Hermosa, Bataan

Hermosa
Municipality
Municipality of Hermosa
Municipal Hall
Flag Seal
Map of Bataan with Hermosa highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Hermosa Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°50′N120°30′E / 14.83°N 120.5°E / 14.83; 120.5
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Bataan
District	1st district
Founded	1852
Barangays	23 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Antonio Joseph R. Inton
•  Vice Mayor	Eigie K. Malana
•  Representative	Geraldine B. Roman
•  Municipal Council	Members Patrick S. Rellosa Christopher D. Vitug Jenna Marie S. Basi Luzviminda J. Samaniego Floyd J. Tungol Angelito N. Narciso Wilson M. Valencia Regalado D. Santos
•  Electorate	50,030 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	157.00 km2 (60.62 sq mi)
Elevation	21 m (69 ft)
Highest elevation	161 m (528 ft)
Lowest elevation	−3 m (−10 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	77,443
• Density	490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
•  Households	18,494
Economy
•  Income class	1st municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	8.99 % (2018) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 331.7 million (2020)
•  Assets	₱ 772.5 million (2020)
•  Expenditure	₱ 227 million (2020)
•  Liabilities	₱ 98.01 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Peninsula Electric Cooperative (PENELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2111
PSGC	030805000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)47
Native languages	Kapampangan Mariveleño Tagalog
Website	www.hermosa.gov.ph

Hermosa, officially the Municipality of Hermosa (Tagalog : Bayan ng Hermosa, Kapampangan: Balen ning Hermosa), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,443 people. ^[3]

"Hermosa" means "beautiful" in Spanish. It has a total land area of 157.00 square kilometres (60.62 sq mi). ^[5]

Hermosa is home to the Roosevelt Protected Landscape and Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ; along with Morong also in the province of Bataan, and Olongapo and Subic in Zambales), and is accessible via the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 10 and Jose Abad Santos Avenue.

Etymology

According to legend, a group of Spaniards first came to this place, surprised and amazed they exclaimed, Que Hermosa! Que Hermosa!, when they saw some pretty maidens with long, black hair washing clothes and bathing in the brook. The boys who accompanied their sisters repeated what they heard from the Spaniards and upon returning home they repeated again and again what the Spaniards exclaimed. When the next group of Spaniards visited the place, they asked for its name. The folks didn't understand Spanish but answered "Hermosa, Hermosa". And that was how Hermosa got its name.

Another version was that "Llana Hermosa", meaning beautiful plain of white flowers was the original name of this town. When the province was created, the town was formally named Hermosa, a name that fits the place not only due to the plain's white flowers but more so to the beautiful maidens and places that abound the town.

History

Historically, the town was established in 1756 by Dominican priests. At that time, it was known as Llana Hermosa and composed of Mabuco and Mabuyan. It was then still part of Pampanga, like the rest of Bataan. It became an independent missionary center in 1756 with Saint Peter de Verona as its patron saint.

The town of Hermosa was very peaceful and progressive before World War II. When the war broke out, their quiet routine was disturbed. During the Bataan Death March, civilians of Hermosa risked the ire of the Japanese by secretly passing food to Filipino and American soldiers.

Geography

Hermosa is located directly south of Dinalupihan and south-southwest of San Fernando, Pampanga (the regional city center). Hermosa borders the province of the Pampanga to the northeast, with Manila Bay to the east.

Hermosa is 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Balanga and 105 kilometres (65 mi) from Manila.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 157.00 square kilometres (60.62 sq mi)  ^[6] constituting 11.43% of the 1,372.98-square-kilometre- (530.11 sq mi) total area of Bataan.

Climate

Climate data for Hermosa, Bataan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31 (88)	32 (90)	34 (93)	35 (95)	33 (91)	31 (88)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	19 (66)	20 (68)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	20 (68)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	7 (0.3)	8 (0.3)	14 (0.6)	26 (1.0)	127 (5.0)	210 (8.3)	263 (10.4)	272 (10.7)	218 (8.6)	114 (4.5)	46 (1.8)	21 (0.8)	1,326 (52.3)
Average rainy days	4.0	4.0	6.9	11.2	21.0	24.5	27.4	26.9	25.9	21.9	13.4	6.3	193.4
Source: Meteoblue [7]

Barangays

Hermosa is politically subdivided into 23 barangays. ^[5] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020 [3]		2010 [8]
030805001	A. Rivera ( Poblacion )	2.2%	1,675	1,663	▴	0.07%
030805002	Almacen	2.8%	2,175	1,939	▴	1.15%
030805003	Bacong	3.7%	2,828	2,547	▴	1.05%
030805004	Balsic	8.5%	6,594	5,704	▴	1.46%
030805005	Bamban	3.1%	2,379	2,157	▴	0.98%
030805006	Burgos‑Soliman (Poblacion)	0.7%	556	493	▴	1.21%
030805007	Cataning (Poblacion)	3.9%	3,018	2,656	▴	1.29%
030805008	Culis	11.1%	8,610	7,216	▴	1.78%
030805009	Daungan (Poblacion)	1.2%	962	905	▴	0.61%
030805024	Judge Roman Cruz Sr. (Mandama)	4.9%	3,816	3,072	▴	2.19%
030805010	Mabiga	3.7%	2,902	2,144	▴	3.07%
030805011	Mabuco	4.2%	3,238	2,943	▴	0.96%
030805012	Maite	2.2%	1,706	1,548	▴	0.98%
030805013	Mambog ‑ Mandama	3.8%	2,922	2,585	▴	1.23%
030805014	Palihan	7.9%	6,129	5,621	▴	0.87%
030805015	Pandatung	2.6%	2,048	1,713	▴	1.80%
030805016	Pulo	0.7%	579	365	▴	4.72%
030805017	Saba	2.4%	1,875	1,737	▴	0.77%
030805025	Sacrifice Valley	1.6%	1,248	1,183	▴	0.54%
030805019	San Pedro (Poblacion)	3.0%	2,318	1,950	▴	1.74%
030805020	Santo Cristo (Poblacion)	1.2%	896	897	▾	−0.01%
030805021	Sumalo	2.5%	1,923	1,529	▴	2.32%
030805023	Tipo	7.1%	5,465	4,430	▴	2.12%
	Total		77,443	56,997	▴	3.11%

Demographics

Population census of Hermosa

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 1,854 —     1918 3,307 +3.93% 1939 6,819 +3.51% 1948 8,437 +2.39% 1960 12,550 +3.36% 1970 19,501 +4.50% 1975 23,246 +3.59% 1980 25,672 +2.00%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 34,633 +3.04% 1995 38,764 +2.13% 2000 46,254 +3.86% 2007 52,484 +1.76% 2010 56,997 +3.05% 2015 65,862 +2.79% 2020 77,443 +3.24%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [8] [10] [11]

In the 2020 census, Hermosa had a population of 77,443. ^[3] The population density was 490 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,300/sq mi).

Economy

Hermosa Special Economic Zone (Subic Hermosa Cybercity)

Existing industries in Hermosa are garments, handpainted jars, balut and salted egg making. Today, fruit processing particularly of mangoes and bananas, handicrafts, and stuffed toys are the major produce of this town. Probably less known, but existing for a long time is the aquaculture industry, traditionally for bangus, tilapia and crabs, but more recently for prawns, which was found more lucrative.

Hermosa Rural Bank serves the banking needs of the municipality. Major bus lines and mini-bus coming from Manila, San Fernando and Olongapo pass through the town of Hermosa while the most common type of transport within the municipality are jeepneys and tricycles. The newly established Hermosa Public Market in barangay Palihan has also the terminal of vehicles going to Clark and Mabalacat in Pampanga via SCTEX. The town has a total of 1 bank, 21 schools, 15 medical clinics/health centers, and 2 recreational facilities.

Hermosa Special Economic Zone

The Zone is adapted for building light to medium industries, recreational and housing facilities for industry and residents inside the zone investments in fruit processing utilizing the abundant supply of mangoes and banana in the province. The Subic Hermosa Cybercity is a 93-hectare Special Economic Zone which will host locator Businesses dealing in Information Technology (IT), manufacture of electronic products, IT research and development, and multi-media industries.

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines", ^{[19] [20]} the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo was the Chief Executive who held office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones held office at the Municipal Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the Town Hall.

Elected officials

Members of the Hermosa Municipal Council
(2022-2025)

Position	Name of official
District Representative (1st Legislative District, Bataan)	Geraldine B. Roman
Municipal Mayor	Antonio Joseph Rivera Inton
Municipal Vice Mayor	Eigie Malana
Municipal Councilors	Patrick S. Rellosa
	Christopher D. Vitug
	Jenna Marie S. Basi
	Luzviminda J. Samaniego
	Floyd J. Tungol
	Angelito N. Narciso
	Wilson M. Valencia
	Gelly Grace Santos

Tourism

Saint Peter of Verona Parish Church

Saint Peter of Verona Parish Church

Hermosa's cultural treasure is its 1717 heritage church.

Hermosa, known as "Llana Hermosa" belonged formerly to Orani (composed of Mabuyan and Maboco). It became an independent missionary Pueblo in 1717. In the British invasion of Manila, the Dominicans held there its provincial chapters in 1763. The Hermosa church was destroyed by fire several times. Residents of Hermosa found a boat with a statue of a saint inside it along the river.

Saint Peter of Verona, O.P. (1206 – April 6, 1252), also known as "Saint Peter Martyr", was a 13th-century Italian Catholic priest, Dominican friar and a celebrated preacher. He became the patron of this town. ^[21]

The church features a baroque-style façade with stained-glasses windows. The major retablo of Hermosa is made more attractive by the variations of saints placed in it amid its dome. The church brings remembrance of the colonial past. ^[22]

The Parish of Saint Peter of Verona belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga. ^[23] Its Feast day is May 3. It is under the Vicariate of Saint Peter Verona. ^{[24] [25]} It is also under the Vicariate of Our Lady, Mirror of Justice ^[26] (Dioecesis Balangensis), part of the Ecclesiastical Province of San Fernando, Pampanga). ^{[24] [27] [28]}

Infrastructure

Telecommunications

Digitel is the major provider of telecommunication services in the municipality.

Cable TV is provided by the Hermosa Cable, Destiny and Malasimbu. Internet connection is also provided by Digitel, and Smart (SmartBro).

Electricity

Hermosa is 100% electrified and is being served by the Peninsula Electric Company (PENELCO).

Two substations of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) are located along Jose Abad Santos Avenue just before entering Pampanga which are Hermosa and Balsik EHV substations. It also provides power to the municipality other than Penelco through its transmission lines.

Water service

Major source of water for domestic use is ground water. Existing water systems are artesian and open wells, pumps and pipeline with tanks. Two barangays are being served by a common facility through the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). In addition, a new facility was installed in barangay Mabuco, which now served the whole poblacion.

References

1.   Municipality of Hermosa | (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. 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 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
5. "Municipal: Hermosa, Bataan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 January 2016.
6. "Province: Bataan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 12 November 2016.
7. "Hermosa: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
8. 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.
9. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
10. 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.
11. "Province of Bataan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
12. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
13. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
14. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
15. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
16. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
17. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
18. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
19. "the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
20. "The Local Government Code Of The Philippines - Chan Robles Virtual Law Library". Chanrobles.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
21. "Discover Bataan Peninsula". Mybataan.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
22. "St. Peter of Verona Parish Church in Hermosa - Discover Central Luzon". Centralluzon.com. 2012-06-17. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
23. "The Official Website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga (v2013)". Balangadiocese.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
24. "Diocese of Balanga; Parishes and Parochial Clergy". Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
25. Visitmyphilippines.com. "Department of Tourism - The Philippines Ultimate Travel Guide for Tourist". Visitmyphilippines.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
26. "Diocese of Balanga; Parishes". Catholic News Asia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
27. "Diocese of Balanga". Claretian Publications. UP Village Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
28. "List of Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga | Philippine Churches". Church.nfo.ph. 2012-06-27. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-11-21.

External links

• Media related to Hermosa, Bataan at Wikimedia Commons
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code