The Municipality of San Luis is a third-class landlocked municipality located in the coastal province of Pampanga, part of Region III or Central Luzon.
The nearest cities of the municipality of San Luis are; the City of San Fernando on the West and Manila, Mabalacat on the North-West, Malolos in Bulacan on the South, and Gapan in Nueva Ecija on the Northeast.
The neighboring municipalities of San Luis are; Santa Ana on the Northwest, San Simon on the South, and Santo Tomas on the West.
History
The municipality of San Luis is formerly called ‘Cabagsak’ or ‘Cabagsac’ derived from the word “Bagsakan Kabag,” which means plenty of fruit bats hence, the place is full of fruit bats.
Later on, the place was given a new name ‘San Nicolas Cabagsac’ honoring the first parish priest of the town, Fray Nicolas de Orduño, OSA.
The town was renamed ‘San Luis’ afterward, attributed to a certain Doña Luisa, the wife of the town’s defense lawyer who victoriously defended the town against a land claim opposed by the neighboring town of Pinpin (Sta Ana) in the year 1761. The town was also named after San Luis Gonzaga (St. Aloysius Gonzaga, 1568-1591)
Barangay
The Municipality of San Luis is subdivided into 17 barangays.
| San Agustin | San Carlos | San Isidro | San Jose | San Juan |
| San Nicolas | San Roque | San Sebastian | Santa Catalina | Santa Cruz Pambilog |
| Santa Cruz Poblacion | Santa Lucia | Santa Monica | Santa Rita | Santo Niño |
| Santo Rosario | Santo Tomas |
The seventeen barangays of San Luis were constituted in 1735 but were set on fire by Captain Mariano Carlos under the commands of General Luna in May of 1899. The town’s hard-working people re-established their town from the ashes.
Festivals
San Luis Fiesta Town
The festival is a celebration of the feast day of the patron saint of the San Luis town, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. The festival is held every June 21.
Landmark and Attraction
San Luis Gonzaga Parish Church
The San Luis Gonzaga Parish Church, widely known by the locals as San Luis Church is located at Brgy. Poblacion. The church is situated in a place that used to be called ‘Cabagsac’, famous for its abundant fruit bats.
References:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis,_Pampanga
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis_Gonzaga_Parish_Church
* https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/r03/pampanga/san-luis.html
* https://pampanga.gov.ph/index.php/shopping/189-capitol/tourism/municipality/312-san-luis.html
* https://pampanga.gov.ph/index.php/shopping/150-capitol/districts/district-iv/san-luis/266-municipality-of-san-luis.html
*For corrections or commentaries, please email us at whereinpampanga@gmail.com
