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Basic Information
Capital: Iba
Land area: 3,714 sq. km.
Date founded: 1578
Location
Zambales is located at the western coast of Central Luzon. It shares
common boundaries with Pangasinan on the north, Tarlac and Pampanga on the
east, Olongapo City and Bataan on the south and the China Sea on the
west.
Brief History
Zambales was formerly organized in 1572 after its exploration by Don Juan
de Salcedo, the intrepid Spanish explorer. The earliest migrants, the
Malays, came from the Celebes and settled in the northern area up to Cape
Bolinao of Lingayen Gulf. The Tagalogs who came from the east and south
settled at the southern area, while the vast vacant areas between north
and south were settled by Ilocanos who came from Northern Luzon. The
aborigines, the kinky-haired Negritos or Aetas were thus driven to the
hinterlands and replaced by the new-comers who established villages which
were the nuclei of the formulation of barangays and towns.
The
old province included the coastal towns from Cape Bolinao to Subic Bay.
Among the earliest towns are Masinloc, organized in 1607 and it was the
first provincial capital. The present capital Iba, was organized in 1611
and Sta. Cruz which is located in the northern tip was formed a year
later.
The
name of the province was derived from the Malay word "Samba"
meaning to worship as the inhabitants were found by the Spaniards to be
worshipping "spirit" called Anitos. The inhabitants were then
referred to as "Sambali" or the hispanicized "Zambals".
Climate
There are two pronounced seasons, dry from November to April, and wet for
the rest of the year. The province is not frequented by typhoons because
the mountain ranges in the east shield the province from north-easterly
winds, but exposed to south wet monsoon and cyclonic typhoons.
People
The inhabitants are composed of three principal ethnic groups, namely: the
Ilocano, Tagalogs, and the Zambals.
Language
Tagalog is the common language followed by Ilocano and Zambal.
Major Industries
There are three (3) industrial giants of the province namely; the Benguet
Consolidated Mining Inc. (BCI) in Coto, Masinloc, the Acoje Mining Co.
Inc. in Sta Cruz and the Central Azucarera Refineria de Bataan Inc. in San
Juan, Botolan, and BCI Dizon in San Marcelino. These mining companies are
engaged in mining metallurgical and refractory chromite and export them to
Japan and the United States.
Zambales
is predominantly an agricultural province. Chief products are rice, corn,
vegetables, and rootcrops. Major industries include farming, fishing and
mining. Minor industries are: handicrafts, shellcrafts, bamboo crafts,
poultry, and swine production, weaving, rope making, pottery, nipa making
and salt making.
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Festivals
Binabayani
"Binabayani" is a war dance that portrays the battle between the
Christian and the Aetas in the town of Masinloc. 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.
History
of "Binabayani"
This story had been passed from generation to generation since the time of
the Spanish Regime. The late Capitan Florentino Elicano, one of the eldest
residents of Masinloc in the year 1621 related to his son, the late
Municipal Judge Gererdo Elicano of how this war dance called "Binabayani"
come to existence in connection with the feast of the Patron Saint Andrew
every 30th day of November.
It
was said that in the late 16th century when Legaspi landed in the town of
Masinloc, a fisherman discovered statue floating along the shore carried
by a big church bell. According to the story, the statue is now existing
at the center of the altar of the Roman Catholic Church in Masinloc. When
this statue reached the shore of Bani, the bell stopped and refused to
move. Many rituals had been done by the forefathers like praying the
rosary for 9 days, offering the best harvest, saying etc....., but to no
avail. Still the statue could not be moved nor lifted to the shore and
refuses to float farther. Then an old man thought of this war dance
between the Christians Porfirio Elamparo. However, from time to time, a
generous family assumes all expenses for the "Binabayani" and
the Aetas called "Binabayani" a Sambal word for "bravery
dance". They believed that this was the favorite game of Saint
Andrew, the Apostle when he was young. So the group of old men practiced
and played the dance. It was only that time that the statue was lightly
and easily lifted to the shore, and the place where the St. Andrew
Catholic Church was built. Since then, this "Binabayani" is
indispensable every feast day of St. Andrew, the Apostle on the 30th day
of November. It was believed that when this war dance was not played on
the feast day, some calamities would happen like a strong winds/typhoon,
fire or poor harvest. Since then this became a tradition which is very
unique from other religious festivities of other municipalities of
Zambales.
Costumes
It is composed of an old Aeta couple (husband and wife) and 12 children.
Their whole bodies rubbed with charcoal. They are naked waist up and wear
short pants and hats made of birds nest in black color. They have bolos
and a bamboo drums as their weapons. They also have a tree with beehive as
a prop. Whereas, the Christians wear white pants and polo shirts with red
or colored band from the shoulder to waist, the head gear were decorated
with colored paper. They have bolos and bamboo drums with colored papers
as decorations.
Tradition
It is shown on the afternoon of the 29th of Nov.. It starts from the house
of the Elicano to the church which ends on the 9th day of the Novena. The
next day, the group of dancers will hear mass and the dance follows
thereafter. It is exhibited at the town plaza to open the day's activity.
The group goes around the town dancing to the front houses of prominent
families who then give some amount for the show.
Source: Mrs. Lydia Marasigan DILG, Iba, Zambales
Kalighawan
(4th Week of April).
A summer festival that seeks to develop a keener awareness in the richness
of a heritage that best expresses the strength of the Zambaleño character.
A province-wide celebration which showcases, among others, a cultural
presentation, an agro-industrial fair, a grand reunion of the Zambales
people, variety shows capped by the coronation of Miss Zambales Tourism.
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