Zambales

Province

Province of Zambales

Provincial Capitol in Iba, decorated for the Mango Festival

Flag
Seal

Nickname(s):

Chromite Capital of the Philippines[1]

 Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 15°20′N 120°10′ECoordinates:

15°20′N 120°10′E

Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon(Region III)

Founded 1578

Capital Iba

Government
• Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor Amor Deloso (Partido Galing at
Puso/LP/MAKIMAZA)
• Vice Governor Angel Magsaysay-Cheng (Partido
Galing at Puso/LP)

Area
[2]

• Total 3,645.83 km2(1,407.66 sq mi)

Area rank 35th out of 81
(excluding Olongapo City)

Highest elevation 2,037 m (6,683 ft)

 (Mount Tapulao)

Population
(2015 census)[3]
• Total 590,848
• Rank 50th out of 81
• Density 160/km2 (420/sq mi)
• Density rank 54th out of 81
(excluding Olongapo City)

Divisions
• Independent cities
1[show]
• Component cities 0
• Municipalities
13[show]
• Barangays  230
 including independent cities: 247

• Districts 1st and 2nd districts of

Zambales (shared withOlongapo City)

Demographics
• Ethnic groups  Tagalog (42%)
 Ilocano (28%)
 Sambal (27%)
 Others (3%)
• Languages  Tagalog
 Ilocano
 Sambal
 Kapampangan
 Pangasinan
 English

Time zone UTC+8 (PST)

ZIP code 2200–2213

IDD : area code  +63 (0)47
ISO 3166 code PH

Website www.zambalesnow.com

The province's name came from the word zambal, which is a Hispanized term for Sambali. Zambal
refers to the native language spoken by the early Austronesian inhabitants of the place. A
contending version states that the name was derived from the word samba, meaning worship,
because the Spanish supposedly found the native inhabitants to be highly superstitious; worshipping
the spirits of their ancestors.[5]
It could also originate from the word "Zambo", a term used by the Iberian (Spanish and Portuguese)
empires to distinguish people of African ethnicity/descent. The province is home to the Aetas, the
aboriginal people of the Philippines who share Afro-ethnic similarities.

History
Zambales

General Information
Capital Iba
Land Area 3,645.83 sq. km.
Population 823,888
Density 160/sq. km.
Divisions
Political
Voters 462,732
Governor Amor D. Deloso
Vice Governor Angelica Magsaysay-
Cheng
Board
Members
Major Industries
Agriculture, Farming, Fishing, Mining, Tourism

Source of Livelihood
Tourism is a main source of livelihood in the province. The intra-provincial transport
business, residential (mostly bed and breakfasts), food provisioning business and tour
help services to visitors have produced a stable livelihood and provided income to local
residents to sustain the provincial economy.

Living Wage
24,250.00

Import/Export Products
construction materials

Languages
Tagalog, Ilocano, Zambal

Religion
Roman Catholic (80%), Born-Again Christians, Iglesia ni Cristo, Muslims

Festivals
Feast of the Ina Poonbato (Botolan) – 24 January Singkamas Festival and Town Fiesta
(San Marcelino) – 3rd week of February Town Fiest (San Narciso) – 19-25 February
Pundakit Festival of the Arts (San Felipe) – February-July Zambales Multi Sports Festival
and Senakulo – 3rd week of March Good Friday (Castillejos) – March or April Foundation
Day Celebration (Palauig) – 10 April Grand Fiesta (Cabangan) – 21-25 April Zambales
Mango Festival – March or April Paynawen Festival (Iba) – 3rd Tuesday of April Sibit-
Sibit Festival (Olongapo) – 28-30 April Marunggay Festival and Town Fiesta (San
Antonio) – last week of April Domorokdok Festival (Botolan) – 04 May Laruk Laruk
Festival (Candelaria) – last week of October Ulo ng Apo Festival/ Mardi Gras (Olongapo)
– 4th Friday/Saturday of October Binabayan Festival and Town Fiesta (Masinloc) – 30
November Kalgawan Ha Mayanan (Candelaria) – 29-30 December

Attractions
Mt. Pinatubo; Mt. Tapulao; Anawangin Cove; Potipot Island; Capones Island and
Lighthouse

Popular Food
Carabao Mangoes and mango by-products , Pastillas (Iba and Palauig), Bagnet (San
Felipe), Linga (Botolan; sesame candies), Ginipa (of Sta. Cruz; a native delicacy made of
conspicuously dried rice, grains flavored with a uniquely sweet concoction to taste)

History
The province of Zambales was formally organized in 1572 after its exploration by Don
Juan de Salcedo, and originally included the towns of Alaminos, Bolinao, San Isidro,
Infanta, Anda, Bani, and Agno, which now belong to Pangasinan. Masinloc, one of its
earliest municipalities organized in 1607, was its former capital. Its earliest inhabitants
are the Malays from the Celebes Sea and the kinky haired Negritos and Aetas, which are
up to now present in the province, and were then referred to as “Sambali” or “Zambals.”
The name of the province was derived from the Malay word “Samba” meaning to
worship as the Spaniards found the its inhabitants worshipping their “Anitos.”

Getting There
By bus, take the Victory Liner to Iba. Air conditioned and non-air conditioned buses are
available. These buses will pass all the towns leading to Iba, take the Iba bus, and
change buses in the Olongapo Victory Liner Terminal, and take the bus that leads to
Alaminos, Pangasinan. This will stop in Sta. Cruz, and other Zambales destinations
farther north than Iba. From a town to another, you may take jeepney rides. By air, you
may rent private planes, jets, and choppers at the Domestic Airport in Paranaque at
Subic Air to land in three places in Zambales. There is an International Subic Airport, a
Castillejos Airstrip, and the Iba Local Airport. The best time to fly is during daytime at
6:00 a.m., or at 6:00 p.m. By ferry, take the ferry ride to Subic near Manila Hotel, situated
along Manila’s Roxas Boulevard. Upon arrival, take the SBMA shuttle to any gate, and
take the jeepney ride to the Victory Liner Terminal in Olongapo. From here, the Victory
Liner may be taken to Iba or Alaminos. Via NLEX (from Manila) Exit at San Fernando. Go
all the way to the Dinalupihan junction, and turn right at the Crossroads where Soldiers
pose the “Bataan Death March.” Go straight and stay on the left side when you see the
Shell Station splitting the road to two. Turn left into the SBMA Bataan gate. Exit through
the Subic gate, and turn left. There are about a handful of new GOVIC Highways newly
built in almost all towns of Zambales. You may take them if you are trying to cut across
town proper as shortcuts. The Subic GOVIC is not yet fully complete. You may take the
Castillejos GOVIC Highway, you turn right into this highway at the side before the Jesus
Magsaysay Highschool and exit past the town center. The San Antonio GOVIC Highway
is already complete. The GOVIC Highway in Iba helps you get faster into the beach area
of Iba. ZAMBALES VIA SUBIC-CLARK-TARLAC EXPRESSWAY (SCTex) Motorists coming
from NLEX bound for Subic are advised to take the Spur/NLE interchange located
between the Dau and Sta. Ines exits of the NLEX and proceed to the SCTEx Clark
Logistics Toll Plaza. After crossing the bridge, follow the loop of the ramp towards Subic.
Likewise, motorists at SCTEx bound for Bataan may exit at the Dinalupihan Interchange
via the Roman Highway. When in Subic Freeport, take the Kalaklan Gate to proceed to
Zambales. There are two interchanges in Mabiga and Dolores, Mabalacat, Pampanga via
MacArthur Highway on your way to Subic or Tarlac. On the other hand, motorists from
Subic and Bataan bound for Manila are advised to enter the SCTEx through the Tipo Toll
Plaza or the Dinalupihan Toll Plaza respectively, and follow the road signage towards the
Clark Logistics Toll Plaza. Upon reaching the Clark Logistics interchange, take the first
ramp to the right that will lead to the toll plaza, then the Spur/NLE interchange
connecting to the NLEX. Travel time from Clark to Subic is only 40 minutes. From NLEX
in Balintawak to Subic, travel time is only 1 ½ hours.

Seaports and Airports

Airports: Iba Air Port, Castillejos Air Port, Poon-Coto Air Port (non-operational), Hermana
Mayor (private), Naulo Point, Subic Bay International Air Port Seaports: Subic Bay
International Container Terminal, Port of Subic, Port of Masinloc