Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region (Region III) of Luzon. The province covers roughly 2,001.22 square kilometers and is composed of 19 municipalities and 3 cities, with a total of 505 barangays. The capital of the province is the City of San Fernando. The name 'Pampanga' comes from the Spanish word pampang, meaning 'riverbank,' as the province is traversed by the Pampanga River and its many tributaries.

History

Pampanga is one of the oldest provinces in the Philippines. It was officially established by the Spanish colonial government on December 11, 1571, making it the first province created by the Spaniards. The name 'Pampanga' was derived from the Spanish word pampang, meaning 'riverbank,' because early settlements were concentrated along the Pampanga River. During the Spanish era, Pampanga became an important source of food for Manila, earning it the title 'The Rice Granary of the Philippines.' Its fertile lands allowed the Kapampangan people to grow abundant rice and sugarcane, while also excelling in fishing, pottery, and woodcraft. The province also played a vital role in Philippine history. Kapampangans were among the earliest Filipinos to resist Spanish rule, joining revolts such as the Dagohoy Rebellion and later contributing to the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896. During the American period, Pampanga became a center of education and governance in Central Luzon. In World War II, it was heavily affected by the Japanese occupation, and its people were part of the resistance movement. Today, Pampanga is recognized as the culinary capital of the Philippines, famous for its rich food culture, festivals, and the resilience of its people, especially after the devastation caused by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, which reshaped much of its landscape.