Camiling, Tarlac
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Image:Ph locator tarlac camiling.png Camiling is a 1st class municipality in the western part of province of Tarlac, Philippines. It is about 150 kilometers north-northwest of Manila, and about 50 kilometers south-southwest of Dagupan City in Pangasinan. It is the commercial center of an area composed of about 8 towns, and shares boundaries with the provinces of Pangasinan and Zambales. It is the gateway to central and western Pangasinan through the Romulo Highway (formerly Highway 13).
According to the 2000 census, Camiling has a population of 71,598 people in 15,324 households. It has a land area of 140.50 square kilometers.
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Barangays
Camiling is politically subdivided into 61 barangays.
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History
Early in the 18th century, this thriving community was sitio of Paniqui, contrary to the popular belief that it was a part of Bayambang, Pangasinan.
The community was originally a vast area of cogon growth interposed with thick forestalls areas stretching into the Zambales mountain ranges. A wide river cut through it. The early inhabitants of the place were the Aetas who make a living by fruit trees, hunting, and fishing. With the coming of the Pangasinenses and Ilocanos from the north, the Aetas who used to roam freely in the wilderness obliged themselves to move in to the interior. The new settlers first occupied the swampy land, now known as "Cacamilingan" on the opposite side of the river. With the passage of time, these settlers moved to the opposite shore in view of the fact that most often disastrous floods are visiting the present site. To this new location, the residents therein built a little church with the villagers taking Saint Michael as the Patron Saint.
The town's name is derived from a tree called "camiring" which grew abundantly in the wilderness. The letter "R" in "camiring" was changed to "L" for its liquid sound. As this settlement progressed, Camiling became a District Commission from 1834 to 1837. It was founded by Don Francisco Soriano, an adventurous barangay leader who became the town's first District Commissioner. In 1838, Camiling became an independent town, formally separated from the mother town of Paniqui and with Don Vicente Galsim, the first Governadorcillo. Thirty-eight others followed him. Don Buenaventura Torres, the last to serve under the Spanish regime and the first Presidente Municipal under the Revolutionary Government by Aguinaldo.
Camiling became a first class municipality on November 20, 2001.
People from Camiling
- Carlos P. Romulo - former UN President and Foreign Affairs Secretary
- Cesar Bengzon - Member, International Court of Justice
- Paulino Santos - founder of Penal Colonies and Chief of Staff of The Philippine Army
- Onofre Corpuz - former President of the University of the Phil., & former Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports.
- Alberto Romulo - former Senator of the Republic of the Phil., Executive Secretary of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.