San Simon, Pampanga

History

In 1770, Don Mariano del Pilar de los Reyes founded a farming village named 'Barrio Del Pilar', which later became the town of San Simon. The village was located between the towns of San Luis in the north and Apalit in the south. As the population of the village kept on growing, the village leaders of that time petitioned to consolidate the village and portions of the towns of San Luis and Apalit, to form an independent pueblo (town).

On November 15, 1771, Don Simón de Anda y Salazar, the governor general of the Philippines at that time, approved the official creation of the town. The town was named after the Spanish governor general who approved its creation and of the Apostle Simon Peter, the patron saint of Apalit.

In 1898, the retreating forces of General Antonio Luna, on their way to Nueva Ecija, burned the town's parish church. The church was only rebuilt after almost a century in 1979.

In 1904, San Simon was merged with San Luis but only for three years. In 1920, the geographical boundaries of the towns of Apalit, San Luis, and Simon are officially established.

By the year 1835, San Simon had eight barrios (barangay). But in the late 1940s, the population grew and the number of barrios were increased to fourteen, which has been maintained until the present times.

Geography

San Simon is accessible via the North Luzon Expressway via the San Simon current exit. It is 8 km from San Fernando, 58 km from Manila, and 19 km from Baliwag.

Barangays

San Simon is politically subdivided into 14 barangays, as shown below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Concepcion
• De La Paz
• San Juan (Poblacion)
• San Agustin
• San Isidro
• San Jose
• San Miguel
• San Nicolas
• San Pablo Libutad
• San Pablo Proper
• San Pedro
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Monica
• Santo Niño

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of San Simon was 65,760 people, with a density of {{sigfig|65,760/57.37|2}} PD/km2.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando has jurisdiction over the 1771 Virgen del Pilar Parish Church.

Like most Kapampangan people, residents of San Simon retain their Kapampangan language and traditional culture and arts brought about by their Malay ancestors and enriched by Chinese, Spanish, American, Japanese and other ethnic and foreign cultures. Religious affiliations are:

• Catholic 80%
• Members Church of God International 10%
• Iglesia ni Cristo 7%
• others 3%

Economy

The principal industries in San Simon are farming, fishing and poultry and swine industries. There are two public markets in San Simon, one in the old poblacion area and another one located in the industrial zone area.

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

San Simon is governed by a mayor and vice mayor who are elected to three-year terms. The mayor is the executive head and leads the town's departments in executing the ordinances and improving public services. The vice mayor heads a legislative council (Sangguniang Bayan) consisting of councilors from the barangays of barrios.

List of local chief executives

Available records at the Municipal Hall list the following town executives from 1898 until present:

Education

The San Simon Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

• Dela Paz Elementary School
• San Agustin Elementary School
• San Isidro Elementary School
• San Jose Elementary School
• San Juan Elementary School
• San Miguel Elementary School
• San Nicolas Elementary School
• San Pablo Elementary School
• San Pedro Elementary School
• San Simon Elementary School
• Sta. Cruz Elementary School
• Sta. Monica Elementary School
• Sto. Nino Elementary School
• The Covenant United Methodist Church Child Developmen Center
• The United Methodist Church Ecumenical Kiddie Mission School

Secondary schools

• Assumpta Technical High School
• Concepcion Integrated School
• Dela Paz Libutad High School
• Pampanga Central High School
• San Pedro National High School
• San Simon High School
• Sta. Monica High School

Higher educational institution

• Next Generation Technological College
• St. Augustine Institute of Pampanga

Telecommunications

The town is served by PLDT, PilTel, DatelCom, Smart, Globe, Dito and with new copper line Converge ICT.

Gallery

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. "San Simon Pampanga - History".
3. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".