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Maria Aurora, Aurora

Coordinates: 15°47′48″N 121°28′25″E / 15.7967°N 121.4737°E / 15.7967; 121.4737
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Aurora
San Jose de Casignan
Municipality
Municipality of Maria Aurora
Street in Maria Aurora
Street in Maria Aurora
Flag of Maria Aurora
Flag
Official seal of Maria Aurora
Seal
Nickname(s): 
"Baby", "Maria"
Map of Aurora with Maria Aurora highlighted
Map of Aurora with Maria Aurora highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Maria Aurora is located in Philippines
Maria Aurora
Maria Aurora
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°47′48″N 121°28′25″E / 15.7967°N 121.4737°E / 15.7967; 121.4737
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Luzon
ProvinceAurora
District Lone district
FoundedJuly 21, 1949
Named forMaria Aurora "Baby" Quezon
Barangays40 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorAriel S. Bitong
 • Vice MayorAmado M. Geneta
 • RepresentativeRommel Rico T. Angara
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate28,333 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total
426.19 km2 (164.55 sq mi)
Elevation
66 m (217 ft)
Highest elevation
441 m (1,447 ft)
Lowest elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
44,958
 • Density110/km2 (270/sq mi)
 • Households
11,016
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
13.68
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 215.6 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 270.5 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 205.7 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 34.8 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityAurora Electric Cooperative (AURELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3202
PSGC
037707000
IDD : area code +63 (0)42
Native languagesNorthern Alta
Tagalog
Ilocano
Websitewww.maria-aurora.gov.ph

Maria Aurora, officially the Municipality of Maria Aurora (Tagalog: Bayan ng Maria Aurora; Ilocano: Ili ti Maria Aurora), is the only landlocked and 2nd class municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,958 people.[3]

Despite being the only landlocked town of the province, it is the most populated municipality.

The Millennium Tree in Balete Park and the lush green landscape is Maria Aurora's main tourist asset.

Etymology

[edit]

The town was named after Maria Aurora "Baby" Aragon Quezon, the first daughter of Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon and First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon. Maria Aurora, along with her mother Aurora, was ambushed and assassinated by elements of the Hukbalahap movement in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

History

[edit]

The original settlers of the town now known as Maria Aurora were Bugkalot. These people are characterized as barbaric, wild and head hunters. They first established their settlement in an area known as “Egabong” (meaning muddy stream) and was considered at that time as “no man’s land”, since no Christian dared to enter the place for fear of beheading.

The arrival of a man from Liliw, Laguna named Jose Bitong who was considered as the first Christian adventurer/settler, changed the course of event when he married a young Bugkalot lady and later won the admiration and confidence of the Bugkalots. From then, he became one of their dynamic leaders and was respected by the Bugkalot Tribe and Christians as well. This opened the gate for the Spanish missionaries to settle in the area and converted the settlers into Catholicism.[5]

In 1771, the settlement was named and known as San Jose de Casecnan or San Jose de Casignan in honor of Jose Bitong and Casecnan River which the Spanish believed it flows near the settlement.

In 1896, a group of Ilocano settlers from Aringay, La Union came to stay in the town, which was part of District of El Príncipe, Nueva Ecija. In 1906, another group of Ilocanos arrived from La Union and Pangasinan.[6] Because of dominance of Ilocanos in Maria Aurora, Rang-ay Festival is celebrated, wherein rang-ay is an Ilocano word for progress. The word is distinctively chosen to confine the focus of celebration on the progressive vision of the people of Maria Aurora that are dominantly Ilocanos.[5]

The municipality of Maria Aurora was established on July 21, 1949, through the Executive Order No. 246 out of various portions of the municipalities of Baler, then part of Quezon province.[7]

Through Presidential Proclamation No. 687, September 23, 2024 was declared a special working day in Maria Aurora, Aurora to celebrate the birth anniversary of the town's namesake, María Aurora "Baby" Quezon.[8]

Proposal for the Municipality of Dr. Juan C. Angara

[edit]

A separate municipality called Dr. Juan C. Angara is being proposed under Senate Bill No. 3132 and House Bill No. 6518.[9][10] Named after the father of former provincial governor Bella Angara and former Senator Edgardo Angara, the proposed municipality shall have a land area of 201.2 square kilometers (77.7 sq mi) and is composed of western barangays of Dianawan, Decoliat, Galintuja, San Juan, Suguit, Bazal, Pungio, Villa Aurora and Dialatnan. San Juan will serve as poblacion or the seat of government.

Geography

[edit]

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 426.19 square kilometers (164.55 sq mi) [11] constituting 13.54% of the 3,147.32-square-kilometer (1,215.19 sq mi) total area of Aurora.

Maria Aurora is the only non-coastal municipality of the province. It is bounded by Baler and Dipaculao on the east, San Luis on the south, the Province of Nueva Ecija on the west and Alfonso Castañeda in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya on the north-west; Maria Aurora is the only municipality of Aurora bordered by Nueva Vizcaya.

Maria Aurora is 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) from Baler and 222 kilometers (138 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

[edit]

Maria Aurora is politically subdivided into 40 barangays.[12] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020[3] 2010[13]
037707001 Alcala 1.2% 553 521 ▴ 0.60%
037707002 Bagtu 1.7% 779 748 ▴ 0.41%
037707003 Bangco 1.5% 676 636 ▴ 0.61%
037707004 Bannawag 1.1% 496 492 ▴ 0.08%
037707005 Barangay I (Poblacion) 3.0% 1,356 1,260 ▴ 0.74%
037707006 Barangay II (Poblacion) 4.3% 1,930 1,874 ▴ 0.29%
037707007 Barangay III (Poblacion) 2.0% 894 873 ▴ 0.24%
037707008 Barangay IV (Poblacion) 5.5% 2,458 2,465 ▾ −0.03%
037707009 Baubo 1.4% 642 634 ▴ 0.13%
037707010 Bayanihan 3.2% 1,425 1,325 ▴ 0.73%
037707011 Bazal 3.0% 1,368 1,274 ▴ 0.71%
037707012 Cabituculan East 1.5% 676 664 ▴ 0.18%
037707013 Cabituculan West 1.2% 534 493 ▴ 0.80%
037707027 Cadayacan 3.0% 1,357 1,261 ▴ 0.74%
037707014 Debucao 3.1% 1,385 1,293 ▴ 0.69%
037707015 Decoliat 1.0% 472 457 ▴ 0.32%
037707016 Detailen 2.0% 879 793 ▴ 1.03%
037707017 Diaat 3.4% 1,528 1,460 ▴ 0.46%
037707018 Dialatman 0.4% 198 183 ▴ 0.79%
037707019 Diaman 0.6% 257 239 ▴ 0.73%
037707020 Dianawan 2.6% 1,191 1,111 ▴ 0.70%
037707021 Dikildit 2.3% 1,019 908 ▴ 1.16%
037707022 Dimanpudso 3.0% 1,353 1,296 ▴ 0.43%
037707023 Diome 1.9% 857 760 ▴ 1.21%
037707024 Estonilo 1.7% 784 755 ▴ 0.38%
037707025 Florida 4.1% 1,825 1,635 ▴ 1.11%
037707026 Galintuja 1.6% 729 598 ▴ 2.00%
037707028 Malasin 1.5% 654 593 ▴ 0.98%
037707029 Ponglo 1.0% 466 543 ▾ −1.52%
037707030 Quirino 4.1% 1,843 1,584 ▴ 1.53%
037707031 Ramada 2.6% 1,172 1,134 ▴ 0.33%
037707032 San Joaquin 3.8% 1,714 1,634 ▴ 0.48%
037707033 San Jose 3.7% 1,677 1,460 ▴ 1.40%
037707040 San Juan 1.9% 876 891 ▾ −0.17%
037707034 San Leonardo 1.0% 455 475 ▾ −0.43%
037707035 Santa Lucia 1.3% 578 541 ▴ 0.66%
037707036 Santo Tomas 1.6% 697 684 ▴ 0.19%
037707037 Suguit 1.3% 604 564 ▴ 0.69%
037707038 Villa Aurora 2.0% 878 751 ▴ 1.57%
037707039 Wenceslao 3.3% 1,499 1,266 ▴ 1.70%
Total 44,958 38,128 ▴ 1.66%

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Maria Aurora, Aurora
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		28
(82) 		29
(84) 		32
(90) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		27
(81) 		30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20
(68) 		20
(68) 		21
(70) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		21
(70) 		23
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 25
(1.0) 		26
(1.0) 		18
(0.7) 		24
(0.9) 		91
(3.6) 		145
(5.7) 		149
(5.9) 		122
(4.8) 		120
(4.7) 		128
(5.0) 		61
(2.4) 		52
(2.0) 		961
(37.7)
Average rainy days 7.7 5.7 6.8 8.0 18.2 22.1 24.3 23.4 22.7 17.5 10.0 9.4 175.8
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[14]

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Maria Aurora
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 10,182—    
1970 18,193+5.97%
1975 23,252+5.04%
1980 26,822+2.90%
1990 28,378+0.57%
1995 30,796+1.54%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 33,551+1.85%
2007 35,289+0.70%
2010 38,128+2.86%
2015 40,734+1.27%
2020 44,958+1.96%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][13][16][17]

In the 2020 census, Maria Aurora had a population of 44,958.[3] The population density was 110 inhabitants per square kilometer (280/sq mi).

Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Maria Aurora

5
10
15
20
2006
18.40
2009
13.24
2012
10.14
2015
10.68
2018
11.98
2021
13.68

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Government

[edit]

List of mayors

[edit]

Maria Aurora was administered by 12 mayors since its establishment in 1949.

  • Mayor Pedro C. Montero (Jul 21, 1949 – Dec 31, 1951)
  • Mayor Pedro S. Wenceslao (Jan 1, 1952 – Jun 21, 1958)
  • Mayor Brigido E. Collado (Jun 22, 1958 – Dec 31, 1959)
  • Mayor Leon B. Hulipas (Jan 1, 1960 – Dec 31, 1963)
  • Mayor Leonardo T. Ong (Jan 1, 1964 – Aug 15, 1977)
  • Mayor Juan R. Ortiz (Aug 16, 1977 – May 8, 1986)
  • OJC Adriano C. Bitong (May 9, 1986 – Dec 1, 1987)
  • OJC (LGO) Nepumuceno W. Gonzales (Dec 1, 1987 – Dec 15, 1987)
  • Sec. Lorenzo O. Mangaoang (Dec. 16, 1987 – Feb 2, 1988)
  • Mayor Adriano C. Bitong (Feb 3, 1988 – Jun 30, 1998)
  • Mayor Brigido M. Noval (Jun 30, 1998 – Jun 30, 2004)
  • Mayor Ariel S. Bitong (Jun 30, 2004 – Jun 30, 2013)
  • Mayor Amado M. Geneta (Jun 30, 2013 – Jun 30, 2022)
  • Mayor Ariel S. Bitong (Jun 30, 2022 – Present)

Transportation

[edit]
The 110-meter (360 ft) Bazal Bridge, linking Bazal and Malasin to town proper[26]

Maria Aurora can be accessed by road through two routes: the Canili–Pantabangan Road, which passes Nueva Ecija's northern towns and through Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya; and the Nueva Ecija–Aurora Road, built on the 1940s that traverses the Sierra Madre Mountains and passes through the towns of Baler and San Luis. Today, the Canili–Pantabangan Road is much more commonly used, though it extends travel time for 1 hour, it is the safest route for vehicles. Originally, the Nueva Ecija–Aurora Road is the standard road for bus commuters, the shortest but the steep turns and unpaved roads makes it the most dangerous for heavy vehicles.

There are five bus lines that serve Maria Aurora's vicinity: Maria Aurora Express (PAPIN) (Cabanatuan–Dipaculao); D' Liner (Cabanatuan\Baguio - Maria Aurora, Casiguran; Genesis Bus Transport (Manila\Cabanatuan - Baler); - Aurora Bus Line (Cabanatuan - Baler) and Lizardo Transit (Baguio - Baler)

Healthcare

[edit]

The Department of Health sustains health over the municipality. The municipality has 21 health centers and one provincial hospital, the Aurora Provincial Hospital located in barangay Buhangin in Baler, 30 kilometers (19 mi) south of the town.

Education

[edit]

Maria Aurora has its education sustained by the Department of Education - Division of Aurora. The municipality has 38 public elementary and high schools with 1 central school (Maria Aurora Central School). Private institutions in the municipality include Mount Carmel School of Maria Aurora and Wesleyan University - Philippines (Aurora).

[edit]
  • Municipal hall
    Municipal hall
  • Public market
    Public market
  • Highway, mountains and forests (Sitio Dimasalang, Barangay Dimotol)
    Highway, mountains and forests (Sitio Dimasalang, Barangay Dimotol)
  • 1970's Canili and Diayo Dams and Reservoirs (tributaries of Pantabangan Dam)
    1970's Canili and Diayo Dams and Reservoirs (tributaries of Pantabangan Dam)
  • Millennium Tree at Balete Park
    Millennium Tree at Balete Park

References

[edit]
  1. ^  Municipality of Maria Aurora | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b Maria Aurora: Historical Background
  6. ^ Mesina, Ilovita. "Baler And Its People, The Aurorans". Aurora.ph. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  7. ^ Executive Order No. 246 (21 July 1949), Organizing Certain Portions of the Municipalities of Baler and Infanta, Quezon Province, into Independent Municipalities, Under the Names of Maria Aurora and General Nakar, Respectively (PDF), Official Gazette, retrieved 6 November 2016
  8. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 687 (September 12, 2024), Declaring Monday, 23 September 2024, a Special Working Day in the Municipality of Maria Aurora, Province of Aurora (PDF), Presidential Communications Office, retrieved September 22, 2024
  9. ^ "Fifteenth Congress; Senate Bill No. 3132; An Act Creating the Municipality of Dr. Juan C. Angara in the Province of Aurora" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. ^ House Bill No. 6518 (2008), An Act Creating the Municipality of Dr. Juan C. Angara in the Province of Aurora (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2014, retrieved 6 November 2016
  11. ^ "Province: Aurora". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Municipal: Maria Aurora, Aurora". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  13. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Maria Aurora, Aurora: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  15. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  16. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  17. ^ "Province of Aurora". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  18. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  20. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  21. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  22. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  24. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  25. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Angara Inaugurates Bazal Bridge in Aurora; Hopeful for Stronger Rp-japan Partnership". Senate of the Philippines (Press release). January 20, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
[edit]
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