The coastline of Negros Occidental is more irregular than that of its sister province, Negros Oriental. The northern and western parts are largely level plains and gently rolling slopes while the remaining portion is particularly a land of sierras of varying elevations. Mt. Kanlaon, which rises to an elevation of about 8,100 feet, is the highest peak in the province, and is considered also be the highest in central Philippines. Other mountains are Mt. Mandalagan and Mt. Silay.

Across the Guimaras Strait from Iloilo is Negros Occidental, sugar capital of the Philippines. Bacolod, the province's capital city has three challenging golf courses, making it the golfing center in the Visayas.

Convention facilities are also available with the opening of the Bacolod Convention Plaza. And in October, the smiles of the people of Bacolod widen during the Masskara Festival. Masskara, meaning "many faces" was conceived to boost the local people's morale during the height of an economic depression which hit the province in 1980.

One of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, Baguio is made for sightseeing. And for strolls and boat rides and gentle trots around the park. And for golf. Kennon Road, completed in 1905, opened Baguio to tourism. The zigzagging path previews the scenic highlights of the city. Along the 32-kilometer highway are the Bridal Veil and Colorado waterfalls.

Synonymous with Baguio is Burnham Park. Located in the heart of the city, the park's features include a man-made lagoon ideal for boat rides, a skating rink, an athletic field and stadium, basketball and tennis courts, a biking zone, tree-and-flower lined promenades, and a plant market.

A popular golfing destination, the city takes pride in its Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay. What used to be the rest-and-recreation base of American military personnel, the Camp is being transformed into a world-class resort and is also Baguio's biggest pine tree conservation area. Its newly refurbished 18-hole golf course rivals that of the Country Club which has pretty garden-patched cottages surrounding its fairways.

Ornate iron gates open to the Mansion House, the official summer residence of Philippine presidents. It offers tourists with great photo opportunities with its rectangular reflecting pool along a tree-lined walkway. It also houses a museum of presidential memorabilia. Near the Mansion House is Wright Park where neophyte riders can trot around an oval track guided by trainers who lead horses with a hand-held leash. At the Mines View Park, tourists can have a panoramic view of the old mines of Benguet. At the park entrance is a flea market for souvenir items.

Batangas is the home of sages and the birthplace of the country's notable nationalist. These historical places are the legacies of the old colonial era.

The proximity of Batangas to Manila and the good quality of most of the main roads make the province very accessible thereby fueling the local tourism industry and the provincial economy.

Batangas is the characterized by elevations such as Mt. Makulot where the trainee pilots of the Philippine Air Force Flying School in Lipa City practice their maneuvers. The blue waters of Anilao Beach can prove alluring to swimmers. The well-preserved town of Taal boasts of its old churches, handicrafts, and historical landmarks. Batangas is the home of one of the country's national heroes, Apolinario Mabini who is known as the "Sublime Paralytic".

Batangas, famous for its "kapeng barako", was once known as the world's coffee capital. It was made into a province by the Spaniards in 1581. The place was originally called "Bonbon", later renamed "Balayan" with Taal as its first capital. Since 1754, the capital was moved to Batangas (now Batangas City). The name Batangas was derived form the word "batangan", meaning logs or small native boats found in the Calumpang River. Batangas is in the southwest portion of Luzon and it girds the picturesque Taal Lake. It is frontier on the north by Cavite, the Verde Island Passage on the south, which separates the province from the island of Mindoro.

The Bohol Province is in the southern part of the Philippines, in the Visayan region. It consists of the Bohol mainland (tenth largest island in the country) and 73 smaller islands. Bohol is about 400 miles south of Manila.

We have several churches or church plants on the Bohol mainland and on President Garcia's Island (one of those 73 smaller islands in Bohol). Our home and the leadership school are in the town of Lourdes, about ten miles from Tagbilaran City, on the Bohol mainland. We also minister to children in the small sea-village of Totolan on Panglao Island; it's only 1.5 miles from Tagbilaran City, across a bridge.

Bohol is the perfect arena for scuba diving, kayaking, trekking and cave exploration. For the less adventurous, it offers leisurely pursuits like cruising, swimming, snorkeling or, simply, collecting seashells by the seashore.

Town visits promise exciting cultural treats that include scheduled performances by the Teatro Bolanon, Dimiao Rondalla, Diwanag Dance Theater and the award-winning Loboc Children's Choir.Bohol is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

The name Cebu is attached to a province, an island and the Philippines' second-largest metropolis, Cebu City. The whole area is rich in colonial history. It was on Cebu Island that the explorer Ferdinand Magellan first landed in 1521, claiming the territory for Spain (soon afterward he was killed). Punta Engano is the precise location of Magellan's death -- a monument marks the spot. Every year, on the anniversary of the event (27 April), the battle is re-created.

The region's main attraction is its many well-developed seaside resorts, especially on Mactan Island, just across the causeway from Cebu City (and the airport). In Cebu City itself, you'll find Fort San Pedro (dating from 1565) and Santo Nino Church (rebuilt in 1740), as well as Magellan's Cross, erected by the explorer's crew in 1521. Other sights in town include a Taoist temple, the Casa Gorodo Museum (a restored mansion with colonial artifacts) and the Carbon Market (be sure to try the local yellow mangos). Cebu City is also the jumping-off point to the Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island -- perfectly rounded hills that look like giant chocolate drops during the dry summer months. Other islands in the area are Panglao Island (resorts and good beaches), Bantayan Island (remote escape with untouched beaches) and Sumilon Island (excellent diving). Allow at least three nights on Cebu Island. Cebu City lies 350 mi/565 km southeast of Manila.

Cebu is the traveler's fantasy of a tropical island come true - balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts with all the frills of modern living.The island-province of Cebu was where the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity in the name of Spain in 1521. But even before Cebu became the Occidental gateway to the Orient, it was already a popular entry point among Asian merchants.

Cebu has since blossomed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location. Metropolitan Cebu, the country's second biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist's whim.The rest of Cebu's 166 islands and islets are fringed with sandy beaches and sapphire-clear waters teeming with marine life, perfect for divers.

Dagupan, city, northwestern Philippines, on the island of Luzon, in Pangasinan Province. Located on Lingayen Gulf, Dagupan is the chief port and commercial center of the province; an active trade is conducted in sugarcane, corn, rice, copra, salt, and an alcoholic liquid produced from the nipa palm.

Davao is the industrial hub of Mindanao and is composed of three provinces and one city. Davao City, its capital, is the largest city in the world in terms of land area covering 244,000 hectares. It is also serviced by an international airport.The country 's southern-most major city , Davao offers some of the best natural attractions one can find in Pilippines.

Here in Davao and in the dense forests of Mt. Apo, the Philippines highest peak, lives the rare Philippine eagle. But you don't have to go that far. Just visit Davao's Eagle Conservation Center, home of Pagasa, the world's first artificially inseminated eagle. Enjoy the stretch of white sand beaches and resorts all year round. And for more adventure, scale the heights of Mt. Apo on a four-day trek. If these are not enough, visit Pearl Farm -- a premier resort complete with aqua sports facilities. Stilt type cottages distinguish this resort from all the others. Dive off this isle and you might discover giant Taclobo clams and sunken Japanese wrecks. Underwater, the seascapes are simply spectacular.

Endowed with a variety of picturesque landscapes, Davao's topography dazzles: Fruit plantations and orchid farms mantle volcano-fed hills and valleys. Virgin forests nurture rare wildlife. Coral islands lie on mirror flat water. And the country's highest peak magnificently lords over the hinterland.

Just as enchanting is its brilliant tapestry of harmony, woven from the diverse cultural threads of its people. In Davao, the contemporary fuses with the traditional as migrant settlers from all over the country co-exist in peace with a fairly large expatriate community and numerous ethnic tribes who continue to live as they did centuries ago.

Dipolog began as tribal settlement of the Subanons who were part of the second wave of Malay migrants to the Philippines.Earliest recorded historical entries date back to 1834 when a civil government was organized by the Spanish Provincial Government of Misamis with the Appointment of a CAPITAN as town executive, a TENIENTE and an AGUACIL to maintain Law and Order.

Dipolog even before it became a municipality and the seat of the provincial government, was already the commercial center of the province and the distribution point of goods coming in from Luzon, Visayas and the northern cities of Mindanao. About 90% of the wholesalers in the province are in Dipolog including their respective warehousing facilities. Over the years, infrastructure facilities and other essential services were improved and developed to link this part of the region to the rest of the country. Having attained this level of development (support facilities and services) and economic growth, Dipolog aims to expand its horizon to achieve a broad-based growth, and be considered an active player in all commercial and industrial activities in Northwestern Mindanao. This is taking into account the regional perspective on the Brunie, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asian Growth Areas (BIMP-EAGA) initiative.

Dipolog therefore looks into a vision to become a trading hub in Northwestern Mindanao. Expand the commercial activities towards the southern portion of the city where a vast flat land awaits development. In the process, the city will also couple it with industrial development. Considering that Dipolog is within the Dapitan - Dipolog - Katipunan - Roxas - Manukan Industrial Corridor, established by the Province of Zamboanga del Norte and most of the agricultural products of the province are influenced by the marketing system of Dipolog, the city can be the seat of industrial development of the province in the near future.

Dipolog's advantage is its geographical location. It is the nearest point in the Zamboanga Peninsula towards the major cities and trading centers of Luzon, the Visayas and the northern coastal cities of Mindanao. It is now the commercial center of Zamboanga del Norte where the support facilities are far more advanced than the neighboring municipalities and the City of Dapitan.

Laguna is a quaint, rustic province south of Metro Manila. It is a place packed with history and culture.

To get here, you can take the bus that leaves from Manila for Los Banos or Calamba. From here, you can take a jeepney to go to the other towns.

Today, Laguna de Bay covers almost one half of the total surface area of all existing lakes in the Philippines and ranks as one of the largest inland bodies of water in Southeast Asia (Santos-Borja, 1994). Based on the study conducted by the National Institute for Geological Sciences (NIGS) for the LLDA, the present surface area of the lake is 949 km2 and the average depth is now at 2 meters.

Laguna de Bay is trilobate with three corporate bays: The West Bay, Central Bay and East Bay that converge towards the South carving out what resembles a large bird or dinosaur. The West and Central Bays are separated by Talim Island, the largest and most populated of the nine islands within the lake (Santos-Borja, 1991).

Vigan - Laoag is paradise, sanctuary to an amazing variety of fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world. It is blessed with incredibly awesome landscapes that astound even the most indifferent of visitors.

Vigan - Laoag is the country's biggest province and is composed of 1,768 islands and islets surrounded by a coral shelf with an exceptionally rich marine life. Its steeply sloped mountains are canopied by broad virgin forests.

An anchor tourist destination, Vigan - Laoag is one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is the perfect playground for the adventurous.

Laoag City, the sparkling gem of Ilocandia, is located at the west central part of the province of Ilocos Norte bordering the great China Sea. It is the nerve cent& of trade, commerce, business, industry, education and politics in the province. It is traversed by the national toad and is about 488 kilometers north of the City of Manila.

Its boundaries extend to the towns of San Nicolas on the southeast, Paoay on the southwest, Sarrat on the east, Vintar on the northeast and Bacarra on the northwest. The South China Sea is its boundary on the west.

Leyte has a colorful history. Leyteños, like the Samareños when it comes to their province, like to point out of that their forebear were among the first to welcome the Spaniards but they were also among the first to resist the invaders. Leyte was one of the provinces where the early seeds of nationalism were planted. In 1521, Magellan sailed from the island of Homonhon, Samar to the island of Limasawa, Leyte, entered into a blood compact with Rajah Kolambu. On Eastern Sunday, March 31, of that year, was celebrated the First Mass in the Philippines. Some historical researchers, however, are now disputing this.

The next century witnessed a religious uprising lead by Bancao, the Limasawa chief, and his high priest, Pagail. The revolt began in Carigara and spread to neighboring towns before it was quelled. 27 years after the 1622 uprising, another revolt hit Leyte - an offshoot of the Sumoroy rebellion then simmering in Samar. And in the center of the disturbances, the village of Bacor, rebels burned the church and its convent. By 1768, Leyte, now separated from Samar, became a politico-military province. The set up continued until the end of Spanish rule, when Gen. Vicente Lukban took over Leyte and Samar in the name of the Revolutionary Government.

It was WWII, however, which placed Leyte on the world map. On October 20, 1944, Gen. Mac Arthur, at the head of the largest US fleet of transport and warships, and accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña and Gen Carlos P. Romulo, landed on Palo, Leyte to reclaim the Philippines from the Japanese. On May 22, 1959, the province was divided into Leyte and southern Leyte.

Leyte is one of the country's historic provinces. It is the site of uprising against the Spaniards and the famous landing of US forces during World War II. This historical consciousness is reflected in Leyte's seal, with stars symbolizing the 49 towns of the province and an alphabet on cross argent representing the ancient letter L. A white cross indicates the second phase of Leyte's development, when Magellan passed through enroute to Cebu; while the upper portion commemorates the landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur through a perspective of the National Freedom Park.

Lipa, city, central Philippines, on the island of Luzon, in Batangas Province, near scenic Lake Taal. It is a trade center adjacent to the terminus of the railroad from Manila. Rice, sugarcane, corn, and coconuts are grown in the region, and a cutlery-manufacturing industry is located in the city.

The history of Makati dates as far back as the time when Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi first set foot on it and gave it its present name, as derived from the Tagalog phrase meaning "ebbing tide". Of course Makati had been in existence even before that, but all we know about it is that it was then part of the territory ruled by a chieftain called Lakan Tagkan and his wife, Bouan, who were living in Namayan, now part of Sta. Ana, Manila.

In 1589, when a permanent seat in the city coropration was put up for sale at a public auction in accordance with the custom of the period, Captain Pedro de Brito, then aside to the Spanish Army of Staff and chief constable of the Audencia, purchased the property which included the territory now occupied by Makati, for 1,400 pesos.

The House of Probation and its adjoining church were to be built on a hill called Buenavista, within the confines of a cattle ranch which the founders owned in a district called Makati. the church was to be placed under the patronage of Saint Peter. (This condition probably accounts for the prefixing of San Pedro to the name "Makati", which later on also came to be called "Sampiro").

Makati is located within the quadrangle of One Hundred Twenty degrees (120) latitude north and One Hundred Forty Three degrees (143) longitude east. It is bounded on the north by the Pasig River facing the city Mandaluyong, on the east by the Municipality of Pateros and on the northwest by Manila and on the south and southwest by the city of Pasay.

Three centuries later in 1914, by Act No. 2390 of the Philippine Legislature, the name "San Pedro de Makati" was changed to "Makati" which has remained its official name today.

Mandaluyong was only a barrio of Sta. Ana de Sapa, part of the district of Paco, Province of Tondo. When the Spaniards found the place, they changed its name to San Felipe Neri in honor of the Patron Saint of Rome.

Mandaluyong, the heart of the "Golden Triangle" (Manila, Makati and Quezon City), has finally emerged as a veritable boom city. It is one of the leading business and industrial centers in the country. Today, the "New Tiger" of Metro Manila is making an unprecedented giant leap to progress.

Mandaluyong lies on a heart-shaped 26 sq. km. of land, 7 km. southeast of Manila, and 6 km. west of Pasig. To the south lies Makati, to the northwest, San Juan, and to the northeast, Quezon City. Thus, Mandaluyong is located at the very center of Metro Manila. With this geographical advantage, it has in recent years emerged as a veritable boomtown, the leading business and industrial mecca of the country.

Mandaluyong, municipality in the northern Philippines, on the island of Luzon, in Rizal Province. Part of the Manila metropolitan area and the National Capital Region, Mandaluyong is located about 6 km (about 4 mi) east of Manila's downtown. It is bordered on the west and south by the Pasig River, across from which lie Manila and the suburb Makati. East of Mandaluyong are Pasig and Quezon City, and to the north is San Juan del Monte. Mandaluyong is an important industrial and residential area of Manila. It is located on metropolitan Manila's semicircular outer beltway (locally referred to by its acronym, EDSA).

The capital of the Philippines, a grouping of 12 cities and 5 municipalities, is technically known as Metro Manila but usually referred to simply as Manila, home to 9,5 million people. Manila will never be a serious tourist destination until the authorities deal with the twin evils of traffic and pollution; most tourists are in the capital because they have a day or two to kill either at the beginning or the end of a trip to the rest of the country. In its favour, Manila has friendly people, some excellent nightlife, a few historical sights that are worth the effort, plus some of the most cavernous shopping malls in Asia. At first sight, the city may seem clamorous, unkempt and rough around the edges, but what it lacks in architectural sophistication it makes up for with an accessible chaotic charm. The way to enjoy it is to step into the fray and go with the flow, which is exactly what Manilenos have learned to do.

Manila started life as a tiny settlement around the banks of the Pasig River. The name comes from the words may ("there is") and nilad (a type of plant that grew near the Pasig). With Spanish colonization, it grew into an important port. King Philip II of Spain called Manila Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City). Images of the city in the 18th century show grand merchants' houses and schooners moored in the Pasig. The area around Binondo, later to become Chinatown, was alive with mercantile activity. 19th century travellers arriving in Manila were enchanted.

Palawan is the Philippine's last frontier. For once it's almost true. Tourism has yet to penetrate much long, sword-shaped to the southwest of Luzon, and travellers willing to take the rough with the smooth will find a Jurassic landscape of coves, beaches, lagoons and razor-sharp limestone cliffs that rise from crystal clear water. Nature is making its last stand in Palawan, with government officials in the provincial capital, Puerto Princesa, declaring war on litterers, loggers and dynamite fishermen.

Even in the less-populated areas - of which there are many - the battle for the environment is on. Palawan is made up of 1780 islands and islets, most of which have irregular coastlines that make excellent harbours. Thick forests covering these steeply sloped mountains assure adequate watersheds for rivers and streams. Many of the islands are surrounded by a coral shelf that acts an enormous feeding ground and nursery for marine life; it is sometimes said that Palawan's Tubbataha Reef is so ecologically important that if it dies, the Philippines will also die. The area's history can be traced back 22,000 years, as confirmed by the discovery of caveman remains in Quezon, southwest Palawan. Anthropologists believe these early inhabitants came from Borneo across a land bridge that connected the two.

There are several stories regarding the origin of the name Palawan. Some contend that it was derived from the Chinese words "pa lao yu" meaning "Land of the Beautiful Harbours". Popular belief, however, is that "Palawan" is corrupted form of the Spanish word "Paragua", because the main island is shaped like a closed umbrella.

Pampanga is located in the hearth of Central Luson. It is bounded on the north by Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, on the east by Bulacan, on hte west by Zambales and on the south by Bataan and Manila Bay. Angeles City is a highly urbanized city.

The province has to distinct seasons: dry from November to April and wet for the rest of the year, In summer, the climate is very hot due to the humid temperature of Mt. Pinatubo while during the rainy season, residents and guests are advised to take precautionary measures due to lahar flows and flood which occasionally visit some lower portion of the city.

Pampanga was already the site of thriving settlements along river banks or "Pampang" before the Spaniards came. The inhabitants were refereed to as "Kapampagas" or the people by the river bank". Martin de Goiti explored Pampanga.

The province was established in 1571, comprised of most of what is now Central Luzon. In 1754, a strip from Dinalupihan to Orion, was ceded to Bataan. In 1848, the province lost five towns to Nueva Ecija, and San Miguel to Bulacan. By 1860, its northern district was made into a separate comandancia. The district was made a part of Pangasinan in 1874, and the towns of Mabalacat, Magalang, Porac and Floridablanca were returned to Pampanga.

Records show that Pasay City originated way back during the reign of Rajah Soliman who married a Sumatran princess who bore him two heirs, namely Princess Pasay and Prince Sowaboy. Even before his death, he distributed his realm to his two children. Princess Pasay got a portion of that realm, hence the name Pasay.

In 1727, Pasay was formerly attached to Sta. Ana and annexed to Malate. IN 1863, prominent people of Pasay petitioned civil and ecclesiastical authorities that they be granted the opportunity to govern themselves. Said petition was granted through the recommendation of Archbishop Gregorio Meliton, thus making Pasay independent.

As timed changed, the population increased and so did the industries. Farming was once an important livelihood in the barrios of San Isidro, San Roque and Malibay, but later gave way to the manufacturing business. Fishing too, was a livelihood not until Roxas Boulevard was constructed. Roxas Boulevard was formerly named Dewey Boulevard.

The economic life of the town steadily improved until its income exceeded the limit for an ordinary town, so it became a city on August 16, 1947 and named after our national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal. By virtue of Republic Act 183 in June 7, 1950, it was changed to Pasay City. A fast becoming progressive city and its nearness to Manila, business firms and factories are among the reasons why many people from all walks of life have settled and built beautiful residences in it. The city has modern conveniences and cheap forms of transportation.

There are several and different legends about the origin of the word "Pasig". A pair of lovers, named Virgilio, a Spanish mestizo, and a Filipina beauty named Paz, customarily spent their evenings together on the bank of the river. They found a banca and went boating one moonlit night, but as fate had it, the banca capsized. Virgilio, not knowing how to swim, was carried away by the current and desperately kept afloat, but to no avail. He shouted "Paz, sigue me" (meaning "Paz, come with me"), until he could only utter "Paz sig-" and finally sank into the river. Thus the name Pasig. It was also believed that it came from the Sanskrit word "passis" or sand and refers to the community on a sandy riverbank. Historians who are less inclined to rely on a legendary romantic origin traced the town's name to the word "mabagsik" meaning violent in action or force, which aptly describes the river. Its strong and swift current brought the woods of Montalban to Manila. It was also called "mapaksik" by the Chinese living in Binondo. As time went on, "mapaksik" became "Pasik" then later on "Pasig". Another belief was that it was derived from "pasigan" which means "baybay ng ilog", river edge or bank in English.

The most convincing theory on the origin of the name came from the late Dr. Jose Villa Panganiban, a linguist, polyglot, professor and former director of the Institute of National Language. He said that the word "Pasig" is an old Sanskrit word referring to a "river flowing form one body of water to another", in the case of the Pasig River, from Laguna de Bay (pronounced Ba-l) to Manila Bay.

Puerto Galera on Mindoro's northern coast has a stunning natural, harbour, some quiet coves, cheap accommodation and excellent scuba diving. There are dozens of dive outfits in the area making it a good place to strike a deal and get yourself a discount on the going rates. The point arrival is officially known as Poblacion, though most people refer to it and the surrounding areas as Puerto Galera. From the harbour, jeepneys depart for the area's many beaches. Access to Puerto Galera is from Batangas Pier on the outskirts of Batangas City.

Quezon City was conceived in a dream of a man incomparable - the late President Manuel Luis Quezon. He envisioned a place where the common man will find his place with dignity.

In 1938, President Quezon purchased 1,529 hectares from the vast Diliman Estate of the Tuason Family. The following year, the National Assembly enacted the Commonwealth Act otherwise known as the Charter of Quezon City. On October 12, 1939, President Quezon signed the Bill into law, thus the city was born. Progress in Quezon City continued until the outbreak of World War II in 1941.

Seven years later, by virtue of Republic Act No. 333 signed on July 17, 1948, Quezon city officially became the capital of the Philippines and the permanent seat of the national government. Its inauguration as capital city was marked by the laying of a cornerstone for a capitol building at Constitution Hills on October 22, 1949. Subsequently, construction of government building began.

On June 16, 1950, the City Charter was revised by Republic Act No. 537 which extended its boundaries to its present area of 15,359 hectares or five (5) times bigger than the City of Manila. It lost its title as capital city of the Philippines to Manila by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 940 on June 24, 1976.

Although some quarters may observe that Quezon City today may not be what its founder had conceived it to be, the efforts made by the past administrations up to the time of incumbent Mayor Ismael A. Mathay, Jr. accelerated toward the development and promotion of the city's tourism potentials, is a great stride towards the realization of the late President Quezon's vision.

The story of Olongapo is derived from a colorful legend about a well loved chieftain called Apo, whose headless body is one day found at the beach of the fishing village. A long and andent search ends when his missing head is found impaled atop a bamboo pole. The announcement of the discovery becomes a rallying cry for unity for the demoralized tribe. So "Ulo ng Apo" or head of the Chieftain became the name of the fishing village on the shores of lovely Subic Bay.

Well endowed with natural beauty, legend and lore paint Olongapo as a romantic spot in Western Luzon. A fishing village inhabited by peace-loving, Tagalog speaking people, Olongapo became host to a Spanish navy arsenal and shipyard in the late 19th century. The Spaniards were attracted to the place by the deep waters of the natural harbor and the protection from fierce storms offered by the surrounding mountains, the same factors that attracted the Americans several years later.

As can be expected in any military setting, the imperatives of war shaped the form of the community. The naval station became a naval base which was later complemented by a naval air station. In between, the Japanese used what facilities they found to produce patrol boats of the sampan type. The second world war saw increased military activity at the Subic Naval Base which resulted in a marked demand for civilian support services.

Corollary to the growth of the US Military establishment in Subic Bay, the host community of Olongapo grew from a simple provincial village into a bustling town. On December 7, 1959 it gained municipality status after the US Government reliquished its naval reservation to the Philippine Government. In 1966, Municipal Mayor James L. Gordon agitated for city status and got it on June 1 of the year.The chartered city become the first highly urbanized city in Central Luzon on December 7, 1983 and gained independence from the mother province Zambales.