Angeles City (Filipino: Lungsod ng Angeles; Kapampangan: Siudad Ning Angeles) is a 1st class highly urbanized city geographically located within the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 267,788 people in 56,575 households.
On the north-western part is the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) (formerly Clark Air Base) and Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field.
Being the former home of the biggest American base, it lies in a threshold of change after being severely affected by the base pull out brought about by the great eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. It has risen from the ashes by putting itself back to the economic status that it once occupied and dream surpassing feats never before any city or province has ever accomplished.
History
In 1796, the Capitan-Mayor of San Fernando, Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, along with his wife and some followers, staked out a new settlement which they named Kuliat, because of the abundance of vines of that name in the area. Located some 20 miles north of the capital city of Pampanga, Kuliat remained a barrio of San Fernando for the next 33 years, becoming a separate town in 1829, at which time it was renamed Angeles. By December 8, 1829, when it received its first official municipal charter, the town contained some 661 people, 151 houses, and an area of 38.65 km².
As for the city itself, Angeles remained fairly small until the end of World War II, and then entered a period of tremendous growth that has resulted in its present position as the "Premier City in Central Luzon." The first American government of Angeles was established by General Frederick D. Grant on January 1, 1900 and 64 years later to that day, Angeles received official Philippine recognition as a city.
Many Americans chose to permanently settle in Angeles (particularly in Balibago district) after the country gained independence from the United States in 1946. The Americans until the mid-1990s had a heavy population in the city due to the presence of Clark Air Base. During the American colonial period (1898-1946), a recorded number of more than 800,000 Americans were born in the Philippines. In fact, a large concentration of Filipinos with American ancestry are located in the areas of the former US base in Clark Field.
Since the early days of Clark Air Base, Angeles City has become known as a centre for prostitution. This industry increased greatly after the end of World War II.[2][3]
In 1991, the city was affected by the eruption of nearby Mount Pinatubo, with up to 60,000 people being evacuated from the city.[4]
Barangays
Angeles City is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.
Agapito del Rosario
Anunas
Balibago
Capaya
Claro M. Recto
Cuayan
Cutcut
Cutud
Lourdes North West
Lourdes Sur
Lourdes Sur East
Malabanias
Margot
Mining
Pampang (Sto. Niño)
Pandan
Pulungbulu
Pulung Cacutud
Pulung Maragul
Salapungan
San Jose
San Nicolas
Santa Teresita
Santa Trinidad
Santo Cristo
Santo Domingo
Santo Rosario (Pob.)
Sapalibutad
Sapangbato
Tabun
Virgen Delos Remedios
Amsic
Ninoy Aquino (Marisol)
Economy
The economy of Angeles City has accelerated in the past decade, driven by advances in global communication technology and the finishing of a modern highway that tremendously improved trade and transport. Call centers in Clark and other back office IT industries are major employers. Angeles has a cottage industry that includes rattan furniture production. It also includes the production of coconuts, charcoal, and briquettes. It also has a semiconductor industry involved in the manufacturing of electronics and computers.
Festivals and Local Celebrations
Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta - is held annually between January and February at Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga.
La Naval Fiesta - is held every second Sunday of October in commemoration of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary whose intercession saw the victory of the Spanish fleet over the Dutch invaders. It is celebrated with religious programs and the finest food and drinks from Kapampangan homes [1].
Fiestang Apu - is held on the last Friday of October. Devotees from all over Pampanga flock to the Apu shrine every Friday to venerate the supposedly miraculous image of Jesus Christ lying in the sepulcher. It is also every Friday when people buy household items, clothing, including audio-video equipment in a makeshift market called "tiangge" at bargain prices [2].
Tigtigan Terakan keng Dalan - is held every last Friday and Saturday night of October. It is a street party which lasts up to the wee hours of the following day. In the last years, roads in Balibago are closed and are used as party dance floor, and is the biggest street party held each year in the city; But now, they celebrate it outside SM City Clark.
Sisig Festival (Sadsaran Qng Angeles) - is also held every year in the month of December, celebrating the kapampangan dish sisig. It used to be held along the stretch of McArthur Highway in Balibago but is now celebrated at SM City Clark.
Famous People from Angeles City
Lea Salonga - 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.
apl.de.ap (Allen Pineda Lindo) - is a member of the Grammy-award winning group, The Black Eyed Peas, 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" found on the Peas' 2003 album Elephunk.
Vanessa Minnillo - 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.
Jean García - is a Filipino actress very popular for her role in Pangako Sa 'Yo as Madame Claudia Buenavista.She spent for some years in Japan to work as a singer.
Efren "Bata" Reyes - is referred to as "The Magician" and a very popular Filipino billiards player. He is considered to be one of history's greatest practitioners of billiards.
Cris Judd - is an American actor and popular choreographer to Michael Jackson and Usher, but he is best known for his failed marriage to American actress, Jennifer Lopez. He was born in Clark Air Base and spent his childhood years there.
Eliza Pineda - is a popular child star, portraying the lead role in ABS-CBN's Maria Flordeluna.
Arwind Santos - is a local basketball player, playing for Far Eastern University in the UAAP and the Magnolia Ice Cream Spinners in the Philippine Basketball League. He was selected PBL's Most Valuable Player (2004), two-time UAAP Men's Basketball MVP (2004-2005), and one-time UAAP Men's Basketball Finals Most Valuable Player (2005).
Donita Rose - although she was born in the US, she moved to Angeles City, where her American father was designated at the US Clark Air Base, when she was five years old. She went on to become a famous local actress and MTV VJ in Asia.
References
^ Angeles City: Population Growth Rate Increased by 3.14 Percentage Points. National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines (2002-09-06). Retrieved on 2006-12-26.
^ Inquiry into Prostitution Final Report. Social Development Committee of the Parliament of South Australia (1996-08-21). Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
^ Sol. F. Juvida (1997-10-12). Philippines - Children: Scourge of Child Prostitution. Inter Press Service News Agency. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
^ Mount Pinatubo Eruption: The Volcanic Eruption of 1991 that Cooled the Planet. About Geography (2001-03-09). Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
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