Town History:

		Apalit
		Lubao
		Masantol
		Mexico
		Minalin
		San Fernando
		San Luis
		San Simon
		Santo Tomas

Others:

		PASUDECO Compound
		Pampanga High School
		PHS Class of 1954

Andro's Main Page

The Town of Apalit, Pampanga
by Alejandro S. Camiling, CPA with Teresita Z. Camiling, BSE, MA

Among the adventurous Malayan immigrants at the beginning of the 14th century who settled along the banks of Rio Grande de la Pampanga were the ancestors of many Apalitenos. These early settlers had an advanced civilization whose arts and culture reached the Zambales mountains and the rest of Central Luzon.

At the time Apalit was settled, there was a big sturdy tree "Ptero-Carpus Indicus" or Apalit (also known as Narra) in Kapampangan at the present site of the Catholic Parish Church of Saint Peter. Apparently, the town got its name from that big legendary tree which is now the national tree of the Philippines.

Apalit was formally established as an independent municipality in 1582 during the term of office of Spanish Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa. It was initially composed then of four encomiendas namely, Apali (Pale), La Castilla, Cabambangan and Capalangan. La Castilla was made the town proper (Poblacion) and was renamed later as San Juan Nepomuceno.

List of Apalit Municipal Town Executives/Mayors 1713 - Present

It was not until 1597 when the Apalit Parish of Saint Peter was created after its separation from the Parish of Calumpit. Fr. Pedro de Vergara was appointed as the first Parish Priest to attend to the spiritual needs of the Catholic community of Apalit. In conjunction with the annual town fiesta, the traditional fluvial parade of Saint Peter was initiated by Capitan del Pueblo Don Pedro Armayan Espiritu on June 28, 1844.

The town of Apalit is located in the southern part of Pampanga bounded in the south by Calumpit, Bulacan, in the north by the town of San Simon and in the west by the municipality of Macabebe.

With about 72 square kilometers in land area, the town of Apalit has a population of about 78,295 people (per the year 2000 census) in its twelve barangays. The twelve barangays of Apalit are:

Barrio Capalangan which derived its name from the Kapampangan word "Palang" meaning machete or bolo is believed to have been founded by the son of a certain Gatbonton named Pangpalung who in his in youth was called Macapagal. This barangay was the home of Panday Pira, the first known Filipino maker of cannons. He manufactured cannons called lantakas for the troops of Rajah Soliman and after the Spanish conquest of Manila, he worked for Adelantado and Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

Puerto Sulipan was once the haven of Philippine high society and elite circles of the rich and famous in politics and in business during the time of Capitan del Pueblo Don Joaquin Arnedo-Cruz and his beautiful and highly sophisticated wife, Dona Maria de la Paz Sioco y Arnedo-Cruz. Their palatial home was the venue of big parties attended by high government officials from Manila and European royalty. Their son Don Macario Arnedo, a four-term elected governor of Pampanga during the early years of the 20th century continued with his wife Dona Maria Espiritu Arnedo the traditional luxurious banquets and balls in barrio Sulipan. The people of Sulipan are famous for their exquisite cuisine which they acquired from Spanish and European chefs while Spanish ships were anchored in Puerto Sulipan for repairs and maintenance. Don Emilio Gonzalez, Capitan Juan Padilla, Anacleto Indiongco, Barrio Chieftain Simeon Torres-Simon and his four younger brothers, Lorenzo, Isaac, Miguel and Francisco Simon were among these Apaliteños who mastered the art of Spanish and European cooking and baking which have been carried by Kapampangans from generation to generation.

Apaliteños are also noted for their cottage industries such as weaving of cloth, mats, hats, pottery and metal working in gold, iron and silver. Many Apalitenos work as tailors in Manila and some of them own and manage their own shops and mens stores such as the late Atty. Amado Carlos of Toppers of Manila, Lorenzo K. Guarin, married to an Apalitena, the founder of L. K. Guarin Tailoring and Mens Wear and Remigio Danganan of Remars Tailoring and Fashion Shop.

Apalit is also a farming and fishing town. However, during the last few years, commercial and manufacturing firms have been established in this town. Among these manufacturing corporations are two large alcohol refineries and a big depot of a multi-national oil corporation in sitio Alauli of barrio San Vicente. Several banking institutions, shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets, movie theaters, restaurants are also flourishing in the business area of the town.

Among many famous Apaliteños who distinguished themselves in the 20^th century are the following:

Judge Fulgencio Anicete - An alumnus of FEU who was a working student when he finished law. He was also a former associate of  Geminiano Yabut Law Offices and was married to the former Naty J. Catacutan with whom he has three children; Alexander a PMA graduate and retired as a Colonel in the Philippine Marine, now a lawyer and connected with Cebu Pacific as a Commercial Pilot; Charlemagne a doctor of Medicine and Anna Marie who is in banking and finance. Judge Anicete served the Philippine Government, first as COMELEC Registrar in Apalit and was appointed in the Judiciary as Circuit Municipal Judge until his retirement at the compulsory age of 70 years.   He was active in community, civic and religious affairs in Apalit during his lifetime and has served in various capacities with the Apalit Town Annual Fiesta.

Governor Macario Arnedo -  The celebrated illustrado who was instrumental for the transfer of the capital of Pampanga from Bacolor to San Fernando and for the rapid development of agriculture, sugar manufacturing and commerce. 

Dr. Mariano Dungca Bayani - Widely known as a general practitioner in medicine, Dr. Bayani was both a licensed pharmacist and a medical doctor. He graduated with a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas and earned also his doctorate degree in medicine from the same institution in Manila. He specialized in pulmonary diseases (TB) at the Quezon Institute and later set up his medical practice in his hometown of Apalit while serving also as a municipal health officer. Well recognized in the medical and social circles and in civic activities, he was elected as president of the Pampanga Medical Society. His wife led the Pampanga Chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross for many years.

Fr. Gregorio Binuya - Another prominent Apaliteno  who dedicated his life to the priesthood in different parishes in Pampanga and became famous in the Cursillos Movement as a spiritual director and lecturer.

Brigadier General Narciso M. Cabrera - Manila Chief of Police.

Bert Simon Camiling - Popular socio-civic and labor leader; local radio station musical director; member of national award-winning musical group and dubbed as one of the best guitarists Pampanga has ever produced. Nominated for the Governor's Award for Outstanding Kapampangan Guitarist but died of cardiac failure in October, 1993.

Theresa Zuñiga Camiling-Gutierrez - Born in the City of San Fernando in the Province of Pampanga, Philippines and with heritage in the three towns of Lubao, Apalit and Bacolor in the same province, she is a pride of Filipino-Americans for her scholastic and outstanding professional accomplishments. As an active community organizer and  strong advocate of the propagation of her native language and culture, she founded the Philippine-American Youth Association in the cities of Altadena and Pasadena, California. She was the first Filipino-American Field Office Director of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Chairperson of the Federal Executive Board of Greater Los Angeles.

Prior to assuming the role of Los Angeles Field Office Director in December 2003, Theresa was the Field Office Director for the Santa Ana, California HUD Office, and had been a Project Director for a real estate auction marketing firm, a Marketing Vice President, a commercial and residential Real Estate Agent, and the head of a nonprofit housing organization. The spirit she brought to HUD’s Los Angeles Office and Santa Ana, California HUD Field Office magnified her efforts to support low-income families as they strive to live the American Dream. As an Environmental Health Specialist with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services she investigated and issued Notices of Violations of health and safety codes in the arena of Housing as well as retail food handling.
 
Educated at the University of Southern California, Theresa had served on the boards of several nonprofit housing organizations throughout Southern California. She joined HUD in 1999 as a Community Builder Fellow and graduated from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Executive Management Program. After her fellowship, she became a career Community Builder and was promoted later to Senior Community Builder for the Santa Ana, California HUD Office. In April of 2002, she was selected as the Santa Ana, California Field Office Director and then transferred to the Los Angeles, California HUD Field Office in 2003. For her outstanding achievements as a US federal governmental agency executive, she was recognized and awarded plaques of appreciation by the Inspector General of the US Department  of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Office of Personnel Management in Washington DC and by the Federal Executive Board of Greater Los Angeles.

Atty. Restituto Capulong - A Pampanga High School Centennial Awardee for Government Service is a noted lawyer-politician who served as a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) representing the 4th District of Pampanga in 1992-1998. He was also a director and corporate secretary of Clark Development Corporation, Managing Director of Mondragon Leisure Estate (Mimosa) and Officer-In-Charge of CDC Special Project for Resort Operations. In addition to his current law practice, he is also corporate secretary of JCET Resources Mining Corporation and Microminerals Resources Mining Corporation as well as Director-President of Pampanga III Electric Cooperative (PELCO III).

Dr. Vicente Catacutan - Internationally-known socio-civic-religious leader, former Provincial Board Member, founding president of the Apalit Small Christian Community Hospital (ASCOM) and recipient of a Papal Award "Equitem Ordinis Sancti Silvestre".

Honorable Carmen Espiritu Cruz de Sexton served as a Philippine Ambassador.

Don Jose Escaler - A top-notch lawyer, educator, industrial and business executive. He was the first president and general manager of PASUDECO, first Filipino assistant director of Education, Undersecretary of Justice and a member of the Board of Regents and acting president of the University of the Philippines.

Atty. Jose A. Espiritu - Professor and Dean of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines.

Dr. Remedios E. Galang - A medical graduate of the University of the Philippines and first woman councilor of Apalit and co-founder of two private schools in Apalit and San Luis.

Col. Ricardo Galang - Author, graduate school dean and World War II hero who fought the Japanese Imperial Forces. He established an Allied Forces Espionage network during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and maintained  a military liaison with General Douglas MacArthur in Australia. 

Dr. Ricardo Espiritu Galang, PhD - Famous anthropologist, distinguished professor, author and former chairman of the Anthropology Department of the University of the Philippines.

Ambassador Hermenigildo B. Garcia - A linguist and career diplomat. He rose from the ranks to the position of Ambassador of the Philippines.

Brother Andrew Gonzalez - Former Secretary of Education, author, former president of De La Salle University and Manila Bulletin and primary donor for the construction and operation of Apalit Small Christian Community Hospital.

Don Augusto Gonzalez y Sioco - Successful industrial executive, lawyer, philanthropist who donated the present site and the Apalit Municipal Government building, co-founder of Pampanga Sugar Development Co., Inc. and one of the most prominent and wealthy Kapampangans during his lifetime.

Dr. Bienvenido M. Gonzalez - A brilliant educator and former president of the University of the Philippines.

Don Fausto Gonzalez y Sioco - Generous philanthropist and a distinguished member of the Philippine National Assembly in the 1930s. Don Fausto was also known in Europe and in America as "Count of Apalit".

Dr. Fernando S. Gonzalez - Eldest son of Dr. Joaquin and Dona Florencia Sioco Gonzalez who followed the footsteps of his famous father in the medical profession and became an efficient public health officer in Pampanga, La Union and Rizal. Through self-study he became proficient in foreign languages such as German, Italian, Malay, Sanskrit, etc. He was an artist, a playwright and coin and stamp collector. He married Dona Clementina Elizalde, a beautiful and intelligent teacher from the prominent and wealthy Elizalde clan and they settled in San Luis, Pampanga. As a landowner, he was down to earth and loved by his tenants and by their families.

Gene Gonzalez - Nephew of Brother Andrew Gonzalez, famous book author in culinary arts, entrepreneur and owner of popular restaurants in Metro Manila, a high class caterer and an Asian Games champion in fencing.

Dr. Jesus S. Gonzalez - Second eldest son of Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez and Dona Florencia Sioco Gonzalez. Like his dad and elder brother, he became also a famous medical doctor who had four years of post graduate medical training as a pediatrician in Munich, Germany and he was the only doctor at one time in the whole nation who could perform a procedure called "intubation" whereby a tube is placed in the trachea to let the patient breathe. 

Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez - Pampanga Representative to the Malolos Congress and first rector of Universidad Cientifico-Literaria de Filipinas, the forerunner of the University of the Philippines.

Atty. Almario de Jesus - The third child of the eleven children of former Councilor of Apalit, Andres V. de Jesus and the former Rosa Castillo who attended Jose Escaler Memorial School in his hometown of Apalit, Pampanga. He worked at Camp John Hay at the City of Pines while pursuing his college education at Baguio Colleges. A brilliant student and outstanding public speaker and debater, he graduated from Baguio Colleges with a Bachelor of Laws degree and passed the bar examination in 1965. He set up his law practice in Manila handling legal cases for Guacods Marine Terminal, Luzon Stevedoring Corporation and multi-national oil corporations such as Arco, Amoco and Superior Oil of Houston Texas. He was also appointed by the Philippine Supreme Court as a Legal Aid Lawyer in Pampanga helping indigents who needed legal representation.  An active socio-civic-religious leader, he served as president of the Rotary Club of Southern Pampanga, Worthy Advocate of the Knights of Columbus and an officer of the Apaliteños Educational Foundation. He is also a Director/Parliamentarian of the Apaliteños of Southern California, Academia Ning Amanung Sisuan International and the United Pampanga Leaders Council, an umbrella organization of Pampanga towns associations in Southern California. 

As a strong advocate of the propagation of the Kapampangan language and culture, he is acclaimed for his writings and poems in Kapampangan. In 2008, he was awarded the Medal and Certificate of Excellence in Poetry by the United Poet Laureate International and on September 6, 2009, he was proclaimed and recognized as Poet Laureate by Academia Ning Amanung Sisuan International (ANASI) and by the Aguman Capampangan in Portland, Oregon. Such awards made him the first and only Apaliteño to be bestowed with such prestigious recognition. He is now a member of the College of Poet Laureate of the Parnasung Kapampangan. His composed poems could be accessed in his blog http://sites.google.com/site/almariodejesus.

Mayor Tirso Lacanila - Self-made millionaire, two-term vice mayor and current mayor of Apalit and benefactor of many young, poor but intelligent Apalitenos in pursuing their education.

Brigadier General David Laquian - Deputy Chief of Staff of the Philippine National Police.

Bert Le Roy - One of the best character actors of his time both on stage and  screen. His patriotism led to his arrest, imprisonment and death at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II.

Fr. Rolando Q. Lopez - A native Apaliteno who has been appointed as Parish Priest of Apalit in Selptember 2007 replacing Fr. Larry Sarmeinto who has been re-assigned to another parish in Pampanga.

Adelino Lugue - Well-known Philippine CPA, co-founder of the Cursillo Movement in Pampanga, District Governor of Rotary International and former Provincial Board Member.

Dr. Amado B. Lugue, Jr - Prominent medical doctor in Pennsylvania specializing in Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Mayors Alfonso Lugue and Romeo Pamintuan - Long-term mayors of Apalit credited for the peace and order and rapid business development in the community during their respective administration.

Dr. Carlos Manlapaz - Successful doctor of dental medicine and renowned socio-civic-leader who chaired the Philippine Centennial Celebration in Los Angeles, California.

Cresencio Simon Mendoza - Self-made millionaire, business leader, former president  of Rotary Club of Apalit, Pampanga, primary donor/committee chairman for the construction of the first Catholic Chapel in Alauli and  father of town councilor and businessman Sonny Mendoza.

Dr. Jose Carlos Pangan, Jr. - Consistent scholar from grade school to School of Medicine at University of Santo Tomas. Took post graduate studies in New York and established a successful medical practice in general surgery in Massachusetts.

Engineer Godofredo Gaddi Pangan - Administrator of the Rural Electrification Program of the Philippines and Undersecretary and acting Secretary of Public Works.

Atty. Pastor T. Pangan -  Regional Director of the National Bureau of Investigation who was recognized as Outstanding Pampangueno for Law Enforcement.

Dominador Pangilinan - President and Chief Executive Officer of Traders Royal Bank, one of the leading commercial banks in the Philippines.

Manuel V. Pangilinan - has his roots in Apalit, Pampanga. He completed his elementary and high school education at San Beda College and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree at Ateneo de Manila University (Cum Laude). He received his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania in the USA. A very successful and wealthy businessman, he is the chairman of PLDT, ABC TV5, Smart Telecommunications, Stradcom International Holdings Inc. and Cure Inc., First Pacific Company Ltd, Cignal Digital TV, Pilipino Telecommunication Corporation Piltel (Talk N' Text), First Pacific Tollways Corporation and Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, He is also the President and CEO of MERALCO as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of San Beda College.

Engr. Pastor Pangilinan - First Apaliteno to graduate in Aeronautical Engineering  in the early 1950s from FEATI University and became a  senior vice president for operations of Philippine Airlines and a consultant of other airlines.

Sixto Pangilinan - A successful entrepreneur who started as a traveling merchant, he established the first Flying A Gasoline Station, initiated the Pangilinan Service Station and operated a retail store in Apalit. He was also a popular  cabeza del barrio (barangay captain) of San Vicente and a municipal councilor in his hometown.

Mayor Emilio Pascual, MD - A well-respected medical practitioner and popular political and civic leader in his community, he was appointed  as a municipal mayor of Apalit in 1947 to jump-start the economic recovery of his hometown from the ravages of World War II.

Orlando Punsalan - Famous radio announcer and father of movie actress Princess Punsalan.

Dr. Antonio C. Quiroz - Voted as 1988 Outstanding Filipino Physician by the Association of Filipino Physicians in America. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialty of Internal Medicine and the subspecialty of Cardiovascular diseases.  He is a product of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and trained at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and the Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been a professor, a researcher and a cardiology department director at various medical centers and hospitals in the United States of America. He was also a Visiting Professor of Medicine at the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. He is credited with at least 43 publications in American Medical journals. He is listed in Leaders in American Science, Who's Who in Louisiana, Personalities of the South and the Marquis' Who's Who in the South and Southwest. Still in active practice in the medical profession, he specializes in cardiology in Germantown, Tennessee. He completed his elementary schooling in public schools in Apalit, Pampanga and his secondary education at Pampanga High School at the age of fifteen years and his medical degree from the University of Sto. Tomas when he was twenty-two years of age.

Col. Eulalia P. Reyes - A woman medical doctor who joined the United States Air Force Medical Corps after a successful medical practice in the USA and in the Philippines and rose to the rank of colonel.

Florante P. Reyes: - Successful Certified Public Accountant and Chief Executive Officer in the Insurance and Banking Industry and well-known sportsman, socio-civic leader and philanthropist in the Philippines.

Larry Sigua - Leading businessman, real estate developer, journalist, newspaper publisher and current president of Knights of St. Peter.

Atty. Rodolfo Sigua - Celebrated member of the legal profession and renowned political leader of Pampanga.

Bernardo P. Simon who has to his credit the authorship of several elementary mathematics books and publications is a very promising career executive of the Department of Education in the Philippines. He started his professional career as a classroom teacher and moved up as Head Teacher-III then to School Principal-I.  Impressed by his administrative and technical skills, the DepEd Division of Pampanga promoted him to Education Supervisor-I in-charge of Elementary Mathematics and as Industrial Arts Physical Facilities Coordinator. In 2008, he was transferred to the DepED Region III Office and was given the title of Education Supervisor-II. He was promoted again in May 2010 as Assistant Division Chief of DepED Region III. He is also a member of the Faculty of the Graduate School of the Don Honorio Ventura Technological University in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Dr. Simon’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education, Master of Arts in Industrial Education and Doctor of Education.

In 1999, the DepED City Division of San Fernando, Pampanga conferred on him the Most Outstanding School Administrator Award and on December 12, 2006, the DepED Physical Facilities Schools Engineering Department Central Office awarded him as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Physical Facilities Coordinator of the Philippines

Dr. Simon is married to the former Norma Capulong, Public School Principal II and they are blessed with three children namely, Bernadette, a senior bank teller at BDO, Normando, Dean of the College of Business Administration at Systems Plus University in Angeles City and May, a Core Trainer. 

Eddie Ayson Simon - Current Provincial Board Member of Pampanga, successful business and insurance executive, major financial contributor to barangay projects and champion of the poor.

Engineer Juanito Ayson Simon - Pride of Apalit and an international award-winning inventor of an engine oil additive which is now in the market in the USA, the Philippines and other countries.

Cecilia Gonzalez Soriano - Career government official and former Undersecretary of Finance.

Dr. Manuel Galang Soriano, Jr. - Eminent specialist in urology who took up graduate studies in medicine in the USA and set up a successful medical practice in Pennsylvania. To share his expertise in the medical profession to his fellow Filipinos, he decided to return to the Philippines as a consultant and FEU associate professor of urology.

Amando Tetangco, Jr. - Governor of the  Central Bank of the Philippines.

Mayor Oscar Tetangco - Long-term municipal executive and strong advocate of industrial and commercial development of the town of Apalit.

Brigadier General Edgar Dula Torres- Superintendent of the Northern Police District of the Philippines and Vice Chairman of the Philippine Police Commission.

Atty. Eller Dula Torres - A law scholar who scored 91% in the bar examination. He was appointed as the first city fiscal of Angeles City and served later as assemblyman of the 3rd district of Pampanga.

Atty. Medardo D. Torres - A five-star defense lawyer in many criminals and civil cases in the '60s. Had he not migrated to the USA as an aspiring stage/television/movie actor, his legal expertise could have already made him a famous judge or a justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Atty. Torres is now a successful businessman in southern California specializing in real estate marketing and financing.

Sixto Vergara Torres - Worked for the Land Transportation Commission as regional director and deputy commissioner. He is most remembered for founding the Gonzalez Memorial Academy which is now a college in Apalit.

Dr. Carlos Uyan - Socio-civic-religious leader, leading doctor of veterinary medicine and president of ASCOM USA.

Palmacio Espiritu Vargas - Well-known socio-civic-religious leader, bank and business executive and was once elected number one municipal councilor and father of former town councilor Marlon Vargas.

Thousands of Apalitenos fought for their country to gain independence against the Spaniards, the Americans, the Japanese and other foreign invaders.

(email: [email protected])

About the Authors:

Andro and Tess Z. Camiling are conscientious researchers and writers of Kapampangan history, language and culture. They wrote “Pampanga: History and Culture", "Pampanga: Towns and Barangays", "The Province of Pampanga and Its People” and other articles including “Malay Relation With Kapampangan Language and Culture”, "Spanish Relation With Kapampangan Language and Culture", biographies of eighteen (18) famous Kapampangans and the history of the towns of Apalit, Lubao, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, San Fernando, San Luis, San Simon and Santo Tomas of the Province of Pampanga, Philippines. Andro is a true-blue Kapampangan based in California USA where he was employed and retired as an accounting/financial director at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and practiced his CPA profession as a management and tax consultant. He is a Pampanga High School Centennial Awardee as an Outstanding Alumnus in the Field of Accountancy and a recipient of the City of San Fernando’s 2011 Outstanding Fernandino Award for Culture. His wife and co-author of the aforementioned articles, the former Teresita Manalansan Zuniga of Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines is a retired public school teacher in Pasadena, California. She was honored and awarded with Certificates of Recognition by the California State Assembly and the California State Senate for her outstanding dedication to teaching when she retired in 2003. Andro and Tess are dedicated socio-civic-religious leaders in their community and served as long-term presidents of their town non-profit charitable organizations in the USA.