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Socio-Economic Profile

THE BARANGAYS
The history of Aliaga is not complete without making mention of thebarangays that it covers. In the way, these barangays contributed to be economic, political and social growth of the town. The following is a brief description of each one of them. BETES Betes was formerly a land covered with wild grasses and trees. The pioneer of the place had to clear it first before they could plant new trees and farm crops for their foods. After the laps of many years their trees had grown bigger and taller. Strangely enough, out of the many new trees was one whose body was extremely large and hard that no cutting instrument could put it down. They name this trees betes . Eventually the place was called Betes in memory of the tree. Betes began as sitio and was crested into a barangay a few years back. Barangay Captain: Number of Population: Number of Household: Number of Purok: Number of Schools: Land Area: BIBICLAT The official name of the Barangay is San Juan Bautista, its original and popular name is Bibiclat. The word Bibiclat is a corruption of the word Bicat the Ilocano terms for python. Later on, it was associated with the word Bibiclat:, the plural form of Bicat . Establish in 1836 or 13 years earlier than the foundation of the Poblacion itself, it was officially created and organized in 1899, San Juan Bautista as its official name, in honor of the Patron Saint. The earliest settlers where Ilocano who came from Lapog, Ilocos Sur. Several years after, Pampango s arrived. Tagalog is the dialect spoken by the majority of the inhabitants, God-fearing and the most of whom are Roman
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Catholic, they are active in social and political activities. Foremost among each resident is Honorable Zacarias B. Viernes member of the Provincial Board. Prior to the arrival of the Americans, there were private schools in Ilocano and Tagalog in the Barangay. In 1904, in the first class in English was opened, but it was only after the Liberales complete Elementary School was organized. On August 25, 1970 the Barrio Elementary School became a Central School as a result of the division of Aliaga district into two district, east and west. Bibiclat Elementary School was chosen as seat of the district supervisor Mr. Pedro Pagba, Its principal who was designated Principal-in-charge of the newly opened school. In 1966 a Barangay High School was opened. Spearheaded by lay leaders and with all full backing of the folks, it turned out its first graduates in 1969. It is the first barangay high school in the division of Nueva Ecija to graduate students. More than 20 young sons of the barrio fought gallantly in World War II. One evidence of the barrios heroism occurred in November, 1944 when 13 Japanese soldiers led by Capt. Sato were killed by civilians and the USAFE Guerillas under of the able command of the late Carlos Nucom of Talavera. Bibiclat is the biggest and the richer of the barangays in the town, it being the home of industrious people and over green rice and vegetable fields, likewise, it is the only place in town that has bands of musical, two in row. Bibiclat has a total land area of about 7,000 hectares and population close to 4,000. With the completion of the roads connecting to Sto. Domingo, Quezon and Licab, the day is not long and it will achieve greater progress. Someday, it may become a town. BUCOT At the time of the arrival of the Spaniards, Bucot was a flat plain. This condition of the area prompted the colonizers to convert it into an agricultural site. In as much as its Patron Saint was San Isidro, It was named after it. How it come to be called Bucot is an interacting story a crooked, or twisted, river once run across the barrio. One day, some strangers passed by then inquired from one of the inhabitants the name of the river. By pure coincidence, the inhabitant was already bent with age and was about 80yrs.old. He replied that the name was Sapang Bucot upon hearing this reply the strangers laugh. You are perfectly right. Your river is crooked like you, they chorused. Since that
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they, the place received the name Bucot. These were moves in the past to revive its original name but no avail. LA PURISIMA Some 2 kilometers north of the Poblacion lies Barangay La Purisima, one of the oldest barangays in the municipality. Joined to the Poblacion by a provincial road it was a mere sitio during the American occupation of the Philippines. It was then called Tabing Ilog because it was just north of the bank of Talavera River that sliced through the boundary of the Quezon and Aliaga. The river was closed by big logs that were carried by the floods of 1837 from Caraballo mountains during the term of Gobernadorcillo Anastacio Dimaliwat, this was also the time when the river that ran across between Pantoc and La Purisima began to accumulate silt and in the occurs of time cause the floods to enter the town proper during rainy season. The closure of Talavera River led to the arrival of immigrants from Ilocos region. Then in 1913 during the time of Mayor Gregorio Pascua, Tabing Ilog became a barrio or Barangay. Its first Cabeza de Barangay being Carlos Hudencial, followed by Paulino Villanueva who was responsible for the opening of the first school in the English on June 12, 1922. With only a grade I class, the first teacher was Mr. Arsenio Dawang of barabgay Sto. Tomas. The pupils who were from 9-15 years old were proficient in reading Tagalog and in the four fundamental opening rations. Those good in Tagalog were placed under Mr. Binong Villanueva. The members of the English class included Mr. Pedro Pagba, former teacher and principal; Tranquillino Rivera, former Aliaga Councilor, Ladislao Villanueva, a onetime employee in Munoz, Agaton vargas, Former Member of Sangguniang Nayon; and Rosita Dumayag, a successful businesswoman in Metro Manila. They closed its door during the School year 1922-1923. In 1936 the name Tabing Ilog was change to La Purisima, in honor of its Patroness, La Purisima Concepcion. Five years later in December 1914, when World war II broke out, the residents of the barrio evacuated to the Poblacion and settle at the place we now call River Side . During they stay here, they were under the leadership of Barrio Lieutenant Emilio Payawal. At the end of the War, they returned to La Purisima, the rehabilitation of the barangay was undertaken by the inhabitants under the supervision of the barrio Lieutenant Agustin Sunga, Maximo Mata, Felix Simeon, Leopoldo Angeles, Carmelito Asuncion, Eutiquiano Espino, and Lucas Fortun. The Elementary School was re-opened immediately.
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La Purisima is today a very progressive community with Electricity, good roads joining it to the Poblacion and nearby Barangays, a Catholic Chapel and a modern health clinic most of the project, if not all, have been made possible through the efforts of the barangay Captain Onofre Mata. Mr. Mata has occupied the position since his election in 1972. In addition, there are now 139 houses and population close to 1000. It is rich in rice and vegetables. Other barrio Lieutenant who served the barabgay were Florencio Rivera, Florencio Dimayuga, Luciano Bondoc and Ricardo Agnes. MACABUCOD Macabucod, which used to be part of Sto. Tomas, was originally a forest land. There was not a single inhabitant or settler. A number of years later, a handful of houses appeared, about 15 of them. The sudden appearance of the houses led the people to call the place Bagong Silang . Gradually, the number of houses increased and the area cleared of the trees and grasses grew wider and wider. Under the leadership of Messrs. Esteban Dawang and Gaudencio Bayudan., the settlers appealed to the authorities concerned for the separation of Sto. Tomas. Its first barangay captain was Mr. Juanito Bayudan. With the help of Provincial Board Member Hon. Zacarias B. Viernes, Macabucod won its inclusion in the map of Aliaga. The second Barangay Captain Gaudencio Bayudan. Not along after the separation from Sto. Tomas, it put up its own houses, with Miss Rufina Ramos as its first teacher in Grades I and II. A few years later, it acquired complete Elementary School under the charge of Mr. Narciso Sayson. At present, the school and its immediate surroundings have greatly improved. The barangay is greatly indebted to Mrs. Florencia E. Manalili and Barangay Captain and P.T.A president Mr. Esteban Dawang. The name Macabucod came from the word bukod because it is separated from Sto. Tomas by wide span of savanna. PANTOC Nothing is said about the origin of Pantoc. Records available show that it occupies an area of the little more than 200 hectares; that its barrio Lieutenant in 1920 was Mr. Gavino Tumpalan: and that there were the only 30 houses and a
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population of 50. Four years later in 1924, the barrio Lieutenant was Mr. Lorenzo Gomez. The first elementary school opened in 1939 with only one teacher, Mr. Gamundo Macalinao, who held his classes in the chapel. Through the initiative of barrio Lieutenant Mr. Agaton Vargas, Mr. Gaudencio Molina, a wealthy landowner, donated a one-hectare school site. Because of this donation, the barrio was San Gaudencio Molina However, its present name of Pantoc is widely used. With the help of Mayor Reynaldo Bumanlag, San Miguel Alzate and barrio Lieutenant Mr. Felino Gatchalian an army type school building was erected on the new school site. During the term of Rep. Jose Corpus, a Corpus-type classroom was constructed. By now, the number of teachers has increased to two. Pantoc made another significant atride when Mayor Zacarias Viernes and barrio Lieutenant Crispulo Vitriolo jointly for the building of a road linking it to the Poblocaion. In the years that followed, Messrs. Leodegario Domingo, Roberto Tumpalan, Fedirico Tumpalan, Dionisio Bulawit took turns in servings as barrio Lieutenant. The present Punong Nayon is Mr. Marcial R. Vargas, who responsible for the installation of electricity in the barrio. At present, there are six teachers in the barrio school last September 20, 1979 the school had its electric light through the joint efforts of Mr. Nacario Gonzales, in-charge of the school and barrio council, not to mention the assistance extended by Mayor Quirino dela Cruz. There are now 159 houses and about 1000 residents. Predominantly Catholics and Iglesia ni Kristo, its inhabitants are engaged in farming. SAN CARLOS In the year of Spanish occupation, San Carlos was a vast area of the forest land inhabited by wild animals. Nobody dared live there. But one day, as the story goes, a family unexpectedly arrived. A native of illocos region, they build a hut at the edge of the forest. Their next move was to the area surrounding planted it the rice and vegetable. What they have done cleared and the number of the settler increaser until they were able to form a community of their own. Unfortunately, however, the Spaniards took advantage of the helpless inhabitants. They got their animals and food. There were also bandits who frequented the place. Afraid and feeling unsecured, they moved to Bibiclat but
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they continued tilling the land they had left behind. After conditions had returned to normal, they came back. Not long afterwards, however, a strong cyclone blew down their homes. But this calamity did not dishearten them. Instead, they built new homes. Ta this juncture, they thought it best to have in their undertakings. They agreed to adopt San Carlos Barromeo, the Patron Saint of the native town of the first settlers. Hence forth, the village has been called San Carlos. At present, San Carlos is a fast growing and progressive barangay. It celebrates its feast day of November 4, each year. SAN EMILIANO San Emiliano was originally a district of the town proper or Poblocion. It was called Cabasta because it was located along creek called by that name. During the Japanese occupations, the inhabitants of the district evacuated to the placed now occupied by the municipal cemetery in order to escape the harassment inflicted by the Japanese soldiers. During the Liberation, however, they returned to the respective homes. A few years later, Proceso Tolentino, the Lieutenant of the district, worked for its conversion into a barrio. With the help of Mayor Zacarias B. Viernes, it became a barrio in 1954. Because the site was part of the land owned by Don Emiliano Soriano, a wealthy land owner and a one time mayor of the town, it was renamed San Emiliano. The latest census shows that there are mare than 100 families in the barrio, majority of them are engaged in faming and fishing. With no less than 327 registered voters, it won t belong when it would be thickly populated like its counterparts in the town. SAN EUSTACIO The first name of Barangay San Eustacio was Pulong Mayaman . It was formerly a hacienda owned by Kapitan Anastacio Dimaliwat who serves as Mayor of the town for two terms, the first was in 1866-1867; the second, in 1872-1875. Upon the death of Kapitan Dimaliwat, her only daughter, Remedios, inherited the hacienda, in recognition of the Kapitan s kindness and generosity, the inhabitant changed the name Pulong Mayaman to San Eustacio. By virtue ot the
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Emantipication

Presidential Decree No.27, otherwise known as The Farmers Act. The hacienda was distributed to the tenants. SAN FELIPE (Bata)

San Felipe (B) was created by Congressional Act of the defunct Congress of the Philippines in 1970. A former of old San Felipe, it lies east of the town, along the national road that links Cabanatuan City and Tarlac. Blessed by good roads and hard-working people, it ranks among the progressive barangays of the municipality. Progress can be gleaned from the presence of electric power, numerous electric appliances, concrete houses, and the like. The outstanding citizens of the barangay included Ex-municipal councilor Engineer Marcos Villanueva Auditor I of the commission on Audit, Mr. Mario Vicencio public school teachers Mrs. Feliciano Villanueva; and Miss Anna Tolentino, a successful Balikbayan and an outstanding citizen of Chicago, she being Filipina supervisor of the Fame Palmer House, a chain of hotel and restaurants. Today, this small but progressive barangay has a few landmarks to be proud of, like a modern health center donated by Provincial Board under Governor Eduardo Joson, a complete elementary school, and a catholic chapel. With the residents behind their barangay captain. There are bright hopes that this small hamlet will force a head in all aspects of life. SAN FELIPE (Matanda) In Spanish times, San Felipe Matanda was a dense forest. Kapitan Felipe Medina, recognized leader of the place and former mayor of the town from 1874 to 1875, appointed one tininte del barrio in every point in the town. At the time to be appointed tininte del barrio was a distinct honor. He ordered all the tininte del barrio to clean all the areas his eyes could reach. After the place had been cleared, it was named after Kapitan Felipe Medina. That s why the barangay is called San Felipe. The death of kapitan Felipe Medina prompted his son take over duties of his father. He constructed a chapel and choose San Felipe Neri as patron saint of the barangay.
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As the year passed by and owning to the rivalries among the young store in the eastern and western parts of the barangay which was operated by almost two hectares of vacant lots, the east side was separated from the west side. The east side is now in San Felipe Bata; the west side, San Felipe Matanda. To think that for over 20 years ago San Felipe Matanda was only hacienda during the American occupation owned by Dona Sisang De Leon and after on the barrio of small hunts, dirt trails, deep wells and gas lamps, it has metamorphosed into a highly progressive community under the leaderships of barangay Captain Pedro Ignacio. Today s population is placed at 2,000 and total land area of about 218 hectares of agricultural and residential lots. SAN JUAN Prior to the Spanish conquest of the Islands, San Juan was called Pintong Gubat because it was literally a forest where wild animals abound. When it was established as a barrio in 1861. It was renamed San Juan, in honor of Governadocillo Don Juan Cajucom. The earliest settlers were mostly Ilocanos who were responsible in clearing the land. Upon order of the Governadorcillo. Roads were built leading to the nearly sitios and barrios for the transportation of their crops. That marked the beginning of San Juan progress. During the dark days of the last global war. San Juan has a Huk don. As was to be expected. The hard fact was the Huks were there only to safeguard the security of the barrio. San Juan s uphill climb to progress started in 1966. President Diosdado Macapagal s roads-building programs resulted is paving of the national road that slices through the barrio. Then same electric power and electric appliances in the community multiplied like mushrooms. It was in 1965 that the barrio had its complete elementary school. The desire of the education department to bring the school and the people closer to each other was realized in the barrio. The net result of this was the improvement of the school and its promises. Under the leadership of Barangay Captain Momerto Lesagpi, his councilmen, and with the cooperation of the barangay residents, San Juan with its 500 hectares of the land and 3,000 people will match ahead to prosperity. Add
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to this the presence of irrigation system and an imposing chapel which houses its patron Saint San Juan de Dios. SAN PABLO (Bata/Matanda) Reliable sources disclose that San Pablo Matanda was named after Pablo Tagatac Albino, one of the four originals setter, the other three settlers were Diego Enriquez, Julian Castillo and Teodora Banot. All natives of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, they arrived in San Pablo in 1854 and settle here. Located southwest of the Poblacion, San Pablo was traversed by the first national roads that run from Cabanatuan to Tarlac. It was about a kilometer away from it. After several years, its population grew bigger until houses could be found all around the place and even in the vicinity of the newly constructed roads leading to Tarlac via Zaragosa. This gave birth to a new barrio in 1921 called San Pablo Bata. The original barrio was renamed San Pablo Matanda. The first school building in San Pablo Bata was erected on a lot owned by Pedro Albino; The first chapel, on the lot of Miguel Albino. When Candido Albino was the barrio Lieutenant, a new school house was build on the lot bought from Feder Santos. Opened in 1951, the first teacher was Mrs. Eufomia Sanqueza. SANTIAGO Santiago is one of the oldest barrios in the town. Strangely enough however, it had made very little progress after many years because it was only recently that a good road was built connecting it to Poblacion . The old road was hardly passable, especially during the rainy season. The barangay was named after Santiago de Galicia, renown Spanish general. It is at the same time its patron Saint. Stories told by the oldest inhabitants disclosed the many miracles by the patron Saint, one of which occurred during the smallpox epidemic in the Islands. Very few in the barangay got the diseases, but the image of the Saint especially its face was riddled with smallpox. Likewise whenever the farmers in the barrio needed water for their rice plants. They had only to hold the novena in honor of the Patron Saint and the rains would come. The feast day of the saint, July 25, is an occasion for merrymaking in the barrio.

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STO ROSARIO Sto. Rosario s original name was Malitlit, because is was virtually a forest and most of all trees were small or Malitlit in the vernacular, People who had seen these trees started calling the place Malitlit. Not many years later passer-by the village observed that its residents always prayed the holy rosary before the leaving their house to work in their farms, so they renamed it Sto. Rosario which is currently its popular name. Sto. Rosario embraces to sitios, Katuray and Poitan. Under the leadership of Barangay Captain Felix Pascual, it has progressed by leaps and bounds. It has a complete elementary school, irrigated rice lands the roads and bridges that connect it to the adjacent barangay to the town proper. STO TOMAS Barangay Sto. Tomas was first called Pulong Gubat because it was forest. The first settlers who arrived here in 1875 were natives of the Ilocano region. They belonged to the Lomboy, Bumanlag, Pascua and Corpus clans they cleared the forest and planted it to rice and vegetables. The next thing theydid was to establish the right of ownership to the land. It took them some 30 years to clean the whole area. The first head of the barangay was one from the Pascua clan. Then from the lomboy and Bumanlag clans. A little later, the barangay was renamed Sto. Tomas. The name of the parton saint in one of the town in the Ilocos Norte. Sto. Tomas has produced many prominent citizens who have played important roles in the development of the barangay. Raymundo Bumanlag, Sr., mayor of Aliaga for two terms, was a native of this barangay. He died during the war. SUNSON Notheast of Bibiclat and almost adjoining San Carlos lies a small strips of land known to many as Sunson. This barangay was originally covered with trees and grasses but the first settlers who arrived in 1892 converted it into an agricultural land. One farm crop that became the pride of the settlers was so called Gabing Sunsong a variety of yam. People near and afar went to this village to see this
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yam. Since the village had no name, the settlers began calling Pulong Sunsong . Today, however, it is called Sunson for short. It was only recently when Sunson became a barangay. UMANGAN Barangay Umangan which is located in the eastern tip of Aliaga was a woodland during the early years of the Spanish regime. It was dense forest teaming with wild animals, such as deer, wild pigs, ducks and the like, so much so that it was a favorite hunting ground, in the absence of shotguns, the hunters used nets of pits equipped with spears and nooses to trap the animals. The days come when the settlers decided to clear the forest so they could cultivate the land. They built huts made of bamboos and cogon grass. Owning of the fertility of the soil, the number of settlers increased rapidly. A story is told about a hunter who chanced to pass by and did not know that it was the same place he used to hunt wild animals a few years back because of the presence of many houses. He told the inhabitants that their village was once a hunting ground or Umangan of wild animals. From that time on, it was called Umangan. As of 1980, Umangan has 273 houses and 1,529 inhabitants.

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