Masantol, Pampanga
| Masantol | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
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| Motto: Kayabe Kabang Bie | |
 Map of Pampanga showing the location of Masantol |
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 Masantol
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| Coordinates: 14°54′N 120°43′E / 14.900°N 120.717°ECoordinates: 14°54′N 120°43′E / 14.900°N 120.717°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon (Region III) |
| Province | Pampanga |
| District | 4th District |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Barangays | 26 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Danilo Sonza Guintu |
| • Vice Mayor | Rap Nulud |
| Area | |
| • Total | 48.25 km2 (18.63 sq mi) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 52,407 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 2017 |
| Dialing code | 45 |
| Income class | 2nd class |
| Website | masantolpampanga |
Masantol is a second class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,407 people. The town is named after the santol trees that used to grow abundantly in the area.
The town got its name from the fruit tree, either because there was a proliferation of santol trees in the area, or because the town was where santol fruits were heavily bartered (Kapampangans being fond of 'sinigang' dish).
A legend of how the town got its name goes like this: 'A Spanish missionary came to the town for the first time. Upon reaching a roadside corner store, he parked his horse-driven vehicle and inquired from the store keeper the name of the place. A middle-aged woman vendor, believing that the Spanish priest was asking for the name of the fruits she was selling, readily responded in broken Spanish language, Padre, todos dulce Masantol. The priest took from his pocket a pencil and a small diary and wrote down the word mas santol, referring to the name of the place he has visited. At the time, the locality abounded with santol trees, and santol fruits were in season when the priest visited the place.'
Tarik Sulayman was an indigenous leader from the Masantol area who refused to ally with the Spaniards and therefore mounted an attack against the Spanish forces of Miguel López de Legazpi during the Battle of Bankusay Channel on June 3, 1571. The Macabebe forces were defeated, and Tarik Sulayman himself was killed. Consequently, this victory enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city and its neighboring towns.
Originally named San Miguel de Masantol and a part of the town of Macabebe, three of the town's leading patriarchs - Manuel Fajardo, Gregorio Bautista, and Juan Lacap - filed a motion on June 26, 1877, to separate the barrios of Bebe, Bulacus, Caingin and Nigui from Macabebe thereby creating a new Spanish pueblo called San Miguel. This new pueblo was approved by Spanish Governor General Domingo Moriones y Murillo and was inaugurated on May 1, 1878. On November 30, 1893, the Catholic Parish of San Miguel was formally acknowledged through a Royal Decree. For a while it came to be known San Miguel Masantol, until popular usage reverted it to the original name.
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Wikipedia