ZAMBALES: A Brief History

Joven Ian Miclat Marquez

History Teacher, DepEd San Agustin Integrated School

Zambales (with an area of 361,110 hectares) shares boundaries with Pangasinan in the north,
Tarlac and Pampanga in the east and Bataan in the south. The entire stretch of the province has
the waters of the West Philippine Sea on its west. The province comprises of 13 municipalities
from the north to south, most of them along the shoreline are : Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc,
Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, San Marcelino, Castillejos
and Subic. Olongapo was then part of Subic in the American period, became a 14th town and
eventually became a chartered city. Botolan, located south of Iba is the largest municipality in
terms of land area while Subic boasts the biggest population of all the 13 towns of Zambales.
Geography

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The land area occupied by Zambales used to be an island separated from the Luzon mainland
by a body of water stretching from Manila Bay to Lingayen Gulf. During the Pleistocene epoch,
in the late Ice Age, Zambales was geologically “an elongated block of land, an upthrust block
with its corresponding graben to the east”.

The Pleistocene transpired 300 to 400 thousand years ago. During the thousand years that it
lasted, sea levels rose and fell, islands appeared, and mountain ranges formed. Southeast Asia,
originally a large lowland with rainforests, split into peninsulas and archipelagos.

The renowned anthropologist, F. Landa Jocano suggests that the island of Zambales was slowly
linked to Luzon in the late Pleistocene, some ten to eleven thousand years ago, through “ the
double process of uplifting and filling”. All over the world, waters from the widespread
formation and melting of gigantic ice masses in the temperate zones united or separated island
masses.

The withdrawal of vast amounts of water from the oceans and the consequent gravitational
impact of the additional masses of matter in the polar regions reduced the level of water in the
tropical seas. As a result of the decline in the sea level, the Central Plain of Luzon emerged and
Zambales was linked to the rest of the mainland. Well-developed marine terraces and
numerous residuals of coralline limestone has been discovered in the Central Plain of Luzon
whose western border runs along the foothills of the Zambales mountain range.

Pioneer in Philippine anthropology, H. Otley Beyer found the aboriginal Aytas of Zambales
distinct from the Aytas in other parts of Luzon. Based from his studies, Aytas in Zambales are
pure Negritos. Their average is 4 feet 6 inches. They do not build houses except temporary
shelters of fallen branches and leaves. They live wholly by hunting, trapping and gathering wild
forest products. They have great fear of water. Their principal and often only weapon is the
bow and arrow. They wear little clothing; some are entirely naked. Their beliefs, so far as
known, are a simple form of fetishism.

At the end of the Pleistocene, seafarers from the Asian mainland (South east China) sailed to
the Southeast Asian islands, establishing pockets of settlements. The Austronesian Malays were
the first wave of migrants to reach Zambales. These migrants drove the Aytas from the plains
and valleys to the hinterland and found themselves at the western coastal plain of Luzon,
between Subic Bay and the Gulf of Lingayen. These Malays are believed to be the ancestors of
the early Zambals.

The ancient Zambaleños shaved the front of their heads like the Japanese and let the rest of
their hair hang loose, which made Jose Rizal say that there must have been a close and long
contact between the natives of Zambales and the Japanese long before the Spaniards came to
the Philippines.

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 Ancient Sambals from the Boxer Codex

Ancient Sambals reading omens using the

entrails of a carabao from the Boxer Codex

Old men were revered by the ancient Sambals.

They were excellent farmers, fishermen,

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craftsmen. Ancient Sambals were polytheistic, they believed in many, powerful spirits called
anitos. Chief of these was Apo Malyari, the most powerful of the anitos who dwell in Mt.
Pinatubo. They pray to Ikasi, an anito who heals the sick. Damalag protects the field from the
storms while Dumanga makes the harvest plentiful. Calascas, the anito who is responsible in
ripening the produce and Calosocos, the anito during harvest time.

Ancient Sambal syllabary

known as baybayin from the
Estudio de los Antiguos
Alfabetos Filipinos (1895)

Early history at the arrival of Spanish colonizers

Early documented history of the province is associated with the 1570s when the Spanish
colonizers reached Luzon. When Juan de Salcedo came to explore the area in 1572, he landed
at Cape Bolinao, then a part of Zambales. Also among the earliest towns established by the
Augustinian Recollect missionaries were Masinloc (1607), Iba (1611) and Sta. Cruz (1612).
Masinloc was the first capital of the province. The capital town was changed several times from
Masinloc to Botolan until Iba became the fixed center until the present. Meanwhile, because of
their inaccessibility from the capital, eight towns in the northern portion of Zambales then -
from Bolinao to Infanta and including Alaminos, Alos (now part of Alaminos), Baleng-Kageng or
Balincaguin (now Mabini), Agno, Burgos, Bani and Anda, all forming that province’s western
part, were ceded to Pangasinan in 1903 (under the term of Governor Potenciano Lesaca).

The name Zambales is derived from the spoken dialect of residents that has been retained
even up to the present as Sambali, also how the ethnic group is referred to. Aetas have also
been among the earliest inhabitants; they tended to reside in the hinterlands as other settlers
came in to Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, and San Felipe,
most of these in the northern part of the province. Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig and
Botolan used to have a considerable of Aeta villages before the Mt. Pinatubo but displacements
and internal migration have ensued since 1991 as Aetas need sources of safe living and

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sustenance. ( Botolan that used to have the Aetas as more than 50% of the population in
Botolan before the volcanic eruption now have only 30% as field researchers report.)

The great plains in the south for sometime had their rich vegetation up to Bataan, also the
homeground of the Aetas. The settler Tagalogs along with the earlier Sambal inhabitants
formed the fishing villages at the southernmost tip of the province which later became Subic
and Olongapo. The Ilocanos, on the other hand, started the settlements that subsequently grew
into what are now agricultural towns of Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, while San
Felipe, Cabangan, and the Southern part of Botolan developed and have sustain their nature as
agro-fishing towns.

The early history of the towns of Zambales is linked to the spread of the Catholic and started to
be cited in documents when the diocese was set up in 1607 through the efforts of the
missionaries of the Order of the Recollects of St. Augustine. They settled and built the first
centers of faith in Subic, Masinloc, Sta. Cruz, Iba, and Cabangan.

Zambales troops invaded the Ilocos in late 1660 and operated in the region until early 1661 to
help Andres Malong liberate the Ilocanos from Spanish rule. The Zambales army reached as far
as the boundary of Ilocos and Cagayan where they were turned back by forces of Alferez
Lorenzo Arqueros. The Zambales army retreated to Vigan, then to Narvacan, Santa Maria, San
Esteban, San Pedro, and Candon. At Santa Lucia, they were attached by force under General
Francisco de Estey. More than 400 of what was left of the Zambales Army were killed or
captured.

In 1896, Zambales joined the revolution against Spain led by the Katipuneros where the ill-fated
Pansacula brothers were members. The Pansacula brothers advocated the common ownership
of property (comunidad de bienes) and the distribution of these properties of the rich among
the poor. Among the Pansaculas’ faithful followers were Pedro Gonzalez, Cornelio Sanchez,
Benito Alejo, Gaspar Jualo, Genaro Ramirez, Apolinario Tan-Lapco, and Anastacio Rivera. They
attacked Spanish garrisons in Botolan and River de San Fernando (Poonbato). The national
government, on the other hand, tried to dissuade natives from joining their ranks. A decree
emphasized the seizure of the of the personal properties of any Katipunero. Neither could
Katipuneros transfer properties for these would be considered invalid in any transaction. The
decree of October 5,1896 stated that traitors will be shot and treason covered the following
offenses: destroying and obstructing roads, railroads, and telegraph lines; blocking bridges,
streams, and river tributaries; giving munitions of war to KKK; and securing desertion among
government troops so that they would defect to the Katipunero side.

The Katipuneros endured many hardships. There was a time when they did not even have
decent clothes to wear so that the men under the command of First Lieutenant Don Moises
Abueg were forced to take shirts from the store of a Chinese in Cabangan. One of the
Pansaculas came to their aid and gave them enough money to pay for the goods they took.
Afterwards, the Pansaculas prepared them for an audience with General Aguinaldo.

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On March 7, 1897, the Zambal Katipuneros seized the cable station in Bolinao and controlled
the telegraphic line connecting the town to Manila. Others attacked Balincaguin and dislodged
Spaniards from their positions while those in Anda imprisoned the friar curate. The Spaniards
believed that these were arraned by Francisco Makabulos and Isidoro Torres. Fifty-nine
Spaniards and six friars were killed. Some of the lesser flanks of the sandatahanes (bolo men)
were annihilated, thereby causing casulaties on both sides.

The province was freed from Spanish domination on June 25,1898. The Spaniards were
cornered while they were marching from Mt. Anaongen in San Antonio to Subic. It was agreed
upon that after the surrender, the Spanish soldiers could still carry their rifles as far as Subic to
show the people that everything was done in honourable manner. At this point Teodoro and
Doroteo Pansacula went to the towns declaring themselves governor of the province and
brigadier general, respectively. Teodoro Pansacula asked the people for money and rice to
support their troops. In Yba, the Revolutionary Commissioners, Don Jose Leiba and Don Ramon
Berbaldo, received P 2,523 in checks and silver from the brothers and from from Don Sebastian
Mercado, the local president.

On October 8,1898, Colonel Wenceslao Viniegra was appointed Military Commander of

Zambales. The tide then turned against the Pansaculas for it was Col. Viniegra who furnished
Aguinaldo with a report castigating and denouncing the brothers and their followers. It was
“inadvisable” for them to stay. Rich families from Yba and Botolan denounced their “gang” as
“bandits” who went around with their rifles and bolos victimizing those who refused to accede
to their demands. The Pansaculas believed that “it was already time for the rich to be poor and
the poor to become rich….and that the ignorant should direct the towns and the intelligent to
be subordinate to them.” Furthermore, they were accused of persuading soldiers to abandon
their posts in Yba and Botolan and defect to their side. Viniegra then tried to assure Aguinaldo
that he would try his best to maintain public order.

Up to the present time there are many unresolved questions regarding to the accusations of
Viniegra to the Pansacula brothers, reported to General Aguinaldo. Before Aguinaldo was
furnished with the report, it seemed that his government accepted the Pansaculas. It was said
that one day the brothers just left and were never seen again. In 1898, the provincial
government fell under the leadership of Don Vicente Marino Camara and other atagay a tawo
(landed families) followed his lead.

In September 6, 1897, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of Zambales

from Spain followed by the surrender of Spanish troops in Barrio Anaoangin in June 1898. By
the end of 1898, the entire alcaldia (province) was under the hands of the Revolutionary forces.

The following year, the Americans arrived in Zambales and began the colonization of the
province under American rule. Aguinaldo’s men in Zambales fought until 1901 when General
Tomas Mascardo surrendered in San Narciso town to Colonel Andrew Sheridan Burt.

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In September 10, 1901 the province was reorganized under American rule with 25
municipalities ( Olongapo, Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San
Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Sta. Cruz, Infanta, Dasol, San
Isidro, Balincaguin(now Mabini), Alos( now part of Alaminos), Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Dolores,
Agno and Bolinao). But by November 21, 1903 the Second Philippine Commission led by William
Howard Taft enacted Act 1004 which reduced the territory of Zambales from 25 towns to 14
towns. Nine of the northernmost towns were ceded to Pangasinan.

Map of Zambales from Atlas de

Filipinas by Jose Algue, SJ, 1899.

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Zambales towns under the colonial government of Spain and the US

• Masinloc, Palauig and Calendaria

Masinloc that was organized as a town and first capital of Zambales originally included the
present municipalities of Palauig and Candelaria. Its native settlement used to be located on the
southern bank of the river across from the island named as San Salvador. The town’s name,
Masinloc, comes from a Bolinao-Zambal phrase “babali nin masin ilog” (the town where there is
a river. Other accounts from church historians claim that the word Masinloc came from the root
word “hinloc,” a native plant that grows in the north east of town, and reportedly with growth
up to a meter and a half with thin stalks and wide large leaves.

A tradition being practiced in the town is “binabayani,” a war dance that portrays the battle
between the Christians and the Aetas. It is a Sambal word that means “bravery.” It is usually
featured at the town plaza on the 30th day of November for the public to witness. To sustain
the observance of “binabayani,” a generous family assumes all expenses for the feast with the
old men playing the dance with the group supposedly of Aetas who are defeated in the war.
This war dance is not played only on the feast day but whenever the town experiences
calamities. A former Capitan Florentino Elicaño, one of the oldest residents of Masinloc
supposedly relayed to his son, the late Municipal Judge Gerardo Elicaño, how this war dance
come to be observed during the feast of the patron St. Andrew: a fisherman reportedly found a
statue floating along the shore and carried by a big church bell. When this statue reached the
shore of Bani, the bell stopped and could not be lifted to be brought to the shore. Many rituals
were made by the local people like praying the rosary for 9 days or offering the best harvest but
the efforts did not succeed. A war dance between the Christians and the Aetas was done,
which finally made it possible for the statue to be moved. The statue is now located at the
center of the altar of the Roman Catholic Church in Masinloc.

• Sta. Cruz

At the beginning of the 17th century, in the year 1612, the town of Sigayen, now Sta. Cruz was
founded in the Sitio of Tambobong which is now within the jurisdiction of the municipality of
Dasol, Pangasinan.

It is said that when the first Spanish missionaries arrived at the Sitio they asked the natives the
name of the place, but the latter thinking that the strangers were asking for the name of the
shells that they found in abundance on the seashore, answered “Sigayan”. Hence the name.

The Catholic priest of the town later built a church which was placed under the care of Fr.
Alonzo de San Agustin. One day, many years later, a Negrito by the name of Ytahat killed the
priest whose sermon on the church’s pulpit was mistaken for insults directed at the natives.

This incident forced the founders of the town to transfer the town site to another place, the
sitio of “Salasa”, which is now within the jurisdiction of the barrio of Bayto, perhaps because
they feared further depredations by the savage Negritoes.

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This town was named “Alinsaog”, founded at the beginning of the 18Th century, whose ruins
could still be seen up to the present. The town site remained in this place until the later part of
the 19th century when it was abandoned by the natives because of the overflowing of the
Bayto river which brought death and destruction to the inhabitants. The natives had to move
to another town site, the present location of the municipality.

Years later, the people of this town found the image of St. Michael, among the debris carried by
the floodwater of the Bayto river years back. They forth with placed a cross on the spot where
they found the holy image on which they built the present church and named the town Sta.
Cruz.

• Iba
The village of Paynauen, earlier name of the town, was founded by the Recollect Fray Rodrigo
de San Miguel in 1611. Its role as provincial capital was moved from one place to another until
the village was set permanently along the banks of Bancal River; its adjacent town Botolan had
a fort that was built as a defense against the so-called “pirates” who constantly attacked the
Christianized settlements.

In 1680, the administration of the town was turned over to the Dominican priests. There were
no available records as to when Paynauen was renamed Iba, but old folks believed, the town
was named after a sour fruit called “iba”. The Dominicans also moved Iba inland and to
increase the population, entire families from Bolinao were transferred. By the year 1712, the
Recollects returned in Zambales and constructed churches made of coral and limestone. The
Cathedral Church of Saint Augustine in Iba was one of those churches. Chinese immigrants
began to flock in Iba in the 19th century.

As a provincial government center, the family of its governor Nicolas Camara maintained his
ancestral home near the Catholic Church.

• Botolan
Known as Pueblo de Babayan, the town was founded by the Recollects in the 1712 as a visita of
Iba. In 1736, the town was formally established when the colonial government granted the
petition of the residents to have their own parish independent from Yba and a gobernadorcillo.
The Church of Sta. Monica in the center of the town is one of the oldest structures in the
province. Botolan and the capital town is historically and religiously linked with each other since
the time of Spanish colonization.

The Aetas of Zambales have been worshiping the image of Ina Poon Bato even before the first
missionaries from the Augustinian Recollects arrived in the province in 1607. Local Aetas had
apparently discovered a carved wooden statue on a large rock that they called Apo
Apang ("Little Queen") and began worshipping the image. On the arrival of
Recollect missionaries in 1607, the natives associated the statue with the Roman
Catholic depictions of the Virgin Mary, and the image was subsequently Christianised as Ina
Poón Bato ("Mother of the Lord Rock").

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The image is said to be miraculous for which reason it attracts many devotees. It was
canonically blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1985 at a ceremony in Vatican City. After the
1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo destroyed the original village, the image (which was found
intact and buried chest-deep in lahar) and its shrine were moved to the nearby resettlement
area of Loob-Bunga. The feast of Ina Poón Bató is celebrated every late January, with devotees
flocking to the original image inside a chapel belonging to the Aglipayan Church, and the 1976
replica enshrined in the Catholic chapel.

Other than the church related history of Botolan is its location near the provincial capital Iba;
Botolan used to be the capital of Zambales when it was founded but the better location of a
provincial capital was Iba. Yet Botolan was the site of Fort Paynauen (name in reference to
original name of Iba) where the Spanish government maintained a most formidable garrison of
Central Luzon for natives and “pirates” who kept on fighting against the colonizers as well as
colonial officials not favored by whoever was in control (the Governor General or the
Archbishop of Manila). The historic fortress has moss-covered walls that still stand on the bank
of Bancal River in Barrio Pader in Botolan, and was also known as Playa Honda. There was then
a need for a fortress realized as early as 1617 after a two-day battle (second battle at Playa
Honda) between Spain’s colonial forces and the Dutch ships (led by Admiral John Derickson
Lamb).

Nicholas Camara, a remembered governor (son of Diego Sanchez De la Camara) had his old
stone ancestral house in Botolan as his home base with wife Gregoria Mariño (daughter of
Andres Mariño of Batangas who was the grandfather of Marcela who sew the Philippine flag in
1898). His generation of the Camara family had their lone son, Vicente Camara who was the
first Filipino Governor of Zambales, appointed by Gen. Aguinaldo in 1898. His term ended upon
his surrender to the Americans in 1901. (All that the “bahay na bato” remains along the Bancal
River are moss-covered walls, ruins after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.)

• Cabangan

The town originated from a small group of fishermen who settled along the seashore of San
Isidro. Due to more piracy the settlers moved east where they found abundant palm called
banga from which the name Cabangaan was derived but later changed to Cabangan. The town
was established in 1880 and was merged to Botolan until 1889. In 1900, it become and
independent municipality. Progress was slow for the young town during its years. But as time
rolled on, it gained gradual progress under the administration of Mayor Augusto F. Dantes
beginning with the year 1964. Irrigation system, concrete roads and bridges were major
accomplishments and up to now a new strong town hall stands as a proof of a distinct
achievement that any Cabangenio can be proud of.

• San Felipe

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San Felipe was a little resettlement area during the Pre-Spanish period. It qualified to become a
“pueblo” when its population increased caused by the emigration of Ilocanos from Ilocandia.
The first seat of the “pueblo government” was in Barrio Sindol. The head of the “pueblo” was
called “capitan municipal”. The seat of the pueblo was later transferred to Bobulon, now the
town proper, because it had a wider area for residential purposes. San Felipe was formally
founded in 1853. During the whole Spanish period and the early part of the American Regime,
San Felipe stood as one town. For purposes of governmental administration, it was
incorporated with San Narciso from January 1, 1905 to February 28, 1908, and on March 1,
1908, San Felipe was separated from San Narciso.

• San Narciso

Originally known as “Alusiis”, San Narciso started as a small settlement founded by enterprising
pioneers from Paoay, Ilocos Norte and Vigan, Ilocos Sur sometime during the 1830’s along the
Kimmarayan, now Santo Tomas River, after the violent flood waters of which the place most
probably have been first named: “Alusiis” means restlessness. First a barrio a pueblo by virtue
of a royal decree promulgated in 1846 by then Gov. Gen. Narciso Claveria, in whose honor the
new municipality was renamed (San Narciso contra los temblores)

The people of San Narciso participated in the Philippine Revolution against Spain. When the
Katipunan was organized by Andres Bonifacio and sent his representatives in San Narciso, many
prominent men of the town became members. Pantaleon Dumlao became the head of the local
organization.

The town also honors the Doce Martires or the Twelve Martyrs of San Narciso. These were the
twelve prominent men of the town who were executed through the orders of the curate based
on accusations that they were Katipunan sympathizers

From its formal organization to the present, the municipality of San Narciso records a history,
which is in consonance with the general pattern of historical events in the province. The name
Alusiis is retained and is now confined to one of the 17 barrios, which was the site of the
original settlement

• San Marcelino, Castillejos and San Antonio

Pre-colonial existence of Sambali villages is recounted in the area’s history but their scope
included present-day San Marcelino, Castillejos and San Antonio. The Sambals were joined by
Tagalog and Ilocano settlers even then. These are adjacent settlements considered as one
town that the Spanish colonizers administered in the past.

On March 10, 1852 San Marcelino (named after Governor General Marcelino Oraa) held its first
municipal election for a teniente absolute under the Spanish colonial government. Under the
United States, the first elected president on January 14, 1906 was Matias Apostol but this

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transition happened amidst the Philippine American war up to March 1902. The military US
forces conducted policing and judiciary functions, such as the prosecution of Elias Agpalo.

The municipality of San Antonio (originally the village of Pamisaraoan now named after
Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco ) was first organized on May 12, 1849, as a result of
two petitions to this effect headed by the Teniente Primiro, the first in 1848 and the second on
March 8, 1849. By virtue of Executive Order No. 1 of 1911, the first Ilocano families from the
Paoay area of Ilocos Norte arrived in 1830 and founded the first settlement that grew into what
is now the town. The formation of barangays had then started the multiplied in number and
according to the census of October 1948, the town has 8,381 inhabitants, which soared up to
21,651 census made in 1995.

Castillejos (originally called Uguit now named after Spanish General Juan Prats, Marquis de los
Castillejos) was founded sometime in the middle of the 18th century. Its creation took place in
1743 while that of Subic in 1769. The seniority of Castillejos over Subic is quite interesting in
view of the fact that both towns were established by Tagalog families who probably came from
the province of Bataan.

We can be sure that the settlement at Subic, which is on the beach, precede that in Castillejos,
for this is situated further from Bataan some seven kilometers in the interior on the side of the
mountain. Coming from the exposed position of the beach to pirates, those early families kept
moving in lands towards Castillejos thereby making it grow faster than Subic. Castillejos
became Pueblo in 1743, 26 years ahead of Subic.

• Subic and Olongapo

The native Zambales inhabitants called the area Hubek, which means "head of a plough";
Spanish missionary priests mispronounced the name as Subiq, the letter 'q' eventually
replaced with letter 'c'.

The importance of the Subic area (which then included Olongapo) was started toward the
1880s when the Spanish military scouted for a promising naval station and found one located
in the present-day Subic Bay. A decree in 1884 declared Subic Bay as "a naval port and the
property appertaining thereto set aside for naval purposes." A fort was set up to mark the
access point for the fort with the construction of an arsenal and ship repair yard starting on 8
March 1885. The stay of the Spanish military forces did not last since the US forces took over
Subic Bay on December 10, 1899. The US’ shipyard and repair facility was located in the
southern part of Zambales, with Olongapo, Subic and part of San Antonio (and of Bataan)
included under US control. Subic Bay used to be the home of the U.S. 7th Fleet.
Aadministration of Olongapo was later turned over to the Philippine government on December
7, 1959. In June 1966 by virtue of RA No. 4645 sponsored by Congressman Ramon Magsaysay,
Jr., Olongapo became a charter city under former Mayor James L. Gordon. The first freeport

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zone in the country emerged in the 1990s as a sprawling industrial, commercial and tourism
estate attracting hundreds of investors and millions of local and foreign tourists.

LIST OF ZAMBALES GOVERNORS

SPANISH REGIME
Hon. Manuel de Orendain (1802)
Hon. Miguel del Fierro (1809)
Hon. Prudencio Perez de Menor (1842)
Hon. Jose M Rodriguez (1846)
Hon. Jose Sanchez (1848)
Hon. Hipolito Fortacion (1852)
Hon. Laureano de Caray (1869)
Hon. Vicente Camara (Revolutionary Government of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo) (1897-1899)

AMERICAN ERA

Hon. Potenciano Lesaca (Ist Civil Governor) (1901-1903)

Hon. Juan Manday (Acting) (1903-1904)
Hon. Gabriel Alba (Acting) (1904)
Hon. Juan Lesaca (1910-1916)
Hon. Lauro Al Barretto (1916-1918)
Hon. Cleto Arnedo ((Acting) (1918-1919)
Hon. Benedicto T. Esguerra (1919-1922)
Hon. Ramon Garcia (1922-1925)
Hon. Francisco Dantes (1925-1931)
Hon. Agustin N. Medina (1931-1934)
Hon. Bernardo Farrales (Commonwealth) (1934-1940)
Hon. Francisco Anonas (1940-1941)

JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Hon. Francisco Dantes (1942-1943) (03-29-42 to 03-30-43)

Hon. Jose V. Corpuz (1944-1945) (01-01-44 to 01-31-45)

LIBERATION TO PRESENT

Hon. Ramon Magsaysay (Mil. Governor) (1945) (02-01-45 to 03-06-45)

Hon. Francisco A. Anonas (Resumed) (1945-1947) (03-07-45 to 12-31-47)
Hon. Guillermo delos Reyes (1948-1951)
Hon. Archimedes Villanueva (1952-1955)

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Hon. Manuel D. Barretto (1956-1967)
Hon. Vicente P. Magsaysay (1968-1978)
Hon. Jacobo F. Battad (Acting) (1978)
Hon. Vicente P. Magsaysay (1978-1986)
Hon. Amor D. Deloso (Officer-in-charge) (04-14-86 to 11-30-87)
Hon. Luperio F. Villanueva (12-01-87 to 02-01-88)
Hon. Amor D. Deloso (02-02-88 to 03-04-98)
Hon. Saturnino V. Bactad (03-05-98 to 06-30-98)
Hon. Vicente P. Magsaysay (07-01-98 to June 30, 2007)
Hon. Amor D. Deloso (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010)
Hon. Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2016)
Hon. Amor D. Deloso (July 1, 2016 to present)
Hon. Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. (July 1, 2019 to present)

References:

Ramon de Jesus. Zambales ..(Makati: Union Zambaleña , 1990)

Pedro Asis Jr. Short History of Zambales . 1981

Alma C. Bamero . Zambales Before the Revolution. (Masters Thesis in History), UP Diliman

Fray Domingo Perez, OP. “Relation of the Zambals ”(Manila, 1680). Blair and Robertson.
Volume 47

Fr. Licinio Ruiz de Santa Eulalia , OAR. Sinopsis Historica de la Provincia de San Nicolas de
Tolentino de las Islas Filipinas de la Orden de Agustinos Descalzos . (Manila: Universidad de
Santo Tomas, 1925)

Alma N. Bamero, “Patterns of Resistance in Zambales:1660-1898”, Centennial Papers on the

Katipunan and the Revolution, 1998. pp.102-106

Milagros Guerrero,”The Provincial and Municipal Elites of Luzon During the Revolution,1898-
1902”, in McCoy and de Jesus, p. 156

Photos credits to: Joven Ian M. Marquez, AHP Iba , Filipinas Heritage, Jayson Aquino, NHCP

Biblioteca Nacional de Espana

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