Mexico, Pampanga
| Mexico | ||
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| Municipality | ||
Town hall
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 Map of Pampanga showing the location of Mexico |
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.svg)
 Mexico
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| Coordinates: 15°04′N 120°43′E / 15.067°N 120.717°ECoordinates: 15°04′N 120°43′E / 15.067°N 120.717°E | ||
| Country | Philippines | |
| Region | Central Luzon (Region III) | |
| Province | Pampanga | |
| District | 3rd District | |
| Founded | April 24, 1581 | |
| Barangays | 43 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Teddy Tumang | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 117.41 km2 (45.33 sq mi) | |
| Population (2015) | ||
| • Total | 154,624 | |
| • Rank | 13 out of 1,489 Municipalities | |
| • Density | 1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Mexican | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | |
| ZIP code | 2021 | |
| Dialing code | 45 | |
| Income class | 1st class | |
| Website | mexicopampanga |
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Mexico is a first class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it had a population of 154,624 people.
The town was renamed after Mexico, a country in North America after being confused with its native name "Masiku" which is often taken as "Elbowed" (elbowing river: macasicung ilug). Some theories attribute the name to "Siku"; an Old Kapampangan term for Chico or Sapodilla which grew richly in the town. It has residential, commercial and recreational developments such as SM Pampanga and Beverly Place. It is a first class municipality which has various educational institutions including Our Lady of Guadalupe School and Play Matters Therapy Center in Lagund).
Mexico is administratively subdivided into 43 barangays.
In the 16th century, the site was a crossing point between the Áitâ Mag-Anchî and Áinu (Abûrlin) nations at the upper reaches of the Ábakan River and the international port cities of Bétis and Lúbao to the south. Upland products such as deerskins and beeswax became important commodities to the 16th-century Japanese who made candles out of beeswax and samurai armours out of deerskins. Plying their goods down the Ábakan River, these upland traders would have had no choice but to slow down and dock at the place “where the river bends” (nung nú ya másíku ing ílug) or “where the river has an elbow” (nung nú ya makisíku ing ílug) before continuing their trip downstream. From there, the river is matúlid (straight) all the way to its mouth at Uáuâ. Enterprising merchants from Lusòng Guo (Luzón: c. 13th century – 1572) and perhaps even from Japan and China formed a trading base at this natural checkpoint known as Makisíku or Másíku. Japanese sources credited the introduction of candles into the Japanese homes to renowned Hakata merchants Shimai Shoushitsu and Kamiya Soutan both of whom were known to have had trading bases in Lusòng Guo.
After the Fall of Lusòng Guo in 1571, Makisíku or Másíku became an important center for the Spanish colonizers. They renamed it Nueva México and made it the capital of the newly formed Province of Pampanga. Gaspar de San Agustin wrote that being the capital, Mexico was one of the most “beautiful and charming” centers in the province. A lavish church made of stone and tiles, the Parish of Santa Monica, was built in 1581 with Masangsang and Matúlid serving as its visitas.
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Wikipedia