San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija Philippines

The first inhabitants of San Leonardo were Pampanguenos from Pampanga. This municipality was formerly Manikling, the twelve ( 12 ) barangays belong into the municipality of Gapan. The twelve cabeza de barangay petitioned to the Presidencial and other concerned authorities that Manikling be separated from Gapan and be made a district town to be called Mallorca on January 1896. The petition was granted and Mallorca began to exist as a town. However, when Father Leonardo, a Jesuit priest from Bongabon, Nueva Ecija petitioned for a change of name, it was renamed San Leonardo. From then on, San Leonardo began to exist as a municipality and is now composed of fifteen barangays.

San Leonardo is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is located between Gapan City and Santa Rosa. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 50,478 people in 10,068 households.

San Leonardo is a two to three hour bus ride from Manila. The area has a farming economy. San Leonardo has vast rice fields and land for growing vegetables and poultry products.