HISTORY OF BAMBAN

Bamban, officially the Municipality of Bamban was founded on June 6, 1710. it is a 2nd class
municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Bamban is situated in the southernmost portion of the
province of Tarlac. It is bordered to the north by the municipality of Capas, Tarlac, and to the south by
that of Mabalacat, Pampanga. The Parua River, commonly referred to as the Bamban River, divides
Bamban and Mabalacat. The vast expanse of agriculture-friendly flatlands on the eastern side is ideal for
farming. Here, many Bambans are involved in agriculture. According to historical records, the earliest
residents of the future Pueblo de Bamban settlement were the Aetas or Negritos and Zambals. Later,
people from Pampanga and nearby provinces arrived. Along the riverbanks, these immigrants discovered
an abundance of mabamboa or bambania plants. Originally, the location was known as cabambanan or
mabamban, but it was shortened to bamban over time.
Approximately 90% of Bamban's population is currently made of Kapampangans. Ilocanos, Tagalogs,
Pangasinenses, and Zambals make up the remaining 10% of the population. About 85% of the population
belongs to Roman Catholicism, while the remainder consists of Iglesia ni Cristo, Methodists, Baptists,
and other evangelical groups. The existence of these religious sects affirms to the religious nature of the
population. The majority of residents in the eastern section of the city are engaged in agriculture. The
highest number of professionals is comprised of teachers, followed by drivers of passenger jeepneys and
tricycles. The remainder consists of personal service providers such as carpenters, barbers, hairstylists,
craftsmen, and other construction professionals.
Bamban is bestowed by divine providence with undulating hills and the breathtaking mountains of San
Vicente, Sto. Nino, and San Nicolas. In 1991, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo created the Sacobia Lake in
the barrio of Sto Nino. Sitio Maltio's waterfalls are an additional location of significance. In the highlands
of barrio San Nicolas, some Japanese tunnels still exist. There are other man-made wonders in Bamban,
such as the Wonderland Resort in barangay Anupul, the Grottos of Our Lady of Lourdes in barangays
Lourdes and sitio Magurul Gurul, and the concrete suspension bridge near Bamban's southeasternmost
point.
there are a total of 15 barangays in bamban this includes

Anupul Banaba bangcu Culubasa Dela Cruz

La Paz Lourdez Malonzo San Nicolas San Pedro
San Rafael San Roque San vicente Santo Nino Virgen de los
Remedios
(Pacalcal)
Before the World War II
Before the start of the war, residents of Bamban had a peaceful way of life. The majority of people lived
in modest abodes constructed from materials such as bamboo, nipa or cogon, sawali, and other readily
available resources in the region. The wealthy hacinderos and professionals did not own a large number
of mansions, but they did own a few of them. The majority of these ancestral homes have been destroyed
throughout the years. Long before there was ever a battle in this region, the people who lived in the
countryside made use of bayanihan. Farmers assisted one another in getting their rice fields ready for
planting and harvesting throughout the growing season. The members of the community carried out the
sugo in order to facilitate their job and make it go more quickly. But ever since the invention of more
advanced machinery such as tractors, threshing machines, and bulldozers, farmers no longer perform this
task nearly as frequently as they formerly did.
After a successful harvest, the farmers of Bamban would often prepare lasac dalungdong for their
families. They can express their gratitude to God in this way for the bountiful crop that has been bestowed
upon them. People living in the Barrio travel all the way over here to enjoy the delectable cuisine that is
open to anybody. Parties celebrating lasac dalungdung are no longer conducted in rice fields or farms in
this day and age. The celebrations, on the other hand, are typically held at resorts or restaurants.
Another one of Bamban's long-standing customs is the Santa Cruzan celebration, which takes place every
May. The custom requires that beginning on May 15 and continuing through the end of the month, a
parade of handsome young men and women must take place through the streets of the town each night. In
order to welcome and feed attractive ladies from neighboring neighborhoods or towns, the host would
need to pay a significant amount of money. It's possible that this is why the Santa Cruzan is so difficult to
locate now.
To reiterate, prior to the war, rondalla musicians were expected to perform energetic music at events like
as parties, anniversaries, and other significant occasions. But these days, music is created with electronic
instruments like as videokes and other instruments. This is one of the reasons why there are not nearly as
many people who play rondalla in Bamban as there were in the past.

During the World War II

As a result of the presence of the Japanese Imperial Army in Bamban, a great number of the city's civilian
inhabitants were subjected to unimaginable suffering and brutality. The Japanese army took the sugar
center and used it as a garrison or prison camp throughout their occupation. On the slightest suspicion that
they were associated with the guerilla movement, innocent individuals were subjected to brutal and
unusual forms of interrogation and torture.
Schools were established all throughout Japan with the purpose of disseminating the nation's rich culture
and language. The youngsters were forced into studying Nippongo since it was a required topic in the
curriculum and it was taught to them. During this time period, the Japanese invaders made use of an
organization known as the Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (Society for Service to the
New Philippines), more commonly referred to as KALIBAPI. Their goal was to acquire the cooperation
and goodwill of the civilian population. But despite this Japanese propaganda, a significant number of
Cabaleos joined either the USAFFE or the Hukbalahap (Hukbong Bayan Laban Sa Hapon).
AFTER THE WAR
When the Americans arrived in the Philippines to free the people there, Bamban was perhaps the only
town in Central Luzon that suffered the most as a result. The whole urbanize of the municipality was
wiped out after being bombarded by American fighter jets, which included the residences, schools, and
public market. Because everyone had fled the area and gone to the distant barrios, there were no civilians
who were harmed.

A short time later, the populace made their way back to the barangays in an effort to put things right.
They were forced to reconstruct their houses using whatever materials they could find. After the battle is
over, it is imperative that people are free to resume their lives in peace.As soon as the war was over, the
town went through a period of significant transition. The educational system was reinstated, and there was
a shift in the political system. Large, sturdy homes were constructed in the pablacions, and for a few more
years after that, there were just a few "barong-barong" homes left, which were constructed from
abandoned materials.

The municipality had ten (10) barrios before the addition of the new ones, which brought the total to
fifteen (15). The new neighborhoods that have been designated as barrios include Lourdes, San Pedro, Sto
Nino, San Rafael, and San Vicente. The position of tiniente, which had been held by the most influential
person in the barrio, was altered to that of capitan.

Prior to the war and for some time after it ended, there was no secondary education available in the town
of Bamban. In 1949, Attorney Igmedio Bolus established the Bamban Institute, but it was not successful
in the long run. Holy Infant Jesus Academy was yet another private high school and it opened its doors in
1957.The year 1966 saw the establishment of a public high school. San Roque Experimental High School
was the name of the institution in question. After those two years, the school's name was changed to San
Roque Rural High School. The current name of the institution is San Roque High School.