Masinloc, Zambales

Masinloc Municipal Hall

_________________________________________________________________________________

RELIGION

SAN ANDRES CHURCH

It is one of the cultural heritage churches in the Philippines because of a polychrome portal leading to the choir loft. It was built with coral stones by Augustinian Recollects in the 18th century and is approximately 400 years old. It is the oldest church in the Diocese of Iba and it has a stood intact until it was damage by an earthquake in the early 1990’s.

________________________________________________________________________

ELECTRICITY

Masinloc Power Plant

In April 2008, AES Philippines purchased the Masinloc coal-fired power plant in Zambales Province in the Luzon region. Originally constructed in 1998 as a two-unit, 600-MW plant, the facility uses coal from a variety of sources in the Pacific Rim. After AES finished overhauling much of its equipment, the expanded 660-MW (gross) plant’s availability increased from 48% to 74%, which enabled net electricity production to jump by 129% by 2010.

_________________________________________________________________________________

EVENTS

Masinloc Binabayani Festival

"Binabayani" is a war dance that portrays the battle between the Christian and the Aetas in the town of Masinloc. It is a Sambal word that means "bravery". It is usually featured at the town plaza on the 30th day of November for the public to witness.

_________________________________________________________________________________

"Let's Share It"

Kids Pool Mountain Resort, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

Coto Mines 

It is known as the nation’s biggest deposit of refractory ore in the world. It is 27 kms of well paved and winding gravel road from Barangay Baloganon to the camp site and commuted through a transportation concessionaire plying the route Coto-Baloganon at government controlled fare. Baloganon is about 3 kms from the main national highway. Victory liner has buses on that route from manila (about 5 hrs bus ride). From baloganon, it's more than an hour before you reach the kidz swimming pools (coto mines) right at the foot of the forest. It's in the town called masinloc (2 hrs from olongapo).

_________________________________________________________________________________

HISTORY

Masinloc was among the native settlements visited by Juan de Salcedo in his exploration of Zambales in 1572. The first village is what is now called San Andres in the Barrio of Bani. Thirty five years later, the town was founded on the southern mouth of the river across the bay from the island of Salvia or San Salvador. However, the first convent was built on the east shore of Salvia, while the first town site, now covered by the sea, was just in front of the stone church. Actually, the town is now behind the church (San Andres Church) and is growing inland across the river towards Collat, Lipay and Baloganon to the North.

Organized in 1607, the first town in the province of Zambales, Masinloc has come to play an important role in every phase of provincial development. Masinloc was the first capital of the then extensive province of Zambales that extended from Cape Bolinao to Olongapo, until Sta. Cruz, Botolan and Iba, all came from Masinloc. Masinloc in the early days have only flat section on its area occupied by people. Food crops and animals particularly fish are abundant in the lower section. The San Andres Church was constructed in 1607 and at present facing to the west towards Masinloc bay.

Masinloc is a coastal town situated between the Zambales Mountain in the east and South China Sea on the west. It is composed of 13 barangays.










1. Baloganon                                                         7. San Lorenzo


2. Bamban                                                             8. San Salvador


3. Bani                                                                   9. Santa Rita

4. Collat                                                                10. Santo Rosario


5. Inhobol                                                              11. South Poblacion


6. North Poblacion                                                 12. Taltal  

                13. Tapuac