San Simon, Pampanga
Encyclopedia
San Simon is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 48,050 people in 7,680 households.
s.
in the North and Apalit
in the South. As the population kept on growing in the local community, the leading citizens of the progressive village initiated a petition to consolidate a portion of the southern part of the town of San Luis and a land area from the northern part of the municipality of Apalit to form an independent municipality.
Appraised of the economic potential of a new town and confidence in the management capability of the leaders, the Spanish Governor General
at the time during his second term as chief administrator of the Philippines, Don Simón de Anda y Salazar
approved the official creation of the town on November 15, 1771.
The town was named in honor of the Spanish Governor General who approved its creation and of the Apostle Simon Peter
, the Patron Saint
of the illustrious town of Apalit. Like any other typical Spanish town (pueblo) it was administered by a “Capitan del Pueblo” and had a municipal policy making body called today as Municipal Council. The Catholic Parish Church, the Public Market, the Town Plaza and homes of prominent families were located within the proximity of the Municipal Hall. The people of San Simon celebrate two town fiestas, one in honor of Lady of the Pillar, the patron saint of the first barrio and the other in honor of the Apostle Simon Peter. In 1898, the retreating military forces of General Antonio Luna on their way to Nueva Ecija burned the parish church.
Among the early settlers of the town were the de los Reyes, de los Santos, Macapagal, Pangan, Punzalan, Puyat, Santos and Simbulan families.
In 1904, the town of San Simon was merged with the municipality of San Luis and about three years after, it became again an independent municipality. In 1920, the geographical boundaries of San Luis, Apalit and San Simon were officially established.
In 1979, through the effort and financial contributions of the Ibanez, Guevarra, Santos, Punsalan, Pangan and other families, the church was rebuilt and named as Nuestra Senora Del Pilar.
Following the advancement of technology and industrialization, the climate for investment in San Simon is very promising because of its geographic location and the incentives initiated by Mayor Manuel S. Bondoc and the Municipal Council presided then by Vice Mayor Azor L. Sitchon. Through their effort and efficient leadership, the town with an annual gross income of about 500,000.00 Philippine pesos in 1988 as a 6th class municipality became a 4th class municipality with an annual gross income of more than 3,500,000 Philippine pesos by the end of the 20th century. When Mayor Azor L. Sitchon, an Economics graduate with honors from the famed Ateneo de Manila University took over the administration as elected mayor, he not only continued the completion of the projects and programs of his predecessor, Mayor Manuel S. Bondoc but he also initiated his own new economic programs and infrastructure projects including a modern public market and a new Municipal Hall along the national highway in barrio San Agustin (Tulauc) and made it centrally accessible from all directions. Barrio San Agustin (Tulauc) became a commercial center and the seat of municipal government, thus contributing to the increase of municipal tax revenues. Total target tax revenues from business taxes, real property taxes and other fees were projected to be more than 7,000,000.00 Philippine pesos. It is acknowledged that the significant economic growth in San Simon was brought about by the Comprehensive Municipal Development and Land Use Plan enacted by the Municipal Council. The zoning ordinance
reclassified the entire stretch of Quezon Road as Industrial and Commercial Zone, but limited only to light and medium size industries and those that are environmental friendly.
Another factor that contributes to the potential economic growth of San Simon in the 21st century is its geographic location. It is strategically located in the central part of the “W” Growth Corridor of Central Luzon and it is accessible from major road networks and arteries coming from the different provinces of Central Luzon and Metro Manila. From the North Luzon Expressway, one can take an exit through the San Simon Toll Plaza, which is about 45 kilometers from Metro Manila and seven kilometers from San Fernando City, Pampanga and approximately 20 kilometers from the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles. City.
Taking advantage of the conducive local business environment, tax incentives
and availability of skilled workers, many manufacturing and commercial firms have been established or relocated in San Simon. The infusion of private capital investment was about ten billion pesos and expected to increase to more than twenty billion pesos by the early years of the 21st century.
There are two public markets in San Simon, one in the old poblacion area
and another one located in the industrial zone area.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 48,050 people in 7,680 households.
Barangays
San Simon is politically subdivided into 14 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s.
- Concepcion
- De La Paz
- San Juan
- San Agustin
- San Isidro
- San Jose
- San Miguel
- San Nicolas
- San Pablo Libutad (anak)
- San Pablo Proper (matwa)
- San Pedro
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Monica
- Santo Niño
History
The town had its humble beginnings in 1770 as a farming village when it was founded by Don Mariano del Pilar de los Reyes and named it Barrio Del Pilar. It was in a productive agricultural area between the towns of San LuisSan Luis, Pampanga
San Luis is a 4th class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 47,517 people in 7,321 households.-Barangays:San Luis is politically subdivided into 17 barangays...
in the North and Apalit
Apalit, Pampanga
Apalit is a Philippine municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. It is situated in the Luzon Island. According to the latest census, it has a population of 97,296 inhabitants in 15,072 households....
in the South. As the population kept on growing in the local community, the leading citizens of the progressive village initiated a petition to consolidate a portion of the southern part of the town of San Luis and a land area from the northern part of the municipality of Apalit to form an independent municipality.
Appraised of the economic potential of a new town and confidence in the management capability of the leaders, the Spanish Governor General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
at the time during his second term as chief administrator of the Philippines, Don Simón de Anda y Salazar
Simón de Anda y Salazar
Simón de Anda y Salazar was a Spanish Basque governor of the Philippines from July, 1770 to October 30, 1776.-Oidor at the Royal Audience of Manila and Lieutenant Governor:...
approved the official creation of the town on November 15, 1771.
The town was named in honor of the Spanish Governor General who approved its creation and of the Apostle Simon 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 Patron Saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the illustrious town of Apalit. Like any other typical Spanish town (pueblo) it was administered by a “Capitan del Pueblo” and had a municipal policy making body called today as Municipal Council. The Catholic Parish Church, the Public Market, the Town Plaza and homes of prominent families were located within the proximity of the Municipal Hall. The people of San Simon celebrate two town fiestas, one in honor of Lady of the Pillar, the patron saint of the first barrio and the other in honor of the Apostle Simon Peter. In 1898, the retreating military forces of General Antonio Luna on their way to Nueva Ecija burned the parish church.
Among the early settlers of the town were the de los Reyes, de los Santos, Macapagal, Pangan, Punzalan, Puyat, Santos and Simbulan families.
In 1904, the town of San Simon was merged with the municipality of San Luis and about three years after, it became again an independent municipality. In 1920, the geographical boundaries of San Luis, Apalit and San Simon were officially established.
In 1979, through the effort and financial contributions of the Ibanez, Guevarra, Santos, Punsalan, Pangan and other families, the church was rebuilt and named as Nuestra Senora Del Pilar.
Chief Executives
Available records at the Municipal Hall list the following town executives from 1898 until present:| Year | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1898 | Juan Agulo | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1899 | Solomon Ibanez | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1900 | Diego de los Santos | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1901 | Macario Santos | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1902 | Basilio de los Santos | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1903 | Manuel Ibanez | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1904 | Mariano Pangan | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1905 | Mariano Vergara | Kapitan del Pueblo |
| 1906–1908 | Sisenando Pineda | Presidente Municipal (merged with San Luis) |
| 1908–1910 | Pablo Cruz | Presidente Municipal (merged with San Luis) |
| 1910–1912 | Teodoro Punsalan | Presidente Municipal |
| 1913–1915 | Macario Perez | Presidente Municipal |
| 1916–1918 | Urbano Guevara | Presidente Municipal |
| 1919–1924 | Servillano Ibanez | Presidente Municipal |
| 1925–1927 | Ramon Tuano | Presidente Municipal |
| 1935–1936 | Catalino Ibanez | Appointed Mayor |
| 1937–1938 | Domingo Pineda | Appointed Mayor |
| 1938–1939 | Patrocinio Yabut | Acting Mayor |
| 1939–1941 | Patrocinio Yabut | Elected Mayor |
| 1941–1942 | Agustin Sese | Acting Mayor |
| 1942–1944 | Ramon Ibanez | Appointed Mayor by Japanese |
| 1945–1946 | Felipe Almario | Appointed Mayor |
| 1946 | Eusebio Francisco | Appointed Mayor |
| 1947–1949 | Fernando Galang | Appointed Mayor |
| 1949–1952 | Jose S. Yabut Sr. | Elected Mayor |
| 1953–1956 | Gregorio Santillan | Elected Mayor |
| 1957–1960 | Jose S. Yabut Sr. | Elected Mayor |
| 1960 | Felicisimo Pamandanan | Officer-In-Charge |
| 1961–1968 | Cornelio S. Sanga | Elected Mayor |
| 1969–1975 | Lamberto Punsalan | Elected Mayor |
| 1976–1979 | Ruben Dagdag | Assumed the post being Vice Mayor at the time. (Mayor Punsalan was killed) |
| 1980–1986 | Jose Yabut Jr. | Elected Mayor |
| 1986–1988 | Gaudencio Pineda | Appointed Mayor |
| 1988–1998 | Manuel S .Bondoc | Elected Mayor |
| 1998–2001 | Azor L. Sitchon | Elected Mayor |
| 2001–2010 | Rodrigo M. Canlas | Elected Mayor |
| 2010–present | Leonora C. Wong | Elected Mayor |
Economy
The principal industries in San Simon are farming, fishing and poultry and swine industries.Following the advancement of technology and industrialization, the climate for investment in San Simon is very promising because of its geographic location and the incentives initiated by Mayor Manuel S. Bondoc and the Municipal Council presided then by Vice Mayor Azor L. Sitchon. Through their effort and efficient leadership, the town with an annual gross income of about 500,000.00 Philippine pesos in 1988 as a 6th class municipality became a 4th class municipality with an annual gross income of more than 3,500,000 Philippine pesos by the end of the 20th century. When Mayor Azor L. Sitchon, an Economics graduate with honors from the famed Ateneo de Manila University took over the administration as elected mayor, he not only continued the completion of the projects and programs of his predecessor, Mayor Manuel S. Bondoc but he also initiated his own new economic programs and infrastructure projects including a modern public market and a new Municipal Hall along the national highway in barrio San Agustin (Tulauc) and made it centrally accessible from all directions. Barrio San Agustin (Tulauc) became a commercial center and the seat of municipal government, thus contributing to the increase of municipal tax revenues. Total target tax revenues from business taxes, real property taxes and other fees were projected to be more than 7,000,000.00 Philippine pesos. It is acknowledged that the significant economic growth in San Simon was brought about by the Comprehensive Municipal Development and Land Use Plan enacted by the Municipal Council. The zoning ordinance
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
reclassified the entire stretch of Quezon Road as Industrial and Commercial Zone, but limited only to light and medium size industries and those that are environmental friendly.
Another factor that contributes to the potential economic growth of San Simon in the 21st century is its geographic location. It is strategically located in the central part of the “W” Growth Corridor of Central Luzon and it is accessible from major road networks and arteries coming from the different provinces of Central Luzon and Metro Manila. From the North Luzon Expressway, one can take an exit through the San Simon Toll Plaza, which is about 45 kilometers from Metro Manila and seven kilometers from San Fernando City, Pampanga and approximately 20 kilometers from the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles. City.
Taking advantage of the conducive local business environment, tax incentives
Tax exemption
Various tax systems grant a tax exemption to certain organizations, persons, income, property or other items taxable under the system. Tax exemption may also refer to a personal allowance or specific monetary exemption which may be claimed by an individual to reduce taxable income under some...
and availability of skilled workers, many manufacturing and commercial firms have been established or relocated in San Simon. The infusion of private capital investment was about ten billion pesos and expected to increase to more than twenty billion pesos by the early years of the 21st century.
Education
For elementary and high school education,residents of San Simon are served by thirteen elementary schools, two barangay public high schools and three private schools.There are two public markets in San Simon, one in the old poblacion area
and another one located in the industrial zone area.
Communications
For telecommunications, the town is served by Digitel, PLDT, PILTEL, DATELCOM, SMART , and GLOBE . Another wireless internet service provider is COMCLARK SureStreamCulture and Religion
Like most Kapampangan people, residents of San Simon retain their Kapampangan language and traditional culture and arts brought about by their Malay ancestors and enriched by Chinese, Spanish, American, Japanese and other ethnic and foreign cultures.- Catholic 80%,
- Members Church of God International 5%
- Iglesia ni Cristo 11%,
- Others 4%.