Calumpit, Bulacan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please

help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced
material may be challenged and removed. (October 2013) (Learn how and when
to remove this template message)

Calumpit
Municipality

Saint John the Baptist church

Seal

Motto: God bless Calumpit

Map of Bulacan showing the location of Calumpit

Calumpit
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1455N 12046ECoordinates:

1455N 12046E

Country

Philippines

Region

Central Luzon (Region III)

Province

Bulacan

District

1st District

Encomienda

November 14, 1571

Ecclesiastical Town

May 3, 1572

Civil Town

March 5, 1575

Founded by

Gat Maitim

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

Sargento Juan Moron

Barangays

29

Government[1]
Mayor

Jessie P. De Jesus

Area[2]
Total

56.25 km2 (21.72 sq mi)

Population (2015 census)[3]

Total

108,757

Density

1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)

Poverty rate

5.2%

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

3003

IDD:area code

+63(0)44

Income class

1st class municipality

Electricity

Manila Electric Company

Consumption

35.30 million kWh (2003)

Website

www.calumpit.gov.ph

Calumpit is a first class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the
2015 census, it has a population of 108,757 people.[3]
Contents
[hide]

1Etymology
2Geography
o 2.1Climate
o 2.2Barangays
3History
o 3.1Pre Spanish era
o 3.2Spanish Conquest
o 3.3Christianization
o 3.4Alcaldia de Calumpit
o 3.5Abolishing the Province of Calumpit
o 3.6Philippine Revolution of 1896-1899
o 3.7American era and World War II
4Demographics
o 4.1Language
o 4.2Religion
o 4.3Labour and Employment
o 4.4Literacy
5Economy
6Tourism

o 6.1Calumpit River
o 6.2Sta. Lucia Church
o 6.3Bagbag Bridge
o 6.4Meyto Shrine
o 6.5Libad Festival
o 6.6San Juan Bautista Church
7List of Cultural Properties of Calumpit
8Education
9Prominent Calumpiteos
10Gallery
11Notes
12External links

Etymology[edit]
The name "Calumpit" comes from the tree "Kalumpt" (an indigenous hardwood species similar
to apalit and narra, which grows abundantly in front of the St. John the Baptist Parish Church in the
Poblacin-Sucol area.

Geography[edit]
Calumpit is 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Manila, lies the Municipality of Calumpit bounded on the north
and west by Apalit and Macabebe, Pampanga, respectively; south-west, southeast and east
by Hagonoy, Malolos, and Pulilan, Bulacan respectively.
Calumpit is sprawled over an area of 5,625 has. of flat terrain classified accordingly to use for
agricultural (66.81%), residential (10.42%), industrial (2.48%), commercial, (0.89%) and other
(1.05%) purposes. It occupies around 2.06% of the total land area of Bulacan. The municipality has
144.33 kilometers of concrete roads that easily link its 29 barangays.
Two distinct seasons characterize the towns climate: rainy season which starts late May and ends
around November; and dry season which begins November and lasts until April.
Calumpit has two (2) types of soil the silt loam which is found in almost 90% of the entire
municipality and the clay loam in the south east far end of the town. Both types are basically suited
for agricultural purposes as per Department of Agriculture classifications.

Climate[edit]
The climate of Calumpit is similar to that of the rest of the other municipalities in the province of
Bulacan. It is characterized by two (2) distinct seasons namely; the rainy and the dry. The rainy
seasons starts from late May and ends around November, the dry season from December to April.
The average annual rainfall is 255.3 millimetres (10.05 in) with the month of August having the
highest month average rainfall, about 304 millimetres (12.0 in). The annual number of rainy days is
175 days.

Barangays[edit]
Calumpit is divided into 29 barangays.[4]

Balite
Balungao
Buguion
Bulusan
Calizon

Calumpang
Caniogan
Corazon
Frances
Gatbuca
Gugo
Iba Este
Iba O'Este
Longos
Meysulao
Meyto
Palimbang
Panducot
Pio Cruzcosa
Poblacion
Pungo
San Jose
San Marcos
San Miguel
Santa Lucia
Santo Nio
Sapang Bayan
Sergio Bayan
Sucol

History[edit]
Pre Spanish era[edit]
Calumpit was already an established barangay under the leadership of Gat Maitim prior to Spanish
Conquest of Luzon in started with the Fall of Kingdom of Tondo in June 1571.Other villages exist
nearby are Gatbuka,Meyto,Meysulao,Pandukot.Malolos,Macabebe,Hagonoy,Apalit.When Calumpit
was hispanized and established as a town with political and geographical entity,they chosen the
village of Calumpit as the site of the church and the administrative center the mentioned villages was
annexed to the new Town of Calumpit in 1572.

Spanish Conquest[edit]
Upon hearing that Kingdom of Tondo was conquered by Martin de Goiti and Juan Salcedo and
Rakah Matanda was agreed to join with the Spaniards in May 1571, Bambalito formed a fleet
consisting of two thousand natives mostly from Hagonoy and Macabebe. They sailed to Tondo on
June 3, 1571 facing Goiti and Salcedo that led to the historic Battle of Bangkusay Channel.
Bambalito and the natives were defeated and the conquerors made they way to pacify other villages
along Manila bay north of Tondo. In September 1571 Martin de Goiti and Juan Salcedo together with
other conquistadors reached Lubao and pacified the villages at the coast of Manila Bay, then in
November 14, 1571 they reached Calumpit and Malolos and reported it to Adelantado Miguel Lopez
de Legaspi, the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippine Islands constituting them as
Encomienda de Calumpit and Encomienda de Malolos, respectively. Encomienda de Calumpit was
entrusted to Sargento Juan Moron, one of the conquerors included in Legazpi Expedition.[5] (Blair
and Robertson, The Philippine Islands, volume 34, page 304-310, paragraph 3)

Christianization[edit]

No exact details when the Augustinians set their foot in Calumpit but according to the documents,
Calumpit had its own parish on May 3, 1572 when Fray Martin de Rada were elected as the new
Prior Provincial held at San Augustin Convent. The Augustinian dispatch some missionaries to the
different settlements to spread the catholic faith. Calumpit were simultaneously established together
with the conventos of Bay Laguna Tondo and Lubao Pampanga with Fray Martin de Rada as its
Prior and Fray Diego Vivar as his vicar. Chronicles accounts told that the Augustinian missionaries
planted a Wooden Cross along the bank of Meyto River as the tradition of baptising the land and
they built a chapel made of nipa and bamboo.Later they moved Meysulao and built another visita,
and then in Panducot, where they built another chapel under the advocacy of Our Lady of Visitacion
as Fray Gaspar de San Agustin mentioned in his Conquistas delas Isla Philipinas (Libro Segundo
Chaper 9) Subsequently, the missionary headquarters was moved again to much higher place were
a very huge prominent tree called "Kalumpit" (sci.Terminalia microcarpa decne) stands as the
original settlers named the place.Another notable characteristics of the village of Calumpit was
bounded river which served as natural moat. Primarily, Meyto,Meysulao,Panducot and Calumpit was
independent barangays under their own chiefs, it is same with Gatbuka,Bugyon and other old
settlements. On April 5, 1572 Legaspi merges the villages of
Meyto,Meysulao,Panducot,Calumpit,Candaba,Apalit,Malolos and these villages became ministerios
and visitas and also these settlements where merge under single town named Calumpit, where
Barangay Calumpit was the center. On December 28, 1575 Gov.General Francisco Sande ordered
the inclusion of the villages of Agonoy (Hagonoy), Quinabalonan (now Santa Monica and San Jose
Hagonoy), and some villages along Macabebe river,in the Town of Calumpit.

Alcaldia de Calumpit[edit]
On April 5, 1572 Encomienda of Calumpit and Malolos was unified under the share administration of
their encomenderos Marcos de Herrera and Sargento Mayor Juan Moron and on the same year
Calumpit was created as one of the center of Augustinian mission in Luzon contemporary with
Lubao edtablished in May 3, 1572 upon the election of Fray Martin de Rada as the new Prior
Provincial of the Augustinians replacing Fray Diego de Herrera whose dispatched again in Mexico.
Alcaldia de Calumpit was established by the Superior Government in Manila and Marcos de Arce
was appointed as the first Alcalde Mayor of Calumpit. The Augustinian officially founded the Town of
Calumpit in 1572,with the villages of Hagonoy,Malolos,Candaba,Macabebe and Apalit as its villages
and visita.The town of Calumpit was originally dedicated to San Nicolas de Tolentino but in
December 1576 the Town was re-dedicated to the patronage of San Juan Bautista.[6]
On December 28, 1575 Governor-General Francisco de Sande established Calumpit as an Alcaldia
(Province) together with Calumpit (capital) and aggretates nearby settlements such as
Malolos,Hagonoy,Macabebe,Candaba.Later in 1576 Macabebe transferred to the town of Lubao and
Candaba separated as a full pledge town, then on June 11, 1580 Malolos gained its township. In
1581 Hagonoy had its own convent but still under the justice of Governor of Calumpit. And last in
1591 Apalit officially separated and established as an independent town and it was transferred in the
reconfigured territory of Pampanga province. In Miguel de Loarca's document in 1581 called
"Relacion delas Islas Filipinas" and the June 1591 document of Governor-General Luis Perez de
Dasmarinas it is proven that Calumpit appears as an independent Alcaldia, independent of those of
Bulacan and Lubao and Betis.[7] It was therefore established as an Encomienda and Alcaldia
separate to Province of Bulacan. Contrary to popular belief, Calumpit was the first Town founded in
Bulacan.

Abolishing the Province of Calumpit[edit]

Alcaldia de Calumpit was eventually d and the towns of Calumpit and Hagonoy were ceded to the
Province of Bulacan, while Apalit was ceded to Pampanga.

Philippine Revolution of 1896-1899[edit]

During the Philippine Revolution in 1896, the people of Calumpit participated in the battles launched
by the Katipuneros against Spain, the town continues to battle against Spain and many notable
Calumpitenos have their big role in helping and supporting the eetablishment of Republica Filipina in
Malolos and Calumpit serves as defense line due to its proximity to the new born capital of the
Republic. When PhilippineAmerican War broke, Calumpit become the headquarters of General
Antonio Luna in 1898. In the bloody encounters at barrio Bagbag on April 25, 1899, many people
joined the army of General Luna.
The Civil government under the American rule was established in Calumpit in April 1901 with Juan
Galang as the first elected American-era mayor of the town.

American era and World War II[edit]

Calumpit played an important role at the outbreak of the War in the Pacific theater. The bridge of
Calumpit, on the way to Bataan was demolished by the Engineering Battalion of the U.S., impeding
movement of the Japanese forces on their way to Bataan. In January 1942, the Japanese
Government occupied Calumpit for three years. Many citizens of Calumpit died during the war.
In the middle of 1943, the first part of the USAFFE guerrilla was established under the leadership of
Luis Macam, with most of the members from Calumpit.
In June 1944, the 4th Battalion of the Del Pilar Regiment was established under the leadership of
Major Francisco del Rosario. They continued fighting until the returned of the USAFFE under the
leadership of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
In January 1945, the combined Filipino and American forces arrived in the town, liberating it from the
Japanese forces.

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Calumpit
Year

Pop.

% p.a.

1990

59,042

1995

70,839

+3.47%

2000

81,113

+2.95%

2007

98,017

+2.65%

2010

101,068

+1.12%

2015

108,757

+1.41%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][8]

In the 2015 census, the population of Calumpit, Bulacan, was 108,757 people,[3] with a density of
1,900 inhabitants per square kilometre or 4,900 inhabitants per square mile.
Calumpit's population was 101,068 in the National Statistics Office (NSO) 2010 census. Historically,
its population grew at an average of 3.71% per annum.

The barangay with the largest population is Bgy. Iba Oeste with 10,610 people and the smallest is
Bgy. Sucol with 1,410 people.
Calumpit has a relatively young population, with the age group 119 years old constituting 46.01% of
the total population. The rest consists mainly of the working group between the ages of 20 to 59
years old accounting for about 47.96% and the elderly comprising 6.02%.
In terms of sex distribution, males exceeded the number of females very slightly with a count of
35,710 and 35,087, respectively.

Language[edit]
Calumpit is predominantly a Tagalog speaking town with about 96.3% of its people
being fluent speakers. Others speak Kapampangan.

Religion[edit]
Having been the very first town in Bulacan province that being Christianized by the Spaniards in
1572, the majority of the people are of the Roman Catholic faith about 80% of the total population.
After PhilippineAmerican War in the 1902, Protestantism started gaining a foothold in the
municipality. Significant minorities include contemporary sect such as Iglesia ni Cristo, Dating
Daan, Iglesia Filipina Independiente and other non-catholic denominations are exist in the town.

Labour and Employment[edit]

As of 1995, Calumpit had a relatively big labor force of 24,095 persons or 66% of population
consisting of people ages 2059. Around 35% of these are accounted to possess varying degrees of
skills and are employed in their respective occupations; 28% are housewives but nevertheless have
found occasional employment as farmhands, vending farm-produced in the market and doing
marginal odd jobs. Others are unclassified and consist mostly of students, out-of-school youth and
the unemployed.
Total households income per year is P705M, annual average household income is P 66,600.00 and
per capita income annually is P 12,198.00.

Literacy[edit]
The high literacy rate (98.5%) is maintained by its twenty four (24) elementary schools and six
secondary or high schools. The Bulacan Manpower and Livelihood Training Center (BMLTC), based
at the heart of the town, offers vocational courses and serves as the training ground for both
unskilled and highly skilled workers. As a result, most Calumpiteos have acquired and maintained
skills suited for employment especially in the agri-industrial field.

Economy[edit]
Major Industries: Industrial Estates, Paper, Garments, Ceramics/Pottery, Flowers/Ornamental
Plants, Food/Food Processing, Gifts/Houseware/Decors
Major Products: Handicrafts, Pottery, Religious Articles
Industrial Estates: Bulacan Agro-Industrial Subdivision

Tourism[edit]
Calumpit River[edit]
This river has for centuries shaped the lives of Bulakeos. The longest river system in Bulacan,
Calumpit River traverses the towns of Calumpit, Pulilan and Plaridel on the
east, Paombong and Hagonoy in the West and winds up

through Apalit, Macabebe and Masantol, Pampanga. It was the major route for trade and commerce
in this part of the Luzon making Calumpit an established barangay prior to the coming of Spanish
conquistadors. The Pampanga and Quingua Rivers[9] served as arteries through which goods coming
in and going out of Calumpit passed. At present, the river is a valued resource as a rich fishing
ground and providing farmers with irrigation.

Sta. Lucia Church[edit]

One of the oldest barangay in the town of Calumpit established in 1575, Sta. Lucia is very popular
and famous because of its miraculous Patron Saint Sta. Lucia and its festival street decoration
called banderitas. During the month of December, the whole street of the village is covered by
banderitas, especially the front of the church. Many people from different places visit this barangay
to witness the two-day celebration on December 1213. Every year, starting December 4 up to the
festival day December 13, the people of Sta, Lucia has an everyday Mass and Novena in honor of
the Patron Saint and also they have a magnificent fireworks display during the opening and closing
day.

Bagbag Bridge[edit]
Bagbag Bridge was the site of the longest battle between the Americans and Filipinos led by
General Gregorio del Pilar which took place on April 25, 1899 for the defense of the Philippine
forces. The bridge now serves as a reminder of the valor displayed by the Filipino who triumphed
against the American forces.

Meyto Shrine[edit]
This is the cradle of Christianity in western Bulacan, where the Wooden cross and first Catholic
Mass was held by the Augustinian friars in May 1572 when they set foot in Calumpit. When the
Philippine Revolution came and right after the exodus of the Spanish friars,the Iglesia Filipina
Independiente (a sect separated from Roman Catholicism) took over the Meyto chapel.

Libad Festival[edit]
A fluvial procession of well-decorated pagodas is held on the river every 23 June on the eve of the
feast of St. John the Baptist. Townsfolk sing, dance and douse water to "baptize" passers-by,
recalling the saint's characteristic act. But due to the construction of the Calumpit Bridge and its new
design, the Libad Festival may not be able to pass through the traditional route again. Libad
reenacts the old fluvial procession when Apalit and Hagonoy was under the auspices of the town of
Calumpit.

San Juan Bautista Church[edit]

The St. John the Baptist Parish Church is one of the oldest churches in Bulacan. constructed under
the supervision of Augustinian priests Martin de Rada and Diego Vivar,initially made of nipa and
bamboo and gradually built into stone in 1700.The church has been a mute witness to the Filipinos'
struggle against Spanish, American and Japanese rule. Inside the church is a tunnel that, as legend
would have it, was used by priests during the Spanish regime to serve as way out and easy to
escape from Chinese and Moro attacks. It is declared Diocesean Shrine of the Diocese of Malolos.[10]

List of Cultural Properties of Calumpit[edit]

Cultural
Property
wmph
identifier

Site name

Description

Province

City/Municipality

San Juan Bautista

Parish Church

18thcentury Baroquechurch

Bulacan

Calumpit

1930 Calumpit
Municipal Hall

Art Deco style building

Bulacan

Calumpit

Calumpit Railway
Station

Late 19th century train

station

Bulacan

Calumpit

Address/Location

Education[edit]
Calumpit have plenty of primary and secondary schools, it has also some private colleges mostly the
Colegio de Calumpit established in 1940. Calumpit doesn't have huge Universities and most their
people go the nearby Malolos where the Bulacan State University and other universities located.
This is a partial list of secondary schools in Calumpit:

Calumpit Central School

Bio Kinetics Learning School
Pascual O. Cruz Memorial Elementary School (POCMES) at Sta. Lucia
Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. (formerly, Calumpit Institute)
Dampol2nd N H S Annex (Sta. Lucia)
Frances High School
Ecclesiastical Christian Institute
Frances Elementary School

Par

Sta

Harvesters Mission Christian Academy

Meysulao Adv. Elem. Sch.for Meysulao S D A Multigrade Sch.
Petras Christian School
Calumpit National High School (formerly, San Marcos National High School)
Caniogan High School
Shalom Christian Academy of Bulacan
Shepherds Ways Academy of Bulacan
St. Anthony Academy of Bulacan
St. John the Baptist Catholic School (SJBCS) at Poblacion
Sta. Lucia High School
Meyto Elementary School
Montessori de Enriquez School, Inc.
Arsenio Santos Memorial Elementary School
Francisco Mendoza Memorial Elementary School
San Jose Elementary School
Rabbi Vinirosa Academy
Linagit Primary School

Prominent Calumpiteos[edit]
Servants of God Dionisia de Santa Mara Mitas Talangpaz (16911732) and Cecilia Rosa de Jess
Talangpaz (16931731), founders of the Beaterio de San Sebastin, whose beatification process is
now in progress are known for their exemplary lives of prayer, self-denial, service to the Church and
apostolate that attracted young Filipinas.
Kalumpiteo Jos Zabala-Santos was one of the most popular cartoonists in the Philippines during
the 1950s for characters such Popoye, Sianong Sano, and Lukas Malakas.[11]

Gallery[edit]

PNP Calumpit, Bulacan

Calumpit Public Library

Calumpit Water District

Labangan bridge