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General Tinio, officially the Municipality of General Tinio (Tagalog: Bayan ng Heneral Tinio, Ilocano: Ili ti Heneral Tinio), is a first class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 58,093 people.[5] It was known as Papaya until 1957.
According to the story passed on through generations, the town got its name because of a miscommunication between the natives and the Spanish colonizers. A native settler, when asked by a Spanish soldier "Llama el pueblo?", replied "Papaya" referring to the particular fruit tree growing abundantly in the place (not understanding the Spanish language). The name stuck with the Spanish colonizers and the place from then on was called "Papaya".
Papaya was a sitio of Bo. Mapisong which was then a barrio of Gapan. Bo. Mapisong became a town in 1851 changing its name to Peñaranda after Spanish engineer Jose Maria Peñaranda. Papaya became one of its barangays. Papaya became a town on January 1, 1921, through the collaborative efforts of Capitan Mamerto Padolina, who was then the Secretary of the Governor of the Province, Judge Segundo Bernardo, and Francisco Padolina.
Congressman Celestino Juan sponsored a congressional act changing the name of Papaya to General Tinio in honor of General Manuel Tinio, a revolutionary leader against the Spaniards who hailed from the Nueva Ecija. The act was signed into law on June 20, 1957, as Republic Act No. 1665.[6] The new name of the town was inaugurated days later, on August 19, 1957.
Geography
Barangays
General Tinio is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consist of puroks and some have sitios.
Farming is the livelihood of the majority of the residents. Even though the municipality is located at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the topography is generally ideal for agricultural products such as palay and vegetables. A number of poultry broiler contract growers are also located in the municipality. Other industries include furniture and fixtures, backyard poultry, cattle and livestock, vegetable production, and minor agricultural livelihoods such as duck raising. "Ikmo" or betel leaf production is one dying symbol of the town. The older generations' practice of chewing betel leaves was not adopted by younger generations even with its reported natural anti-cancer formula.
The remittances of numerous sons and daughters of Papaya abroad also help keep the economy of the town afloat. Papayanos can be relied to answer calls of assistance for the town's development.
Minalungao National Park is also one of the biggest attractions in the town, catering to numerous visitors each day.
The following have led the town from its birth in 1921 to what it had become today.[20]
Cristobal Mangulabnan
Vice Martin Ramos
1921–1922
Getulio Bote, Sr.
Vice Martin Pajarillaga
1922–1925
Martin Pajarillaga
Vice Marcos Bote Sr.
1925–1931
Marcos Bote Sr.
Vice Daniel Padolina
1931–1934
Melquiades Ronquillo, Sr.
Vice Santiago Bolisay
1934–1937
Mayor
Vice Mayor
Term
Melquades Ronquillo, Sr.
Vice Damaso Bolisay
1937–1940
Getulio Bote
Vice Pedro Bulacan
1940–1944
Getulio Bote
Vice Angeles Bote
1945
Republic Era
Gerardo Rivera
Vice Angeles Bote
1946–1947
Gerardo Rivera
Vice Diosdado Bote
1948–1951
Gerardo Rivera with
Victorino Bote
1952–1955
Bienvenido B. Abes
Vice Victorino Bote
1956–1959
Gerardo Rivera
Vice Banaag Leodones
1960–1963
Santos Bote
Vice Getulio Bote, Jr.
1964–1967
Mariano Ronquillo
Vice Manuel Domingo
January 1–15, 1968
Manuel Domingo
Vice Perfecto M. Bote
1968–1971
Nicanor B. Aves
Vice Alfonso Pajimna
1972–1980
Nathaniel Bote, Jr.
Vice Venancio Bote
1981–1986
OIC Gerardo Rivera
Vice Antonio Abes
1986–1988
Placido M. Calma
Vice Bernardino R. Abes
1988–1995
Placido M. Calma
Vice Elsa Bote
1995–1998
Placido M. Calma
Vice Bernardino R. Abes
1998–2004
Isidro Tinio Pajarillaga
Vice Indira P. Dayupay
2004–2007
Virgilio A. Bote
Vice Marcelo B. Abes
2007–2010
Virgilio A. Bote
Vice Engr. Ferdinand P. Bote
2010–2016
Engr. Ferdinand P. Bote
Vice Atty. Melvin S. Pascual
2016–2018
Atty. Melvin S. Pascual
Vice Anna Rouselle Busalpa
2018-2019
Isidro Tinio Pajarillaga
Vice Atty. Melvin S. Pascual
2019–2025
Sherry Ann Bolisay
Vice Atty. Melvin S. Pascual
2025–present
Education
The Gen. Tinio Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public educational institutions ranging from primary to secondary schools.[21]
Primary and elementary schools
Bago Elementary School
BC Achievers' Integrated School
Bethany Ecumenical School
Bulak Primary School
Christian Lights Academy
Gawad Kalinga Community Elementary School
Gen. Tinio Central School
Gen. Tinio East Central School
Gen. Tinio West Central School
Gethsemane Christian School
Greenland Elementary School
IEMELIF Learning Center
Mapedya Elementary School
Minalungao Elementary School
Nazareth Elementary School
Padolina Elementary School
Palale Elementary School
Patindig-Araw Elementary School
Pias Elementary School
Rio Chico Elementary School
Sibug Elementary School
Secondary schools
General Tinio National High School
Irenea Integrated School
Leonor M. Bautista High School
Lino P. Bernardo National High School
Pagtalunan High School
Palale High School
Rio Chico National High School
Higher educational institution
St. Anthony Center of Science and Technology
Culture
Roman Catholic is the most prevalent religion, with Iglesia ni Cristo, IEMELIF, Baptist, Methodist, and others attracting its own followers. The town's patron saint, the Santo Cristo or the Holy Cross is feted every May.
The town is best known for having the most number of brass bands in the Philippines with 15 organized bands. These bands are sought after to enhance entertainment ambience in fiestas and other traditional rites such as wakes. A well known band, known as The Family Band, has produced champions in majorette exhibitions, solo flute competitions, solo clarinet competitions, solo trumpet competitions, French horn competitions, etc., in national brass band competitions.
The town also has other places of interest, notably the Minalungao National Park, which is a favorite swimming destination in the summer, especially during Black Saturday when it is usually filled with local bathers and visitors. Minalungao, literally meaning "mine of gold in a cave", houses several caves which can explored. The river also has a portion where a stone ledge located about 15 meters high from the river can be used as spring board.
A Papaya Festival is also commonly celebrated, coinciding with the municipality's Foundation Anniversary. Parades of different school students around the town would wear colourful costumes inspired by the fruit Papaya, the area's name prior to the change.
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