Penaranda, Nueva Ecija Philippines

Brief History of Peñaranda

The town of Peñaranda was formerly a barrio of (Japan It was then called “Mapisong’ which means a place abounding in big stones. While the distance between (Japan and Mapisong is only more than seven kilometers yet during those days, it was considered remote. The poor means of transportation at the time and the persistent pleading of the Cabeza de Barangay, Mapisong moved the town officials of (Japan and the Cura Parroco to recommend to the Spanish Administration a separate and independent administration for Mapisong. By a royal decree issued in May 1851, the plan to make Mapisong a town was approved, There was no formal inauguration of the new town. in accordance with the royal decree the Augustinian Cura Parroco at (Japan appointed the lust official. The name of the first official was governadorcillo.

Shortly after the appointment of the new official, public improvement were effected under the direction and supervison of a Spanish military engineer and names Jose Maria Peithuitida lni the impoulant role that he played in the program of public improvements not only in the new town of Mapisong but also through out the island of Luzon, the name ‘‘Mapusong’’ was changed to “Peñaranda” in honor of the engineer.

The Municipality of Penaranda is located at the Southeastern part of the Province of Nueva Ecija. It has a territorial area of 9,849 hectares with six agricultural barangay, namely: Barngay Callos, San Josef, San Mariano, Sinasajan, Las Piñas and Sto Tomas. the four (4) barangay in the Poblacion are mainly residential in nature. The municipality is bounded or South by the Municipality of Gapan; on the east, by the Municipality of Gen. Tinio and Gapan, on the north by the Municipality of Sta Rosa, and on the west, by the Municipality of San Leonardo and Gapan. Penaranda is 91 kilometers away from the Manila via Gapan.