| About this site: This site is created for current and former residents of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. Here we can communicate, exchange news and stories, and keep up to date about events and happenings. Communications from here hopefully will facilitate some kind of awareness about what's happening in Bongabon, the town itself, and her constituents. Interest is high to those who have left and calls somewhere else their home now. Helping each other is the ultimate motive behind this endeavor. |
| Brief History of Bongabon: The zealous Augustinian Missionaries who preached the good news in Pampanga and eventually evangelized the entire province extended their outposts at an early period into what is now the Province of Nueva Ecija by following the Rio Grande dela Pampanga. Thus, Santol (present day Barangay Santor in Bongabon) was established in 1659 and later in 1760 Bongabon was named as a town and parish under the patronage of St. Francis of Assissi. Whenever a stranger happens to take a look around Bongabon, his attention will easily be attracted by an enclosure of a brick wall just beside the town plaza similar to that of the walled city of Manila, and that within those walls still remain the mute reminiscence of the stately Spanish domination. BONGABON was the first capital of Nueva Ecija and that brick walls were the remains of the first provincial capitol of Nueva Ecija. Just like any other Spanish pueblos at that time, Bongabon was ruled by a "Capitan" synonymous to that of the Mayor today. The Catholic religion and the high esteem for women are the two important influences, Spain has inculcated into the hearts of the people not only in Bongabon but all over the Philippines. |
| ALAMAT NG BONGABON Courtesy of Florencio Vilar Noong panahon ng Kastila, ang ating bayan ay isa pang magubat na lugar at kakaunti pa ang mga taong naninirahan. Ang tanging libangan ng mga tao ay ang mag "nganga" o ngumuya ng pinaghalong dahon ng ikmo (pepper leaves), apog (lime powder), at bunga (betel nut). Kaya naman ang ating lugar noon ay maraming tanim na "bunga". Isang araw, may dalawang Kastila na nakasakay sa kabayo ang napadaan sa grupo ng tao na nanunungkit ng bunga. Ang pakay ng dalawang Kastila ay maglista ng pangalan ng mga lugar na kanilang madadaanan. Pinili nila ang may edad na babae para makasiguro sila na tiyak ang magiging sagot nito sa kanilang itatanong. Akala ng matandang babae ay tinatanong kung ano ang sinusungkit nila kaya siya ay napasagot ng "Bunga Among" (ang tawag sa pari noong araw ay Among). Akala naman ng Kastila tagalista eh "Bungabong". Kaya napangalan ang ating lugar ng Bungabong hanggang sa malaon ay naging Bongabong at sa paglakad ng panahon ay naalis na ang "g" sa dulo at naging Bongabon na at nanatili na hanggang ngayon. Paalala: Ang isang Alamat ay kathang isip ng tao na napagsalin-salin mula sa ating mga ninuno. |
| BONGABON MARCH Composed by Felipe V. Vilar I Bongabon, Bongabon bayang matahimik Bongabon, Bongabon, kadluan ng tamis Mga anak niyaʼy nagsisikap, na ang Bayan ay umunlad. Dalawin at inyong masdan Ang pag- unlad nitong bayan II Halinaʼt pagmasdan mga halamanan Tumanaʼt bukirin pawang binubungkal Lahat kamiʼy nagtatanim Nang dumami ang pagkain Halikayo at tanawin Maganda naming bukirin III Tayo na sa bukid at mangagsiawit At ating pagmasdan ang kasaganaan Magkaisa at magyakap Tayong lahat ay magsikap Na ang Bongaboʼy tumanyag Buong bansang Pilipinas. |
BAYAN NG BONGABON