Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

THE TOWN OF MASANTOL

Masantol, (Kapampangan : Balen ning Masantol) officially the Municipality of Masantol, is a 2nd class
municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population
of 57,063 people.

The town is named after the santol trees that used to grow abundantly in the area.

Masantol is almost surrounded by the municipality of Macabebe (For it was once a former part of the
town). 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.

The town got its name from the fruit tree, either because there was a proliferation of santol trees in the
area, or because the town was where santol fruits were heavily bartered (Kapampangans being fond of
‘sinigang’ dish).

Etymology
The municipality is named after the santol trees that used to grow abundantly in the area.[5]

The reason is either because there was a proliferation of santol trees in the area, or because the town was
where santol fruits were heavily bartered (Kapampangans being fond of 'sinigang' dish).

A 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
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

store keeper 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
Tarik Sulayman was an indigenous leader 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 Macabebe forces were defeated, and Tarik Sulayman himself
was killed. Consequently, this victory enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city
and its neighboring towns.

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.[5] 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.[6]

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.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

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 (For it was once a former part of the
town). 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

Climate
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

BARANGAYS
Masantol is politically subdivided into 26 barangays and 2 independent/dependent barrios.
1. Alauli
2. Bagang
3. Balibago
4. Bebe Anac
5. Bebe Matua
6. Bulacus
7. San Agustin (Caingin)
8. Santa Monica (Caingin)
9. Cambasi
10. Malauli
11. Nigui
12. Palimpe
13. Puti
14. Sagrada (Tibagin)
15. San Isidro Anac
16. San Isidro Matua
17. San Nicolas
18. San Pedro
19. Santa Cruz
20. Santa Lucia Matua
21. Santa Lucia Paguiaba
22. Santa Lucia Wakas
23. Santa Lucia Anac
24. Sapang Kawayan
25. Sua
26. Santo Niño
27. Barrios:
28. Bebe Arabia
29. Sagrada 2 (sagrada dos)

Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Masantol, Pampanga, was 57,990 people, [3] with a density of 1,200
inhabitants per square kilometre or 3,100 inhabitants per square mile.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

Religion
The majority of the population are members of the Catholic church and 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, established in the late 20th century.

80% One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church (Christian) (Roman rite)

19% Evangelical, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Jesus Is Lord Church, Protestant etc.
(Christian Denomination)
0.07% Iglesia Ni Cristo
0.20% Islam (Sunni, Shia)
0.10% others/non-believers/atheist

Economy
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

Education
Masantol is home to several primary, secondary, Vocational and Collage School among them are:

1. Pampanga institute (Collage)

2. TESDA Vocational Training Center (Under the Municipality support)
3. San Miguel Academy Semi-Catholic School (Christian School) (Junior/Siñor High School)
4. Holy Child of Mary Academy Semi-Catholic School (Christian School) (Junior/Siñor High
School)
5. Pampanga Institute (Junior/Siñor High School) 1st high school institution in town of Masantol
6. Masantol Central High School (Siñor High)
7. Masantol National High School (Junior High) (fmr. Santa Lucia High School)
8. Masantol High School Annex (Junior High) (Tarik Suliman High School)
9. Masantol High School Annex (Junior High) (Malauli High School)
10. St. Michael The Archangel Archdiocesan Parochial School Exclusive Catholic School (Masantol
Parochial School)
11. Masantol Elementary School (Masantol Central Elementary School)
12. Bagang Elem. School
13. Caingin Elem. School
14. Palimpe Elem. School
15. Bebe Anac Elem. School
16. Bebe Matua Elem School
17. Puti Elem. School
18. Sagrada Elem. School
19. Sua Elem. School
20. San Isidro Elem. School
21. Balibago Elem. School
22. SantaLucia elem school
23. Alauli Elem School
24. San Pedro Elem School
25. Santa Cruz Main Elem School
26. Santa Cruz (Annex) Elem School
27. San Nicolas Elem School
28. Bagang Elem School
29. Balibago Elem School
30. Nigui Elem School
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

MASANTOL FESTIVALS

 Batalla San Miguel Arkangel (Apung Igue) - 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 (Apung Duque) - August 15,16,17 Sittio Bebe Arabia, Barangay
Bebe Anac
 Batalla San Roque (Apung Duque) - 3rd or 4th Sunday of April - Sittio Bebe Arabia, Barangay Bebe
Anac, Barangay Bebe Matua
 Batalla San Roque de Montpelier (Apung Duque) - August 15,16,17 Barangay Bebe Matua
 Fiesta de San Nicolas (Apung Culas) - 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 (Apung Lucia) - December 13 of the year. - Barangay Santa Lucia Wakas,
Matua, Anac
 Batalla de San Agustin (Apung Gustin)- August 28 Barangay San Agustin Caingin
 Limbun at Libad or Labas Larawan (Celebration of the Saints) in each barrio/barangay celebrating
their patron saint for ones a week in January.

References

 Municipality of Masantol | (DILG)

"2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF).
Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived
(PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City,
Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/City%20and%20Municipal-level%20Small%20Area%20Poverty
%20Estimates_%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015_0.xlsx; publication date: 10 July 2019;
publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
DIVISION OF PAMPANGA
MASANTOL HIGH SCHOOL
(FORMERLY STA. LUCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL)

Alejandro S. Camiling. "The Town of Masantol, Pampanga". Historical articles. andropampanga.com.

Retrieved 13 December 2012.
"The Town of Masantol, Pampanga". Andropampanga. 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}:
External link in |publisher= (help)
chinapost.com.tw, One drowns, 40 injured in Philippine boat mishap
"Masantol: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City,
Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province,
City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in
Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
"Province of Pampanga". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research
Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
"Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/NSCB_LocalPovertyPhilippines_0.pdf; publication date: 29
November 2005; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2003%20SAE%20of%20poverty%20%28Full%20Report
%29_1.pdf; publication date: 23 March 2009; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2006%20and%202009%20City%20and%20Municipal%20Level
%20Poverty%20Estimates_0_1.pdf; publication date: 3 August 2012; publisher: Philippine Statistics
Authority.
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2012%20Municipal%20and%20City%20Level%20Poverty
%20Estima7tes%20Publication%20%281%29.pdf; publication date: 31 May 2016; publisher: Philippine
Statistics Authority.
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/City%20and%20Municipal-level%20Small%20Area%20Poverty
%20Estimates_%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015_0.xlsx; publication date: 10 July 2019;
publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
"PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority.
15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.