Olongapo

City of Olongapo
—  Highly Urbanized City  —
Seal
Map of Zambales showing the location of Olongapo City.
City of Olongapo Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°50′N 120°17′E / 14.833°N 120.283°E / 14.833; 120.283Coordinates: 14°50′N 120°17′E / 14.833°N 120.283°E / 14.833; 120.283
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
District	1st district
Founded	November 4, 1750
Cityhood	June 1, 1966[1]
Barangays	17
Government
- Mayor	James L. Gordon, Jr. (Bagumbayan-VNP)
Area
- Total	185.00 km2 (71.4 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	227,270
- Density	1,228.5/km2 (3,181.8/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	2200
Income class	1st class; highly urbanized

Population Census of Olongapo City
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	179,754		—
2000	194,260		1.68%
2007	227,270		2.19%

The City of Olongapo (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Olongapo; Sambal: Syodad nin Olongapo) is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 50,300 households.^[2]

History

Unlike the rest of the Philippines which gained independence from the United States after World War II in 1946, Olongapo was governed as a part of the United States naval reservation.

After the efforts of James Leonard T. Gordon, the area was relinquished to the Philippine Government and converted into a municipality on December 7, 1959. The first mayor appointed was civic leader Mayor Ruben Geronimo and was later succeeded by business enterpreneur Ildefonso Arriola.

Six years later under Mayor James Leonard T. Gordon, Olongapo was reconverted to a chartered city on June 1, 1966.^[1] Olongapo City administers itself autonomously from Zambales province. Adjacent to the city is the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which until 1992 was a United States naval base.

Like his father before him, Mayor Richard Gordon, who was against departure of the US military forces, lobbied for the turnover of the facility and its conversion into a freeport after the Senate of the Philippines rejected an extension of a treaty with the United States government.

The city is known for its innovative methods of urban management in the 1980s in addressing crime and cleanliness that has been said to be copied by local governments nationwide. These include the public utility color-code, traffic management system, waste management system earning Olongapo City national and international award such as the UNESCO Cities for Peace representing Asia and the Pacific in 1997 and the Konrad Adenauer Local Medal of Excellence in 1999.

Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank and World Bank have also recognized its successful urban redevelopment and city development strategy after the US Base turnover.

Name

According to popular legend, there once was a group of warring tribes who lived in the area in and around what is now the modern city. A wise old man, seeing the perils of disunity, exerted great effort toward uniting the warring tribes. There were, however, some who bitterly opposed his idea, and one day the old man just disappeared.

After a long search, the old man's body was found, but with the head missing. It is said that the tribesmen launched search parties to locate the severed head of the man. (To the Sambal, decapitation was the only permissible form of assassination.^[3]) These efforts proved to be futile, and the search was eventually called off. A boy, however, vowed to himself that he would not stop searching until he found the elder’s head. He searched for weeks, but found nothing. Then, one day, he chanced upon what appeared to be the old man’s head, resting on top of a bamboo pole. The boy ran back to his people crying, “Olo nin apo! Olo nin apo!” (“head of the elder” in Sambal; translates as “ulo ng apo”^[4] in Tagalog), running hysterically from village to village. The phrase stuck, and that, according to legend, is how the area got its name, Olongapo. To this day, the old man’s head acts as a symbol of the unity of the people of what is now a modern city.

Mayors

• Ruben Dela Cruz Geronimo (Nov. 1959 - 1962 as Municipal Mayor)
• Ildefonso O. Arriola (1962 - 1964 as Municipal Mayor)
• James Leonard T. Gordon (Nov. 1964 - June 1, 1966 as Municipal Mayor)
• James Leonard T. Gordon (June 1, 1966 - Feb. 20, 1967 as City Mayor)
• Jaime Guevarra (1967 - 1968 as City Mayor)
• Amelia Juico Gordon (1968 - June 30, 1972)
• Geronimo "Momoy" Lipumano (July 1972 to May 1980)
• Richard "Dick" Gordon (June 30, 1980 - February 1986) (1st term)
• Teodoro Macapagal (March 1986 - November 1987 as OIC Mayor)
• Ildefonso O. Arriola (November 1987 - January 1988 as OIC Mayor)
• Richard "Dick" Gordon (February 1988 - June 30, 1998)(2nd term)
• Cynthia Cajudo (June 30, 1998) acting capacity
• Katherine "Kate" Gordon - (June 30, 1998 - June 22, 2001)
• James Gordon, Jr. (June 30, 2001 - present)

Barangays

Downtown Olongapo City

Olongapo City is politically subdivided into 18 barangays:

Asinan Banicain Barretto East Bajac-bajac East Tapinac Gordon Heights Kalaklan Kalalake Mabayuan New Cabalan	New Ilalim New Kababae New Kalalake Old Cabalan Pag-asa Santa Rita West Bajac-bajac West Tapinac

Landmarks

• Ulo ng Apo

A towering and majestic marker located at the rotunda in Bajac-Bajac. A very visible and tangible tourist attraction to glorify the legend of the city.

• Olongapo City Hall

The City Hall is located at Rizal Avenue, West Bajac-Bajac. On the east side contains the PUD (Public Utilities Department), in charge of providing electricity to the city. To the east is the Olongapo City PNP Police Station 1, and at the back of the city hall is the Health Building.

• Olongapo City Convention Center

More conveniently known as OCCC or OCC, it has been the site of many events in Olongapo City history, not to mention numerous conferences, meetings, and school events.

• Olongapo City Museum

Opened to the public on 2003, the museum contains dioramas, artifacts, and paintings about the history of the city. At the entrance, a rotating Ulo ng Apo statue meets you.

• Olongapo City Public Library

The original Library stood near the City Hall. However, to make way for the construction of the PUD office, it was relocated at Hospital Road, East Tapinac; near the Convention Center.

• Marikit Park

One of the most earliest parks of Olongapo, it has become a famous in its time. Today, it is near Gordon College, the museum, the convention center and the library.

• Olongapo Lighthouse

A panoramic view perfect for picture taking. This old lighthouse is located along the national highway going to the north. It overlooks the Subic Bay Freeport area.

Famous Citizens

Some Filipino celebrities that hailed from Olongapo City include:

• Freddie Aguilar (b.1953), noted musician, songwriter and singer
• Arnel Pineda (b.1961), Singer/Vocalist of Journey
• K Brosas (b.1975), comedienne and singer
• Rico Barrera (b.1981), model and actor, Pinoy Big Brother Season 1 Housemate
• Scarlet Garcia (1985–2008), model
• Jackie Rice (b.1990), actress, Starstruck Season 3 Winner
• Megan Young (b.1990), actress, Host, Starstruck contestant Season 2
• Lauren Young (b.1993), actress, sister of Megan Young
• Jake Vargas (b. 1992), actor
• Kristofer Martin (b. 1994), actor
• Jessa Rivera (b.1996), actress

Religious groups

• Roman Catholic Church, San Jose Vicarate, Diocese of Iba
• Ang Dating Daan/ Members Church of God International
• Iglesia ni Cristo
• Aglipayan
• Seventh day Adventist
• Evangelicals
• Protestant
• VCF-Olongapo
• Pentecostals
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• The Lord's Presence Christian Ministry
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mosque
• Church Of Christ 20th Street
• Jesus My Bestfriend Church "JMBC"

Schools

Elementary Private Schools

• Christ The King Catholic School
• Christian Baptist Academy
• Columban College - Asinan
• Columban College - Barretto
• Heaven Sent Tutorial and Learning Center
• Holy Infant Jesus College
• Juventus School for the Gifted
• KinderCare Development Center (KCDC)
• Learning Circle
• Little Angel Study Center
• Mondriaan Montessori School
• Olongapo Adventist Elementary School
• Olongapo Anglo Cultural School
• Olongapo City Christian School
• Olongapo Wesley School
• Sacred Heart Children's Center Foundation Inc.
• San Antonio de Padua G.S
• St. Anne Academy
• St. Joseph College-Olongapo
• Subic Montessori School
• Sunbeam Christian Academy
• Virgen Delos Remedios College
• White Stone Christian School

Elementary Public Schools

• Asinan Elementary School
• Balic-Balic Elementary School
• Banicain Elementary School
• Barretto I Elementary School
• Barretto II Elementary School
• Boton Elementary School
• Center of Excellence
• East Bajac Bajac Elementary School
• Gordon Heights Elementary School
• Ilalim Elementary School
• Iram Elementary School
• James L. Gordon Integrated School (Elementary School)
• Kalaklan Elementary School
• Kalalake Elementary School
• Mabayuan Elementary School
• Nellie E. Brown Elementary School
• New Cabalan Elementary School
• Old Cabalan Elementary School
• Olongapo City Elementary School
• Sergia Soriano Esteban Memorial School
• SPED-Gifted
• Sta. Rita Elementary School
• Tabacuhan Elementary School
• Tapinac Elementary School

High School (Private)

• Aura De Laurentus Business High School
• Christ The King Catholic School
• Columban College-Asinan
• Columban College-Barretto
• Holy Infant Jesus College
• Little Angel Study Center
• Network Computer and Business College
• Olongapo Wesley School
• St. Anne Academy
• St. Joseph College-Olongapo
• Sunbeam Christian Academy
• Virgen Delos Remedios College
• White Stone Christian School

High School (Public)

• Barretto National High School
• City of Olongapo National High School
• City of Olongapo National High School - (James L. Gordon Integrated School)
• Gordon Heights National High School
• Gordon Heights NHS - Sta. Rita High School
• Iram High School (Resettlement School)
• Kalalake National High School
• New Cabalan National High School
• Regional Science High School, Region III
• Sergia Soriano Esteban Integrated School Of Kalaklan I

College

• AMA Computer Learning Center, Olongapo City
• AMA Computer College, Olongapo City
• Aptech Computer Education Subic
• Asian Institute of E-commerce
• Mondriaan Aura College
• Central Gate Micro Tech Center
• Columban College (Main and Barretto Campus)
• Comteq Computer and Business College
• Computron
• Divine Spirit Hospital & Colleges, Inc.
• Freeport Institute for Research, Science and Technology
• Gordon College
• George Dewey Medical College http://www.georgedeweymedicalcollege.net/
• Lyceum of Subic Bay
• Metro Subic Colleges Incorporated
• Mondrian Aura College
• National Christian College
• Naval Reservation Jr. College
• Network Computer and Business Colleges
• Olongapo City College
• Online Data Center Computer School
• Ship Repair Facility Apprentice—HTJ School USNB
• STI College Olongapo City
• St. Joseph College-Olongapo
• US Navy PWC Apprenticeship
• USNB SRF Shop Learners (Electronics)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Olongapo City - Brief History". http://members.tripod.com/Olongapo/legend.html. 
2. ^ "Olongapo City - 2007 Census". http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2009/pr0953tx.html. 
3. ^ It was recorded customary for the Sambal to execute those who have taken another person’s life, unless done by decapitation. Their manner of execution was to bore a hole at the top of the skull and then scrape out the brains.
4. ^ http://olongapo-subic.com/olongapo_city_subic_bay_zambales_museum_legend.htm

Central Luzon College of Science and Technology St. Benilde

External links

• Olongapo City official website
• Olongapo City City Council
• Olongapo City Subic Bay News
• subictimes.com news website
• Find Hotels in Olongapo City bay area
• Living in Olongapo
• Bar, Restaurant and Hotels in Olongapo
• Olongapo City Officials and Government Offices Telephone Directory