Capas, Tarlac

Capas
Municipality
Intersection of MacArthur Highway as seen near Caltex in Capas
Seal
Nickname(s): Capas-Capas, Paspas-Capas
Motto: Paspas Capas
Map of Tarlac showing the location of Capas
Capas Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°19′39″N 120°35′27″E / 15.32750°N 120.59083°E / 15.32750; 120.59083Coordinates: 15°19′39″N 120°35′27″E / 15.32750°N 120.59083°E / 15.32750; 120.59083
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Tarlac
District	3rd District
Founded	1710
Barangays	20
Government[1]
• Mayor	Reynaldo Catacutan
• Vice Mayor	Atty. Roseller "Boots" Rodriguez
Area[2]
• Total	376.39 km2 (145.32 sq mi)
Elevation	46 m (151 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	125,852
• Density	330/km2 (870/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2315
Dialing code	45
Income class	1st class
Website	capastarlac.com

Capas (Kapampangan: Balen ning Capas; Ilocano: Ili ti Capas; Filipino: Bayan ng Capas) is a first class highly urbanized municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines,^[2] and one of the richest towns in the province. The town also consists of numerous subdivisions and exclusive villages. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 125,852 people.^[3] Capas now is being dubbed as the “Tourism Capital of Tarlac”. Apart from being known worldwide as the site of infamous death march, it’s now popularly known for “Mt. Pinatubo Trek” where thousands of mountaineers and visitors go. The town has some Industrial factories like the PilMiCo.

Capas is a part of the Third Municipal district of Tarlac with Noel L. Villanueva as the present Third District Representative of Tarlac.

Geography

Capas has relatively high ground, hilly places near the mountain range are at an approximate 46 meters. It is bordered by San Jose on the north, Tarlac City on the north-east, Concepcion on the east, Botolan, Zambales, on the west and south-west and Bamban on the rest of the southern parts. The west side of the town is mountainous while the east side is a plain. The town is also known as "The Gateway to Pinatubo Volcano." The town also consists of Hot springs and several freshwater lakes like the Tambo Lake.

Many of the streams in the province contain small bits of petrified wood, fish, fresh water crabs and other animals. Namria and Dingding creek merge as the two major tributaries to Lucong river in Concepcion. Most of Tarlac's waterways that originate from Mount Pinatubo pass through Capas, including the Bulsa Moriones River and Sta. Lucia River that form Tarlac River.

Barangays

Capas is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

Sudivisions and villages

Barangay Cutcut, meaning "hole", "gorge" or "dug up hole", is known for its landfill where garbage from other municipalities is disposed. Malutung gabun or Red sand has a replica of Capas National Shrine which is sometimes featured on Philippine maps. Barangay Sto. Rosario (Holy Rosary) has Villa De Sto. Rosario, Rosary-ville, Small Tokyo which was formerly a Japanese Garrison hence its name, Sitio Salangui, Pascuala which has the most Poultries and Piggeries in Capas it also has one of the most polluted tributaries to Lucong river because surrounding piggeries have made it waste waters for pig excrement, despite protests, the government has taken little to no action regarding the pollution caused by piggeries. Pinagpala which has a sugar-cane farm, mango plantations etc. Sto. Rosario is also the location of Capas Public Cemetery or Cabu Santu, as well as the San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish which is the town church that stands next to The Dominican College of Tarlac. Other schools in Capas include Capas East Central School, Dolores Highschool, Gabaldon Elementary School among others. Wellspring High School and Capas Christian School are the new private schools.

Cubcub, Cut-Cut II, Santo Domingo I, Santo Domingo II, and Santo Rosario are the town's poblacion and location of the public market. Sta. Rita is among the smallest barrios (barangays) of the municipality but has a church and school. Barangay Talaga is known for its production of Tinapa or smoked fish, Barangay Dolores has its garden plants and Sto. Domingo has the Capas Junction which also has fast food chains like the town proper. Barangay Aranguren (aling goring) is home to Poet Laureate Renato Alzadon, who is also known as the current "Ari ning Parnasong Capampangan" or "King of Capampangan Literature", it is also the location of Capas National Shrine, Sitio Kasulukan, Calumpit, Dalang Baka, Aquino Page Village (Kamatis) and Bullhorn. Barangay Manlapig has rice fields and is among the liveliest barangays during the evening. Barangay Lawy is known for being a place for many of the first Ilocano settlers in the municipality. Barangay Mangga (Mango) used to be filled with the fruit bearing tree or presumably. Barangay Estrada is the last stop before reaching Tarlac City through McArthur highway. Patling, sta. Lucia, Bueno, Maruglu and Sta. Juliana are mountainous and hilly while filled with vast lands and forest, presumably the place where the earliest settlers of the town stayed..

History

Originally a part of Zambales and Pampanga, its first settlers were the Kapampangan and the Aeta. It was founded in the year 1710 by the Augustinian Friars. During the American Colonial period, the Americans built the Camp O'Donell for military installation until when the Japanese used it as a concentration camp during the Bataan Death March and it is the last stop of the march.

Capas as all other towns in Tarlac province was a part of vast wilderness inhabited by the Abelling tribes known as aetas. The history of Capas dates back in the late 16th century when immigrants from Pampanga, Zambales, Pangasinan and the Ilocos region flock into the settlements. It is considered as the oldest town of Tarlac. Capas became a pueblo (town) in 1710 beginning as a sleepy settlement at a place between Cutcut River in Sitio Pagbatuan and Gudya (present site) founded by Kapitan Mariano Capiendo. Capas patron saint is San Nicolas de Tolentino. September 9–10 is the Capas Town Fiesta. Tarlac province was founded on May 28, 1874.

In the course of time, townspeople of Capas where ordered by the Spanish authorities to change their family name of their own choosing on condition such family names begins with letter “C” , the first letter of Capas. Descendants of the early inhabitants still hold to this day such family names as Capiendo, Capuno, Capitulo, Capule, Capunpun,Cayabyab, Castañeda and Catacutan..

In the year 1850’s, Capas was a part of the western Pampanga Commandancia Militar de Tarlac which includes the town of Bamban, Concepcion, Victoria, O’Donnell, Murcia, Moriones, Florida Blanca, Porac, Mabalacat and Magalang.

O’Donnell ( Patling) was then a bustling pueblo established by the Augustinians Recolletos Mission in the 1800s named in honor of Carlos O’Donnell y Abreu, the Spanish Minister of State who visited the Patling pueblo. O’Donnell was reverted as a barrio of Capas by the Philippine Commission of 1902 including Moriones reverted to Tarlac town and Murcia back to Concepcion. Capas is known in history as the site of the infamous death march concentration camp during World War II.

Of the etymology of Capas, old folks believed it derived its name from a wild vine “ Capas-capas” or it originated from a tree called Capas in the Aetas dialect, Bulak in Pampango or Capaz in Ilocano.

The town has built the Capas National Shrine. It was built and is maintained by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died in Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March, that totals to almost 70,000 soldiers and back-up civilians.

This is a memorable site, of all Filipino and Americans veterans, that relates to Veterans Day in the Philippines. It was once a concentration camp subsequently serving as the burial grounds for thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who perished during World War II. The site was the ultimate destination point of the infamous Death March involving Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered in Bataan on April 9, 1942.

Camp O'Donnell was a facility of the United States Air Force in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. Before the facility was transferred to the Air Force, it was first a Philippine Constabulary post then a United States Army facility.

Another site, Sto. Domingo Death March Marker, which is located in Capas where about 60,000 Filipino soldiers who were camped and eventually unloaded to start the second phase of the tragic Death March.

Conversion to Cityhood

With more than 100,000 populace, an area that is good enough for a city and an income close to ₱250,000,000 becoming a city is not impossible according to Rodriguez. Enshrouding more than 53 percent of this town’s land area, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has included the municipality of Capas in the design of their Master Plan that is now presently in process, according to re-elected Mayor Antonio “TJ” Rodriguez.

Rodriguez bared this during his inaugural speech at the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected and re-elected municipal officials held at the Multi-Purpose Hall here Monday morning.

TJ said BCDA claims control of the more than 19,900 hectares as a military reservation, where three of their barangays—Sta. Juliana, Maruglu and Bueno—were included, while barangays Sta Lucia, Aranguren, Lawy and O’Donnell were partly taken.

Being included in BCDA’s master plan to make Capas a ‘Green City’ soon, TJ said that this town will become the most beautiful and progressive city in the country with the assurance of preserving the environment.

However, with the forthcoming development, the controversy about the land where some Capasenos built their houses a long time ago is still a big issue. Rodriguez, however, vowed that he is with his constituents’ side in fighting for their rights over the land where their dwellings are constructed.

He revealed that as early as June 2011, he already wrote a letter to President Benigno Aquino III requesting that the 5,000 hectares where his constituents reside inside the BCDA area be delineated, so that it could totally be distributed to the affected families.

He said he would continue to consult with the stakeholders who will be affected by the BCDA’s master plan.

TJ assured Capasenos that with the new set of Sangguniang Bayan members headed by his partymate, Vice Mayor Roseller “Boots” Rodriguez, their vision towards the New Capas or Bayung Capas would be swiftly attained through their full cooperation and coordination with each other.

During the occasion, the good mayor enumerated his accomplishments during his first term, announcing the ₱65 million increase of budget from ₱180 million in 2010 to ₱215 million in 2012.

He said his administration is intending to generate more revenues to finance more projects and programs in health, agriculture, housing, infrastructure, disaster preparedness and other services.

Demographics

The people of Capas are predominantly Kapampangan because of their closeness in Pampanga,The town is also a predominantly Roman Catholic town but there are also congregations of some sects, like Iglesia ni Kristo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Born Again Christian, and Jesus Miracle Crusade.

Attractions

Capas National Shine

Capas is the location of Mount Telakawa or Straw hat Mountain on the boundaries of Santa Juliana and Maruglu. It also provides access to Mount Pinatubo via the preferred route through Barangay Santa Juliana. Mount Bueno is the site of Bueno hot springs in Barangay Bueno. Malatarlak and Salay or Lemon grass grows abundantly on Mor-Asia or Talahib mountain at Sitio Kalangitan. Mount Canouman is the largest in terms of surface area, known as the mountain of Spirits, it is a dangerous 10-hour walk from Sitio Salangui. The majority of mountains in Capas are relatively easy climbs. Mount Dalin, the smaller straw hat mountain is near a 300-meter peak called Prayer Mountain or Peniel where a few rooms are available for rent.

• Mt. Pinatubo
• Mt. Telakawa
• Mt. Canouman
• Bueno Hot Springs
• Tambo Lake
• Peniel
• Pinatubo Trail
• Capas National Shrine
• Hanging Bridge
• War Museum at the old Capas PNR Station
• Asia Golf and Spa

The feast day of San Nicolas De Tolentino is held every 10 September; the origin of the name Capas is disputed but has two prominent sources, it is said that town was either named after the edible plant called Capas-Capas or was taken from the first three letters of the surnames Capitulo, Capunfuerza, Capunpue, Capili, Capongga, Capunpun, Capati, Capil and Capuno etc. then adding the letters "a" and "s" hence forming "Capas".

Capas National Shrine

The municipality is home to the Capas National Shrine, an obelisk with a central bell, which was built and is maintained by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died in Camp O'Donnell at Barangay Aranguren. during the end of the Bataan Death March. This is an important site related to Veterans Day in the Philippines, every April 9, the anniversary of the surrender of the defending US and Philippine Commonwealth forces to the Japanese in 1942. When the raid at Capas on 1945, combined US and Philippine Commonwealth ground troops supporting local recognized guerrillas freed by few thousands of Filipino and American POW's on Bataan Death March and attacking Japanese forces. This is a memorable site, of all Filipino and Americans veterans. that relates to Veterans Day in the Philippines. It was once a concentration camp subsequently serving as the burial grounds for thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who perished during World War II. The site was the ultimate destination point of the infamous Death March involving Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered in Bataan on April 9, 1942.

Camp O'Donnell was a facility of the United States Air Force in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. Before the facility was transferred to the Air Force, it was first a Philippine Constabulary post then a United States Army facility.

Another site, Sto. Domingo Death March Marker, which is located in Capas where about 60,000 Filipino soldiers who were camped and eventually unloaded to start the second phase of the tragic Death March.

Municipal government

Capas, Municipal Hall

• Reynaldo L. Catacutan - Mayor
• Roseller B. Rodriguez - Vice Mayor

Sangguniang Bayan Members

• Julieta M. Cabagan-Jimenez
• Porfirio D. Laxamana Jr.
• Alfonso Y. Sicat
• Jesus M. Lopez
• Danilo S. Dizon
• Toto Ong
• Alex C. Espinosa
• Benz A. Pineda
• Kennedy S. Molina

Images

• 
  MacArthur Highway looking south, which serves as a main street of their municipality
• 
  RCS supermarket
• 
  Capas public market
• 
  Mount Arayat view from Capas fields
• 
  San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church of Capas

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capas, Tarlac.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

		San Jose	Tarlac City
	Botolan, Zambales		Concepcion
		Capas
		Bamban

Province of Tarlac
Tarlac City (capital)
Municipalities	Anao Bamban Camiling Capas Concepcion Gerona La Paz Mayantoc Moncada Paniqui Pura Ramos San Clemente San Jose San Manuel Santa Ignacia Victoria
Component city	Tarlac City
Barangays	See: List of barangays in Tarlac