2,300/km2 (5,900/sq mi)

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

2003

Dialing code

45

Income class

1st class

Website

www.guagua.gov.ph

Guagua is a first-class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2010
census, it has a population of 111,199 people.[3]
The town of Guagua belongs to the Second District of Pampanga, along with the towns in the southwestern part of the province. It is about 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) from the capital city of San Fernando
and 77 kilometres (48 mi) north from Metro Manila. The town is bounded on the north by the towns
of Bacolor and Sta. Rita; on the south by the towns of Sasmuan and Lubao; on the east, Macabebe
and Sasmuan; and on the west, Porac and Floridablanca.
Contents
[hide]

1History
2Geography
o 2.1Topography
o 2.2Climate
o 2.3Soil type
o 2.4Natural resources
o 2.5Flora and fauna
o 2.6Barangays
3Demographics
o 3.1Religion
4Local government
o 4.11937 Heritage Town hall
5Education
o 5.1Public
6Landmarks and List of Cultural Properties
o 6.1Santiago Apostol Parish Church
o 6.2Immaculate Conception Parish Church
7References
8External links

History[edit]
Wawa (Ln-nng: , Hua-hua),[citation needed] 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 Doa Dominga on 7 May 1884. Much later it was followed by the
steamships Kaibigan andKababayan, which anchored at the pier in Bgy Santo Nio, better known as
the Yagco Landing.

In 1892, when the ManilaMabalacat 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 FernandoGuagua 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 neartotal 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 PhilippineAmerican 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 Corazn de Jess (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[edit]
Topography[edit]
The town is almost flat and is suitable to any phase of development; agricultural, industrial,
commercial and others. It is only a meter above sea level. The general slope is south and southeast
toward the Bay of Pampanga (Baha de Pampanga in Spanish) which drains out into Manila Bay.
Further, Guagua is traversed by several creeks and tributaries during rainy days, which collect and
convey floodwater to the Guagua river and into the Manila Bay.

Climate[edit]
The climate prevailing in Guagua, like in other parts of Pampanga is Type I - District, wet and dry
seasons. The dry season starts from December until May, with the months of March, April and May
as the driest and hottest. Upon the other hand, wet season occur from June to November, in which
period the rain are heaviest.

Soil type[edit]
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

Natural resources[edit]
Guagua's location makes it rather poor in natural timber, mineral and non-mineral resources. The
town sources these materials from outside.

Flora and fauna[edit]

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.

Barangays[edit]
For political and economic purposes, Guagua is divided into four (4) districts, subdivided into
31 barangays:[2]
Poblacion district

Bancal
Plaza
Burgos
San Nicolas
1st
San Pedro
San Rafael
San Roque
Sta.
Filomena
Sto. Cristo
Sto. Nio

Locion
district

San
Pablo
San Juan
1st
San Jose
San
Matias
San
Isidro
San
Antonio

Pangulo district

Betis district

San Vicente
(Ebus)
Lambac
Magsaysay
Maquiapo
Natividad
Pulungmasle
Rizal
Ascomo
Jose Abad
Santos
(Siran)

San
Agustin
San Juan
Bautista
San Juan
Nepomu
ceno
San
Miguel
San
Nicolas
2nd
Sta. Ines
Sta.
Ursula

San Rafael was constituted from Duck Island in 1956.[4]

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Guagua
Year

Pop.

% p.a.

1990

88,290

1995

95,363

+1.45%

2000

96,858

+0.33%

2007

104,284

+1.02%

2010

111,199

+2.36%

Source: National Statistics Office[3][5]

Religion[edit]
Roman Catholic 88%, Members Church of God International 4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 3%, Others
(Including Buddhism,Islam and Other Religionist) 3%.

Local government[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Immaculate Concepcion Academy

St. Mary's Academy

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

Public[edit]

Bancal Elementary School

Betis Elementary School
Guagua Elementary School
Guagua National Colleges
San Agustin Elementary School
San Juan Nepomuceno Elementary School
San Miguel Elementary School
San Pedro Elementary School
San Rafael Elementary School
Sta. Ines Elementary School
Sta. 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

Landmarks and List of Cultural Properties[edit]

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

Addr

Saint James the

Apostle Parish
Church

declared a National Cultural Treasure by

the National Museum of the Philippines

Pampanga

Guagua, Pampanga

Brgy.

Immaculate
Conception Parish
Church

18th-century Roman Catholic church, with marker

from the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines

Pampanga

Guagua, Pampanga

Brgy.

Cultural
Property
wmph
identifier

Site name

Province

City/Municipality

Addr

Goseco Ancestral
House

Pampanga

Guagua, Pampanga

Brgy.

Rizal Monument

Pampanga

Guagua, Pampanga

Brgy.

Pampanga

Guagua, Pampanga

Brgy.

Guagua Municipal
Hall

Description

Built in 1937

Santiago Apostol Parish Church [edit]

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. [6]

Immaculate Conception Parish Church [edit]

Main article: Immaculate Conception Church (Guagua)

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.

References[edit]
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

Jump up^ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines:
Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
^ Jump up to:a b "Province: Pampanga". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical
Coordination Board. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
^ Jump up to:a b c "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1,
2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 12
December2012.
Jump up^ "An Act Creating the Barrio of San Rafael in the Municipality of Guagua, Province of
Pampanga". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
Jump up^ "Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division.
Retrieved 16 August 2013.
Jump up^ http://www.phil-ip-pines.com/catholic-churches.html

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to Guagua,
Pampanga.

Official website of the Municipality of Guagua, Pampanga

Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Philippine Census Information
Local Governance Performance Management System