加潘 城镇

Gapan [gɐˈpan], officially the City of Gapan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Gapan, Ilocano: Siudad ti Gapan, Kapampangan: Ciudad/Lakanbalen ning Gapan), is a component city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 129,610 people.

It is nicknamed the "Footwear Capital of the North" due to the thriving footwear making industry in the city.

History

Precolonial era

Historical records called the town Ibon, which in the 16th century was a town of Pampanga.

Spanish colonial era

During Spanish rule, in 1595, Gapan was reinstituted as a Catholic town by the Spanish priests Contres Tendilla, Caballo, and Salazar. This makes Gapan the oldest town in Nueva Ecija and one of the oldest in the Philippines. The town had a large jurisdiction embracing an area as far as Cabanatuan to the north (which was its barangay with the name Cabanatuan before it separated in 1750); the Sierra Madre to the east; San Miguel, Bulacan to the south; and, Candaba, Pampanga to the west.

Most of the original settlers in Gapan were Tagalogs from Bulacan and Morong (now Rizal Province) and Kapampangans. Other early settlers came from Ilocos and Tayabas (now Quezon Province). Gapan, along with Aliaga, Cabiao, San Antonio, and San Isidro, was transferred to the province of Nueva Ecija in 1848.

After the Philippine declaration of independence

After the 1898 Philippine independence, some of the town's former districts became separate towns until what remained comprised only what are now the towns of Peñaranda, General Tinio, and San Leonardo (formerly called Manikling), all of which are part of Nueva Ecija.

Gapan massacre

February 12, 1982 saw one of the prominent human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship in the form of the "Gapan massacre", in which armed soldiers strafed the residence of the Bautista family in the town, resulting in the death of the Bautista couple and all three of their children.

Cityhood

By virtue of Republic Act No. 9022 and its ratification in a plebiscite subsequently held on August 25, 2001, Gapan was converted into a component city of Nueva Ecija. Ernesto L. Natividad became the first city mayor of Gapan.

Languages

Tagalog is the main language in Gapan. Kapampangan and Ilocano are also used.

Geography

Gapan is located in the southern part of the province. It is bounded to the north by Peñaranda and San Leonardo, to the east by the Gen. Tinio, to the south by San Miguel in neighboring Bulacan province, and to the west by San Isidro.

Gapan is 23 kilometers (14 mi) from Cabanatuan, 37 kilometers (23 mi) from Palayan, and 93 kilometers (58 mi) from Manila.

Barangays of Gapan City, Nueva Ecija

Source:

Gapan is politically subdivided into 23 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks, and some have sitios.

Economy

Commercial and Trade

Current major sources of income within Gapan City include agriculture. As a town of Nueva Ecija, majority comes from farming, while fishponds, poultry and piggeries also contribute.

The city of Gapan holds tremendous promise not only in its natural resources but also in its potentials in agri-base industries and in footwear industries which help sustain its virtual role in agricultural and industrial production.

It also generates income in slipper making and commercial establishments. Commercial and trade activities in Gapan are further accelerated by the influx of financing lending institution and new businesses sprouting across the city's main district.

Like its sister city, Cabanatuan, Gapan also houses major shopping hubs in the province. The two major Philippine mall chains, Walter Mart and Robinsons Malls, have already established their presence in the city.

Currently, major shopping centers in the city include:

Walter Mart Gapan

Robinsons Gapan

Primark Town Center Gapan

Gapan has also several local grocery, department, and hardware stores.

Government

Local Government

Gapan's current seat of government, the city hall, is located at Maharlika Highway The local government structure is composed of one mayor, one vice mayor, and ten councilors. Each official is elected publicly to a 3-year term and can be re-elected up to 3 terms in succession. The day-to-day administration of the city is handled by the city administrator.

Elected Officials

Source:

Transportation

Public Transportation

Gapan serves many bus companies operating provincial and regional routes. Intercity and interprovincial buses from Manila serve the city, and are usually operated by Baliwag Transit, Inc., Five Star, Victory Liner, Genesis Transport Service Inc., and ES Transport Inc.

Jeepney operators serve routes within the province with some reaching as far to nearby towns in Nueva Ecija. Much of the city's population rely on public transportation such as tricycles and jeeps to get around the city.

Road Network

National Highway

Two main highways serve the city of Gapan: Maharlika Highway and Jose Abad Santos Avenue. Maharlika Highway (or Pan-Philippine Highway) is the main highway traversing the city where most vehicles going to Cagayan Valley pass through. It links Gapan to its nearby city of Cabanatuan and town of San Miguel in the province of Bulacan. It also allows travelers to reach towns of Sta. Rosa and San Leonardo. On the other hand, Jose Abad Santos Avenue is the highway that links Gapan to the towns of San Isidro and Cabiao, where the road continues straightforward, again turning westward then eastward, entering Pampanga, and passes through Pampanga River.

Expressway and Toll Roads

One proposed expressway will pass through Gapan if built: it would be the North Luzon East Expressway (Quezon City to Cabanatuan).

Penaranda-Gapan-San-Isidro-Cabiao Bypass Road

The city of Gapan can also be accessed through the 22-kilometer bypass road that also links other towns of Nueva Ecija, such as Peñaranda, San Isidro, and Cabiao. The entry and exit point is located in Brgy. Sto Cristo Norte.

Tourism

Tourist sites in the city include:

Lumang Gapan or Little Vigan - a recreation site of the Vigan heritage houses.

Basilica Minor & National Shrine of Virgen La Divina Pastora - The center of Marian pilgrimages during the months of April and May and is declared by the Catholic Bishops Conference in 1986. Proclaimed as a "Minor Basilica" on April 26, 2024, by Pope Francis.

Gapan City Plaza - the city's main plaza which includes various attractions such as a Ferris wheel, lights display, and food park.

Casa Batik

Healthcare

Good Samaritan General Hospital - a private hospital located at Don Simeon St, Gapan.

Gapan District Hospital - a public hospital located at Divina Pastora Street, Divina Pastora Subdivision, Gapan.

Batang Gapan Medical Center - an under-construction, four-storey, 132-bed capacity government hospital designed to primarily serve Nueva Ecija's fourth district including the towns of Peñaranda, General Tinio, San Leonardo, Jaen, San Antonio, Cabiao, and San Isidro.

Education

Some prominent schools and colleges within the city include:

Notable people

Some notable personalities who hail from Gapan include:

Nida Blanca - actress

Eula Valdez - actress

Ryza Cenon - actress

Rio Locsin - actress

Emerson Pascual – representative, Nueva Ecija's 4th district

Coleen Perez - actress

Vic Silayan - actor

Frankie Evangelista - former TV Patrol news anchor

Joe Taruc - DZRH news anchor

Juan Liwag - former senator of the Philippines

Cielo Magno - economist, former Finance Undersecretary for Fiscal Policy and Monitoring.

Mariano Llanera - revolutionary general of the battle cry of Nueva Ecija in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija

General Pantaleon Valmonte - capitan municipal of Gapan who, together with General Mariano Llanera, capitan municipal of Cabiao, launched the "First Cry of Nueva Ecija" against the Spanish rule on September 2, 1896

Josepina "Josie" Padiermos Fitial - former First Lady of the Northern Mariana Islands

Juan Feleo - peasant leader and politician

Rene Ramirez – auxiliary bishop of Melbourne.

Mario Parial - multi-awarded painter, sculptor and photographer

Sedfrey Ordoñez - lawyer; former Justice secretary

Jayzam Manabat – famous vlogger, part of the YouTube duo JaMill with Camille Trinidad.

Sister cities

Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija

Cabiao, Nueva Ecija