Guagua, Pampanga

Guagua
—  Municipality  —
Map of Pampanga showing the location of Guagua.
Guagua Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°58′7″N 120°38′8″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Pampanga
District	2nd District
Founded
Barangays	31
Government
• Mayor	Ricardo S. Rivera
Area
• Total	31.19 km2 (12.04 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	104,284
• Density	3,300/km2 (8,700/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2003
Income class	1st class
Website	guagua.gov.ph

Population Census of Guagua
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	95,363		—
2000	96,858		0.33%
2007	104,284		1.02%

Guagua (Hokkien: 偎岸 hua hua or Wawa) is a first-class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 104,284 people in 18,438 households.

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 kilometers off the capital city of San Fernando and 77 kilometers away 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.

History

"Wawa" which means "mouth of a river" or "alua or bukana" in the vernacular, was the original name of the town of Guagua as first known in the year 1590. Evidently, the town is strategically located along a river which played a vital role in trade and transportation in the early eras.

Guagua was already a prosperous settlement predating the Spaniards control of the town in the year 1561. Indeed, there were archeological artifacts excavated in a nearby town which affirmed a pre-historic 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 May 7, 1884. Much later it was followed by the steamships "Kaibigan" and "Kababayan," which anchored at the pier in Bo. Sto. Niño, better known as the Yangco 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 November 17, 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 laborers. Their influence on the cultural and economic life of Guagua cannot be overlooked. The town could not have prospered so readily without the Chinese' economic services.

The town took significant part in the revolutionary struggles against the foreign intruders. A house near the Catholic Church was made a secret cell of the Katipuneros in August 1897. In March 1898, all Spaniards in Guagua were murdered marking the end of Spanish colonialism, and the outset of American rule. Moreover, during the Philippine-American War and the ensuing 2nd World War, Guagua became an important battleground.

At the turn of the 20th century, a new system of education was introduced and made popular and available to the Filipinos. The Guagua Elementary School in Bo. Sta. 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 area 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 Bo. 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 Bo. Sta. 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 the "Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Development" to rectify its destitute state. The program gained several outstanding citations for its momentous achievement. From a mere "third class" standing in 1986, Guagua has grown to become a "first class" municipality. The sound fiscal status and effective governance brought forward translated to better and effective public service, and made Guagua a consistent recipient of several "Most Outstanding LGU" awards. All this, despite immense threat brought about by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

Barangays

Guagua composed of 31 jurisdictional units or barangays.

San Rafael was constituted from Duck Island in 1956.

For political and economic purposes, Guagua is subdivided into four (4) sectoral areas:

Poblacion Area Bancal Plaza Burgos San Nicolas 1st San Pedro San Rafael San Roque Sta. Filomena Sto. Cristo Sto. Niño

Pangulo Area San Vicente Ebus (Hon,Lyamando G. Naguit) Lambac Magsaysay Maquiapo Natividad Pulungmasle Rizal Ascomo Jose Abad Santos (Siran)

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

Betis Area San Agustin San Juan Bautista(Hon. Cristino Alipio) San Juan Nepomuceno San Miguel(Hon. Hector David) San Nicolas 2nd(Hon Michael Valencia) Sta. Ines(Hon. Joaquin Mañalac) Sta. Ursula

Physical Characteristics

Topography and Land Features 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 (Bahía 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 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 Types and Fertility 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

Timber, Mineral and Non-Mineral Resources 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 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.

Religion

Catholic 89%, Iglesia ni Cristo 3%, Evangelicals 3%, Others (Including Buddhism,Muslim and Other Religionist) 3%.

Education

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

• Private
  • Jesus Is Lord Christian School (JILCS)
  • Bright Learning Institute for Future Excellence (Bright LIFE)
  • First United Methodist Church Ecum. Sch.(PELC)
  • Flos Carmeli Learning Center
  • Guagua National Colleges
  • Montessori School of Guagua
  • Imma. Conception Parochial School
  • Jesus Saves Ministries Christian School
  • Natividad Adventist Elem. School
  • Northwestern Academy of Pamp.
  • Psalms Academy
  • St. Angela's Academy
  • St. John Academy
  • Saint Anthony Academy
  • St. Mary's Academy (for. Sacred Heart Academy)
  • St. Michael's College
  • St. Nicholas Academy (for. St. Nichol\'s Learning Center)
  • Trinity Christian Academy

• 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
  • 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

External links

• Official website of the Municipality of Guagua, Pampanga
• electronic Kabalen - a Kapampangan journal of ideas
• Guagua National College Alumni Web site for Batchmates of 1975
• Guagua National Colleges Website
• Guagua National Colleges Alumni Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information