Masantol

The Municipality of Masantol is a 2^nd class municipality in the coastal province of Pampanga located in Region III or Central Luzon. 

The Municipality of Masantol is nearly bounded by the town of Macabebe (Which used to be a former part of the municipality). It is widely known to be in the southmost town in the province of Pampanga. It is bordered to the north by the municipality of Macabebe; to the east by the metropolises of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; to the west by Macabebe; and to the south by some areas of Macabebe and Manila Bay.

The Municipality of Masantol was named “Masantol” because of the abundant santol fruits and santol trees that used to grow in the area.

History

The municipality was named after a fruit tree ‘Santol’, because there was a production of santol trees in the area, or because the town of Masantol was where santol fruits were being traded massively. 

A myth about how the town acquired its name ‘Masantol’ goes like this: Once, there was a Spanish missionary who arrived in the town of Masantol for the first time around.  Upon his arrival at a corner store on a roadside, he halted while driving his horse-driven vehicle, and asked the storekeeper what’s the place called. A middle-aged woman who was a merchant heard the Spanish missionary.  However, the merchant assumed that the missionary was inquiring about the name of the fruit she was selling, she immediately answered while speaking in a broken Spanish language, “Padre, todos dulce Masantol.”

The Spanish missionary brought out a pencil and a small diary from his pocket and wrote down the word ‘Mas santol,’ about the name of the area he visited. Then, the area flourished with santol trees, and santol fruits were in season when the priest visited the place.’

Tarik Sulayman rejected to join forces with the Spaniards and consequently carried out an attack opposing the Spanish troops of Miguel López de Legazpi during the Battle of Bankusay Channel on June 3, 1571, was a native ruler from the area of Masantol.

However, the troops of the Macabebes were beaten, and the Masantol native leader, Tarik Sulayman was killed in the battle. Therefore, this conquest empowered the Spaniards to introduce themselves throughout the city and its neighboring towns.

San Miguel de Masantol was the original name of the town and was once included in the town of Macabebe, 3 of the town’s leading founders- Manuel Fajardo, Gregorio Bautista, and Juan Lacap – filed a preposition on June 26, 1877, to split-up the barrios of Bebe, Bulacus, Caingin, and Nigui from Macabebe thus establishing a new Spanish pueblo named San Miguel. 

The new Spanish pueblo was launched on the 1^st of May 1878-, and permitted by Spanish Governor-General Domingo Moriones y Murillo. On November 30, 1893, under a Royal Decree, the Catholic Parish of San Miguel was officially recognized. Momentarily, it came to be identified as San Miguel Masantol, until common usage returned it to the original name.

The town of Masantol once again became a constituent of Macabebe on July 26, 1904. Nevertheless, Masantol was once more reinstated as a separate independent municipality in 1907, and this continued up to the present day. 

Barangay

The Municipality of Masantol is subdivided into 26 barangays and 2 independent sitio.

Sitios

Festivals 

Seafood Festival 

The celebration is held every 1^st of May and aims to promote the seafood industry of Masantol. 

Palapat Festival

The celebration is held every 11^th of October at Barangay Bulacus. The festival is a celebration of abundant mangroves or palapat in Masantol.

Batalla San Miguel Arkangel (Apung Igue)

Celebration of all Masantoleños honoring Saint Michael the Archangel on May 8^th. 

Battalla Santo Niño 

Festival held every last Sunday of January honoring Santo Niño at Barangay Santo Niño.

Batalla Santa Monica

Festival held at Barangay Santa Monica (Caingin) every 4^th of May.

Batalla San Roque de Montpelier (Apung Duque)

The festival is held 15th ,16th, and 17th of August at Barangay Bebe Matua honoring Saint Roch de Montpelier.

Batalla San Roque (Apung Duque)

The festival held every 3^rd or 4^th Sunday of April at Sittio Bebe Arabia, Barangay Bebe Anac, and Barangay Bebe Matua. 

Fiesta de San Nicolas (Apung Culas) 

 The festival is held every 12^th of May and the 10^th of September at Barangay San Nicolas honoring St Nicholas.

Feast of the Holy Rosary 

The festival is held every 2^nd Saturday of October in Barangay Bulacus. 

Batalla de Santa Lucia (Apung Lucia) 

 The festival is held every 13^th of December at Barangay Santa Lucia Wakas, Santa Lucia Matua, and Santa Lucia Anac.

Batalla de San Agustin (Apung Gustin)

The festivity is held every 28^th of August at Barangay San Agustin (Caingin) honoring St. Augustine of Hippo, 

Limbun at Libad or Labas Larawan (Celebration of the Saints) 

The festival is held in each barrio/barangay celebrating their patron saint once a week in January.

Landmark and Attraction

San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church

Widely known as “Masantol Church” was the last parish church established buy the Augustinians Friars. The Masantol Church was founded in 1894.

References:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masantol

* https://pampanga.gov.ph/index.php/the-government/189-capitol/tourism/municipality/316-masantol.html

* https://www.liquisearch.com/masantol_pampanga/history

* https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/r03/pampanga/masantol.html

* https://infogalactic.com/info/Masantol,_Pampanga#Education* 

* https://www.liquisearch.com/masantol_pampanga/festivities

*For corrections or commentaries, please email us at whereinpampanga@gmail.com