Masantol


Masantol, officially the Municipality of Masantol, is a municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.
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Etymology

The municipality is named after the santol trees that used to grow abundantly in the area. Another theory suggests that the town was where santol fruits were heavily bartered.
Still another 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 storekeeper 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.

History

San Miguel de Masantol May 1, 1878

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.

Balen ning Masantol 1907

On July 26, 1904, Masantol once more became part of Macabebe. However, in 1907, Masantol was again reinstated as a separate independent municipality and this lasted up to the present.

The Battle of Bangkusay Channel The Ruler of Macabebe

Tarik Sulayman Bambalino / Bankau or for some Historians the Unnamed ruler of Macabebe was the indigenous leader of Macabebe 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 Bangkusay Channel on June 3, 1571. The Joint Force of Macabebe, Calumpit, Hagonoy and Maynila "Old Rajahnate of Maynila under Rajah Sulayman III / Rajah Mura/Muda of Manila" were defeated, by the Joint Force of Spanish Armada and Tagalog mercenaries and Tarik Sulayman himself was killed in the Battle, and Consequently, this victory enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city "Territory of Kingdom of Tondo" and its neighboring Kingdoms and towns.

Tragedy

On January 7, 2008, one person drowned, another missing and 40 others were injured due to electric shocks, when a live cable hit the floating pagoda boat in the fluvial festival of Virgen La Purisima Concepcion at Barangay Alauli.

Geography

Masantol is almost surrounded by the municipality of Macabebe. It is known to be the southernmost town in the province of Pampanga. It is bounded to the north by the municipality of Macabebe; to the east by the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; to the west by Macabebe; and to the south by some parts of Macabebe and Manila Bay.
Masantol is from San Fernando and from Manila.

Barangays

Masantol is politically subdivided into 26 barangays, as shown below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
  • Alauli
  • Bagang
  • Balibago
  • Bebe Anac
  • Bebe Matua
  • Bulacus
  • San Agustin
  • Santa Monica
  • Cambasi
  • Malauli
  • Nigui
  • Palimpe
  • Puti
  • Sagrada
  • San Isidro Anac
  • San Isidro Matua
  • San Nicolas
  • San Pedro
  • Santa Cruz
  • Santa Lucia Matua
  • Santa Lucia Paguiaba
  • Santa Lucia Wakas
  • Santa Lucia Anac
  • Sapang Kawayan
  • Sua
  • Santo Niño

Sitios

  • Bebe Arabia
  • Sagrada 2

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Masantol was 57,207 people, with a density of.

Religion

The majority of the population are members of the Roman Catholic Church where each village or barangay has its own fiesta. The main Roman Catholic parish church of the town is the San Miguel Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas which was established in the late 20th century. 80% of the population identified with the Roman Catholic Church and it is followed by the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Islam, and other beliefs.

Festivals

  • Batalla San Miguel Arkangel - May 8, All Masantolenos
  • Battalla Santo Niño - every last Sunday of January. - Barangay Santo Nino
  • Batalla Santa Monica - May 4. - Barangay Santa Monica Caingin
  • Batalla San Roque de Montpelier - August 15,16,17 Sitio Bebe Arabia, Barangay Bebe Anac
  • Batalla San Roque - 3rd or 4th Sunday of April - Sitio Bebe Arabia, Barangay Bebe Anac, Barangay Bebe Matua
  • Batalla San Roque de Montpelier - August 15,16,17 Barangay Bebe Matua
  • Fiesta de San Nicolas - May 12 and September 10 - Barangay San Nicolas
  • Feast of The HOLY ROSARY - every 2nd Saturday of October in BULACUS MASANTOL
  • Batalla de Santa Lucia - December 13 of the year. - Barangay Santa Lucia Wakas, Matua, Anac
  • Batalla de San Agustin - August 28 Barangay San Agustin Caingin
  • Limbun at Libad or Labas Larawan in each barrio/barangay celebrating their patron saint for ones a week in January.
  • Nuestra Señora Dela Paz Y Buenviaje Festival- Baranggay Sapang Kawayan

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the Masantol North Schools District Office, and Masantol South Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Alauli Elementary School
  • Bagang Elementary School
  • Bagang Elementary School
  • Balibago Elementary School
  • Balibago Elementary School
  • Bebe Anac Elementary School
  • Bebe Matua Elementary School
  • Caingin Elementary School
  • Masantol Elementary School
  • Nigui Elementary School
  • Palimpe Elementary School
  • Puti Elementary School
  • Sagrada Elementary School
  • San Isidro Elementary School
  • San Nicolas Elementary School
  • San Pedro Elementary School
  • Santa Cruz Elementary School
  • Santa Cruz Main Elementary School
  • Santa Lucia Elementary school
  • St. Michael The Archangel Archdiocesan Parochial School Exclusive Catholic School
  • Sua Elementary School

Secondary schools

Technical school

Higher educational institution

  • Pampanga Institute