Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga, is a province in Central Luzon in the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tarlac to the north, Nueva Ecija to the northeast, Bulacan to the east, Manila Bay to the central-south, Bataan to the southwest and Zambales to the west. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, the regional center of Central Luzon. Angeles City is the largest LGU, but while geographically within Pampanga, it is classified as a first-class, highly urbanized city and has been governed independently of the province since it received its charter in 1964.
New Era University (NEU) is a private educational institution in the Philippines, run by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). Although it is associated with the INC, it is a non-sectarian university. Its main campus is at New Era, Quezon City, within the Central Office Complex of the INC. Aside from its flagship Quezon City campus, it has four other campuses around the Philippines, including one in San Fernando City (Pampanga), in Lipa City (Batangas), in General Santos, and in Baras (Rizal).
Mabalacat, officially City of Mabalacat, is a component city in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 293,244 people.
The Adventist University of the Philippines is a private Protestant coeducational higher education institution located in Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The university is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It holds an autonomous status granted by the Commission on Higher Education.
Cabiao, officially the Municipality of Cabiao, is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,862 people. Cabiao is the 3rd most populous, one of the richest, and fastest growing municipality in the province, only behind Talavera and Guimba. If cities are included, the town ranks 6th.
San Fernando, officially the City of San Fernando, is a component city and capital of the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 354,666 people.
Mexico, officially the Municipality of Mexico, is a municipality in the province of Pampanga, the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 173,403 people. It was also formerly known as Nuevo México during the Spanish period.
The University of the East, also known as UE, is a private university located in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1946, business tycoon Lucio Tan acquired the university in 1990. UE was once labeled as the "largest university in Asia" when its enrollment in the past reached over 65,000 students.
The University of the Assumption (U.A.) is a private archdiocesan Catholic university in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. The University of the Assumption is the first Catholic archdiocesan university in the Philippines and in Asia. It is among the top schools in the region, based on its accredited programs, and licensure and professional examination results.
The University of the East, Caloocan Extension Campus is a private higher education institution in Caloocan, Philippines. It is one of the three campuses of the University of the East system. It is an autonomous unit headed by a chancellor, with the College of Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Fine Arts. UE Caloocan is called Caloocan Campus to distinguish it from the Manila Campus on C.M. Recto Avenue.
Holy Angel University is a private Catholic research university in Angeles City, Philippines. Founded in June 1933 by Don Juan Nepomuceno and Fr. Pedro Paulo Santos, who was later named as the Archbishop of Cáceres, is considered the first lay-founded Catholic school as well as the first co-educational Catholic high school. With a student population of over 21,000, it is the largest private institute of education with the largest student population in a single campus in Central Luzon.
Central Luzon State University is a state university on a 658-hectare campus in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the lead agency of the Muñoz Science Community and the seat of the Regional Research and Development Center in Central Luzon. To date, CLSU is one of the premiere institutions for agriculture in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia known for its research in aquaculture, ruminants, crops, orchard, and water management. It has also been placed between the sixth and the twenty-first spot for the most academically-excellent university in the country for various years, surpassing most schools in Metro Manila.
The foundational roots of what we now recognize as Pampanga High School (PHS) were established in 1902, coinciding with the full establishment of the Civil Government in the Philippines. Prior to the establishment of the Civil Government in Pampanga, schools were organized and operated under military guidance. In 1901, a group of teachers arrived from America, specifically twenty-five civilian educators among the 600 American teachers, known as Thomasites, who arrived from the United States on August 23, 1901. They were assigned to the 19 towns of Pampanga. These teachers initially taught in central schools, provided training to Filipino teachers, and initiated the extension of the education system to encompass the crucial barrios in the province. The instruction initially focused on primary and chiefly academic education. Later, emphasis was placed on industrial training, and intermediate and secondary schools were established. During the Spanish colonial period, Teodoro Santos and Africa Ventura constructed a building in downtown San Fernando. This structure, known as the "Buison Building," was later inherited by their daughter Asuncion Santos, who married Andres Eusebio. It served as the first site of PHS and eventually evolved into a popular lodging and dining facility, now known as Pampanga Lodge and Restaurant. In 1907, the construction of PHS along the old highway near the provincial capitol in barrio Santo Niño commenced. The historical main structure, more renowned as the Gabaldon Building, was named after Isauro Gabaldon, the Nueva Ecija Assemblyman who sponsored Act 1801 and was designed by the American architect William Parsons. The Gabaldon Act, passed in 1907, mandated funds for the construction of school buildings across the country. The construction was overseen by the provincial and insular governments. The grounds covered an area of four hectares. The building and its smaller components cost ₱47,000. The furniture was crafted at the Bacolor School of Arts and Trades, totaling ₱2,500. Adjacent to the main building was a domestic science structure, costing ₱3,500, which stood on the grounds and formed an integral part of the institution. The overall expenditure on the buildings and furniture amounted to ₱53,000. Upon completion, the high school comprised nine classrooms, a library, a property room, a principal’s office, and an assembly hall spacious enough to accommodate four hundred people. The grounds were meticulously designed, adorned with shade trees, hedges, and shrubbery, enhancing their visual appeal. In June 1908, this significant building opened its doors to nearly three hundred pupils. In its inaugural year, the school encompassed an intermediate school, covering fifth to seventh grade and the first to second year of high school. The teaching staff included seven Americans and three Filipinos, with Mr. John W. Osborn as the principal. The subsequent school year, 1909-1910, saw an enrollment exceeding 200. Under the energetic principal's guidance, the school functioned smoothly. Students completing their third year of high school that year were compelled to travel to Manila for the school year 1910-1911 to complete their high school curriculum. The academic year 1911-1912 witnessed a momentous development, much to the students' joy—a complete high school course was introduced, incorporating the fourth year. The senior class that year comprised 20 students—15 boys and five girls. Among these 20 students, 19 successfully graduated. One of the early alumni of the school who gained prominence was Diosdado M. Macapagal, a graduate of the class of 1929, who later ascended to the position of the 5th President of the Republic of the Philippines. Subsequently, the burgeoning student population prompted the national government to undertake the construction of a new building along Teopaco Street, popularly known as the High School Boulevard, its present location. The plot was generously donated by the late Don Juan Teopaco, as documented in the Register of Deeds TCT No. 2942. The new structure, completed in 1935, was a Gabaldon schoolhouse, designed in the early 1930s. The Gabaldon Building, with its rectangular shape, showcased intricate sculptures and relief of human figures on its facade and rear. PHS is one of the few remaining schools with Gabaldon architectural structures, holding the distinction of being the central landmark of the American public educational system in the province of Pampanga. The earlier structure was repurposed as an annex. In its new setting, PHS continued to provide education to a growing number of students from various towns of Pampanga and neighboring provinces. The school remained under the supervision of American educators until their tenure concluded in 1935. The last American principal, Charles G. Whitewell, was succeeded by Demetrio Andres, who assumed the role of the first Filipino school principal. Regrettably, the operations of Pampanga High School were severely disrupted from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II. On June 18, 1964, Republic Act No. 3975 was enacted, changing the school’s name from "Pampanga High School" to "Jose Abad Santos High School" in honor of Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, who is now acclaimed as a Kapampangan hero for his heroic sacrifice during the Japanese occupation. The bill proposing the school's name change was sponsored by then Congresswoman and former Governor Juanita L. Nepomuceno. However, on April 01, 1992, the institution’s name was reverted to its original name, "Pampanga High School," through Republic Act No. 7340, initiated by Congressman Oscar S. Rodriguez, and the school has retained this name to date. In July 1972, Pampanga experienced moderate flooding when Typhoon Edeng made landfall in Luzon. However, the situation escalated with the arrival of Super Typhoon Gloring, which caused extensive damage in Central Luzon following Typhoon Edeng. Subsequent typhoons, including Huaning, Isang, and Konsing, inflicted devastating losses and prolonged severe weather conditions in Luzon. A month of seemingly incessant rains inundated Pampanga High School, resulting in the suspension of school operations for several weeks. The Gabaldon building, the school’s primary structure, was partially submerged, with its basement remaining waterlogged for an extended period before being permanently sealed. In 1991, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo had a significant impact; however, the floods triggered by "Bagyong Mameng" in 1995 had an even more profound effect, inundating the town, including PHS. Floodwaters and mudflows from Mount Pinatubo cascaded into the town, causing severe damage to the school, with many of its buildings suffering immense devastation. The basement rooms were permanently buried, resulting in the second floor of the main building being prematurely converted into the ground floor. In 2003, during the presidency of Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, daughter of former President Diosdado M. Macapagal, ₱22.5 million was allocated by the National Government for a significant upgrade of the school grounds, including raising them by one meter and installing drainage and water systems on the campus. Following the campus upgrade, nearly all the buildings underwent rehabilitation and improvements, a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, including administrators, students, teachers, non-teaching staff, alumni, PHS-MPCI, PTCA, NGOs, and GOs. In 2016, PHS responded to the DepEd's mandate to recalibrate the school's curriculum, incorporating Senior High School specializations under the K-12 program. These additional two years offered specialized fields such as Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM), General Academic Strand (GAS), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL). In March 2018, the school celebrated its first batch of K-12 graduates, totalling 718 promoted students. Furthermore, DepEd replaced the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian titles for top K-12 students with "With Honors," "With High Honors," and "With Highest Honors," in accordance with DepEd Order 36, s. 2016. Pampanga High School has persevered through numerous challenges, with its greatest achievements emerging from its most formidable struggles. It remains dedicated to nurturing the dreams of the youth, providing them with a high-quality education that equips Kapampangan youth with the skills needed to become productive citizens of the country.
Bulacan State University is a public university in Bulacan province, Philippines. Its main campus is in Malolos.
Don Bosco Academy also referred to by its acronym DBA or Don Bosco Pampanga" is a private Catholic Salesian technical educational institution for boys run by the Salesians of the Society of Saint John Bosco in Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines. It was founded in 1956 by the (Salesians).
La Consolacion College – Novaliches, also known by its former name La Consolacion College - Deparo or colloquially LaCo [pronounced as /lakô/], is a private Catholic basic and higher educational institution administered by the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (ASOLC) in Caloocan, Philippines. It was founded in February 1995 and is one of the two La Consolacion schools in the city of Caloocan, and one of the 24 schools owned and administered by the Augustinian Sisters.
Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) is a state university in Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines. It has six satellite campuses in Apalit, Candaba, Porac, Mexico, Santo Tomas and Lubao in the province of Pampanga. It is considered as the oldest vocational school in Far East Asia.
The Angeles University Foundation also referred to by its acronym AUF, is a private Roman Catholic non-stock, non-profit educational institution run by lay persons in Angeles City. It was established on May 25, 1962, by Agustin P. Angeles, Barbara Yap-Angeles, and their family.
The La Verdad Christian College or LVCC is a private educational institution established in Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines. It is the first private school in the Philippines that grants scholarship programs to deserving students by providing tuition-free education and no miscellaneous fees. It is one of the best schools in Pampanga, up to regional and national levels.
