Bamban should not be confused with Bambang (disambiguation).
| Flag Size: | 120x80px | ||
| Seal Size: | 100x80px | ||
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| Pushpin Map: | Philippines | ||
| Pushpin Label Position: | left | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Province | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Established Title: | Founded | ||
| Established Date: | June 6, 1710 | ||
| Parts Type: | Barangays | ||
| Parts Style: | para | ||
| P1: | (see Barangays) | ||
| Leader Name: | Leonardo Anunciacion Erano D. Timbang | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Leader Name1: | Vacant | ||
| Leader Name2: | Noel N. Rivera | ||
| Leader Title3: | Municipal Council | ||
| Leader Title4: | Electorate | ||
| Leader Name4: | voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|) | ||
| Elevation Max M: | 265 | ||
| Elevation Min M: | 48 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Households | ||
| Timezone: | PST | ||
| Utc Offset: | +8 | ||
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code | ||
| Postal Code: | , 2023 (portions under Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone) | ||
| Demographics Type1: | Economy | ||
| Demographics1 Title2: | Poverty incidence | ||
| Demographics1 Info2: | % | ||
| Demographics1 Title3: | Revenue | ||
| Demographics1 Title4: | Revenue rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title5: | Assets | ||
| Demographics1 Title6: | Assets rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title7: | IRA | ||
| Demographics1 Title8: | IRA rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title9: | Expenditure | ||
| Demographics1 Title10: | Liabilities | ||
| Demographics Type2: | Service provider | ||
| Demographics2 Title1: | Electricity | ||
| Demographics2 Title2: | Water | ||
| Demographics2 Title3: | Telecommunications | ||
| Demographics2 Title4: | Cable TV | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Native languages | ||
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Kapampangan Tagalog Ilocano | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Crime index | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Major religions | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Feast date | ||
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Catholic diocese | ||
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Patron saint | ||
Bamban, officially the Municipality of Bamban (Pampanga; Kapampangan: Balen ning Bamban; Filipino; Pilipino: Bayan ng Bamban), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,260 people.
The municipality derives its name from the bamban plants (Donax canniformis) that once dominated large areas of land along the river near the foothills. It was initially called cabambanan or mabamban, but was later called simply as bamban.[1]
The site of Bamban was originally a vast track of wild land extending eastward; and on the west side, composed of forested foothills and mountains lush with tall trees extending deep into the Zambales ranges. The thick forest and mountains were then inhabited by the Aetas (locally known as Baluga), and the Zambal, both of whom subsisted only on fishing and native or wild animals which abounded in the place. Occasionally, traders from Pampanga and the Tagalog provinces braved the wilderness to go northward to Capas and Tarlac.
Before the advent of the Spanish era, small settlers came, attracted by the fertile land sustained by the river. The settlers started small clearings in the thick growth of bamban plants which covered vast portions of the land bordering the river a small distance from the foothills. Because of these plants, the place was eventually named Bamban. About 1700, Augustinian Recollects came and established the Mission de Pueblos de Bamban. Originally a part of Pampanga, in 1837, a new boundary line was established, thereby permanently making Bamban part of the province of Tarlac.
Official recognition as a town was sanctioned by the gobernadorcillos in Tarlac town. Don Martín Sibal was subsequently appointed head and commissioned with the rank of "Capitán". Among the first settlers were the Sibal, Lugtu, Dayrit, Macale, Vergara, Manipon, and de la Cruz clans.
During the revolution of 1896, Bamban was one of the first towns to take up arms against the Spaniards. Northwest of the town situated among the hills are remnants of strongholds built by Bambanenses who joined Gen. Servillano Aquino in the uprising in Tarlac. Up to this time, a portion of the foothills in the area is called "Batiawan" or look-out point.
When the Americans came in 1900, the pueblo gradually grew into a town. The Bamban Sugar Central was established. Don Pablo Lagman was the first to be appointed presidente and Don Laureano Campo as vice-presidente under the American military government. Other prominent families then took over the helm of government. During the Commonwealth era, the Sibals, the Lumboys, the Santoses, the Punsalangs, to mention a few, enjoyed political power until the outbreak of World War II. The whole población was devastated and burned during the liberation. Rebuilding began despite the ongoing fighting in the mountains. Growth was fast because of proximity of Clark Air Base. However, prominent families left the town for the city to establish big business and names for themselves.
The 1991 Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption and the subsequent flow of lahar to the lowlands of Bamban forced residents to move out or to stay at the Dapdap Resettlement Area, which is on higher grounds.
In 2022, controversial businesswoman Alice Guo was elected as mayor, which saw significant developments in town, alongside a then suspected fast-rising Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.[2] However, in 2024, she was subjected to a Senate inquiry. She was suspended over suspected links to POGO related criminal activities and questions over her citizenship and was eventually dismissed from office by the Ombudsman.[3] As her vice mayor, Leonardo Anunciacion, and seven members of the Sangguniang Bayan were also suspended for three months on the same charges, Guo was replaced by councilor Erano Timbang, who was the only member of the Sangguniang Bayan who voted to oppose the establishment of the POGO in Bamban.[4]
Bamban is the southernmost town of Tarlac. It has a common boundary with Mabalacat, Pampanga, and in the west, with Zambales. The boundary is defined by the Parua River, which is a source of irrigation water, food, and sand and gravel for infrastructure projects. The mountainous region situated in the western part comprises almost two-thirds of the total land area, which used to be within the US Military Reservations. Nestled in this part are the BLISS projects and to the north, the MAR settlement project.
Bamban is 99km (62miles) from Manila and is 25km (16miles) from the provincial capital, Tarlac City.
Bamban is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
In the 2020 census, the population of Bamban, was 78,260 people, with a density of NaN78,260/251.98.
The Aeta people is a noted ethnic group in Bamban, with the most known the sub-tribe being the Ayta Mag-Antsi.[6]
Parts of the Clark Special Economic Zone is in Bamban, particularly the barangays of San Vicenteand Santo Niño which are partially in an area generally known as Sacobia.[7]