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- This article is about the municipality in Pampanga, Philippines. For the city in Indonesia, see Magelang
Magalang is a town in northern Pampanga, Philippines. Situated at the foot of Mount Arayat and the border with Tarlac province, it combines cultural heritage, agrarian settings and natural wonders within its territory, despite encroaching urbanization from nearby Angeles.
Understand
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First mentioned as part of Arayat in 1598, it became a separate town in 1605. It has long been an agricultural town that had its fair share of peasant revolts, major battles and insurgencies throughout Philippine history, along with having the unsavory distinction of hosting the first recorded serial killer in the Philippines, Father Juan Severino Mallari, who murdered 57 people when he was the town's parish priest in the early 19th century before he was caught and executed. In 1863, the town of Concepcion was separated from Magalang and became part of the newly-created province of Tarlac.
Magalang is also the site of one of the oldest agricultural schools in the Philippines, the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), which traces its roots to 1885. During the 20th century, it became a commuter town of Angeles City following the expansion of the American military presence at Clark Field. In 1991, Magalang sustained relatively moderate damage from ashfall caused by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Since then, PSAU has hosted the main monitoring station for activity relating to the volcano.
It is home to about 134,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]From Manila, take a right turn at the Angeles exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Capillary roads also connect Magalang with Mabalacat, Arayat, Santa Ana, and San Fernando via Mexico, and Concepcion in Tarlac.
Magalang is also served by regular jeepneys from Marquee Mall in Angeles, along with less frequent ones from Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando and morning-only routes from Arayat. Fares from Angeles cost P17.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 San Bartolome Apostol Parish Church (Magalang Church), E. Baluyut Street, San Nicolas 1st (in front of Plaza Magalang), ☏ +63 916 934 8921, sanbartolomeparish1605@gmail.com. Magalang's main Roman Catholic church, built in its present style in 1866.
- 2 Heliograph Tower, Phase I, Santa Cruz. An obelisk-like structure built by the Spanish to serve as a "sun telegraph" that transmitted Morse code messages using the sun's rays. It is one of a few remains of an extensive Spanish military communications and watchtower system in Central Luzon and was later used to store and manufacture sugar.
- 3 Magalang Municipal Hall, Magalang-Arayat Road, San Nicolas 1st (in front of Plaza Magalang). One of a few civic buildings in the Philippines that survive from the American occupation, dating back to the 1920s.
- 4 Banal A Bunduk Dalan Ning Krus, Orchard Village, Ayala. Meaning "Holy Mountain, Way of the Cross" in Kapampangan, it is a religious complex at the foot of Mount Arayat that attracts pilgrims during the Lenten season for its 14 Stations of the Cross laid out across a 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) trail that culminates in a 35 feet (11 m) statue of a risen Jesus Christ.
- 5 Plaza Magalang, San Nicolas 1st. One of the better-designed and maintained town squares in the Philippines, featuring a large gazebo, civic monuments to local heroes and other noteworthy achievements, and a statue of a carabao.
Heritage Houses
[edit | edit source]Magalang contains a considerable number of colonial-era residences whose conditions range from decrepit to still inhabited and preserved by its original owners. These are mostly concentrated in downtown Magalang.
- 6 Feliciano Ancestral House, Angeles-Magalang Road, San Pedro I. A colonial-era residence converted into a clinic.
- 7 Don Cayetano Rivera House, Lacson Street, San Nicolas 1st (beside Magalang Central School). A colonial-era residence.
- 8 Don Antonio Luciano House, Magalang-Arayat Road, Santa Cruz. A colonial-era residence inside a secluded compound that was also used as a filming location for some domestic period films.
- 9 Aquino-Gueco House, O. Gueco Street, Santa Cruz. A Spanish-era residence belonging to a minor branch of the Aquino political dynasty in neighboring Concepcion, Tarlac. The view is partially obscured by mango trees.
- 10 Ordonez-Calma House, Angeles-Magalang Road corner Morales Street, Santa Cruz. A colonial-era residence whose ground floor has been leased out to commercial establishments.
- 11 Feliciano de Dios House, Angeles-Magalang Road, San Nicolas 1st.
- 12 David Ancestral House, Dizon Street, San Nicolas 1st.
- 13 Lacson Ancestral House, Lacson Street, San Nicolas 1st.
- 14 Yutuc House, Angeles-Magalang Road, Santa Cruz.
- 15 Pineda-Tumang House, E. Baluyut Street, Santa Cruz.
- 16 Gaviola House, Lacson Street, San Nicolas 1st.
Do
[edit | edit source]- Camaru Festival. Third week of August. Magalang's annual festival, coinciding with the feast of its patron saint, Bartholomew and dedicated to the local delicacy, crickets (camaru in Kapampangan)
- 1 Angeles City Flying Club, Woodland Airpark, Sitio Talimundok, Santa Maria, ☏ +63 918 920 3039, office@angelesflying.com. 8AM-5PM Mon-Fri, 8AM-5:30PM Sat-Sun. The main recreational aviation club in Central Luzon, offering short flying, paragliding and related activities. The club's facilities also include a cafe and swimming pool.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Magalang Public Market, Angeles-Magalang Road, San Pedro I.
- 2 Puregold Magalang, Angeles-Magalang Road, San Pedro II. 7AM-7PM.
- 3 FCC Supermarket, Morales Street, San Pedro I.
- 4 Robinsons Easymart Magalang, Don Andres Luciano Street, San Nicolas 2nd, toll-free: +63 45 281 5325, re4043sm@rsc.com.ph. 7AM-10PM.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Jensen's Cafe, Purok 4, San Vicente. 3-10PM. Cafe with cakes and snacks. PHP100-200.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Paseo Uno Hotel, Don Luis Dizon Drive, San Pablo, paseounohotel@gmail.com.
- 2 Altezza Cabins, Orchard Village, Ayala, altezza.cabins@gmail.com. Hotel with eponymous cafe and restaurant.
- 3 Abe's Farm, 98 Livestock Village, Ayala, ☏ +63 917 808 5187, abesfarm98@gmail.com.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Respect
[edit | edit source]There is a reluctance in Magalang to discuss the issue of Father Mallari, such that the town refused to host location shoots for a film about their infamous priest in 2023, forcing the crew to move to Batangas instead.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town’s postal code is 2011.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Magalang |
| Capas ← Concepcion ← | N  S | → Angeles/Mabalacat |
