The Macapagals in Philippine History

Here’s a list of notable Macapagals in the history of the Philippines. Will you consider them patriotic or the other way around?

Lakan Dula

Lakan Dula (1503–1589) was the Rajah or King of Tondo who fought the Spaniards during the colonization of the Philippines. Lakan Dula which means "lord" and "palace" in Kapampangan was the Malayan title for monarchs in Tondo. Banaw was the personal name of Lakan Dula recorded in Philippine history at the period of the Spanish colonization.

The Spaniards used Lakan Dula in pacifying the last independent settlements in Luzon which include Lubao and Betis. He helped the Spaniards in defending their settlements against the invasion of Chinese pirates led by Warlord Limahong.

Don Juan Macapagal

Don Juan Macapagal was Datu of Arayat. He was the great-grandson of the last ruling Lakandula (King) of Tondo, Don Carlos. He was given the title Maestre de Campo General of the natives Arayat, Candaba and Apalit for his aid in suppressing the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660. He further aided the Spanish crown in suppressing the Pangasinan Revolt of Don Andres Malong in the same year, and the Ilocano Revolt of 1661. Don Juan Macapagal died in 1683. Don Juan Macapagal is a direct ancestor of Philippine Revolutionary General, Lazaro Macapagal and two former Philippine Presidents, Diosdado Macapagal and his daughter, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Lazaro Macapagal

Lazaro Macapagal is a General in the Philippine Revolution, known for his loyalty to Emilio Aguinaldo and his orders to execute Andres Bonifacio and his brothers. He is of royal blood by being a descendant of Don Juan Macapagal, a prince encomiendero of Tondo and he is an ancestor of Diosdado Macapagal, the 9th president of the Philippines and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the 14th President of the Philippines.

Diosdado Pangan Macapagal

Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (September 28, 1910 – April 21, 1997) was the 9^th President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the 6^th Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. His daughter, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo served as president of the Philippines from 2001-2010. Diosdado Macapagal is a descendant of Don Juan Macapagal (a prince of Tondo) who was a great-grandson of the last reigning Rajah of Selurong, Rajah Lakandula

Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947) was the 14^th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. She was the 12^th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives. She is the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal. Numerous cases of plunder and graft and corruptions were filed in court against Macapagal-Arroyo and his husband. It is believed by many that she cheated in the controversial 2004 Presidential elections to assure her win. She was one of the most unpopular Philippine presidents for the many scam, corruptions and controversies during her regime.

Mickey Arroyo Macapagal

He owns million dollars worth of properties in California, USA, in the Philippines and anywhere else in the world. He is also allegedly a tax evader. He is now facing numerous cases of grafts and corruptions, tax evasions and many others.

See also

• Philippine Events With Great Impact and Importance in World History
• Philippine Largest Christian Denominations Established By Filipinos

100+ Interesting Historical and Geographical Facts About Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija is one of the provinces of Region III, more popularly known as Central Luzon. Here are some interesting and historical facts about this province.

1.) Nueva Ecija is the largest province of Central Luzon in terms of land area.

2.) It was named after Ecija, an old city in Seville, Spain. Seville is part of Andalucia region.

3.) The name was given by Governor General Fausto Cruzat, former Spanish Governor General of the Philippines during the Spanish occupation.

4.) As described by Cruzat, Nueva Ecija (New Ecija) is comparable to a “sarten” or frying pan and resembles his hometown “Ecija”.

5.) Nueva Ecija was created as a military commandancia in 1777 by Governor General Narciso Claveria with its capital – Josean (now part of Baler, Aurora), and was part of Pampanga.

ImageSource

6.) Hukbalahap or Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon was organized in Sitio Bawit, San Juan, Cabiao on March 29, 1942 through the leadership of Luis Taruc.

7.) Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province bounded by Nueva Vizcaya in the north, Pangasinan in the northwest, Aurora in the east, Tarlac and Pampanga in the west and Bulacan in the south.

8.) The province is composed of 27 municipalities and 5 cities with a total of 849 barangays.

9.) Nueva Ecija is the largest rice producer in the country and is known as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines”.

10.) One popular national park in the province of Nueva Ecija that features a breathtaking view of high limestone walls and ridge formation of white sculptured limestone is Minalungao in the town of Peñaranda.

11.) The old name of Gapan City, located in the southern part of Nueva Ecija, is Ibon.

12.) The former name of Muñoz Science City, the only science city in the Philippines and the 2^nd in Asia, is Sitio Papaya.

13.) The old name of Gabaldon is Bitulok then it was change to Sabani.

14.) San Jose City, known as the “onion capital of the Philippines”, is formerly known as Kabaritan.

15.) The province has four major rivers namely; Pampanga River, Chico River, Malimba River and Talavera River.

16.) Museo Novo Ecijano or Nueva Ecija Museum was established to feature the rich history and culture of the Novo Ecijano people. It is located in Palayan City, the capital of the province.

17.) Aliaga is known for its historic Taong-Putik Festival while Santo Domingo is famous for its Tupig Festival.

18.) Bongabon is known for Sibuyas Festival and claims that it is the “onion capital of Southeast Asia”.

19.) A similar festival, which is celebrated every 3^rd week of April in San Jose City, is the Tanduyong Festival.

20.) The smallest city in Nueva Ecija and in the Philippines in terms of population is Palayan City.

21.) Palayan City is also one of the only 6 specifically planned cities in the country. The other cities are Manila, Baguio City, Quezon City, Trece Martirs and the Island Garden City of Samal.

22.) The province of Nueva Ecija is composed of 5 schools division -Nueva Ecija, Cabanatuan City, Gapan City, Science City of Muñoz and San Jose City Division

23.) Lakewood Golf and Country Club is a popular 18-hole golf course that can be found in the province of Nueva Ecija.

24.) The first governor of Nueva Ecija is Felino Cajucom.

25.) The governor who served the longest is Eduardo L. Joson, a World War II hero. He served for 28 long years.

26.) The town of Peñaranda is well-known for its Araquio Festival that features the search of the Cross and the war between the Moors and Christians.

27.) A similar cultural tradition that features war between the Moors and Christians is also celebrated in the town of Lupao every 25^th of July. It is called Baybayanting.

28.) During the early days, the head-hunting tribe of the mountainous areas of northern Nueva Ecija known as Ilongots were much feared and dreaded in the entire Nueva Ecija and other neighboring provinces.

29.) The tribe does not practice headhunting anymore. Many of them are now Christianized and educated.

30.) The first civil governor of Nueva Ecija during the American occupation is Epifanio Delos Santos, a famous Novo Ecijano to whom EDSA was named.

31.) One of the most violent elections in the history of Nueva Ecija is the 1995 mid-elections. Honorato Perez, a gubernatorial candidate, was killed by another gubernatorial and a vice gubernatorial candidate in the town of Talavera.

32.) Of the 27 municipalities and 5 cities of Nueva Ecija, five towns and one city were named after saints – San Antonio, San Isidro, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo and San Jose City.

33.) Five towns and one city in the province were named after political figures and heroes -*Gen. LLanera, Gabaldon, Gen. Natividad, Gen. Tinio, Rizal and Muñoz City. However, Peñaranda is named after a Spanish engineer who help designed the town.

34.) Tsinelas Festival is celebrated annually in Gapan City which is tagged as the “Slipper Capital of the North. Tsinelas is a Filipino word for slipper.

35.) The population density of Nueva Ecija is 301/km².

36.) The old names of Aliaga are Pulong Bibit and Maynilang Munti.

37.) Bongabon is the first capital of Nueva Ecija as a province.

38.) The old name of the municipality of General Tinio is Papaya. The town is named after General Manuel Tinio.

39.) The old name of the town of General Natividad is Mataas na Kahoy. The town is named after General Mamerto Natividad.

40.) Fort Magsaysay, located in Laur, is where Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was detained for few years during the Martial Law years.

41.) The town of Laur is formerly known as Pulong Samat.

42.) The name of the town Lupao was derived from an itchy plant known locally as “lupa” which was once abundant in the area. The first barangay of the municipality of Lupao is Salvacion. San Roque is formerly known as Odiao, San Isidro is Macanyawed and Tienzo is Arimal.

43.) San Jose City, which was formerly known as Kabaritan, was a former barrio of Lupao, Nueva Ecija.

44.) The old name of the town of Peñaranda is Mapisong. It was named after Jose Maria Peñaranda, a Spanish engineer.

45.) Epifanio Delos Santos hailed from Licab, Nueva Ecija. The site of the town’s public market was donated by his family.

Wright Institute in San Isidro

46.) General Manuel Tinio, leader of the Philippine Revolution in Nueva Ecija, was born in Licab.

47.) The municipality of Quezon is formerly known as Bertese and Ilog Baliwag.

48.) San Antonio is formerly known as the town of Delinquente due to the rebels plying in the area.

49.) San Isidro was the capital of Nueva Ecija for 67 years from 1850 to 1917.

50.) In 1899, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo as the capital of the Philippines.

51.) Talavera is formerly known as Katugian, from tugue, a kind of edible root crop which was once abundant in the area.

52.) The “First Cry of Nueva Ecija” was on September 2, 1896 and were headed by General Manuel Tinio, General Mariano Llanera and General Mamerto Natividad.

53.) A town in the province was named for each of these generals of the Philippine Revolution.

54.) Santo Domingo is formerly known as Pulong Buli due to abundance of Buli, a kind of palm tree.

55.) The largest municipality of Nueva Ecija in terms of area is Carranglan and the smallest is Nampicuan.

56.) In June 2008, Nueva Ecija was declared as the “milk capital of the Philippines’ due to the large population of cattle and carabao and due to the existence of Philippine Carabao Center in Muñoz Science City.

57.) The major source of power and water supply for irrigation in the province is Pantabangan Dam, which is also one of its a popular attractions.

58.) Cabanatuan City, a first class urban city, is the “tricycle capital of the Philippines” with more than 38,000 registered tricycles.

59.) Cabanatuan is formerly a barrio of Gapan.

60.) Cabanatuan became the capital of Nueva Ecija in 1780.

61.) In 1850, San Isidro became the capital of Nueva Ecija.

62.) In 1917, Cabanatuan was again declared the capital of Nueva Ecija.

63.) After many years, the capital of Nueva Ecija was moved to Palayan City and has been the provincial capital since 1965.

64.) In terms of population, Palayan City is the smallest city in the Philippines.

65.) Muñoz is named for Spanish Governor (Alcalde Mayor) Don Francisco Muñoz in 1886.

66.) The town of Zaragoza got its name from the province of Zaragoza in Aragon, Spain.

67.) A resthouse of President Manuel Quezon is located in Barangay Labi, Bongabon. It is also the death place of Doña Aurora Quezon.

68.) One of the first high schools established out of Manila is the Wright Institute of San Isidro. It was established in 1903.

69.) The Wright Institute, which is of typical American colonial architecture, is still being actively used. It is part and located within the premise of San Isidro Central School in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

70.) One famous historical attraction in the province is Camp Pangatian which is a Prisoner of War Memorial Shrine located in Cabanatuan City.

71.) A statue of General Antonio Luna and a marker is located in Plaza Lucero, Cabanatuan City. The plaza is situated in front of Cabanatuan Cathedral and is the location where Gen. Luna was assassinated.

72.) The name of Gapan was derived from the word “gapang” which means crawl. In time the last letter was dropped.

73.) Gapan is one of the first towns of Pampanga and was founded in 1595 making it the oldest town of Nueva Ecija and one of the oldest in the Philippines.

74.) San Miguel in Bulacan and Candaba in Pampanga were formerly part of Gapan.

75.) Likewise, the towns of San Leonardo, Peñaranda, Cabanatuan and General Tinio were also part of Gapan.

76.) In August 25, 2001, Gapan was converted into a component city.

77.) The municipality of San Leonardo is formerly known as Manikling.

78.) San Jose City is originally a part of Puncan, Carranglan and become an independent town on March 19, 1894

79.) The Palayan City Sports complex is one of the most modern sports facilities in the country. Its track and field oval is rubberized and is one of the few of its kind in the country.

80.) One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the province is the Gabaldon Falls in the town of Gabaldon.

81.) There is also a beautiful waterfall in San JoseCity called Palasapas Falls.

82.) The attractive Pinsal Falls is located in Lupao Falls while the captivating General Luna Falls is located in Rizal.

83.) A unique festival called Mushroom Festival is celebrated every 20^th of February in the town of Guimba.

84.) Licab has its own festival too; it is called Kariton Festival and is celebrated every 28^th of March.

85.) Sibuyas Festival of Bongabon is celebrated every 9^th and 10^th of April every year.

86.) Pastores Festival is a popular festival held in Gapan City from April 26 to May 1.

87.) Pandawan Festival of Pantabangan is held every April 28 of the year.

88.) The Tanduyong Festival of San Jose City is celebrated every 3^rd week of April.

89.) The famous Araquio Festival of Peñaranda is held every 1^st and 2^nd Sunday of May.

90.) The Kapagayan Festival of Llanera is celebrated from May 7 to 11 every year.

91.) The well-known Kabyawan Festival of Cabiao is celebrated every 15^th and 16^th of May.

92.) June 24, is the annual celebration of Taong Putik Festival in Bibiclat, Aliaga.

93.) Cabanatan City has its own festival also called Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival. It si celebrated from July 1 to 7 of each year.

94.) Another festival being celebrated in Gapan City is the Tsinelas Festival. It is held every 25^th of August.

95.) Palayan Festival of Palayan City is celebrated from December 1 to 5 of the year.

96.) Tupig Festival of Santo Domingo is held every 29^th of September.

97.) The Hugas Kalawang Festival of Talavera is held every last week of August.

98.) The northernmost town of Nueva Ecija is Carranglan.

99.) Some of the most popular tourist attractions of Nueva Ecija include Tayabo Natures Park in San Jose City, Hunter Valley in Cabanatuan City; Stone 8 in Gabaldon and Crystal Waves in Talavera.

100.) The infamous “Lupao Massacre” took place in the town of Lupao, Nueva Ecija on February 10, 1987. A young lieutenant and 17 civilians including an elderly and several children were killed in an encounter between government and rebel troops that day.

Araullo University

101.) The rich, famous and controversial Willie Revillame is from Nueva Ecija.

102.) The late actress Nida Blanca, actor Nestor de Villa, TV newscaster Frankie Evangelista, novelty singer/actor Fred Panopio and Heber Bartolome are from Nueva Ecija also.

103.) Joe Taruc of DZRH, actress Rhiza Cenon, actress Jennifer Sevilla and actor Rommel Padilla are from Nueva Ecija too.

104.) The sensational and award-winning film director Lino Brocka is from San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

105.) The largest universities in the province include Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Araullo University, Wesleyan University.

106.) Other notable institutions for higher learning are La Fortuna College, Good Samaritan Colleges, MV Gallego Colleges Foundation, Nueva Ecija Colleges, CORE Gateway Colleges and others.

107.) The largest shopping malls in the province include NE Pacific Mall, Robinsons and Mega Center. These are all located in the City of Cabanatuan, the commercial, industrial and educational center of Nueva Ecija.

See also

• Popular and Notable Nueva Ecija Festivals
• Baybayanting: A-One-Of-A-Kind Cultural Tradition of Lupao
• San Jose City: Brief History and Places of Interest
• The Richest Municipalities in the Philippines
• The Top 10 Poorest Provinces of the Philippines
• The Top 10 Richest Districts and Provinces of the Philippines
• Top 10 Best Cities to Live in the Philippines
• Philippine City Extremes
• Top 10 Largest Provinces in the Philippines and Their Most Popular Attractions
• Baguio City: A City in the Cities

Interesting and Surprising Facts About Philippine History

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The Philippines is one of the countries in the world with the most diverse and unique culture that relatively created a one-of-a-kind history.  Here are some intriguingly unique facts about the Philippines you might want to know.

Check this out!

1.) Some Filipinos may not be aware that some of our Filipino brothers and sisters are descendant of the Aztecs of Mexico and the Mayans of Central America. In 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi brought with him some Aztec and Mayan warriors that eventually settled in the town of Mexico in the province of Pampanga. Traces of Aztec and Mayan influence can still be found in the many chico plantations in the area. This fruit is native only to Mexico.

2.) Lapu-lapu is not only recognized in the Philippines as a hero. He is also recognized internationally. A Street in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco, California in the United States is named after him.

3.) There are scores of recognized Filipino heroes but Andres Bonifacio and José Rizal are the only two implied national heroes of the country. At present, no Filipino is officially and explicitly recognized as a national hero of the Philippines by law.

4.) Do you still remember the symbolic names of some of the great Filipino heroes like Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Artemio Ricarte and Emilio Jacinto? Just to refresh your memory, Bonifacio's symbolic name was Maypagasa, Aguinaldo was Magdalo, Ricarte was Vibora and Jacinto was Pingkian.

5.) One of the oldest provinces established by the Spaniards is Pampanga and in 1571, Mexico became the capital of Pampanga. The original name of Pampanga was “Masangsang”.   Mexico was named in honor of the place where the first Spanish Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founded his new life.

6.) Aztecs, Mayans and Toltecs migrated in Mexico, Pampanga as by-product of the Manila Galleon trade between Mexico and the Philippines. The capital of Pampanga was moved to Bacolor after the widespread Kapampangan Revolt of 1660 led by Don Francisco Maniago. Presently, the capital of Pampanga is San Fernando City,

7.) Many Filipinos are not aware that the Philippines became a British colony for a short period of time in the 18^th century. Great Britain ended their occupation by sailing away from Manila and Cavite on April 1764. As a result, scores of Indian soldiers known as Sepoys that served for the British deserted the British forces and settled down in the town of Cainta, Rizal. This incident in Philippine history explains the uniquely Indian features of generations of Cainta residents.

8.) Do you know the first ever bank established in the country? The first Philippine bank is the Banco Espanol – Filipino de Isabel II founded on August 1, 1851 which is now known as Bank of the Philippine Islands or BPI. The bank was also granted the power to print a Philippine peso for the first time.

9.) One of the greatest and most intellectual Filipino heroes was Marcelo Del Pilar. Several months before the Philippine revolution, Del Pilar circulated in Manila and neighboring provinces his political works entitled La Patria and Ministerio de la Republica Filipina in preparation for his return to personally lead a revolution. Unfortunately, on July 4, 1896, Marcelo Del Pilar perished of TB or tuberculosis in Barcelona, Spain.

10.) During the Filipino-American war, about 126,000 American soldiers engaged in the conflict and 4,234 Americans died. On the part of the Filipinos, at least one million lost their lives as a direct result of the war with as many as 200,000 who died as a result of the cholera epidemic at the end of the war.

11.) Jose W. Diokno, a former Senator of the Philippines, was 1st placer in the 1945 bar exams and tied with Mr. Jovito Salonga. He was under-age when he took the exam. He also placed number 1 in the 1940 CPA Board exams. This double number 1 feat may never be paralleled.

12.) Cesar L. Villanueva from the Ateneo Law School placed second in the 1981 Bar Exams and second again in the 1982 CPA Board Exams, the closest to Diokno’s achievement.

13.) Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without officially graduating from any Philippine law school. The first was Jose W. Diokno. He was 1st placer in the 1945 bar exams. The second was Carolina C. Griño-Aquino - former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She was 1st placer in the 1950 bar exams.

14.) Claudio M. Teehanke is Ateneo Law School's only summa cum laude graduate. He placed number one in the 1940 Bar Exams. His son, Manuel Antonio graduated also at the top of his Ateneo Law School class although not as summa cum laude, he also placed first in the 1983 bar exams. Enrique, a cum laude graduate from the UP College of Law is Claudio Teehanke’s nephew. He, like Caudio and Manuel Antonio also placed number one in the 1976 bar exams.

15.) Philippine Law Schools with the most bar topnotchers or 1st placers from 1913 to 2010 are as follows;  University of the Philippines College of Law with forty-six (46) bar topnotchers, Ateneo de Manila Law School with twenty (20) bar topnotchers and San Beda College of Law with seven (7) bar topnotchers.

16.) From a plain housewife, she became the first woman president of the Philippines – Corazon C. Aquino.

17.) Elected as vice-mayor of Quezon City in 1988, Vicente Sotto II, more popularly known as Tito Sotto in the movie industry, he was elected as a one of the country’s senators.

18.) Jejomar Binay, the former City Mayor of Makati – the country’s business center, was catapulted to the second highest political position in the country – Vice President of the Philippine Republic.

19.) Vilma Santos, from movie actress to city mayor of Lipa City, eventually became the provincial governor of the province of Batangas.

20.) The Japanese occupied the Philippines during the Second World War. After their unconditional surrender in 1945 most Japanese deserted the country. But do you know that there are about 200,000 Japanese in the Philippines today?

See also

Philippine Extremes

Interesting Facts About the Philippines

Amazing People and Amazing Facts About Humans