Beautiful Philippines: A Handbook of General InformationPhilippine Islands. Commission of Independence
History
Beautiful Philippines: A Handbook of General Information
Philippine Islands. Commission of Independence
Philippines -- Description and travel; Philippines -- Economic conditions
PAMPANGA PROVINCE is said to be the lowest and most level of all the
provinces. It is the chief sugar raising province in Luzon. Some of
the islands' modern sugar centrals are there. Besides farming, sugar
making, lumbering, and fishing, the people are engaged in several
other industries such as distillation of alcohol, buri hat making,
and pottery.
[Historical Incidents]
About the middle of the seventeenth century, two great rebellions
broke out in the province. The first of these took place in 1645 as a
result of the injustices connected with the collection of tributes. It
spread quickly and extended to Zambales. The second revolt took place
fifteen years later as a result of the forcible employment of natives
in the work of cutting timber and of the failure of the Government
to pay for large amounts of rice collected in Pampanga for the use
of the royal officials. The leader of the rebellion was Francisco
Maniago. It spread rapidly among the inhabitants of the towns along
the banks of the Pampanga River, and was only suppressed after drastic
measures were taken by Governor-General de Lara.
Pampanga was one of the first provinces to start the Revolution. During
the early part of the war Mariano Llanera commanded the Revolutionary
forces. Later Tiburcio Hilario took possession of the province as
governor in the name of the Revolutionary Government.
[Attractions]
Among the attractions are the sugar centrals, Camp Stotsenberg, one of
the principal Army posts and an airplane station of the United States,
dome-shaped Mount Arayat, about 3,300 feet in height and fairly easy
to climb, and San Fernando, the capital, with its handsome capitol
and school buildings grouped about the pretty plaza.
Arayat, a picturesque village lying at the foot of the mountain of that
name is an ideal spot for those desiring to camp out. Nearby is the
little barrio of Baño where there is an ancient tile bath constructed
by the Spanish Friars. It consists of a tile lined tank some forty
feet in length and of varying depths, filled by a crystal-clear spring
which gushes into it from a grassy bank just above.
Mount Arayat is a perfect cone that rises majestically from the
immense plain of Central Luzon, and is visible for miles around,
presenting the same conical shape no matter from what direction viewed.
Several trails lead to the top of the mountain from where a wonderful
panorama can be seen. It was an insurgent stronghold during the war,
but its heights were scaled by American troops and its defenders
dispersed. Scientists state that the mountain is an extinct volcano and
local tradition has it that the original town of Arayat was destroyed
by an eruption and covered by ashes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account