Abucay, officially the Municipality of Abucay, (Filipino: Bayan ng Abucay), is a municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 42,984 people.[3]
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The first printing press in the archipelago was found in this town. Tomas Pinpin, the first Filipino printer, learned the art from Fray Francisco Blanca de San Jose and Juan de Vera, a Chinese printer at the University of Santo Tomas[citation needed].
On June 23, 1647, a fierce battle was fought between the Dutch invaders and the Pampango defenders in the near the Abucay church area. Nearly 200 Pampangos were put to death and 40 others together with Pampanga’s Spanish alcalde mayor (town mayor) Antonio de Cabrera. Dominican priests Father Geronimo Sotomayor and Father Tomas Ramos were taken to Batavia.[5]
Geography
The Municipality of Abucay borders Balanga (the capital city) to the south, Samal to the north and northwest, Morong to the west, and the Manila Bay to the east. The town is accessible via the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 25, or the parallel National Road in Bataan. Its westernmost elevated section is located within the Bataan National Park.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 79.72 square kilometres (30.78sqmi)[2] constituting 5.81% of the 1,372.98-square-kilometre- (530.11sqmi) total area of Bataan.
The topography of Abucay varies from the mountainous terrain of Mount Natib caldera in the west to the coastal areas of the province along the shore of Manila Bay. Six rivers with a combined length of 37 kilometres (23mi) originate from the mountain flowing in the west-to-east direction.[6]
Abucay is situated 4.78 kilometres (2.97mi) from the provincial capital Balanga, and 117.79 kilometres (73.19mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.
In the 2020 census, Abucay had a population of 42,984.[3] The population density was 540 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,400/sqmi).
Most of the people of Abucay speak the Tagalog language. There are also residents who speak "Kapampangang Hilaw," a dialect variation of the Kapampangan language, in Barangay Mabatang.
The mainly agricultural and fishing town is situated on the northeastern portion of the Bataan Peninsula, along Manila Bay, with a total land area of 79.72 square kilometres (30.78sqmi).[8]
It is basically an agricultural and fishing town. Besides Manila Bay, existing fishponds cover an area of 1,521 hectares (3,760 acres) of which 319 hectares (790 acres) are under intensive use while the rest are non-functioning but available for utilization. These fishponds are rich with commercial species like milkfish, tilapia, pla-pla and shrimps.
Agricultural lands in Abucay produces rice, corn, root crops, legumes, vegetable and various kinds of fruits as well as forest-grown bamboo and buho.[6] Most of the walis tambo (local brooms) sold in Baguio come from Abucay.
The political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall (also called Town Hall).[21][22] During the Spanish colonial period, the Gobernadorcillo was the chief executive who held office at the town hall, then called the Presidencia.
During the American period from 1898 to 1946, the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones hold office at the Municipal Town Hall. The executive and legislative departments perform their functions at the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, which are located at the Municipal Hall.
Members of the Abucay Municipal Council (2022-2025):[23]
District Representative (1st Legislative District, Bataan): Geraldine B. Roman
Municipal Mayor: Ruben C. Tagle
Municipal Vice Mayor: Roberto "Wangbu" Pasbustan
Municipal Councilors:
Dante Baluyot
Tikboy Soriano
Ato Dulay
Khristine Dela Fuente
Mer Canare
Arturo Mungcal
Gil Lingad
Ruben Valencia
The eight Sangguniang Bayan members led by the Vice Mayor hold office at the Abucay Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.
One of the oldest in the Philippines, the first Abucay Church was established in 1587 and was administered by the Dominicans in 1588. The present church was built sometime in the early 1600s, the exact year is still unknown. The Church was badly damaged by the earthquake of September 16, 1852, and again by a fire in 1870. Father Jose Diego Pelaez rebuilt the church.
The church still houses the bells donated in 1839 and 1859.[5] The five bells of the Abucay Church were restored on January 17, 1978, by U.S. Naval Base Facility in Subic Bay, Zambales province according to a historical marker in the church.
The Parish of Saint Dominic de Guzman has a population of 19,501 Catholics. Its patron saint is Saint Dominic de Guzman and the town's feast day is August 8. The present parish priest is Rev. Fr. Milver R. Cruz succeeding Rev. Fr. Josue Enero in June 5, 2023.[24][25][26] The church belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga under the Vicariate of Saint Dominic de Guzman.[25][27][28]
Other attractions
Landmarks include the following:
Tomas Pinpin Monument — a memorial to Tomas Pinpin, the "Patriarch of Filipino Printing" in barangay Ibayo. The monument stands at the center of Tomas Pinpin Memorial Elementary School, the central and the biggest public elementary school in Abucay.
Maria Canon Statue — In Barangay Sibul, a tower was erected by the Mie-ken Daiichi Shiēseo of the Japanese Sohyōshin Sports in 1978 to invoke the repose of dead souls from the World War II period.
Pasukulan Falls — located in west Abucay in the forested valley of Mount Natib. The place is ideal for picnics.
Sibul Springs — located in western Abucay featuring sulfuric swimming pools with a wide area for outdoor recreation. Its main attraction is the natural spring believed to provide muscle pain relief.
Christmas Village in Mabatang — Christmas celebration in Mabatang extends to the streets of every sitio in the barangay, which are lavishly adorned to rejoice the season.
A 10-hectare (25-acre)sanitary landfill in Sitio Macao in Barangay Capitangan is the first of its kind in the province of Bataan.[29]
Education
The Abucay Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[30]
Primary and elementary schools
Abucay North Elementary School
Bangkal Elementary School
Bangkal Resettlement Elementary School
Capitangan Elementary School
Hacienda Elementary School
Hoffman Academy
Jesus Reigns Christian Learning Center
Jose Abejar Memorial Elementary School
Kabukiran Elementary School
Mabatang Elementary School
P. Rubiano Elementary School
Salian Elementary School
T. Pinpin Memoria Elementary School
Wawa Elementary School
Woodfield Academy of Bataan
Secondary schools
B. Camacho National High School
Bangkal High School
Mabatang National High School
SOFTNET Information Technology Center
Higher educational institutions
Colegio de San Juan de Letran - the Abucay campus of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran is situated in Dominican Hills, 8 kilometres (5.0mi) west of town center of Abucay, on the slopes of Mount Natib at about 840 feet (260m) in elevation.[31]
Bataan Peninsula State University-Abucay campus - formerly the Bataan National Agricultural School (BNAS) now part of the state university in Bataan.[32]
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