Etymology
The name Abucay originated from "abu-kinaykay" which means digging the debris of fire. According to legend, one day a Spaniard came to this town and was asking for its name. It so happened that his arrival coincided with the just extinguished big fire that burned and destroyed quite a number of houses in the place and so the people were busy digging the remains from the ashes. Digging or shoveling, "kinaykay" in local dialect. So when this Spaniard asked for the name of the place, the residents quickly replied, "abu-kinaykay", thinking that this Spaniard was asking what they were doing. From then on this town was called that way and later on to Abucay.
Another Abucay legend click here
Background
The town is proud of its colorful history:
- Tomas Pinpin - was a printer, writer and publisher, was a native of Mabatang, Abucay. who was the first Filipino printer and is sometimes referred as the "Patriarch of Filipino Printing." Tomas Pinpin is also remembered for being the first native Filipino to publish and print a book, "Librong Pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla" in 1610, entirely written by himself in the old Tagalog orthography
- Movable wooden press blocks - was taken within the church of Abucay to be the first printing press in the country and is refuted to be older than any other single press in the United States.
- The old Saint Dominic Church - is the first Catholic Church built in Bataan by Father Geronimo de Belen in the early 1600’s. It was burned in 1870 and rebuilt by Father Jose Diego Pelaez. The Spiritual Ministration of Abucay was entrusted to the Dominicans in 1588.A fierce battle between the Dutch and the Pampango Defenders was fought in this court on June 23, 1647. Nearly two hundred Pampangos were put to death and forty others together with the Spanish Alcalde Mayor of Pampanga, Don Antonio de Cabrera, Father Geronimo Sotomayor and Father Tomas Ramos were taken to Batavia on June 23, 1647. The present church was badly damage by the earthquake of September 16, 1852. One of the earliest printing presses in the Philippines was operated in this town as early as 1610 where Father Jose Blancas de San Jose and Juan Vera taught Tomas Pinpin the rigors of writing and printing. This is also the seat of the Partido de Bataan until Balanga became the town and seat of government. The bells donated in 1839/1859 are still housed in this church.
- During World War II - Abucay was made the first line of defense of American and Filipino soldiers against the advancing Japanese Imperial Army. The Layac-Hermosa defense line was merely a “delay phase line.” The Mabatang Defense Line, part of the so-called Abucay-Morong Defense Line, was abandoned on January 24, 1942. It eventually led to the fall of Bataan two months later.
A large portion of Abucay’s land area (about 3,320 out of the total 8,413.65 hectares) is devoted to farming and fishponds. The total agricultural area is 2,293 hectares of irrigated and unirrigated land planted to palay, vegetables and root crops. The existing fishpond lots cover an area of 1,027 hectares. Species raised from these fishponds include milkfish, tilapia, pla-pla, prawns and mud crabs.
These natural resources, including Manila Bay, provide the residents with year-round supply of food, both for local consumption and for export to neighboring towns and provinces.
The residents are also engaged in livestock and poultry. There are six commercial poultry farms, 2 ducks (mulland) and four broiler farms in town. Abukenos, are quite proud of their local products such as dried fish (tuyo, dilis) and salted, fermented shrimps (bagoong). Mussel (tahong) culture is also thriving along the shores of Abucay. The countless bamboo trellises or balag along the shorelines indirectly transformed the municipal waters into a fish sanctuary.
Dialect
Demographics
Population Census of Abucay as per 2010
Income Classification: | 3rd Class | Registered Voters (2010): 22,999 |
Urban/Rural: | Population : (as of May 1, 2010): 37,719 | |
District: | 1st | |
Barangays (Number: 9) | ||
Name | Urban/Rural | Population |
(as of May 1, 2010) | ||
Bangkal | Rural | 634 |
Calaylayan (Pob.) | Urban | 4,391 |
Capitangan | Urban | 6,041 |
Gabon | Urban | 5,241 |
Laon (Pob.) | Urban | 2,245 |
Mabatang | Urban | 8,571 |
Omboy | Urban | 3,219 |
Salian | Urban | 2,885 |
Wawa (Pob.) | Urban | 4,492 |
Source: National Statistic Office
Local Attractions & Land marks
Town of Abucay is still a developing, tourism wise, the famous landmarks, include the following:
Sto. Domingo Abucay Church
Tomas Pinpin Monument
Maria Canon Statue
Pasukulan Falls
Sibul
(Mabatang, Abucay; December). Christmas celebration in Mabatang extends to the streets of every sitio in the barangay, which are lavishly adorned to rejoice the season. "Walis tambo" (broom) in Baguio City actually came from Abucay.
Palis Lasa Festival
Related Posts
The official seal of Municipality of Abucay
Where to stay in Abucay
Source & References:
- Biography of Tomas Pinpin. Retrieved from gutenberg.org, 12 February 2013
- 1st Abucay Catholic Church Retrieved from site.google.com, 12 February 2013
- Municipality of Abucay Retrieved from bataandiary.blogspot.com, 13 February 2013
- Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010". 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 February 2013.