THE TWO FACES OF THE KAPAMPANGAN

ETHNO-LINGUISTIC GROUP
TERRITORY

A GEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH

By J-C. Gaillard, Ph.D.

Department of Geography
University of the Philippines, Diliman
***
Center for Kapampangan Studies
Holy Angel University, Angeles City
 A few definitions

Geography: “Science that studies the phenomena inscribed

in the space”.

Ethno-linguistic group: “A group of individuals sharing the

same maternal language” (R. Breton).

Territory: “Part of the earth surface, appropriated by a social

group to secure its reproduction and sustain its vital needs”
(M. Le Berre).
Identity: “Appropriation relation between a population and its
territory” (D. Ratajczak).

Patrimony: “Link between a society and a place in the

concept of identification” (C. Meyzenq).
The Kapampangan ethno-linguistic group
 Ethno-linguistic map
of the center of Luzon
 Factors of unity within
the Kapampangan ethno-linguistic group

• Spatial concentration

• Austronesian origin

• Christian religion

• Kapampangan language

• Administrative entity
The land of the Kapampangans
 Two main geomorphological units

• The delta of the Pampanga River

• The so-called ‘dry lands’

• The case of the Candaba swamp

 Landsat TM satellite image
of the province of Pampanga
(February 19, 1995)
The physical elements of differentiation

• Geological context

• Climate
Climatic differences in the
Kapampangan region
(from Wernstedt & Spencer,
1967)
The physical elements of differentiation

• Geological context

• Climate

• Pedological context

• Vegetation
Territorialization of the land

The peopling of Pampanga

The theories of human migrations
that populated the Philippines
 Archaeological sites and
possible shoreline before the
15th century eruption of
Mount Pinatubo
(Landsat TM satellite image
of the province of
Pampanga,
February 19, 1995)
Main sectors of settlement in
the central plain of Luzon at
the end of the 16th century
(adapted from Doeppers,
1968).
 Main migration flows
within the central plain of
Luzon during the 18th and
19th century
 A differentiated identification
to different lands

The two faces of the Kapampangan

ethno-linguistic group territory
The different elements of differentiation
Patrimony and economic activities

• Settlement
 Comparison of settlement pattern
in Porac (left) and Minalin (right)
(province of Pampanga)

After topographic maps 7173 III and 7172 IV (NAMRIA)

The different elements of differentiation
Patrimony and economic activities

• Settlement

• Language
 Lexicon differences

North South

• Salangi • Mampit
• Ningnang • Derang
• Pilapil • Tarundun
• Dayat (rice field) • Dayat (sea)
• Inilib / sinawali • Pinaud
• Pinocha • Tinaklub
• Manaktak • Sasarul
• Manasan • Manligo/Mamaduas/Manima

With the help of Siuálá ding Meángûbié

The different elements of differentiation
Patrimony and economic activities

• Settlement

• Language

• Transportation means
 Transportation references

North South

• Dalan (asphalted) • Dalan (river system)

• Luslus ku Menila (I will ride downstream to Manila)

• Sumuba Ku Nueva Ecija

(I will paddle upstream to Nueva Ecija)

With the help of Siuálá ding Meángûbié

 The traditional banca is
the main transportation
mean in the southern
part of the region
(photograph: J-C.
Gaillard, August 1999).

The tricycle is the most

often used
transportation mean in
the northern part of the
region (photograph:
Anonymous ).
The different elements of differentiation
Patrimony and economic activities

• Settlement

• Language

• Transportation means

• Land use
 Spot satellite image of the Spot satellite image
Guagua, Sasmuan, Minalin, of the Porac area
Macabebe and Masantol area (late 1990s)
(late 1990s)
 Sugar cane, with corn,
covers most of the
agricultural lands of the
northern part of the province,
here Patling, Capas, Tarlac
(photograph J-C. Gaillard,
November 1999)

Fishponds cover most of the

agricultural lands of the
southern part of the
province, here Dawe,
Minalin, Pampanga
(photograph J-C. Gaillard,
May 2002)
The different elements of differentiation
Patrimony and economic activities

• Settlement

• Language

• Transportation means

• Agricultural activities

• Territorial identity
 Concept of directions

South North

• Pangulu (upstream) • Paralaya (to Alaya)

• Mauli (downstream) • Padaua / Paroba

(away from Alaya)

With the help of Siuálá ding Meángûbié

 Origin of the toponyms

• In the southern part of the province, 33.5% of the

toponyms (barangay names) are of indigenous origin
and 66.5% of Spanish origin

• In the northern part of the province, 53% of the

toponyms (barangay names) are of indigenous origin
and 47% of Spanish origin
Coffin transformed into banca during the 1999 floods
in Santo Tomas, Pampanga
(photograph J-C. Gaillard, August 1999)
Some very slight relationships between
these two geographical units
• People of Candaba, Masantol or Sasmuan hardly know
the Angeles agglomeration;

• People of Angeles, Mabalacat or Magalang are not familiar

with the municipalities of the delta of the Pampanga River.
Conclusions
 It is therefore possible to differentiate two
geographical units in the Kapampangan region

• the delta of the Pampanga River and the northern edge

of the Candaba swamp on the south;

• the ‘dry lands’ on the north of a Cabiao / Dinalupihan line.

The two geographical units of the Kapampangan region
 These internal differentiations have many
implications in terms of spatial development
and land-use planning

Subject of a future lecture!

 Acknowledgements

• Siuálá ding Meángûbié, Holy Angel University

• Cristina Remotigue and Nathaniel P. Baluda,

National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP Diliman

• Robert P. Tantingco, Holy Angel University

 WAKAS!

DAKAL PUNG SALAMAT !

LUID YA ING KAPAMPANGAN !