The Town of Angels I

Angeles' casa tribunal or court house during the Spanish colonial era.

Before Angeles City became the lively flourishing city that we know today, it was once only a humble barrio that belonged to the City of San Fernando.

Since then, it has grown to a bustling city that has overcome many obstacles to progress.

Angeles City, then a nameless wooded area that was cleared to house a few families, started with Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda (the then capitan of San Fernando, equivalent now to a municipal mayor) and his wife Dona Rosalia de Jesus in the year 1796.

This clearing was named Culiat, after the woody vine that was abundant in the area.  Under the leadership of Don Angel, it became a barrio under the City of San Fernando, hence, Barrio Culiat.

Barrio Culiat continued to be part of San Fernando for 33 years wherein a chapel, primary school, and some industries were established, like a sugar mill and wine distillery, which helped the economy of the barrio to flourish at that early time. 

On December 8, 1829, the barrio became a politically separate town from San Fernando after Don Angel paid the necessary amount required by the law at that time for the separation of Culiat. Payment was required because the law then requires that there should be at least 500 taxpayers in the barrio before it could be made into a separate municipality, Culiat, however, at that time, had only 160 taxpayers. Many petitions were already made in 1812, 1822, and 1828 but were all denied because the separation would cut the tax collection of San Fernando.

Finally, a fourth petition was made in 1829 by Don Angel with his son-in-law, Dr. Mariano Henson, and the latter's father, Don Severino Henson. It was during this time and with payment made that the political separation of Culiat was finally granted.

After that, the name of the town was changed to “El Pueblos de los Angeles” (The Town of Angels) in honor of its patron saint Holy Guardian Angels, and to the name of its founder, Don Angel.

Angeles had 661 residents, 151 houses, and an area of 38.65 sq. km. when it received its first municipal charter. Its original barrios were Sto. Rosario (Poblacion), Cutcut, Pampang, Pulung Anunas, San Nicolas, San Jose and Amsic.

Sources:

• http://region3.dilg.gov.ph/zambales/index.php/80-lgu-infos/pampanga-infos/511-angeles-city-profile
• https://philippinescities.com/angeles-city-pampanga/#:~:text=Angeles%20City%2C%20before%20it%20was,place%20were%20the%20Negrito%20Tribesman.