Macabebe
', officially the ' (; ), is a in the province of , . According to the , it has a population of people. History. Macabebe, an ancient town in the modern-day province of Pampanga, is intimately linked to the Pampanga River (Río Grande de la Pampanga). The town was named Macabebe because it is geographically situated along the shores (Pampangan: "bebe"; Tagalog: "baybay") or banks of Río Grande de Pampanga. The town is sometimes referred to as "Makabibe" because of the abundance of corals and shells along the Río Grande in earlier times. The Macabebes were the first Kapampangans to appear in European recorded  history. In the Spanish Colonial period of the Philippines, Macabebe was considered one of the oldest and most important communities of Pampanga. The ancient town of Macabebe owes its importance to its location along the Rio Grande de la Pampanga (Pampanga River). The river's routes and its northern tributaries provided the pathways to the early major settlements in Pampanga. The English translation of Macabebe, meaning: " 'surrounded by rivers' " describes the historical heritage of the ancient town. The Macabebe dialect is said to be harsher and louder than others due to how the townspeople communicate across the river. The Pampanga  River is of great importance to Macabebe. Fishing is still a major source of sustenance and income for its residents. A number of fisheries can be found along the river. The province of Pampanga is also the traditional homeland of the Kapampangan people. The Kapampangan of Macabebe had played a dynamic and at times conflicting role in the history of the Philippines. They fought against the Spanish in 1571, such as the case when the youthful Tarik Soliman (Bambalito) became the first Kapampangan and Filipino martyr who fought against Spanish rule. They also defended the last Spanish garrison against revolutionaries  in 1898. The services of the Macabebes led to the naming of a street in Spain's capital city of Madrid in their honor, "Calle de Voluntarios Macabebes." The Kapampangans of Macabebe were also allies of imperial Spain when the Dutch invaders tried to colonize the Philippines. They fought together with the Spaniards to protect the islands from its invaders, and in return only the Capampangan is allowed to study in prominent exclusive schools and universities ran by the Spaniards. In 1901, American General Frederick Funston and his troops captured Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela, with the help  of some Kapampangans (later called the Macabebe Scouts after their home locale) who had joined the Americans' side. The Americans pretended to be captives of the Macabebes, who were dressed in Philippine Army uniforms. Once Funston and his "captors" entered Aguinaldo's camp, they immediately apprehended Aguinaldo and his men. During World War II, Japanese fighter and bomber planes air raided the municipalities of Macabebe in December 1941. Macabebe was subsequently occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. Geography. Macabebe is located in the southern part of Pampanga. It is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Minalin , Guagua and Apalit; to the east by the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; to the west by the municipality of Sasmuan; and to the south by the municipality of Masantol and Manila Bay. Barangays. Macabebe is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Demographics. In the , the population of Macabebe, Pampanga, was people, with a density of . Religion. Roman Catholicism is the town inhabitants' main religion. The town's population is composed of the following: Catholics 87%, Members Church of God International 5%, Iglesia ni Cristo 3%, Evangelicals 2%, others 3%. Churches. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando has  jurisdiction over the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church. It was founded in 1575 under the advocation of San Nicolas de Tolentino. The heritage church measures long, wide and high. The facade of the church has scant ornamentation and its architectural symmetry is lost amid the various forms assumed windows, and the main entrance. Simple neo-classic lines of the facade. Macabebe is also home to San Gabriel Chapel. This newly erected chapel is a replacement of the old chapel that has been devastated by the flooding after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. It was then formally constructed in 2002 and  came into completion and inaugurated in May 2010. Another important church in the town is the Presentation of the Lord Parish in barangay Batasan. The chapel has been built over a century ago and was elevated to a parish church in 1995. Its first "cura parroco" was Father Gabriel Torres. One of the most visited churches in Macabebe is the Sta Maria Chapel, the home of the barangay's Queen and Patroness (NUESTRA SENIORA DELA PAZ). The chapel is under the jurisdiction of San Rafael Archangel Parish Church. The newly erected chapel is a replacement of the old chapel because  the old one has always been flooded during the rainy season. After the completion of its renovation, it was inaugurated in April 2005, and blessed by his Excellency Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, DD. The place where the church is erected was called "baliti". The name was attributed to the fact that prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in Macabebe, at that exact place, it was believed that a big balete tree was planted. Government. Like other towns in the Philippines, Macabebe is governed by a mayor and vice mayor who are elected for three-year terms. The mayor is the  executive head and leads the town's departments in executing the ordinances and improving public services. The vice mayor heads a legislative council (Sangguniang Bayan) consisting of councilors from the barangays of barrios. The District Office of the Congressional representative stands near the town centre. Tourism and culture. The town is rich in its past and treasures. Its town hall and churches reveal the wealth of the town's heritage. Town Fiesta. The town's fiesta is held annually on 10 September in honor of San Nicolas de Tolentino, the town's patron saint. Group 10 Healthcare. The town provides  medical missions and free medical operations, including fully functional health facilities serves in every barangay. There are few hospitals in the town. The town's health care needs is provided by the Mayor Domingo B. Flores Memorial District Hospital located in Barangay Batasan.