Abucay, Bataan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abucay
Municipality

Abucay Town Hall

Seal

Nickname(s): Abu-kinaykay

Map of Bataan showing the location of Abucay

Abucay
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 1444N 12032ECoordinates: 1444N 12032E

Philippines

Country
Region

Central Luzon (Region III)

Province

Bataan

District

1st District

Founded

1587

Barangays

10

Government[1]
Mayor

Liberato P. Santiago, Jr. (NUP)

Vice Mayor

Khristine G. Dela Fuente (NUP)

Area[2]
Total

79.72 km2 (30.78 sq mi)

Population (2015 census)[3]

Total

39,880

Density

500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

2114

Dialing code

+63 (0)47

Income class

3rd class

Abucay (Kapampangan: Balen ning Abucay; Tagalog: Bayan ng Abucay) is a thirdclass municipality in the province of Bataan,Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 39,880 people.[3]
The mainly agricultural and fishing town is located on the eastern part of the Bataan Peninsula,
along Manila Bay, with a total land area of 7,972 hectares (19,700 acres).[4] It is about 113 kilometres
(70 mi) from Manila, accessible via the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 25, or the parallel
National Road in Bataan. Its westernmost elevated section is located within the Bataan National
Park.
Contents

1Etymology
2Geography
o 2.1Barangays
3History
4Demographics
5Economy
6Municipal government
7Attractions
o 7.1St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Church
o 7.2Other attractions
8Universities and colleges
9Infrastructure
10Gallery
11References
12External links

Etymology[edit]
Abucay originated from "abu-kinaykay" meaning "digging the ashes or fire debris". A Spaniard
arrived in the town amid a big fire that destroyed properties. The natives were busy digging the
debris with shovel ("kinaykay").[4]

Geography[edit]
Abucay is located in the north-eastern part of Bataan province with a total land area of 7,972
hectares (19,700 acres).
Topography of Abucay varies from the mountainous terrain of Mount Natib caldera in the west to the
coastal areas of the province along the shore of Manila Bay. Six rivers with a combined length of 37
kilometres (23 mi) originate from the mountain flowing in the west-to-east direction.[4]
Secondary forests cover the western mountainous portion which is nearly 38% of Abucay's land
area.

Barangays[edit]
Abucay is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.

Bangkal
Calaylayan (Pob.)
Capitangan

Gabon
Laon (Pob.)
Mabatang
Omboy
Salian
Wawa (Pob.)

History[edit]
The first printing press in the Archipelago was found in this town. Tomas Pinpin, the first Filipino
printer, learned the art from Fray Francisco Blanca de San Jose and Juan de Vera, a Chinese printer
at the University of Santo Tomas.
On June 23, 1647, a fierce battle was fought between the Dutch invaders and the Pampango
defenders in the near the Abucay church area. Nearly 200 Pampangos were put to death and 40
others together with Pampangas Spanish alcalde mayor (town mayor) Don Antonio de Cabrera
together with Dominican priests Father Geronimo Sotomayor and Father Tomas Ramos were taken
to Batavia.[5]

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Abucay
Year

Pop.

% p.a.

1990

26,708

1995

29,270

+1.73%

2000

31,801

+1.79%

2007

38,554

+2.69%

2010

37,719

0.79%

2015

39,880

+1.07%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][6]

The population of Abucay, Bataan, in the 2015 census was 39,880 people, [3] with a density of 500
inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,300 inhabitants per square mile.
Most of the people of Abucay speaks the Tagalog language. Kapampangans who speak a different
dialect of the Kapampangan language abound in Barangay Mabatang.

Economy[edit]
Abucay is basically an agricultural and fishing town. Besides Manila Bay, existing fishponds cover an
area of 1,521 hectares (3,760 acres) of which 319 hectares (790 acres) are under intensive use

while the rest are non-functioning but available for utilization. These fishponds are rich with
commercial species like milkfish, tilapia, pla-pla and shrimps.
Agricultural lands in Abucay produces rice, corn, root crops, legumes, vegetable and various kinds of
fruits as well as forest-grown bamboo and buho. [4] Most of the walis tambo(local brooms) sold
in Baguio City actually came from Abucay.

Municipal government[edit]
Like all the other municipalities of the Philippines, the political seat of the municipal government is
located at the Municipal Hall (also called Town Hall). [7][8] During the Spanish colonial period,
the Gobernadorcillo is the chief executive who holds office at the town hall, then called
the Presidencia.
During the American period from 18981946, the elected Mayor and local officials, including the
appointed ones hold office at the Municipal Town Hall. The executive and legislative departments
perform their functions at the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court,
respectively, which are located at the Municipal Hall.
Abucay's incumbent elected officials are Mayor Ana D. Santiago (NPC) and Vice Mayor Ma.
Khristine G. Dela Fuente (Lakas-Kampi-CMD).[9] The eight (8) Sangguniang Bayan members led by
the Vice-Mayor hold office at the Abucay Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.

Attractions[edit]
St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Church [edit]
Main article: Abucay Church

Parish Church of St. Dominic de Guzman

One of the oldest in the Philippines, the first Abucay Church was established in 1587 and was
administered by the Dominicans in 1588. The present church was built sometime in the early 1600s,
the exact year is still unknown. The Church was badly damaged by the earthquake of September 16,
1852 and again by a fire in 1870. Father Jose Diego Pelaez rebuilt the church.
The church still houses the bells donated in 1839 and 1859. [5] The five bells of the Abucay Church
were restored on January 17, 1978 by U.S. Naval Base Facility in Subic Bay, Zambales province
according to a historical marker in the church.
The Parish of St. Dominic de Guzman has a population of 19,501 Catholics. Its patron saint is Saint
Dominic de Guzman and the town's feast day is August 8. The present parish priest is Msgr. Victor
C. Ocampo succeeding Father Antonio Quintos in 2011. [10][11][12] The church belongs to the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Balanga under the Vicariate of St. Dominic de Guzman.[11][13][14]

Other attractions[edit]

Abucay is still a developing town. Tourism wise, the famous landmarks, include the following:
Tomas Pinpin Monument
A memorial to Tomas Pinpin, the "Patriarch of Filipino Printing" in Brgy. Ibayo. The
monument stands at the center of Tomas Pinpin Memorial Elementary School, the central
and the biggest public elementary school in Abucay.
Maria Canon Statue
In Brgy. Sibul, a tower was erected by the Mie-ken Daiichi Shiseo of the Japanese
Sohyshin Sports in 1978 to invoke the repose of dead souls from the WWII period.
Pasukulan Falls
A natural wonder in West Abucay in the forested valley of Mt. Natib that remains unexplored
and unspoiled. The place is ideal for picnics.
Sibul Springs
This potential prime tourist destination in the province in western Abucay boasts sulfuric
swimming pools with a wide area for outdoor recreation. Its main attraction is the natural
spring believed able to provide muscle pain relief.
Christmas Village in Mabatang
Christmas celebration in Mabatang extends to the streets of every sitio in the barangay,
which are lavishly adorned to rejoice the season.
Raven Resort & Log Cabin.
Abucay Cockpit.

Universities and colleges[edit]

Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Abucay
The Abucay campus of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran is situated in a 15
hectares (37 acres) land called Dominican Hills, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of
town center of Abucay, on the slopes of Mount Natib at about 840 feet (260 m)
in elevation.[15]
Bataan Peninsula State University-Abucay campus
Formerly the Bataan National Agricultural School (BNAS) now part of the state
university in Bataan.[16]

Infrastructure[edit]
Electric power for Abucay is served by the Peninsula Electric Cooperative
(PENELCO).
A 10-hectare (25-acre) sanitary landfill in Sitio Macao in Barangay Capitangan
is the first of its kind in the province of Bataan,. [17]

Gallery[edit]

Town hall

Plaza, Park

Abucay Park

Mike-Len Supermarket and Monument of Jose Rizal

Auditorium, Plaza

Abucay WWII heroes monument, Memorial