# San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija

San Leonardo, officially the Municipality of San Leonardo (Tagalog: Bayan ng San Leonardo), is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 68,536 people.

## History

During World War II, Imperial Japanese forces sacked San Leonardo in 1942 during the opening stages of the Japanese Occupation. Novo Ecijano and Hukbalahap Communist guerrilla resistance groups from 1942 to 1944 in the town fought the invaders, with liberation coming in 1945 by the Allied troops.
From January to April 1945, the combined military force of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary, and the United States Army recaptured and liberated the town. The joint forces assisted the Novo Ecijano and Hukbalahap Communist resistance groups and defeat the Japanese soldiers and officers under the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces and the Makapili soldiers and begins the Battle of San Leonardo and the Battle of Gapan between the Japanese and the combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops on January to April 1945 and ended World War II.

## Geography

The municipality has a land area of 151.90 square kilometers or 58.65 square miles which constitutes 2.67% of Nueva Ecija's total area. This represented 2.97% of the total population of Nueva Ecija province, or 0.55% of the overall population of the Central Luzon region. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 451 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,169 inhabitants per square mile.
San Leonardo is located between Gapan and Santa Rosa along the Maharlika Highway. It is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Cabanatuan, 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Palayan, and 101 kilometres (63 mi) from Manila.

### Barangays

San Leonardo is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Bonifacio (Población)
* Burgos (Población)
* Castellano
* Diversion
* Magpapalayoc
* Mallorca
* Mambangnan
* Nieves
* Rizal (Población)
* San Anton
* San Bartolomé (Población)
* San Roque
* Tabuating
* Tagumpay
* Tambo-Adorable

### Climate

Climate data for San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 22 (72) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4 (0.2) | 4 (0.2) | 5 (0.2) | 11 (0.4) | 66 (2.6) | 99 (3.9) | 127 (5.0) | 113 (4.4) | 99 (3.9) | 84 (3.3) | 35 (1.4) | 14 (0.6) | 661 (26.1) |
| Average rainy days | 2.2 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 5.3 | 16.1 | 20.8 | 23.5 | 22.8 | 22.2 | 16.5 | 8.9 | 3.5 | 146.9 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1903 | 7,082 | — |
| 1918 | 7,059 | −0.02% |
| 1939 | 10,716 | +2.01% |
| 1948 | 15,385 | +4.10% |
| 1960 | 18,635 | +1.61% |
| 1970 | 25,995 | +3.38% |
| 1975 | 29,201 | +2.36% |
| 1980 | 34,706 | +3.51% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 39,740 | +1.36% |
| 1995 | 46,545 | +3.01% |
| 2000 | 50,478 | +1.75% |
| 2007 | 54,596 | +1.09% |
| 2010 | 58,120 | +2.30% |
| 2015 | 65,299 | +2.24% |
| 2020 | 68,536 | +0.96% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :

### Religion

A majority of the populace is Roman Catholic. Other religious groups, mostly Christian, have churches and places of worship in the municipality.
* St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish Church
* St. John Marie Vianney Parish
* St. Jude Thaddeus of Nueva Ecija
* Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Chapel - Magpapalayoc
* Bethel United Methodist Church
* Iglesia Ni Cristo - Lokal ng Castellano
* Iglesia Ni Cristo - Lokal ng Nieves
* Iglesia Ni Cristo - Lokal ng San Leonardo
* Jesus Christ to God be the Glory Church International
* Leap of Faith Christian Church
* Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)
* United Pentecostal Church - San Leonardo
* Victory Churches of Asia, Incorporated

## Economy

Poverty incidence of San Leonardo
* 5
* 10
* 15
* 20
* 2006 19.80
* 2009 13.63
* 2012 12.21
* 2015 15.84
* 2018 5.14
* 2021 11.65
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Primarily depends on rice cultivation, vegetable production, poultry, piggery & commercial fishery. The area has a farming economy. San Leonardo has vast rice fields and land for growing vegetables and poultry products.

## Education
### Public elementary schools

* C.I. Villaroman ES (Formerly Magpapalayok Elementary School)
* Castellano Elementary School
* Mallorca Elementary School
* Mambangnan Elementary School
* Nieves Elementary School
* San Anton Elementary School
* San Leonardo Central School
* San Roque Elementary School
* Tagumpay Elementary School
* Tambo North Elementary School
* Tambo South Elementary School

### Public high schools

* Magpapalayok National High School
* Mallorca National High School
* Mambangnan National High School
* San Anton National High School
* San Leonardo National High School
* Tagumpay Nagaño High School
* Tagumpay Integrated School

### Tertiary

* Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology - San Leonardo Campus

### Private schools

* Akarui Technical School Foundation
* Clever Lane Montessori School
* Dr. Gloria D. Lacson Foundation Colleges
* Lasaltech Academy
* San Leonardo Academy
* San Lorenzo Ruiz Diocesan Academy
* Seraphin Learning Center
* Trinity Christian School (TCS)

## Healthcare

Hospitals and clinics can be found for their check up and treatment.
* Dr. Gloria D. Lacson General Hospital
* Nueva Ecija Medical Center
* South Ecija Doctors Hospital

## Gallery

* Town hall
* Municipal covered courts
* St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church
* Public market
* Biggest gymnasium in Nueva Ecija