Rizal, Nueva Ecija

Rizal
Municipality
Rizal Municipal Hall (Poblacion Sur)
Seal
Map of Nueva Ecija showing the location of Rizal
Rizal Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°41′N 121°10′E / 15.683°N 121.167°E / 15.683; 121.167Coordinates: 15°41′N 121°10′E / 15.683°N 121.167°E / 15.683; 121.167
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Nueva Ecija
District	2nd District
Founded	1913
Barangays	26
Government
• Mayor	Rafaelito V. Andres
• Vice Mayor	Dwight G. Mangapis
Area
• Total	120.55 km2 (46.54 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	57,145
• Density	470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	3127
IDD : area code	+63 (0)44
Income class	2nd class; rural

Rizal is a second class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 57,145 people. Amyhan Fall, Mainit Hot Spring and Rizal dam are the top tourists spots everybody could visit.

Rizal is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.

Historically, two groups were known to have settled in the area. The main group consisted entirely of the pioneer-settlers who were Ilocanos, while others, who arrived later, were of different tribes with different dialects. They merged and formed a new neighborhood, originally called Bunobon after the bunobon seedlings that thrived in the soil. It became a sitio of Cabucbucan under the jurisdiction of Bongabon municipality.

In 1904, sitio Bunobon became a barrio called Nazareth. Because of the steady arrival of new settlers, a council of elders was formed. Selected as head was Apo Juliano Paraiso, one of the eldest within the group, who headed the request to the government to convert Nazareth into an independent town. Through the help of Governor Manuel Tinio and Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon, the request of the elders was approved in 1908.

On December 26, 1912 Vice Governor Newton signed the act and simultaneously issued a proclamation creating the town of RIZAL. The town was named after Doc. Jose Rizal. On January 1, 1913, Don Julian Paraiso took his oath as the first Alcalde of the Municipality. In 1917 and 1918, the Bureau of Land surveyed the Municipality into homestead and residential lots. In 1930, Barangay Paco Roman became barrio thru the leadership of the late Mr. Florentino Castelo, separating it from Barangay Estrella. Sometime in 1940, General Luna became a barrio of which the area was taken from barangay Canaan and in 1954 Villa Paraiso was created into a barrio separating it from Barangay Canaan and was named in honor of late Mayor Gaudencio V. Paraiso.

During World War II, Japanese Imperial forces occupies and entering the town in Rizal in 1942. In 1945, combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth ground troops including the local various recognized guerrillas and Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas liberated the town and defeated Japanese Imperial forces and ended the Second World War. After the war, many families started business and agricultural and farm lands.

In 1954, Rizal lost some of its territory when the barrios of San Felipe and San Alfonso were separated to form the town of Llanera along with some territory from Talavera and San Jose.