Porac

August 2, 2022

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The town of Porac is a first-class landlocked municipality in the coastal province of Pampanga, part of Region III or Central Luzon.

The Municipality of Porac is considered the largest town in the region of Pampanga.

The neighboring towns and cities of Porac are Bamban in Tarlac Province, Mabalacat and Angeles Cities in the North, Bacolor, and Sta. Rita in the East, Guagua and Floridablanca in the South, and San Marcelino and Botolan in Zambales in the West.

History

The Municipality of Porac was established on the 31st of October 1594, upon acceptance by Fray Mateo Peralta which can be found in the Friar’s Intermediate Chapter (documented by Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, stating that the town of Porac has its First Friar and Minister, Fray Mateo de Mendoza.

From the year 1942 – 1956, Porac town was utilized as a General Headquarters and Military Camp Base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary. The local military acted in opposition to the Imperial Japanese Army and local allies of the Japanese during Cold War II from 1942 to 1945.

To help the Philippines to be free against the Japanese Empire during World War II, the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force was given a designated base in the town of Porac. (Marker: October 31, 2008, 412th Anniversary of Porac)

The name Porac was derived from the abundant trees named “Purac,” which were mostly encountered by the earliest settlers of the area. The town of Porac was alleged to be the earliest town created in the province of Pampanga. Formerly spelled “Poraq” after the name of the nearby Poraq River of the neighboring town of Floridablanca, the municipality became officially identified and spelled as Porac on September 16, 1867.

Barangay

The Municipality of Porac is subdivided into 29 barangays.

Babo Pangulo	Babo Sacan (Guanson)	Balubad	Calzadang Bayu	Camias
Cangatba	Diaz	Dolores (Hacienda Dolores)	Inararo (Aetas)	Jalung
Mancatian	Manibaug Libutad	Manibaug Paralaya	Manibaug Pasig	Manuali
Mitla Proper	Palat	Pias	Pio	Planas
Poblacion	Pulung Santol	Salu	San Jose Mitla	Santa Cruz
Sapang Uwak (Aetas)	Sepung Bulaun (Baidbid)	Siñura (Seniora)	Villa Maria (Aetas)

Festivals

Binulu Festival

The festival is held every 31^st of October which started in 2005. The festival showcased the cooking of rice and other foodstuffs using a variety of Bamboo generally known as “Bulu.”

Porac Day and the Feast of St. Catherine

The Festivity is held every 25^th of November celebrating the feast day of St Catherine of Alexandria.

Landmark and Attraction

Miyamit Falls

Located at Sapang Uwak in Porac, the hundred-foot Miyamit Falls is acknowledged for its strong water surges and rock formations.

Dara Falls

Also referred to by the locals as Darabulbul or merely, Dara Falls can be found in the mountainous part of Brgy. Jalung, Porac

**Photos by:** Kenneth Velasco / Source: danielsecotravels.com

Mt, Pinatubo Twin Falls

After climbing to the crater of Mt Pinatubo, trekkers can proceed to twin falls situated in a remote area of the mountain. It has two layers flowing on the splits of steep walls.

**Photo by:** Albert Emata Valde / Source: danielsecotravels.com

Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church

The Santa Catalina de Alejandria parish church, also commonly called the Porac church, is under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando.

The original structure of the Parish Church was erected in 1872. It was restored in the 1980s.

Pio Chapel

The San Vicente Ferrer chapel, widely called to as the Pio chapel is situated at Barangay Pio, in Porac, Pampanga. Constructed in 1861, the chapel is supposed to be the first circular chapel erected in the Philippines.