Culiat is the former name of Angeles City.
The city of Angels is situated in the province of Pampanga, it’s also considered as a highly urbanized city in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines.
Also known as the “City of Angels”, Angeles City is the entertainment capital of Pampanga.
Though labeled as the entertainment capital of Pampanga, Angeles City, is more than just its bars and clubs.
It is also well-known for its gastronomic delights. The Notorious Filipino dish so-called “Sisig” was invented in this area. The city also hosts to a wide display of historical tourist attractions and has some decent shopping areas.
Origin Of Angeles
In the beginning, Angeles City started as a Rainforest settlement started by the head of San Fernando town, Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda, and together with his wife, Doña Rosalía de Jesús.
It was originally named “Culiat” due to the abundance of the vine in the area and its surrounding area. Later, in 1829, it became an independent city from the City of San Fernando, it was given a new name “El Pueblo de los Ángeles” (The Town of the Angels) after its patron saint, “Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios” (Holy Guardian Angels) and its founder, Don Ángel.
Angeles City became the headquarters of the newly independent administration of the Philippines in 1899. However, the situation didn’t last very long, because, in 1899 of August, the city of Angeles was bombarded by the U.S. Troops, and the warfare in the city was perceived as the longest crusade that occurred in the course of the Filipino-American war, the war lasted for 3 months.
History of Angeles
On September 1, 1903, with the authorization of an executive order by Former US President Theodore Roosevelt, Fort Stoltenberg which, later on, became Clark Air Base was founded in Sapang Bato, Angeles City.
The Clark Airbase was considered the fortress of the US soldiers in the Philippines up until the Japanese Imperial Army invaded and ambushed the base in 1942 throughout the New Year’s Day
The Clark air base became the major center staging point for the Japanese Army air operations in opposition to the Americans. Japanese aircraft from the Clark air base also joined in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which is taken into account as the monumental maritime warfare of the Second World War and perhaps the largest naval battle in the entire history. The Airbase was reclaimed in January 1945 by the American troops.
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines obtained their sovereignty from the governance of America, the Clark Airbase and the Subic-Naval base continued to be under the territory of the American forces utilizing the Philippine-American Military Bases Agreement of 1947.
Because of the vicinity of the American bases, Angeles City became the place of residence for foreign immigrants, particularly in the entertainment part of Balibago.
The Transfer of Authority Of the U.S Bases to the Philippines Government
When Mount Pinatubo erupted on June 15, 1991, many places were severely affected, especially Angeles City and the Clark Airbase. Because of the serious impact of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the American bases that were previously under the territory of the Americans have turned over to the Government of the Philippines ahead of the end of the official term of office in November 1991.
Barangay
The City of Angeles is divided into thirty-three barangays.
| Agapito del Rosario | Cuayan | Lourdes Sur East | Pandan | San Jose | Santo Domingo | Virgen Delos Remedios |
| Anunas | Cutcut | Malabanias | Pulung Maragul | San Nicolas | Santo Rosario (Poblacion) | Amsic |
| Balibago | Cutud | Margot | Pulungbulu | Santa Teresita | Sapalibutad | Ninoy Aquino (Marisol) |
| Capaya | Lourdes North West | Mining | Pulung Cacutud | Santa Trinidad | Sapangbatoz | |
| Claro M. Recto | Lourdes Sur (Talimundoc) | Pampang | Salapungan | Santo Cristo | Tabun |
Angeles City progressed into neighborhoods with diverse Barangay. Anunas is a well-known place in Koreatown and mostly Korean establishments and restaurants. While nearby neighboring barangay, Balibago & Malabanias are the entertainment districts of Angeles City.
Meanwhile, Sapangbato is a residential district.
On the other hand, Pampang & San Nicolas develop the market district. Pulung Maragul houses the seat of governance.
Moreover, Santo Rosario is Angeles City’s heritage district, where most of Kapampangan legacies still flourish today.
Landmarks – Historic Site
Angeles City is also rich in history and this should not be missed when you go to Angeles. It’s full of history and heritage places.
Bale Herencia
Within the vicinity of the church is Bale Herencia. Constructed in 1860, it is a heritage house now used as a commercial establishment.
Bayanihan Park (formerly Astro Park)/ Salakot Arch
A well-known landmark in the city that has been recognized ever since Angeles was constituted. It was previously called the city’s very own “salakot” (native hat) and through the years passed, it has been a symbolic figure of the city.
Camalig
Camalig is a rehabilitated grain storehouse sandwiched by the two long-established houses in Angeles City, Pampanga along Sto. Rosario. It was constructed in 1840 by Don Ciriaco de Miranda, the first gobernadorcillo of Angeles, and was reconditioned by Armando L. Nepomuceno in 1980.
Fort Stotsenburg
Named after Colonel John M. Stotsenburg, a captain of the 6th U.S. Cavalry, was the site of the permanent residence of the American armies in Sapang Bato, Angeles. Also widely known now as the “Parade Ground,” which served as a site for many significant gatherings by the Americans before the Philippine-American Military Bases Agreement concluded in 1991.
Founders’ Residence (Bale Matua)
Named the Founder’s Residence, the house of Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda is considered the oldest structure built in the city since 1824.
Holy Family Academy Building
Holy family Academy Building was previously a convent and functioned as a military hospice of the U.S. Army in 1900. It was later used as a troop’s cabin, officers’ quarters, and storehouse by the Japanese Imperial Military Forces in 1942.
Holy Rosary Church (Santo Rosario Church)
The Holy Rosary Parish is the most notable heritage site in Angeles City, it is a 19th-century century stone church acknowledged as a national historical site by the National Commission for Culture & the Arts.
Juan D. Nepomuceno’s Center for Kapampangan Studies
It houses a library, museum of records and gallery, study center, and theater, put up by the Holy Angel University to preserve, study and promote the history and culture of the Kapampangans.
Lily Hill
Lily Hill once served as a strategic observation post to supervise the movement of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Ruins of Japanese aircraft were discovered here at the end of the war.
Pamintuan Mansion
The 1880s mansion of Don Florentino Torres Pamintuan was temporarily utilized by the Katipunan during the Philippine-American War. Currently is the site of the Museum of Philippine Social History (Filipino: Museo ng Kasaysayang Panlipunan ng Pilipinas) since 2015.
Festivals and Celebrations
- Feast of the Guardian Angels – this is Angeles City’s foundation day festivity.
- Apu Fiesta – The celebration will be held every last Friday of October wherein all devotees/ followers gather at the Holy Rosary Parish Church to praise the miraculous image of Jesus Christ lying in the tomb.
- Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan – held every last Friday and Saturday night of October in place of Kuliat Fiesta which features street singing and dancing up until the dawn of the next day. This is the local version of the Mardi Gras.
- The Sisig Festival, widely known locally as the Sadsaran Qng Angeles, the celebrations dedicated to the Kapampangan dish sisig, used to be held every December
References:
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angeles_City
*https://philippinescities.com/angeles-city-pampanga/
*http://www.traveltrilogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/angeles-city_100.jpg
*For corrections or commentaries, please email us at whereinpampanga@gmail.com
