Camiling, Tarlac

Camiling is a 1st class municipality in the western part of the province of Tarlac in the Philippines. It is about 150 kilometers north-northwest of Manila, and about 50 kilometers south-southwest of Dagupan City in Pangasinan. It is the commercial center of an area composed of about 8 towns, and borders the province of Pangasinan. It is the gateway to central and western Pangasinan through the Romulo Highway (formerly Highway 13). It borders San Clemente on the west, Bayambang from the north, Sta. Ignacia and Mayantoc to the south and Paniqui by the east.

According to the 2007 census, Camiling has a population of 145,523 people in 24,231 households. It has a land area of 140.50 square kilometers. The density is 1035.75 people per sq.km.

The town's name is derived from a tree called "Camiring" which grew abundantly in the wilderness. The letter "R" in "Camiring" was changed to "L" for its liquid sound.

Early in the 18th century, the community was sitio of Paniqui, contrary to the popular belief that it was a part of Bayambang, Pangasinan.

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 fruit trees, hunting, and fishing. With the coming of the Pangasinenses and Ilocanos from the north, the Aetas who used to roam freely in the wilderness obliged themselves to move in to the interior. The new settlers first occupied the swampy land, now known as "Cacamilingan" on the opposite side of the river. With the passage of time, these settlers moved to the opposite shore in view of the fact that most often disastrous floods are visiting the present site. To this new location, the residents therein built a little church with the villagers taking Saint Michael as the Patron Saint.

As this settlement progressed, Camiling became a District Commission from 1834 to 1837. It was founded by Don Francisco Soriano, an adventurous barangay leader 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, the first Governadorcillo. Thirty-eight others followed him. Don Buenaventura Torres, the last to serve under the Spanish regime and the first Presidente Municipal under the Revolutionary Government by Aguinaldo.

Advancements on 21st century

Camiling became a first class municipality 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. With an aggregate area of 14,050 hectares (140.50 square kilometers) representing 4.6% of the province’s total land mass. From its establishment as an independent town in 1838 and through the musty and evolutionary pages of its checkered history can be gleaned Camiling’s rich cultural heritage.

Camiling is politically subdivided into 61 barangays.




Source: WIKIPEDIA

Links

Camiling.gov.ph

Local Photos

A Day in Camiling

My Tarlac

Saint Michael Parish