Camiling, Tarlac


Camiling is a municipality of the province of Tarlac in the Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.
Camiling is one of the fastest-growing towns of Tarlac when it comes to income and economy. It is also considered as one of the richest when it comes to cultural heritage in the entire province. The town is also dubbed to be the "Old Lady in the Northwestern province of Tarlac" because it is one of the oldest municipality created by the Spanish government under the province of Pangasinan where it previously included the former barrio of Mayantoc, San Clemente, and Santa Ignacia. The municipality also features cultural antiquity such as its churches, ancestral houses, and ruins. However, the baroque church of Camiling has yet to be restored after 20 years since a fire burned its interior. The inside of the church, one of the only two Spanish churches left in Tarlac, has become a cesspool for human waste, while the facade and buttresses have been occupied by business establishments. One buttress has been converted by a business store into a toilet. Heritage advocates and Camiling locals have been campaigning for the restoration of the church after the reports came out in March 2018.
Camiling is the major municipality in north-western Tarlac. It is the commercial center of an area composed of about eight towns, and borders the province of Pangasinan. It is the gateway to central and western Pangasinan through the Romulo Highway. It is also known for its famous "Chicharon Camiling" and its green native rice cake called "Nilubyan".

History

During the classical era, the area used to be lush in tropical rainforest and was used mainly by the local Pangasinense people. When the polity of Caboloan was established in 1406, the area was incorporated as part of the kingdom. It was ruled by a series of native huangs, namely, Urduja, Kamayin, Taymey, and Liyu. Majority of its rulers are unnamed as no document of them were properly recorded. For a short period, an emperor in China became an honorary ruler as well. In 1575, the Chinese pirate Limahong attacked the polity and declared himself as ruler of the Caboloan realms. The kingdom was eventually abolished in 1576, when the Spanish attacked and ransacked the kingdom's capital of Binalatongan. It was later on incorporated into the Spanish Empire.
Early in the 18th century, the community was a sitio of Paniqui; before and after, Paniqui was also part of Bayambang, Pangasinan. The town's name is derived from a tree called kamiring which at that time grew abundantly in the wilderness and subsequently changed to Camiling.
The community was originally a vast area of Cogon growth interposed with thick forestalls areas stretching into the Zambales mountain ranges. A wide river cut through it. The early inhabitants of the place were the Aetas who make a living by gathering fruit from fruit trees, hunting, and fishing. With the coming first of the Pangasinenses and later the Ilocanos from the north, the Aetas who used to roam freely in the wilderness obliged themselves to move into the interior. The new settlers first occupied the swampy land, now known as "Cacamilingan" on the right side of the river. In time, these settlers began moving to the left opposite shore because of more frequent disastrous floods. To this new location, the residents therein built a small church with Saint Michael as the patron saint.
Camiling became a District Commission from 1834 to 1837 founded by Don Francisco Soriano, the then Cabeza de Barangay who became the town's first District Commissioner. In 1838, Camiling became an independent town, formally separated from the mother town of Paniqui and with Don Vicente Galsim, as the first Gobernadorcillo. Thirty-eight others followed him. Don Jose Sabado, the last to serve under the Spanish regime and the first Presidente Municipal under the Revolutionary Government by Aguinaldo.
Camiling was a first-class municipality during the 1970s but was reclassified when the Local Government Code went into effect in the early 1990s. It became again a first-class municipality again on November 20, 2001, by virtue of the Latest Income Class Classification initiated by the Department of Finance; the Local Government Unit of Camiling was reclassified from a second class municipality to a first-class municipality, having attained an annual income of 50,942,508.51 pesos. In 2008, Camiling's income was more than 72,463,893,00 pesos with average growth of more than 5.164% per year.

Geography

Camiling is north-north-west of Manila, and south-south-west of Dagupan City in Pangasinan. It borders San Clemente on the west, Bayambang from the north, Santa Ignacia and Mayantoc to the south and Paniqui and Moncada by the east.
Mostly of plain topography but some parts are hilly to mountainous in which the barangays of Papaac, Bacsay, Birbira and Cayasan, to name a few. The deeper part of the mountains can be described as a place where wild animals live, such as deer, Toddy cat, wild boar, Monitor lizard

Barangays

Camiling is politically subdivided into 61 barangays. Camiling has the most barangays in all of the municipalities of Tarlac.

Demographics

In the, the population of Camiling, Tarlac, was people, with a density of.

Language

Many old town's districts are based on the Pangasinan language like Anoling, Cayaoan, Libueg, Lasong, Tuec, Pindangan, Telbang. Others are named after towns of Ilocos where the other settlers originally came from. Hence, Caviganan for Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Cacabugaoan for Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Cabatacan for Batac City, Ilocos Norte, Capaoayan for Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Casarratan for Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.
Pangasinense is widely spoken especially on the eastern banks of Camiling river and the northern parts of the town. Camileños of Pangasinense origin are prevalent, especially in the northern and western parts of the town. Filipino as the national language is widely understood and spoken.

Tourism

Attractions

Camiling is known for its architectural antiquity seen from the old St. Michael Church but was burned in 1997.
Camiling's one town one product is the Chicharon or Bagnet by the Ilocanos of Ilocos Sur and the sweet green native cakes called Iniruban or Dirimin of Pangasinan origin. The municipality is also known for other native rice cakes such as Tupig, Pinais, and Patupat.
Camiling hosts Iniruban and Chicharon Festival. Held every last week of October, it is coupled by colorful and artistic presentations and street dances by different schools in Camiling. The festival was established in 2000. A street dancing competition is held annually to showcase Camiling's products and cultural heritage.

Local government

Current Town Officials (2019–2022)

Hospitals and health service

Camiling has three hospitals and a health center at the Municipal Hall. The health center serves the poor by giving free medicines and other health service. There are numerous private clinics scattered throughout the town. Hospitals in Camiling are Señor Santo Niħo Tertiary Hospital at Poblacion, Camiling District Hospital at Malacampa, and Salvador General Hospital at Palimbo.

Education

College/Private/Vocational
High School/Public:
Elementary/Public: Camiling Central
Elementary/Public: Camiling East
Elementary/Public: Camiling West