Abucay, Bataan


', officially the ', , is a of the Philippines| in the province of,. According to the, it has a population of people.
The mainly agricultural and fishing town is situated on the northeastern portion of the Bataan Peninsula, along Manila Bay, with a total land area of. It is from Manila, accessible via the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 25, or the parallel National Road in Bataan. Its westernmost elevated section is located within the Bataan National Park.

Etymology

Abucay originated from abu-kinaykay meaning "digging the ashes".

History

The first printing press in the Archipelago was found in this town. Tomas Pinpin, the first Filipino printer, learned the art from Fray Francisco Blanca de San Jose and Juan de Vera, a Chinese printer at the University of Santo Tomas.
On June 23, 1647, a fierce battle was fought between the Dutch invaders and the Pampango defenders in the near the Abucay church area. Nearly 200 Pampangos were put to death and 40 others together with Pampanga’s Spanish alcalde mayor Antonio de Cabrera. Dominican priests Father Geronimo Sotomayor and Father Tomas Ramos were taken to Batavia.

Geography

Abucay borders Balanga to the south, Samal to the north and northwest, Morong to the west, and Manila Bay to the east.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the has a land area of constituting of the total area of Bataan.
Topography of Abucay varies from the mountainous terrain of Mount Natib caldera in the west to the coastal areas of the province along the shore of Manila Bay. Six rivers with a combined length of originate from the mountain flowing in the west-to-east direction.
Secondary forests cover the western mountainous portion which is nearly 38% of Abucay's land area.

Climate

Barangays

Abucay is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.

Demographics

In the, had a population of. The population density was.
Most of the people of Abucay speak the Tagalog language. There are also residents who speak "Kapampangang Hilaw," a dialect variation of the Kapampangan language, in Barangay Mabatang.

Economy

Abucay is basically an agricultural and fishing town. Besides Manila Bay, existing fishponds cover an area of of which are under intensive use while the rest are non-functioning but available for utilization. These fishponds are rich with commercial species like milkfish, tilapia, pla-pla and shrimps.
Agricultural lands in Abucay produces rice, corn, root crops, legumes, vegetable and various kinds of fruits as well as forest-grown bamboo and buho. Most of the walis tambo sold in Baguio come from Abucay.

Government

The political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. During the Spanish colonial period, the Gobernadorcillo was the chief executive who held office at the town hall, then called the Presidencia.
During the American period from 1898–1946, the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones hold office at the Municipal Town Hall. The executive and legislative departments perform their functions at the Sangguniang Bayan and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, which are located at the Municipal Hall.
Abucay's incumbent elected officials are Mayor Liberato P. Santiago, a land developer and a nth-time re-electionist, and Vice Mayor Ma. Khristine G. Dela Fuente. Santiago owns various villages and subdivisions - all converted from ricefields or fishponds. The eight Sangguniang Bayan members led by the Vice Mayor hold office at the Abucay Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.

Attractions

Saint Dominic de Guzman Parish Church

One of the oldest in the Philippines, the first Abucay Church was established in 1587 and was administered by the Dominicans in 1588. The present church was built sometime in the early 1600s, the exact year is still unknown. The Church was badly damaged by the earthquake of September 16, 1852, and again by a fire in 1870. Father Jose Diego Pelaez rebuilt the church.
The church still houses the bells donated in 1839 and 1859. The five bells of the Abucay Church were restored on January 17, 1978, by U.S. Naval Base Facility in Subic Bay, Zambales province according to a historical marker in the church.
The Parish of Saint Dominic de Guzman has a population of 19,501 Catholics. Its patron saint is Saint Dominic de Guzman and the town's feast day is August 8. The present parish priest is Rev. Fr. Josue V. Enero succeeding Rev. Msgr. Remigio R. Hizon, Jr. in June 2017. The church belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga under the Vicariate of Saint Dominic de Guzman.

Other attractions

Landmarks include the following:
Electric power for Abucay is served by the Peninsula Electric Cooperative.
A sanitary landfill in Sitio Macao in Barangay Capitangan is the first of its kind in the province of Bataan.

Education

Universities and colleges