Historical Landmarks of Zambales

 

Zambales is one of the beautiful places in the Philippines that has a rich culture and history.

 

Speaking of history, how much do we know about this place?

 

Well, in this blog we are going to take a look at the Historical background of Zambales.

 

The Aetas were the very first people to inhabit Zambales.  Then the Tagalog people displaced the Sambal people into Southern Luzon resulting in the Sambal's arrival in Zambales. The very first Spaniard who set foot in Zambales was Juan De Salcedo. Upon arriving, Salcedo and his men rescued the chief of the place from Chinese pirates.

 

In the year 1572, the first town in Zambales was established. This town is what we know as Subic. Then in the 1600's, the Sambal people became the main people of the place. After a few years have passed, more towns have been established.   In the 1800s Zambales separated itself from Pangasinan and in 1895, the Spanish set up a naval base in Subic. And in 1898, the Americans got Subic from the Spaniards and had the place up till 1946. Around the 19th century, the prohibition in Zambales included people from Illocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. This is why a lot of people in the place speak Illocano.  In 1901, Zambales had its very first Civil Governor. Then the population of Zambales began to grow in the year 1903. 

 

Right now, Zambales is more known for its tourist spots and great food instead of its history. And of that is great but I think it's great to take a look at a place's past. to see just how far it has come in the present

 

Along with having a rich history, Zambales also played a part in the overall history of the Philippines. The place is just filled with amazing landmarks that are worth talking about!

 

The first of these landmarks is The Hellships Memorial. The Hellships Memorial is located in Olongapo on the shores of Subic Bay.  The monuments were created on January 22 2006 , to honor the memory of World War II Allied Prisoners  of war who were hauled in Hellships by their Japanese captors and flung all over Asia to be sold as slaves to assist the Japanese war effort.

 

Fort Paynauen is another historical landmark you’ll be able to find in Zambales. During the first decade of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, this historic fortress was the most powerful Spanish garrison in Central Luzon. Not only were rebellious Indigenous people of Zambales imprisoned at Fort Paynauen, but so were Spanish officials who had enraged the Spanish Governor-General or Archbishop of Manila.

 

Another interesting site found in Zambales is the Magsaysay Ancestral House. This landmark, which is  located in Castillejos, Zambales, is another significant site in the province. It is the original home of the seventh Philippine President, Ramon Magsaysay.  With traces of the past, the Magsaysay house is where the Philippines' previous leader grew up. This structure houses some of the late president's personal belongings, like his furniture, appliances, clothing, medallions, and books, and also his 1945 Cadillac limousine and a functional Willy's Jeep! In 1990, the house was refurbished and converted into a museum. The National Historical Institute led to restoration after it was damaged by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

And then there is Subic bay also known as Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  The shores of Subic Bay once were a location to a significant US sea port. Shipwrecks from the Spanish American war of 1898 and World War II lie beneath its waters, and it is now home to many prominent tourist attractions in Zambales, including Ocean Adventure, Zoobic Safari, Treetop, Magaul Bird Park, and more.

Anyone who has visited all the places mentioned above would agree that standing in the presence of landmarks and sites that are connected to the events that shaped your country to be how it is now is probably one of the most important and powerful feeling you will ever experience,

Truly there are just a lot of great things about Zambales. Besides the fact that the place is beautiful and a great place to go on Holidays before the world went to hell, it also has a rich and interesting history.