Macabebe, officially the Municipality of Macabebe (; ), is a municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 82,933 people.
The town was named Macabebe because it is located along the shores (Pampangan: bebe; Tagalog: baybay) or banks of RÃÂo Grande de Pampanga. The town is sometimes referred to as Makabibe because of the abundance of corals and shells along the RÃÂo Grande in earlier times. The English translation of Macabebe, meaning: 'surrounded by rivers' describes the historical heritage of the ancient town.
The residents of Macabebe had played conflicting roles in the history of the Philippines. They fought against the Spanish in 1571, during which Tarik Soliman (Bambalito) became the first recorded Kapampangan to fight against Spanish rule. They also defended the last Spanish garrison against revolutionaries in 1898. The services of the Macabebes led to the naming of a street in the Spanish capital, Madrid, in their honor, "Calle de Voluntarios Macabebes."
The residents of Macabebe were also allies of imperial Spain when the Dutch invaders tried to colonize the Philippines. They fought together with the Spaniards to protect the islands from its invaders, and in return only the Kapampangan were allowed to study in prominent exclusive schools and universities run by the Spaniards.
The burning of Macabebe refers to the 1898 destruction of the town by Revolutionary General Antonio Luna during the Philippine Revolution. As retaliation for supporting Spain and harboring Spanish stragglers, Luna ordered the town razed, though General José Alejandrino prevented its total destruction. This followed the Macabebes' historic support for Spanish colonial rule. Aftermath: Due to this destruction and conflicts with the Republic, many residents later joined the "Macabebe Scouts" to support American forces.
In 1901, American General Frederick Funston and his troops captured Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela, with the help of some Kapampangans (later called the Macabebe Scouts after their home locale) who had joined the Americans' side. The Americans pretended to be captives of the Macabebes, who were dressed in Philippine Army uniforms. Once Funston and his "captors" entered Aguinaldo's camp, they immediately apprehended Aguinaldo and his men.
During World War II, Japanese fighter and bomber planes attacked Macabebe in December 1941. Macabebe was subsequently occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942.
Macabebe is located in the southern part of Pampanga. It is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Minalin, Guagua and Apalit; to the east by the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; to the west by the municipality of Sasmuan; and to the south by the municipality of Masantol and Manila Bay. It is one of the three coastal towns in Pampanga along with Sasmuan and Lubao.
Macabebe is from San Fernando and from Manila.
Macabebe is politically subdivided into 25 barangays, as shown below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
In the 2024 census, the population of Macabebe was 82,933 people, with a density of .
Roman Catholicism is the town inhabitants' main religion. The town's population is composed of the following: Catholics 82%, Members Church of God International 5%, Iglesia ni Cristo 8%, Evangelicals 2%, others 3%.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando has jurisdiction over the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church. It was founded in 1575 under the advocation of San Nicolas de Tolentino. The heritage church measures long, wide and high. The facade of the church has scant ornamentation and its architectural symmetry is lost amid the various forms assumed windows, and the main entrance. Simple neo-classic lines of the facade.
In the 1600s, San Nicolas or 'Pan de San Nicolas', an iconic delicacy with healing powers evolved from the town. It is baked in honor of "Apung Kulas", the patron saint of bakers and the town. The Blessed Virgin Mary healed his illness with a piece of bread. The shortbread is made of butter, egg yolk, flour and coconut milk poured in Nicolas wooden molds then baked.
Macabebe is also home to San Gabriel Chapel. This newly erected chapel is a replacement of the old chapel that has been devastated by the flooding after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. It was then formally constructed in 2002 and came into completion and inaugurated in May 2010.
Another important church in the town is the Presentation of the Lord Parish in barangay Batasan. The chapel has been built over a century ago and was elevated to a parish church in 1995. Its first "cura parroco" was Father Gabriel Torres.
One of the most visited churches in Macabebe is the Sta Maria Chapel, the home of the barangay's Queen and Patroness (NUESTRA SENIORA DELA PAZ). The chapel is under the jurisdiction of San Rafael Archangel Parish Church. The newly erected chapel is a replacement of the old chapel because the old one has always been flooded during the rainy season. After the completion of its renovation, it was inaugurated in April 2005, and blessed by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, DD. The place where the church is erected was called "baliti". The name was attributed to the fact that prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in Macabebe, at that exact place, it was believed that a big balete tree was planted.
Like other towns in the Philippines, Macabebe is governed by a mayor and vice mayor who are elected for 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. The District Office of the Congressional representative stands near the town centre.
The town is rich in history and treasures. Its town hall and churches reveal the wealth of the town's heritage.
The town's fiesta is held annually on the 10th of September in honor of San Nicolas de Tolentino, the town's patron saint.
The town provides medical missions and free medical operations, including fully functional health facilities serves in every barangay. There are few hospitals in the town.
The town's health care needs is provided by the Mayor Domingo B. Flores Memorial District Hospital located in Barangay Batasan.
There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the Macabebe East Schools District Office, and Macabebe West Schools District Office.