Minalin, Pampanga

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Minalin
Municipality

Nickname(s): "the Egg basket of the Philippines"

Map of Pampanga showing the location of Minalin

Minalin
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1458N 12041ECoordinates:

1458N 12041E

Country

Philippines

Region

Central Luzon (Region III)

Province

Pampanga

District

4th District

Founded

August 27, 1614

Barangays

15

Government[1]
Mayor

Edgardo Galope Flores

Area[2]
Total

48.27 km2 (18.64 sq mi)

Population (2010)[3]
Total

44,001

Density

910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

2019

Dialing code

2019

Income class

4th class

Website

minalin.gov.ph

Minalin is a fourth class highly urbanized municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. The
town is known for its 400-year-old church, the Santa Monica Parish Church, with its unique design
that incorporates pre-colonial architectural motif alongside its European Catholic
iconography.[4] Minalin is also known for its "Aguman Sanduk" New Year's Celebration, where in
which the town's straight men dress up as beauty queens and ride through town on festive
floats.[5] The town is also referred to as the "Egg Basket of Luzon" because of its large-scale
production of eggs and chickens, prompting the town to put up the Philippines' first egg festival in
2008.[6]
Originally known as Minalis, it is a town of 44,001 people according to the 2010 census. [3] It has a
land area of about 48.27 km 2(18.64 sq mi), and it is located south-west of the capital city of San
Fernando.
Contents
[hide]

1Etymology
2Barangays
3Demographics
4Local government
5Economy
6Landmarks and attractions
o 6.1"Aguman Sandoc" Festival (Minalin New Year's Celebration)
o 6.2Egg Festival
o 6.3La Purisima Concepcion Festival
7Notable Minalenians
8Images
9References
10External links

Etymology[edit]
Pansomun (grandson of Prince Balagtas, the ruler of the Kapampangan empire and Luzon), in his
will, claimed to be a cousin ofRajah Soliman and Lakandula, the chieftains of Manila and Tondo in
1571 (conquest by Spain). Pansomun, as Christian convert Fernando Malang Balagtas signed in
1589 a will on the Kapampangan territory. Pansomun/Balagtas stated that he was born in Tabungao
(Sta. Maria, the old location of Minalin).
The legend of Minalin's name came from "minalis la ding dutung, minalis ya ing pisamban" (the
lumber moved, and so must the church). Lumber stocks at Sta. Maria for the church construction
were carried by floods to a hilly Burol. Capitan Diego Tolentino wrote "minalis", thus, the name
Minalin evolved.
A Malayan settlement of Kahn Bulaun, Prince Balagtas' descendant, also found in the place,
beautiful women. The Spaniards called the sitio, "mina linda de las mujerers" (a mine of beautiful
women), which could also be the source of the town's name. Subsequently, Chinese traders
abbreviated the words to "Minalin".
Minalin's name might have originated also from "minalis" ("to move to"). "Mina" means mine, a word
written on a rock left at the sitio in 1700 by a Spaniard Jos Espeleta, and "Lin", the founder's name.
Gobernadorcillo (Mayor) Diego Tolentino wrote Minalin in lieu of Minalis and the Calendario Manual
y Guia de Forasteros, 1839 to 1841, spelled Minalin, thus Minalim.

In 1860 Minalin was a producer of rice, corn, sugar cane, cacao, indigo (ail) and fruits, including
dye, nipa wine, vinegar and mats (petates).

Barangays[edit]
Minalin is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.[2]

Bulac
Dawe
Lourdes
Maniango
San Francisco Javier
San Francisco de Asisi
San Isidro
San Nicolas (Poblacion)
San Pedro
Santa Catalina
Santa Maria
Santa Rita
Santo Domingo
Santo Rosario
Saplad

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Minalin
Year

Pop.

% p.a.

1990

34,795

1995

35,670

+0.47%

2000

35,150

0.31%

2007

40,084

+1.83%

2010

44,001

+3.45%

Source: National Statistics Office[3][7]

Local government[edit]

Town hall (seat of Government, Pamahalaang Bayan)

The municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The
judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The legislative branch
is composed of the Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly), Sangguniang Barangay (barangay
council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.
The mayor and vice mayor are elected to three-year terms. The mayor is the executive head and
leads the town's departments in executing the ordinances and improving public services. The vice
mayor heads a legislative council (Sangguniang Bayan) consisting of councilors from the barangays
or barrios.
Municipal government officials 20132016:

Mayor: Edgar Flores

Vice Mayor: Atty. Quirolico Daag
Councilors:
Edgar Tizon
Jake Yambao
Priming Malonzo
Nilo Pingol
Eddie Garcia
Louie Lacsina
Enrico SubA
Rondon Mercado

Economy[edit]
Minalin is one of the fastest growing economy in Pampanga because of its area that is very rich
every year. Minalin Officials continue doing their best to maintain this economic status and in fact
just recently Minalin has not suffered from floodings.
Merchandising, farming and fishing are the usual source of living of Minalenos. The town is known
as the "Egg Basket of Philippines" because of its large scale production of eggs and
chickens. Tilapia, shrimp, crabs are also major products of the town.

Landmarks and attractions[edit]

Tourist attractions of the town include its "Aguman Sandoc" New Year's Celebration and the 400year old Santa Monica Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas.

"Aguman Sandoc" Festival (Minalin New Year's Celebration) [edit]

One major tourist attraction in Minalin is its "Aguman Sandoc" New Years Celebration in which the
straight men of the town dress as beauty queens and ride through town on festive floats - displaying
not only humor but also the camaraderie and charity of each member of the community. [5]
The celebration has also been referred to as the "Belles of Minalin" but Minalin natives prefer to
continue calling the event "Aguman Sandoc", which translates literally as "Association of the
Ladle".[5] The event is differentiated from gay pride parades because the event is specifically
intended for heterosexual males, and is intended simply to be an act of fun, rather than a statement
about gender.[5]
This is an avenue where men from all walks of life cross-dress and dare to step out of their statuses.
Whether you are a known public figure, a farmer, or a professional, it is with utmost pride that a man
from Minalin will dare step out of his status to give joy (pikatulan) to his people. With the continuous
celebration of the festival, it is a living proof of how Minaleos value camaraderie (pamakiabe). It is
the dare that keeps the communitys bond and strengthen the ties of Minaleos. [5]
This annual display of beautiful dresses and expertise in womens make up signifies that this town
follows the dynamic changes in womens fashion not only in the Philippines but also in Europe, Asia
and in other countries.[5]

Egg Festival[edit]
On June 4, 2008, Minalin celebrated its fame for producing over a million chicken eggs per day by
holding the country's first "First Egg Festival." An exhibit of Minalin's egg produce was put up, and a
taste test of 10,000 boiled eggs was held. Also, 70 poultry raisers donated 100,000 eggs to Typhoon
Cosme's victims in the nearby provinces ofPangasinan and Zambales.[6]
Mayor Edgar Flores and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the exhibit of their egg produce,
and a taste test of 10,000 boiled eggs. Also, 70 poultry raisers donated 80,000 eggs to Pangasinan's
"Cosme" typhoon victims, and 20,000 shall go to Zambales.[6][8]

La Purisima Concepcion Festival[edit]

On 2008, the Sta Maria Barangay Youth Ministry of Barangay Sta Maria spearheaded the said
festival. It is in honor of the Image of La Purisima Concepcion which was according to the book,
Piaquitan qng Milabas ning Sta Maria, in the year 1609, an image was found placed inside a dried
gourd skin (Tabungao in Spanish) floating in front of the chapel they were building. [citation needed]

Notable Minalenians[edit]

Governor Eddie T. Panlilio, the former governor of Pampanga.

Images[edit]

Museum-Library of Minalin

Minalin Poultry & Livestock Cooperative (MIPOLCO)

Bancas by the bridge serving the residents of the barrios

Sta. Rita Elementary School

Dr. Emigdio A. Bondoc Memorial Health Center (beside the Town hall)