Kapampangan people
Encyclopedia
The Kapampangans or Capampan͠gans (in Spanish: Pampangos or Pampangueños) are the sixth largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group
, numbering about 2,890,000. The original Kapampangans may have descended from Austronesian
-speaking immigrants to Luzon
during the Iron Age
.
The province of Pampanga
is traditional homeland of the Kapampangans. Once occupying a vast stretch of land that extended from Tondo
to the rest of Central Luzon
, huge chunks of territories were carved out of Pampanga so as to create the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Tarlac. As a result, Kapampangans now populate a region that extends beyond the political boundaries of the small province of Pampanga. In the province of Tarlac
, the indigenous population of Tarlac City
and the municipalities of Bamban, Capas
and Concepcion
are Kapampangans, while the municipalities of Victoria
, La Paz
, [have a considerable Kapampangan population. In Bataan
, Kapampangans populate the municipilaties of Dinalupihan and Hermosa
, and the barangay
s of Mabatang in Abucay and Calaguiman in Samal
. Kapampangans can be found scattered all across the southern barrios of Cabiao in the province of Nueva Ecija
and in the western section of the province of Bulacan
. Kapampangan enclaves still exist in Tondo
and other parts of the National Capital Region
. Kapampangans have also migrated to Mindoro
, Palawan
and Mindanao
and have formed strong Kapampangan organizations called aguman in Davao City
and General Santos City
. Agumans based in the United States
and Canada
are active in the revival of the Kapampangan language and culture.
The Kapampangans have produced many Rajahs, Datus, three Philippine presidents, three chief justices, a senate president, the first Filipino cardinal, one Huk Supremo, many Huk Commanders and NPA cadres and many personalities in public service, education, diplomacy, journalism, the arts and sciences, entertainment and business.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the late 16th century, the Kapampangan people made up the bulk of the population of what the Ming Dynasty
texts referred to as the Luzon Empire or "The Lesser Song
Empire". Their rulers were recognized by Chinese historians as kings and not mere chieftains. They penetrated the Chinese market at a time when the Ming Dynasty banned all foreign trade and so profited immensely from it. Although 16th century Kapampangan society reflected most of what was prevalent in Southeast Asia, small communities made up chiefly of the same clans ruled by a council of elders, certain communities rose up to become centers of trade and power. Noted among these are the ancient states of Tondo
or the "Eastern Capital", Lubao
and Betis.
Extensive farming and fishing were the main industries of the Kapampangan people. But at the height of the Luzon Empire's importance in the China trade in the 16th century, maritime trading, and perhaps even piracy
, became the main source of profit. As one of the Luções (people of Luzon), many Kapampangans worked as mercenaries for the various states and kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The Luzon Empire became such an important center in Chinese trade that the Kingdom of Brunei
was forced to invade it in 1500. The city of Manila
was created by the Burneians to oversee the trade in Brunei's interest. Japan
ese records show that important traders like Luzon Sukezaemon
and Shimai Soshitsu opened up shop in Luzon. At a time when the Ming Dynasty banned its citizens from going out of China, the Kapampangan traders from Luzon who brought Chinese goods all across Southeast Asia were thought of as Chinese
. As late as the 17th centuries, the Sultanate of Sulu
still commissioned Kapampangans to act as trade ambassadors to China.
The Kapampangan people sense of self-importance
must have risen in direct proportion to the Luzon Empire's growth and rise to prominence in the 16th century China trade. This development might have helped shape the Kapampangan people's attitude and the way that they were perceived historically by other ethnic groups.
Kapampangans have played a dynamic yet conflicting role in Philippine history. It was the Kapampangans of Macabebe who were the first to defend the Luzon Empire from Spanish domination in 1571. Yet it was the Kapampangans that the Spaniards relied on to defend their new colony from the Dutch. It was at this time that "one Castillan plus three Kapampangans" were considered as "four Castillans" as long they gallantly served in the colonial armed forces. After their successful battle against the Dutch in 1640, only Kapampangans were allowed to study side by side with the Spaniards in exclusive Spanish academies and universities in Manila, by order of Governor-General Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera. In 1896, Kapampangans were one of the principal ethnic groups to spearhead the Philippine revolution against Spain. Yet it was also the Kapampangans of Macabebe that fiercely defended the last Spanish garrison against the revolutionaries.
. The colourful Apung Iru fluvial procession of Apalit, once a thanksgiving celebration in honour of the river, has become the feast of Saint Peter
.
The most dramatic festivals can be witnessed during the Mal ay Aldo, which is the Kapampangan expression of the Holy Week
. These include the erection of a temporary shrine known as the puni where the pasion
or the story of Christ's suffering is chanted in archaic Kapampangan. The melody of the Kapampangan pasion was said to have been taken from their traditional epic, whose original words were lost and replaced by the story of Christ. The highlight of the mal ay aldo celebration is the procession of the magdarame or sasalibatbat penitents covered in blood due to self flagellation. Some of them go the distance of having themselves crucified every Good Friday
at the dried up swamp of barrio Cutud in San Fernando
.
Kapampangan cuisine
, or Lutung Kapampangan, has gained a favourable reputation among other Philippine ethnic groups. Some popular Kapampangan dishes that have become mainstays across the country include sisig
, kare-kare
, the "tocino" or pindang
and their native version of the longaniza
.
Other Kapampangan dishes - which are an acquired taste for the other ethnic groups - include buru (fish fermented in rice), betute tugak (stuffed frogs), adobung kamaru (mole crickets sauted in vinegar and garlic), estofadong barag (spicy stewed monitor lizard) and calderetang asu.
, American, Chinese
and Japanese descent. There are also trace evidence of intermarriages with other Philippine ethnic groups, especially from the neighboring Ayta
, Sambal
, Aburlin, Ilongot
and Tagalog
.
Kapampangans are mostly Christians
, a majority of which are Roman Catholics
, Methodists
, Iglesia ni Cristo
and members of various Protestant denominations and the restorationist The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). However, traces of Animism
, Hinduism
, Buddhism
and Islam
can still be found among their folk practices and traditions.
Arts and Culture
Ethnic groups in the Philippines
The Philippine islands are inhabited by number of different ethnic groups. The majority of the population is composed of ethnolinguistic groups whose languages are Austronesian in origin. Many of these groups converted to Christianity, and adopted many foreign elements of culture...
, numbering about 2,890,000. The original Kapampangans may have descended from Austronesian
Austronesian languages
The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...
-speaking immigrants to Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
during the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
.
The province of Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
is traditional homeland of the Kapampangans. Once occupying a vast stretch of land that extended from Tondo
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
to the rest of Central Luzon
Central Luzon
Central Luzon , also known as Region III , is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon , for administrative convenience...
, huge chunks of territories were carved out of Pampanga so as to create the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Tarlac. As a result, Kapampangans now populate a region that extends beyond the political boundaries of the small province of Pampanga. In the province of Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
, the indigenous population of Tarlac City
Tarlac City
The City of Tarlac is a 1st class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac provincial capitol building is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr...
and the municipalities of Bamban, Capas
Capas
CAPAS may refer to:* Belgian Academy Council of Applied Sciences * Capas, Tarlac, a municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines...
and Concepcion
Concepcion, Tarlac
Concepcion is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 135,213 people in 20,851 households. The 2007 Municipal Survey counted Concepcion with 133,011 of Population....
are Kapampangans, while the municipalities of Victoria
Victoria, Tarlac
Victoria is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 57,085 people in 10,535 households....
, La Paz
La Paz, Tarlac
La Paz is a 4th class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 61,324 people in 10,361 households.-Geography:...
, [have a considerable Kapampangan population. In Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
, Kapampangans populate the municipilaties of Dinalupihan and Hermosa
Hermosa
Hermosa may refer to:* The Spanish word for beautiful or gorgeous.* The Spanish word for Formosa* Hermosa, Bataan, Philippines* MicaelaUnited States* Hermosa, Chicago, Illinois* Hermosa, New Mexico* Hermosa, South Dakota* Hermosa Beach, California...
, and the barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s of Mabatang in Abucay and Calaguiman in Samal
Samal
-Cultures:* The Sama languages of the Sulu Archipelago in island Southeast Asia* The ethnic groups that speak this language , see Samal people-In Turkey:* An ancient Hittite city, now the Zincirli archaeological site in southern Turkey...
. Kapampangans can be found scattered all across the southern barrios of Cabiao in the province of Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
and in the western section of the province of Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
. Kapampangan enclaves still exist in Tondo
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
and other parts of the National Capital Region
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. Kapampangans have also migrated to Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
and have formed strong Kapampangan organizations called aguman in Davao City
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
and General Santos City
General Santos City
The City of General Santos is the southernmost port city of the Philippines. Being a highly urbanized first class city, GenSan is one of the most populous urban centers in the country with a population of 679,588 as per census data of 2010...
. Agumans based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
are active in the revival of the Kapampangan language and culture.
The Kapampangans have produced many Rajahs, Datus, three Philippine presidents, three chief justices, a senate president, the first Filipino cardinal, one Huk Supremo, many Huk Commanders and NPA cadres and many personalities in public service, education, diplomacy, journalism, the arts and sciences, entertainment and business.
History
The oldest artifact ever found in the Province of Pampanga is a 5000-year-old stone adze found in Candaba. It is said to be a tool used in building boats. Earthenware and trade ware dating back to 1500 BC have also been found in Candaba and Porac.Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the late 16th century, the Kapampangan people made up the bulk of the population of what the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
texts referred to as the Luzon Empire or "The Lesser Song
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
Empire". Their rulers were recognized by Chinese historians as kings and not mere chieftains. They penetrated the Chinese market at a time when the Ming Dynasty banned all foreign trade and so profited immensely from it. Although 16th century Kapampangan society reflected most of what was prevalent in Southeast Asia, small communities made up chiefly of the same clans ruled by a council of elders, certain communities rose up to become centers of trade and power. Noted among these are the ancient states of Tondo
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
or the "Eastern Capital", Lubao
Lubao
Lubao may refer to:* Lubao, Pampanga, a 1st class municipality in the southwestern part of the province of Pampanga, Philippines* Lubao, Foshan , a town within Sanshui county, in Guangdong province, China* Lubao, Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and Betis.
Extensive farming and fishing were the main industries of the Kapampangan people. But at the height of the Luzon Empire's importance in the China trade in the 16th century, maritime trading, and perhaps even piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
, became the main source of profit. As one of the Luções (people of Luzon), many Kapampangans worked as mercenaries for the various states and kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The Luzon Empire became such an important center in Chinese trade that the Kingdom of Brunei
History of Brunei
The Sultanate of Brunei ruled during the fourteenth to the sixteenth century CE. Its territory covered the northern part of Borneo and the southern Philippines. European influence gradually brought an end to this regional power. Later, there was a brief war with Spain, in which Brunei was victorious...
was forced to invade it in 1500. The city of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
was created by the Burneians to oversee the trade in Brunei's interest. Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese records show that important traders like Luzon Sukezaemon
Luzon Sukezaemon
' was a Japanese merchant from the port of Sakai, who emigrated to Cambodia in the final years of the 16th century.Originally known as Naya Sukezaemon , he was the son of Sakai merchant Naya Saisuke. He changed his name in 1593 or 1594 after returning from a trip to Luzon in the Philippines...
and Shimai Soshitsu opened up shop in Luzon. At a time when the Ming Dynasty banned its citizens from going out of China, the Kapampangan traders from Luzon who brought Chinese goods all across Southeast Asia were thought of as Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
. As late as the 17th centuries, the Sultanate of Sulu
Sulu Sultanate
The Sultanate of Sulu Dar al-IslamSometimes known as the Royal Sultanate of Sulu or Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam. was an Islamic Tausūgstate that ruled over many of the islands of the Sulu Sea, in the southern Philippines and several places in northern Borneo. The sultanate was founded in 1457...
still commissioned Kapampangans to act as trade ambassadors to China.
The Kapampangan people sense of self-importance
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own. The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with...
must have risen in direct proportion to the Luzon Empire's growth and rise to prominence in the 16th century China trade. This development might have helped shape the Kapampangan people's attitude and the way that they were perceived historically by other ethnic groups.
Kapampangans have played a dynamic yet conflicting role in Philippine history. It was the Kapampangans of Macabebe who were the first to defend the Luzon Empire from Spanish domination in 1571. Yet it was the Kapampangans that the Spaniards relied on to defend their new colony from the Dutch. It was at this time that "one Castillan plus three Kapampangans" were considered as "four Castillans" as long they gallantly served in the colonial armed forces. After their successful battle against the Dutch in 1640, only Kapampangans were allowed to study side by side with the Spaniards in exclusive Spanish academies and universities in Manila, by order of Governor-General Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera. In 1896, Kapampangans were one of the principal ethnic groups to spearhead the Philippine revolution against Spain. Yet it was also the Kapampangans of Macabebe that fiercely defended the last Spanish garrison against the revolutionaries.
Culture & cuisine
Though many Kapampangan festivals display an indigenous flavor unique only to the Kapampangan people. Consider the Curaldal or "street dancing" that accompany the Feast of Santa Lucia in Sasmuan or the Aguman Sanduk were men cross-dress as women to welcome the New Year in Minalin. The Batalla Festival to reenact the battle between the native Moor of Muslim and the new colonist Native Capampangan Cristian. the battle between the two religious native Kapampangan, in history they start the battle in Ugtung-aldo or Afternoon and they ended it in Sisilim or Sunset so the Procession Start in The Afternoon and End it on Sunset W/ the tune of what Macabebeanon and Masantuleñios called BATTALA Masantol, Macabebe and Lubao The Pistang Danum of the barrios of Pansinao, Mandasig, Lanang and Pasig in Candaba where food is served on floating banana rafts on the waters of the Pampanga River was a originally a non-Christian holiday that is now made to coincide with the baptism of Christ. The Kapampangan New Year or Bayung Banwa that welcomes the coming of the monsoons and the start of the planting season is made to coincide with the feast of John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
. The colourful Apung Iru fluvial procession of Apalit, once a thanksgiving celebration in honour of the river, has become the feast of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
.
The most dramatic festivals can be witnessed during the Mal ay Aldo, which is the Kapampangan expression of the Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
. These include the erection of a temporary shrine known as the puni where the pasion
Pasyon
The Pasyon is a narrative of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ woven with the standard elements of epic poetry and a colorful dramatic theme, with stanzas of five lines. Each line has eight syllables...
or the story of Christ's suffering is chanted in archaic Kapampangan. The melody of the Kapampangan pasion was said to have been taken from their traditional epic, whose original words were lost and replaced by the story of Christ. The highlight of the mal ay aldo celebration is the procession of the magdarame or sasalibatbat penitents covered in blood due to self flagellation. Some of them go the distance of having themselves crucified every Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
at the dried up swamp of barrio Cutud in San Fernando
San Fernando City, Pampanga
The City of San Fernando, is a first class, component city in the Philippine province of Pampanga. It is the capital city of Pampanga and the regional center of Central Luzon...
.
Kapampangan cuisine
Kapampangan cuisine
Lútûng Kapampangan "differed noticeably from that of other groups in the Philippines." It has many similarities with Cantonese cuisine, particularly Macanese cuisine, with a touch of local, Spanish, Malay, and even Mexican. The Kapampangan kitchen is the biggest and widely used room in the...
, or Lutung Kapampangan, has gained a favourable reputation among other Philippine ethnic groups. Some popular Kapampangan dishes that have become mainstays across the country include sisig
Sisig
Sisig is a Kapampangan term which means "to snack on something sour". It usually refers to fruits, often unripe or half-ripe, sometimes dipped in salt and vinegar...
, kare-kare
Kare-kare
Kare-kare is a Philippine stew. It is made from peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef, and occasionally offal or tripe. Meat variants may include goat meat or chicken. It is often eaten with bagoong , sometimes spiced with chili, and sprinkled with calamansi juice...
, the "tocino" or pindang
Tocino
In Caribbean countries such as Puerto Rico and Cuba, tocino is made from pork fatback and neither cured nor smoked, but just fried until very crunchy and added to recipes, much like lardons in French cuisine.-Preparation in the Philippines:...
and their native version of the longaniza
Chorizo
Chorizo is a term encompassing several types of pork sausages originating from the Iberian Peninsula.In English, it is usually pronounced , , or , but sometimes ....
.
Other Kapampangan dishes - which are an acquired taste for the other ethnic groups - include buru (fish fermented in rice), betute tugak (stuffed frogs), adobung kamaru (mole crickets sauted in vinegar and garlic), estofadong barag (spicy stewed monitor lizard) and calderetang asu.
Demographics
Aside from their Malay ancestry, many also have Spanish, Indian, ArabArabs in the Philippines
Arab settlement in the Philippines is part of the story of immigration in the Philippines. The Philippines, a country with many vast communities of immigrants and foreigners , has a notable Arab community. According to a recent survey, present day Arab migrants to the Philippines number about 22,000...
, American, Chinese
Chinese Filipino
A Chinese Filipino derived from two words: "Tsino" and "Pinoy" ) is a Philippine national of Chinese ethnicity but born/raised in the Philippines....
and Japanese descent. There are also trace evidence of intermarriages with other Philippine ethnic groups, especially from the neighboring Ayta
Aeta
The Aeta , Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured...
, Sambal
Sambal people
The Sambal are a Filipino ethnolinguistic group living primarily in the province of Zambales, the city of Olongapo, and the Pangasinense municipalities of Bolinao and Anda...
, Aburlin, Ilongot
Ilongot
Ilongot can refer to:*Ilongot language*Ilongot people...
and Tagalog
Tagalog people
The Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
.
Kapampangans are mostly Christians
Christianity in the Philippines
The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia, the other being East Timor. About 93% of the population is Christian, about 5% are Muslim and about 2% are other or none.-History:...
, a majority of which are Roman Catholics
Roman Catholicism in the Philippines
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in full communion with the Pope.With 73.8 million members in 2005, it is the predominant religion, making the Philippines the third largest "Catholic" nation in the world after Brazil and Mexico, as well as one...
, Methodists
Philippines Central Conference (United Methodist Church)
The Philippines Central Conference of The United Methodist Church is a collections of Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church located in the islands of the are organized into central conference, much like Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States...
, Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo also known as INC, is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organization that originated from the Philippines and the largest independent church in Asia. Due to a number of similarities, some Protestant writers describe the INC's doctrines as restorationist in...
and members of various Protestant denominations and the restorationist The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). However, traces of Animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
, Hinduism
Hinduism in the Philippines
Hinduism has been a major cultural, economic, political and religious influence in the archipelago that now comprise the Philippines. At present, however, it is limited to a small recent immigrant Indian community, though traditional religious beliefs in most parts of the country have strong Hindu...
, Buddhism
Buddhism in the Philippines
Buddhism is a relatively minor religion in the Philippines. It is largely confined to the Filipino Chinese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese communities. There are temples in Manila, Davao, and Cebu, and other places. Estimates at the Buddhist population of the Philippines varies...
and Islam
Islam in the Philippines
Islam is the oldest recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Islam reached the Philippines between the 12th and 14th century with the arrival of Muslim traders from Persian Gulf and the Malabar Coast in Southern India, and their followers from several sultanate governments in the Malay...
can still be found among their folk practices and traditions.
Prominent Kapampangans
For a list of prominent or noteworthy Kapampangans, see :Category:Kapampangan people.History, politics and religion
- Reynaldo Vitug Reyes - was a native of Maligaya, Floridablanca, Pampanga who became Major General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and known as the first Floridablancan Air Force General.
- Benigno Aquino, Jr.Benigno Aquino, Jr.Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
- was a senator whose assassination triggered the events that led to the People Power Revolution1986 EDSA RevolutionThe People Power Revolution was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1983-86. The methods used amounted to a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud...
. - José Abad SantosJosé Abad SantosIn 1919, Abad Santos would become instrumental in laying the legal groundwork as well as drafting the by-laws and constitution of the Philippine Women's University, the country's and Asia's first private non-sectarian institution for higher learning for women...
- was a native of the City of San Fernando who became the 5th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was killed by Japanese forces during the occupation of the Philippines in World War II. - Pedro Abad SantosPedro Abad SantosPedro Abad Santos was a Filipino doctor, lawyer, Marxist and politician who later became a leader of the first of two Philippine communist rebellions from the 1930s to the 1950s.-Early years:...
- was a doctor, lawyer, Marxist, and politician who later became a leader of the first of two communist rebellions from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was the older brother of José Abad Santos. - Félix ManaloFelix ManaloFelix Ysagun Manalo , also known as Ka Félix, was the first Executive Minister of the Philippines'-based religious organization Iglesia ni Cristo, and incorporated it with the Philippine Government on July 27, 1914. He is the father of Eraño G...
- founder of the religious organization Iglesia ni CristoIglesia ni CristoIglesia ni Cristo also known as INC, is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organization that originated from the Philippines and the largest independent church in Asia. Due to a number of similarities, some Protestant writers describe the INC's doctrines as restorationist in...
. - Eliseo SorianoEliseo SorianoEliseo Fernando "Bro. Eli" Soriano is a Filipino televangelist. He is the current Presiding Minister of the Philippines-based Christian organization Members Church of God International, colloquially known through its radio and television program Ang Dating Daan...
- evangelist and presiding minister of the Philippine-based Members Church of God International. He is known as Bro. Eli in his radio and television programs Ang Dating DaanAng Dating DaanAng Dating Daan is a religious radio and television program in the Philippines produced by the Members of the Church of God International. It is primarily hosted by Eli Soriano. In Portugal and Brazil, it airs as O Caminho Antigo which is a direct translation for The Old Path...
(The Old Path). - Satur OcampoSatur OcampoSaturnino Cunanan Ocampo is a former Filipino partylist representative, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the partylist group Bayan Muna in three successful elections. He was a member of the House of Representatives, and Deputy Minority Leader in the 14th...
- co-founder of the National Democratic FrontNational Democratic FrontNational Democratic Front may refer to:*National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front...
, he is a politician, journalist, and writer. Also a representative for the Bayan MunaBayan MunaBayan Muna is a leftist political party in the Philippines.The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change", against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful...
party in the Lower House of Philippine Congress. - Luis TarucLuis TarucLuis Taruc was a Filipino political figure and communist insurgent. He was the leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group between 1942 and 1954. His involvement with the movement came after his initiation to the problems of agrarian Filipinos when he was a student in the early 1930s...
- was a political figure and communist revolutionary. He was the leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group between 1942 and 1954. - Rufino Jiao Santos - was the Archbishop of Manila from 1953 to 1973 and was the first Filipino to be named Cardinal.
- Don Juan MacapagalJuan MacapagalDon Juan Macapagal, Datu of Arayat, was the great-grandson of the last ruling Lakandula of Tondo, Don Carlos. He was given the title Maestre de Campo General of the natives Arayat, Candaba and Apalit for his aid in suppressing the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660...
- DatuDatuDatu is the title for tribal chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs in the Visayas and Mindanao Regions of the Philippines. Together with Lakan , Apo in Central and Northern Luzon, Sultan and Rajah, they are titles used for native royalty, and are still currently used in the Philippines...
of Arayat, was the great-grandson of Lakandula. He was given the title Maestre de Campo General of the natives Arayat, Candaba and Apalit for his aid in suppressing the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660 and the only native in the Philippines to become an encomenderoEncomiendaThe encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
. - Dr. Rey B. Aquino - was the former mayor of San Fernando City and the CEO President of Philippine Health Insurance.
- Tito Morales Mendiola - was the former mayor of Floridablanca and the Senior Vice President of Philippine Health (PHILHEALTH) Insurance for Operations and Area Vice President for MindanaoMindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. - Diosdado Pangan Macapagal - was the 9th President of the Republic of the Philippines and a native of Lubao, Pampanga.
- Eddie PanlilioEddie PanlilioEduardo "Among Ed" Tongol Panlilio was a Kapampangan Filipino Roman Catholic priest and governor of the province of Pampanga. He was suspended from his priestly ministry upon announcing his intention to run as governor...
- the first Catholic priest in the Philippines to be elected as a provincial governor. Transformer of the Traditional Politics in the Philippines to promote Good Governance. - Yeng GuiaoYeng GuiaoJoseller "Yeng" Guiao is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and was also the head coach of the Philippine National Basketball Team. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in...
- the Vice-governor of Pampanga and aprofessional basketball head coach for the Red Bull Barako in the Philippine Basketball Association. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in the early 1990s. He is a former Philippine Basketball League commissioner from 1997-2000. - Gil J. Puyat - was a Senate President of the Philippines from 1967 to 1972.
- Rogelio dela Rosa - was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century and was elected to the Senate in 1957. He was also the first film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a political career, paving the way for other Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians. He had an equally famous brother, Jaime dela Rosa, also a matinee idol in the 1950s.
- Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan - senator and husband of celebrity Sharon CunetaSharon CunetaSharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
- Artemio PanganibanArtemio PanganibanArtemio V. Panganiban , "The Renaissance Jurist of the 21st Century" was the 21st Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Philippines.-Early life and education:...
- 21st Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Philippines. His ancestors originated from Pampanga and then later generations migrated to Manila. - Randy DavidRandy DavidRandolf "Randy" S. David is a Filipino journalist, television host and a sociologist. He currently pens a weekly newspaper column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer...
- a political analyst, newspaper columnist and a professor at the Universitry of the Philippines in Diliman. - Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
- was the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines. A daughter of the 9th President of the Republic Diosdado Macapagal, she was the country's first female Vice President during the tenure of Joseph Estrada. - Armando Biliwang - was a municipal mayor of San Fernando and was well known for his fearless stand against communism during his term as municipal councilor and mayor.
- Manny Bamba Villar – one of past Senate Presidents. His mother from the Bamba clan hails from Pampanga.
- Benigno S. Aquino III - incumbent President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Arts and Culture
- Anselmo Jorge Fajardo - Father of Kapampangan Literature. Author of the first and longest longest metrical romance in any Philippine language, Gonzalo de Cordoba. He was a native delegate to the Spanish Cortez.
- Juan Crisostomo Soto - Kapampangan writer, revolutionary leader and veteran of the Philippine–American War. Father of Kapampangan poetical debate, Crissotan, and author of "Alang Dios" (There is no God).Perlas quing Burac, Anac ning Katipunan, Lydia and many others Zarzuelas and Playwrights.
- Aurelio Tolentino - one of the mystics of the KatipunanKatipunanThe Katipunan was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The society was initiated by Filipino patriots Andrés Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and others on the night...
, a compadre of Andres BonifacioAndres BonifacioAndrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and later Supremo of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution...
, a nationalist writer in both Kapampangan and Tagalog. He coined the word dula for drama and ironically became known in history as the Father of Tagalog Drama for his anti-US colonial masterpiece Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas. A theatre at the Cultural Center of the Philippines is named Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino in his honor. - Jose Gallardo - Kapampangan Poet Laureate and one of the most prolific Kapampangan writer of the late 20th century.
- Amado YuzonAmado YuzonAmado Magcalas Yuzon was a Philippine academic, journalist, and writer....
- Kapampangan Poet Laureate, was a Philippine academic, journalist, and writer. - Alejandro T. Quiboloy - Kapampangan educator, public servant, writer and Protestant minister. Born in LubaoLubaoLubao may refer to:* Lubao, Pampanga, a 1st class municipality in the southwestern part of the province of Pampanga, Philippines* Lubao, Foshan , a town within Sanshui county, in Guangdong province, China* Lubao, Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, PampangaPampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
on May 3, 1909. - Vicente ManansalaVicente ManansalaVicente Silva Manansala was a Philippine cubist painter and illustrator.Manansala was born in Macabebe, Pampanga. From 1926 to 1930, he studied at the U.P. School of Fine Arts. In 1949, Manansala received a six-month grant by UNESCO to study at the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Banff and Montreal, Canada...
- a National Artist of the PhilippinesNational Artist of the PhilippinesA National Artist of the Philippines is a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts...
in Visual Arts, was a direct influence to his fellow Filipino neo-realists. - Isidoro C. Soto [Anac ning Baculud] Born on April 4, 1918 in Suban Bacolor, Pampanga. One of the Greatest Artist-Decorator-Designer of Pampanga. One of his living artwork is the ceiling painting of Betis church with Dr. Juco as his Mentor. He was also the designer of the logo of Philippine Rabbit Bus Liner. He used to decorate for Circulo Fernandino, Batu-Balani, Old legs, Circilo Masantoleno, to name a few. He is a descendant of Juan Crisostomo Soto, the famous Pampango Poet. Isidoro died at the age of 70 on June 9, 1988.
- Ambeth OcampoAmbeth OcampoAmbeth R. Ocampo is a multi-awarded Filipino historian, academic, journalist, and author best known for his writings about Philippines' national hero José Rizal and for "Looking Back", his bi-weekly editorial page column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer...
- is a Filipino historian, academic, journalist, author best known for his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "Looking Back." - Gene Gonzales - nationally renowned chef, restaurateur, educator management consultant and author. He is the author of Cocina Sulipeña: Culinary from Old Pampanga.
- Don Zoilo Hilario - a member of the Institute of National Language who dedicated his life to imposing the ABAKADA on Kapampangan writing through the Akademyang Kapampangan, the organization he created.
- Mon David - is a jazz singer from Sto. Tomas, Pampanga. He won the grand prize in the prestigious 2006 London International Jazz Competition (LIJC).
- Eduardo Mutuc - is a 2005 NCCA GAMABA National Living Treasure Awardee for upholding the traditional Kapampangan art of pinukpuk or silver inlaying and embossing on retablos, carosas and altar pieces.
- Brillante MendozaBrillante MendozaBrillante Mendoza is a Filipino film director. He has directed nine films since 2005. He won the award for Best Director for his film Kinatay at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival...
- is a Filipino film director who won the award for Best Director for his film KinatayKinatayKinatay is a Filipino drama film directed by Brillante Mendoza. The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
at the recently concluded 62nd Cannes Film Festival in France.
Popular culture, sports & entertainment
- DolphyDolphyRodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. , known by his screen name Dolphy, is a Filipino comedian-actor in the Philippines. He has appeared in a number of works on stage, radio, television and movies.-Biography:Dolphy was born on P. Herrera St...
- born as Rodolfo Quizon and known as the King of Philippine Comedy was born in Pampanga in 1928 to Kapampangan parents but was raised in Tondo, Manila. - Melanie MarquezMelanie MarquezMelanie Marquez , , is a Filipina personality development coach, actress, film producer, author, and celebrity endorser...
- is a popular beauty queen-turned-actress who hails from Mabalacat. She was Miss International 1979 and was voted as the Most Beautiful Miss International in 2000. She's also a sister of another local actor, Joey MarquezS-FilesS-Files is a now defunct showbiz-oriented television talk show show in the Philippines aired every Sunday afternoons by GMA Network.-History:"S-Files" premiered on June 7, 1998 with Paolo Bediones and Lyn Ching as the original hosts of the show...
. - Ricardo "Dong" Puno JrDong PunoDong Puno is a Filipino television public affairs host, media executive, newspaper columnist, and lawyer.-Early life:Ricardo Puno, Jr. was born on January 20, 1946 in Manila. Puno was previously Senior Vice President for News and Current Affairs of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and Executive...
- is a Filipino television public affairs host, media executive, newspaper columnist, and lawyer. - Efren "Bata" ReyesEfren ReyesEfren Manalang Reyes is a Filipino professional pool player and a two-time world champion. Reyes is considered by many to be the greatest all-around pool player in the history of the game. He is affectionately nicknamed "Bata" and "the Magician".-Early life:Reyes was born in Pampanga in 1954...
- is referred to as "The Magician" and a very popular Filipino billiards player who hails from Angeles City. He is considered to be one of history's greatest practitioners of billiards. Among the world best. - Francisco BustamanteFrancisco BustamanteFrancisco Bustamante is a Filipino professional pocket billiards player from Tarlac, and the 2010 World Nine-ball Champion., nicknamed "Django", after the lead character of the film of the same name, and sometimes also called "Bustie", especially in the United States.-Early life:Bustamante is the...
- is next to Bata, possessed the most powerful breaks in World Billiards. With Bata they are one of the greatest billiard tandem and winningest in the world. - apl.de.apApl.de.apAllan Pineda Lindo, Jr. better known as apl.de.ap , is a Filipino-American rapper, record producer, and occasional drummer who is best known as a member of The Black Eyed Peas.-Early life:Pineda was born in Belfast...
(Allan Pineda Lindo) - is a member of the Grammy-award winning group, The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, and was born in Sapang Bato, Angeles City. He is famous throughout the Filipino community after the release of his life story of his homeland Philippines in a song called "The Apl Song." - Lito Lapid - a famous star turned politician. He became governor of Pampanga and later became a member of the Philippine senate.
- Joey MarquezJoey MarquezJoey Marquez , born on October 7, 1957 , is a Filipino actor and politician. His father is Artemio Marquez, Sr. and Teresita Esguera Perez. His siblings include Via Hoffman, Melanie Marquez and Babes Marquez. He was mayor of Paranaque City, Philippines from 1995 to 2004, and ran but lost the...
- Philippine basketball star turned actor-comedian turned politician. Brother of popular beauty queen Melanie MarquezMelanie MarquezMelanie Marquez , , is a Filipina personality development coach, actress, film producer, author, and celebrity endorser... - Yeng GuiaoYeng GuiaoJoseller "Yeng" Guiao is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and was also the head coach of the Philippine National Basketball Team. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in...
- is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Red Bull Barako in the Philippine Basketball Association. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in the early 1990s. He is a former Philippine Basketball League commissioner from 1997-2000. He is also the Vice Governor of the province of Pampanga. - Apollo QuiboloyApollo QuiboloyApollo Carreon Quiboloy is the founder and leader of the Philippines-based Restorationist Christian church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc. He has made claims that he is the "Appointed Son of God".-Early years:...
- televangelistTelevangelismTelevangelism is the use of television to communicate the Christian faith. The word is a portmanteau of television and evangelism and was coined by Time magazine. A “televangelist” is a Christian minister who devotes a large portion of his ministry to television broadcasting...
; born in Davao CityDavao CityThe City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
to Kapampangan parents. - Rey LangitRey LangitReynante "Rey" Langit is a multi-awarded Filipino Broadcaster. He is a longtime columnist for Philippine newspapers Tempo, Balita and People's Tonight. He is also the main anchorman for the nationally aired over AM Radio station DWIZ 882 kHz. in Mega Manila...
- is a TV Personality, Columnist of Tempo, Balita, People's Tonight, DWIZ-AM Station Manager, and host of Kasangga Mo ang Langit and Biyaheng Langit, both of which are aired over Radio Philippines NetworkRadio Philippines NetworkRadio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
and DWIZDWIZDWIZ is an AM station of Aliw Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the 5/F of Citystate Centre in Pasig City, while its transmitter is located at Obando, Bulacan, Philippines...
. - Rogelio dela Rosa - was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century and was elected to the Senate in 1957. He was also the first film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a political career, paving the way for other Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians. He had an equally famous brother, Jaime dela Rosa, also a matinee idol in the 1950s.
- Lorna TolentinoLorna TolentinoVictoria Lorna Aluquin-Fernandez, better known as Lorna Tolentino , is a Filipina actress, host, executive producer and widow of actor Rudy Fernandez. Together, they bore two sons named Ralph and Renz.She was born on December 23, 1961 in Concepcion, Tarlac and later moved to Manila...
- is an actress, host, executive producer and wife of fellow Kapampangan actor Rudy FernandezRudy Fernandez (actor)Rodolfo "Rudy" Valentino Padilla Fernandez , also known as "Daboy", was a multi-awarded Filipino actor and producer. He came to prominence as an action star in the Philippine cinema during the 1980s up to the early 1990s.-Career:Fernandez was born in Manila, the son of film director Gregorio...
. She was born in Concepcion, Tarlac and was raised in Manila. - Jean GarcíaJean GarcíaJessica Maitim is a Filipina television and film actress, better known as Jean Garcia who hails from Angeles City, Pampanga.-Biography:...
- is a television and film actress who hails from Angeles City. Her most famous role was in the telenovela Pangako sa 'Yo where she played antagonist Madam Claudia. - Carlos BadionCarlos BadionCarlos Velasco Badion is a former Filipino basketball player. Although born in Pampanga, he grew up in Antonio Rivera Tondo, Manila where he started his checkered career playing in sandlot tournaments and for Abad Santos High...
- Philippine Basketball Team members, first Asian MVP in now so called FIBA Asia. His moniker "The Bad Boy". Known for his bicycle drive and jackknife layup. - Ed Ocampo - an Olympian with the Big J. One of the great basketball player & coach in the Philippines. Shin Dong Pa the Korean Legend says, Ocampo and Jaworski are his great opponents in basketball in Asian Region.
Popular culture, sports & entertainment
- Fernando Poe, Jr.Fernando Poe, Jr.Ronald Allan Poe y Kelley , better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration...
- born as Ronald Allan Kelley Poe and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and later politician, having run an unsuccessful bid for President of the Philippines in the 2004 presidential elections against the incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. His mother, Elizabeth Gatbonton Kelly is a Kapampangan from Candaba. - Sharon CunetaSharon CunetaSharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
- dubbed as the "Megastar of Philippine Showbiz," is a popular Filipina actress, TV host, singer, endorser, grandslam awardee, and a box-office queen hall of famer and a recipient of several lifetime achievement awards at a relatively young age. - Lea SalongaLea SalongaLea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...
- is a Tony Award-winning singer and actress who is best known for her portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. She spent the first six years of her childhood in Angeles City before moving to Manila. - Judy Ann SantosJudy Ann SantosJudy Anne Lumagui Santos-Agoncillo , popularly known as Judy Ann Santos or Juday/Judai, is Philippines film and television actress, product endorser, recording artist, and film producer....
- is an award-winning and multi-nominated film and television actress. Her mom hails from San Fernando, Pampanga. - Paquito DiazPaquito DiazFrancisco Bustillos Diaz, better known by his screen name Paquito Diaz , was a veteran Filipino actor and movie director. He specialized in action and comedy.-Early life and career:Diaz was born in Pampanga, Philippines...
– is a veteran actor and director, whose mother is a Kapampangan. - Leah DizonLeah DizonLeah Dizon is an American-born former gaijin tarento, singer, and model in Japan. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, she moved to Tokyo, Japan in 2006 to pursue a career in entertainment...
- is a model, singer, and a TV personality and media icon in Japan, born in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Vanessa MinnilloVanessa MinnilloVanessa Joy Lachey is an-American television personality, television host, model, and actress. A former Miss Teen USA, she has been a New York-based correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and a host of Total Request Live on MTV...
- is an American television personality born in Clark Air Base, Angeles City and raised in the US. She was Miss Teen USA 1998 and is currently a host on MTV's Total Request Live. - Hilda KoronelHilda KoronelSusan Reid, who is better known as Hilda Koronel , is a FAMAS and Gaward Urian Award winning Filipina actress...
- is an award-winning actress who starred in around 45 films, many of which are critically acclaimed. Born Susan Reid, her father was an American serviceman. - Lalaine Vergara- is an American actress, singer and spokesperson.
- Rufa Mae QuintoRufa Mae QuintoRufa Mae Quinto is a Filipino actress, comedienne, and television host.Quinto has won four PMPC Star Awards and is one of the most bankable stars in the industry with top grosser films like Apat, Dapat- Dapat, Apat, Pasukob, Desperadas, Manay Po 2, I.T.A.L.Y. & Desperadas 2...
- is a popular actress and TV host, known for her comedy role in the film, Booba. - Abbygale Williamson ArenasAbbygale ArenasAbbygale Williamson Arenas is a former model from the Philippines. She is 5'9" and is said to resemble Linda Evangelista. She is now a freelance make-up artist. She is married to photographer Jun de Leon-Pageantry:...
- is a former international model and beauty queen. She is now a freelance make-up artist. - Francisco "Django" Bustamante - is a world-class billiards player from Tarlac.
- Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski- is a former olympian (equestrian) and celebrity from Tarlac.
- Rosa RosalRosa RosalFlorence Danon Gayda , better known as Rosa Rosal, is a FAMAS award-winning Filipino film actress dubbed as the "original femme fatale of Philippine cinema". She is also known for her work with the Philippine National Red Cross...
- is a Philippine Red Cross advocate who hails from Sta. Rita, Pampanga. - Elwood Perez- is a movie director from Mabalacat, Pampanga.
- Chris TiuChris TiuChris Tiu , is a Filipino professional basketball player of Chinese-Filipino descent. He currently plays for the Smart Gilas team and is also a TV host, commercial model, and politician.He is the host of the TV shows Man vs...
- is a TV host of Pinoy Records and an MVP of Ateneo Blue Eagles Basketball Team. - Sarah GeronimoSarah GerónimoSarah Asher Tua Geronimo is a Filipino recording artist, actress and dancer. Geronimo started her career appearing in children's variety shows such as Pen-pen de Sarapen, Ang TV and NEXT...
- is a popular singer, actress, movie star, whose father hails from Floridablanca, Pampanga. - Rosa del RosarioRosa del RosarioRosa del Rosario was a well-known half-Filipina, half-American Mestiza actress in Philippine Movies who made her film debut in 1932 horror film Satanas . Her real name was Rose del Rosario Stagner. Her mother was from Pampanga...
- a famous actress. Her real name was Rose del Rosario Stagner. Her mother was from Pampanga. She is the first female action hero who portrayed Darna, in 1951 under Royal Films. - Thia MegiaThia MegiaThia Megia is an American singer from Mountain House, San Joaquin County, California. Megia finished in the top 11 of the tenth season of American Idol...
- a participant of American Idol Season 10. She is from Angeles City, Pampanga - Phil Tayag - a member of the Jabbawockeez