A Brief History of the Province of Nueva Ecija-Philippines

“Rice Bowl of the Philippines”

(Provincial Capitol at Palayan City)

Nueva Ecija was created as a military commandancia in 1777 by Governor General Narciso Claveria, with the capital at Baler (present-day capital of Aurora province). It was formerly part of the province of Pampanga. From its humble beginning, its land area grew to cover almost the entire island of Luzon. Spanish records in the Philippines recognize two Spanish countries in the Pacific--Las Islas Filipinas and Nueva Ecija. Poverty was only the reason why Nueva Ecija was not given recognition as a separate country from the Philippines by the king of Spain in 1840’s. From 1777 to 1917, Nueva Ecija’s territory was however subdivided to give way to the creation of other provinces. The province of Tayabas (now Aurora and Quezon) including the Polillio Islands, the provinces of Palanan (now Isabela), Cagayan, the province of Nueva Vizcaya, the territory which became part of the province of Quirino, and the province of Manila, north of the province of Tondo in 1867, and the district of Morong (now Rizal) were among those created out of Nueva Ecija.

The province was named after the old city of Ecija in Seville, Spain. In 1896, Nueva Ecija became one of the first provinces to revolt against Spanish rule, and one of the provinces which declared its independence in 1898.

Nueva Ecija is the largest province and the biggest rice producer of Central Luzon, thus, often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines”.

CITY/MUNICIPALITY	POPULATION
ALIAGA	57,805
BONGABON	59,343
CABANATUAN CITY	272,676
CABIAO	72,081
CARRANGLAN	37,124
CUYAPO	59,396
GABALDON (BITULOK & SABANI)	32,246
GAPAN CITY	101,488
GENERAL MAMERTO NATIVIDAD	36,720
GENERAL TINIO (PAPAYA)	42,634
GUIMBA	104,894
JAEN	67,057
LAUR	32,205
LICAB	26,187
LLANERA	36,200
LUPAO	40,931
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ	75,462
NAMPICUAN	13,303
PALAYAN CITY (Capital)	37,219
PANTABANGAN	27,353
PEÑARANDA	27,410
QUEZON	36,660
RIZAL	57,145
SAN ANTONIO	73,074
SAN ISIDRO	47,800
SAN JOSE CITY	129,424
SAN LEONARDO	58,120
SANTA ROSA	64,503
SANTO DOMINGO	50,983
TALAVERA	112,515
TALUGTUG	21,291
ZARAGOZA	44,124
TOTAL POPULATION	1,955,373

A Brief History of Lupao-Nueva Ecija

         The derivation of the name of Lupao so far as known has never been fully explained except with the oft repeated myth that it originated from an itchy shrub called “lupa” which grew abundantly on the plains long before the Spaniards settled on the place.   

   

During the Spanish rule, the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Nueva Ecija, extended to as far south at Cabiao and the towns of San Quintin, Rosales, Balungao and Umingan in the north, which later formed part of the province of Pangasinan. Lupao was a component barrio of Umingan.  It remained so until 1871 when some residents led by a Senior Calderon petitioned the Governor General for the segregation of Lupao as a barrio of Umingan and the eventual creation of Lupao as “Tenencia Absoluta” and was headed by a Teniente Absoluto. On September 28, 1871, the Govierno Superior Civil de Filipinas decreed the creation of Lupao as Tenencia Absoluta. It signified the formal segregation as barrio and the eventual creation as “pueblo” of the province of Nueva Ecija. Under the Spanish rule, a pueblo is created through the Law of the Indies and represented a local government unit.  The pueblo was an agency of the Central Government.

            Salvacion was the first barrio of Lupao. Its initial territory also included Barrio Cabaritan now known as San Jose City. Barangay San Roque was known as “Odiao” and San Isidro as “Macañaoed”. Among the first leaders of the municipality during the twilight years of Spanish Rule were Benito Romualdo as “Capitan Municipal” and Celestino Jabalde as “Juez de Paz”.

            When the American forces defeated the Spaniards, towns were founded through General Order #43. On January 31, 1901, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 82 that eventually installed Civil Government on different town in the Philippines, including Lupao. At this time, great change occurred in the economic and political landscapes of the communities.

            The Municipality of Lupao is situated at the northern tip of Nueva Ecija and about one hundred seventy five kilometers (175kms) from Manila, one hundred ten kilometers (110kms) from Baguio City and about sixty kilometers (60kms) from Cabanatuan City, the provincial capital.

            It is bounded in the North by Umingan, Pangasinan, on the South by San Jose City, on the West by Muñoz and on the East by Carranglan.

            Lupao, Nueva Ecija has a total land area of 17,378 hectares or equivalent to 173.78 sq. kms. It comprises twenty four (24) Barangays of which four (4) barangay are classified as Urban namely, Poblacion North, Poblacion South, Poblacion East and Poblacion West and the rest of the barangays are considered rural areas.

Mayors of Lupao

1. Hon. Victoriano Joanino                                   1913                1916
2. Hon. Felix Carpio        
3. Hon. Sixto Baclig
4. Hon. Tranquilino Saroca
5. Hon. Pio Dacanay                                            1925                1927
6. Hon. Juan Briones                                            1905                1927
7. Hon. Pablo Del Rosario                                    1928                1931
8. Hon. Jose Tecson                                             1931                1934
9. Hon. Nemesio Cabiles                                      1932                           
10. Hon. Marcelo Neri                                           1934                1937
11. Hon. Luis Ancheta                                            1937                1940
12. Hon. Emilio Buencamino                                   1942
13. Hon. Guillermo Mabalot                                   1943
14. Hon. Jovino Tienzo                                          1940-1943, 1944-1945, 1948-1951
15. Hon. Pastor Domingo                                      1946                 1947
16. Hon. Alfredo Briones                                       1952                1959
17. Hon. Carlos Castañeda                                    1960                1963
18. Hon. Rodrigo Mata                                          1964                1967
19. Hon. Abelardo Borja                                        1967                1971
20. Hon. Tiburcio Santillana                                    1972                1986
21. Hon. Modesto Barcelona                                  1986                           
22. Hon. George Castañeda                                   1987                1995
23. Hon. Alfredo Vendivil                                       1995                2004
24. Hon. Alexander Joanino                                    2004                2007
25. Hon. Richard Ramos                                        2007                to present