Bongabon

Today, Bongabon is a topic that arouses great interest and debate in various areas of society. Its relevance and impact have generated conflicting opinions and have led to multiple studies and investigations that seek to delve deeper into its implications. Without a doubt, Bongabon is a question that is constantly evolving, adapting to the changes and challenges of today's world. Through this article, we will explore different perspectives and approaches on Bongabon, with the aim of analyzing its importance and understanding its influence on our daily lives.

Not to be confused with Bongabong.
Bongabon
Santor
Municipality
Municipality of Bongabon
Municipal Hall
Municipal Hall
Official seal of Bongabon
Seal
Nickname: 
Onion Capital of the Philippines
Map of Nueva Ecija with Bongabon highlighted
Map of Nueva Ecija with Bongabon highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Bongabon is located in Philippines
Bongabon
Bongabon
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°37′56″N 121°08′41″E / 15.6321°N 121.1448°E / 15.6321; 121.1448
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Luzon
ProvinceNueva Ecija
District 3rd district
Founded1760
Barangays28 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRicardo I. Padilla
 • Vice MayorChristian P. Binuya
 • RepresentativeRosanna V. Vergara
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate48,923 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
286.95 km2 (110.79 sq mi)
Elevation
76 m (249 ft)
Highest elevation
279 m (915 ft)
Lowest elevation
54 m (177 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
66,839
 • Density230/km2 (600/sq mi)
 • Households
16,305
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
15.00
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 335.6 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 977.5 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 297.8 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 635.1 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNueva Ecija 2 Area 2 Electric Cooperative (NEECO 2 A2)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3128
PSGC
0304902000
IDD : area code +63 (0)44
Native languagesIlocano
Tagalog
Websitebongabon.ph

Bongabon, officially the Municipality of Bongabon (Ilocano: Ili ti Bongabon; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bongabon), is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,839 people.[3]

Bongabon is the leading producer of onion in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. Each barangay in Bongabon has its own fiesta. The town fiesta, celebrated annually from the 1st to 2nd week of April, is known as the Sibuyasan (Onion) Festival.

Bongabon is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Palayan, 144 kilometres (89 mi) from Manila, and 88 kilometres (55 mi) from Baler.

History

Spanish colonial era

Bongabon was the first capital of Nueva Ecija. The Augustinian missionaries who preached Catholicism in Pampanga extended their outposts into what is now the province of Nueva Ecija by following the Rio Grande de Pampanga. Thus, Santol (present day Barangay Santor) was part of Pantabangan and established in 1659. In 1760, Bongabon was named as a town and parish under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi.

Migrant-settlers of the community were mostly Tagalog and Ilocanos from the Ilocos Region and Pangasinan, with some Kapampangans from Pampanga and Tarlac.[5][6]

Philippine revolution

When the Philippine Revolution transpired from 1896 to 1898 against Spain, revolutionaries with the aid of Katipunero rebels and started the Siege of Bongabon, fought Spanish colonial forces, and liberated the town. The Filipino revolutionary troops and Katipunero rebel fighters captured the municipal town after the siege forcing the Spanish troops to retreat.

American invasion era

With the outbreak of the Philippine–American War on 1899 to 1902, the town saw the arrival of American troops which fought the Filipino revolutionary troops and Katipuneros in the Battle of Bongabon on 1899. In the ensuing battle, the town was captured by the American troops.

Philippine independence

On April 28, 1949, Aurora Quezon, her daughter Maria Aurora "Baby" Quezon, then a law student at the University of Santo Tomas, her son-in-law Felipe "Philip" Buencamino (husband of "Nini" and brother-in-law of "Baby") and Quezon City Mayor Ponciano Bernardo were assassinated by Hukbalahap movement led by Luis Taruc in this town while traveling in Aurora's Buick sedan along the Baler–Bongabon Road connecting Baler with Nueva Ecija, which Aurora Quezon herself inaugurated in 1940, to open the Quezon Memorial Hospital in Baler, Aurora, hometown of Aurora and her husband Manuel Quezon, then a town of Nueva Ecija before 1902 and a town of Quezon Province since 1902 and in 1949.[7]

Geography

Barangays

Bongabon is politically subdivided into 28 barangays. [8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Antipolo
  • Ariendo
  • Bantug
  • Calaanan
  • Commercial (Poblacion)
  • Cruz
  • Digmala
  • Curva (J. Tomacruz)
  • Kaingin (Poblacion)
  • Labi
  • Larcon
  • Lusok
  • Macabaclay
  • Magtanggol (Poblacion)
  • Mantile (Poblacion)
  • Olivete
  • Palo Maria (Poblacion)
  • Pesa
  • Rizal (Poblacion)
  • Sampalucan (Poblacion)
  • San Roque (Poblacion)
  • Santor
  • Sinipit (Poblacion)
  • Sisilang na Ligaya (Poblacion)
  • Social (Poblacion)
  • Tugatug
  • Tulay na Bato (Poblacion)
  • Vega Grande

Climate

Climate data for Bongabon, Nueva Ecija
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29
(84) 		30
(86) 		31
(88) 		33
(91) 		33
(91) 		31
(88) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		30
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 19
(66) 		19
(66) 		20
(68) 		22
(72) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		21
(70) 		20
(68) 		22
(71)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 4
(0.2) 		6
(0.2) 		7
(0.3) 		12
(0.5) 		61
(2.4) 		89
(3.5) 		96
(3.8) 		99
(3.9) 		81
(3.2) 		88
(3.5) 		37
(1.5) 		13
(0.5) 		593
(23.5)
Average rainy days 2.5 3.0 4.1 6.3 15.8 19.4 22.5 21.6 20.1 17.5 9.6 4.0 146.4
Source: Meteoblue[9]

Demographics

Population census of Bongabon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 3,923—    
1918 4,532+0.97%
1939 11,885+4.70%
1948 14,958+2.59%
1960 20,854+2.81%
1970 25,434+2.00%
1975 29,932+3.32%
1980 32,451+1.63%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 39,616+2.02%
1995 44,856+2.35%
2000 49,255+2.03%
2007 63,639+3.60%
2010 59,343−2.51%
2015 64,173+1.50%
2020 66,839+0.80%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13]

Religion

The majority of the people of the municipality are Roman Catholic. The members of the Iglesia ni Cristo are growing in number and are second to the Catholics in membership. Other sects in the municipality are the Methodists, Iglesia ng Dios, Seventh-day Adventists, etc.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Bongabon

10
20
30
40
2000
38.56
2003
24.87
2006
29.50
2009
21.74
2012
16.49
2015
14.80
2018
5.47
2021
15.00

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Tourism

  • Sibuyas Festival is celebrated as a form of thanksgiving every 10 April, and a way to promote and show their town as one of the largest producers of onion in Asia.
  • Ilog Jordan at Barangay Olivete – This place is a popular Lenten destination for people seeking spiritual rejuvenation and healing.
  • Falls Deepsap at Barangay Labi – A good place to visit during summer, the falls offers a cold shimmering water perfect to beat heatwaves. Its water comes from the untainted Sierra Madre Mountain.
  • Mount Labi Peak at Barangay Labi.
  • The first leg of the UCI Gravel World Series was held in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines on April 3, 2022.

Healthcare

Bongabon District Hospital, a government hospital located at Barangay Curva, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija

Education

Most are public schools from primary to secondary. Bongabon National High School is located at Barangay Sinipit, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Many of the students are going to Cabanatuan to continue their college.

References

  1. ^  Municipality of Bongabon | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ History of Laur (Laur was a barrio of Bongabon)
  6. ^ History of Bongabon
  7. ^ "The Town Where Time Stands Still". Aurora, Philippines:News. BizNews Asia & Aurora.ph. December 2004. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
  8. ^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Bongabon: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  11. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  12. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  13. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  14. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  16. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  17. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  18. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  20. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  21. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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