Mexico, Pampanga

For other uses, see Mexico (disambiguation).

Municipality of Mexico Balen ning México Bayan ng México
—  Municipality  —
Map of Pampanga showing the location of Mexico.
Municipality of Mexico Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°04′N 120°43′E / 15.067°N 120.717°E / 15.067; 120.717Coordinates: 15°04′N 120°43′E / 15.067°N 120.717°E / 15.067; 120.717
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Pampanga
District	3rd District
Founded	1860
Barangays	43
Government
- Mayor	Teddy C. Tumang
Area
- Total	117.41 km2 (45.3 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	141,298
- Density	1,203.5/km2 (3,116.9/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2021
Income class	1st class

Mexico is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 109,481 people in 20,382 households.

The town was named after Mexico, a country in North America after being confused with its native name "Masiku" which is often taken as "Elbowed" but according to most Kapampangan historians, it was named "Masiku" because "Siku" is an Old Kapampangan term for Chico or Sapodilla which grew richly in the town. It is a home of residential, commercial and recreational developments.

Population Census of Mexico, Pampanga
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	91,696		—
2000	109,481		3.88%
2007	141,298		3.58%

SM City Pampanga East Wing in Barangay Lagundi, Mexico, Pampanga

Barangays

Mexico is administratively subdivided into 43 barangays.

Acli Anao Balas Buenavista Camuning Cawayan Concepcion Culubasa Divisoria Dolores (Piring) Eden Gandus Lagundi Laput Laug

Masamat Masangsang (Sto. Cristo) Nueva Victoria Pandacaqui Pangatlan Panipuan Parian (Pob.) Sabanilla San Antonio San Carlos San Jose Malino San Jose Matulid San Juan San Lorenzo

San Miguel San Nicolas San Pablo San Patricio San Rafael San Roque San Vicente Santa Cruz Santa Maria Santo Domingo Santo Rosario Sapang Maisac Suclaban Tangle (Tanglay)

History

In the 16th century, Mexico sat as a crossing point between the Áitâ Mag-Anchî and Áinu (Abûrlin) nations at the upper reaches of the Ábacan River and the international port cities of Bétis and Lúbao to the south. Upland products such as deerskins and beeswax became important commodities to the 16th century Japanese who made candles out of beeswax and samurai armours out of deerskins. Plying their goods down the Ábacan River, traders would slow down and dock at the place "where the river bends" (nung nú ya mákábákle ing ílug) before continuing their trip downstream. From there, the river is matúlid (straight) all the way to its mouth at Uáuâ. Enterprising merchants from the elsewhere in Luzon, and perhaps even from Japan and China formed a trading base at this natural checkpoint known as Makisíku or Másíku. Abacan river merges with Bulang Guinto (Golden bubble) creek before joining the Pampanga River.

In 1571, Mexico became the capital of the new colonial province of Pampanga at a place called Masangsang which meant Odiferous.^[1] It was named "Mexico" due to the mispronounciation of the original name "Masiku" and in honour of the place where the first Spanish Governor General Miguel López de Legazpi founded his new life, Mexico City. Subsequently Toltecs, Aztecs and Mayans migrated here as by-product of the Manila Galleons' trade between New Spain and the East Indies. The capital of Pampanga was moved further downstream to Bacolor after the widespread Kapampangan Revolt of 1660 led by Don Francisco Maniago.

Culture

Mexico's town fiesta is celebrated every May 4 in honor of its patron saint, Santa Monica.

References

1. ^ Conquistas

Books

• Gaspar de San Agustin, Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas 1565-1615, Translated by Luis Antonio Mañeru, 1st bilingual ed [Spanish and English], published by Pedro Galende, OSA: Intramuros, Manila, 1998

External links

• eK! - a Kapampangan journal of ideas
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information