Concepcion, Province of Tarlac, Central Luzon Region, Philippines

🇵🇭 Concepcion, officially the Municipality of Concepcion, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines.

History In 1860, the towns of Concepcion and Magalang comprised a single town named San Bartolome (presently an abandoned town and a barangay of Concepcion), which was a military Commandancia of Pampanga under the Spanish regime. A catastrophic flood devastated the whole settlement of San Bartolome in 1863 and its residents were left with no other choice but to abandon the place. Divided as to where they were to resettle, some went north and others went south. The first group, headed by Don Pablo Luciano, the Governadorcillo, organized a new settlement on the slopes of Mt. Arayat further south and named the settlement after him. Eventually, the place was renamed Magalang. The second group who took refuge in the north comprised the Santoses, Laxamanas, Salvadors, Yumuls, Castros, Dizons, Pinedas, Felicianos, Aquinos, Corteses, Bermudezes, Perezes, Punsalangs and many others, and settled in a place (now called Santo Nino) then occupied by the Lindos and the Amuraos (Don Esquolastiquo Amurao and Don Gaston Amurao). Most of the settlers became dissatisfied with the place, as it abounds with snakes and was scarce in water. They moved further south to a place now known as Concepcion. The settlers began clearing the land and built huts and roads. After several years, they named the place Concepcion after the Immaculate Conception, who was believed to possess power over the snakes that abound in the area.

Geography Concepcion is one of the largest municipalities of the province of Tarlac. It is 7.5 km from the Capas junction along McArthur Highway. It lies on the south-eastern tip of Tarlac, bordered in the south by Magalang, Pampanga, in the east by San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, in the north-east by La Paz, in the north-west by Tarlac City, in the west by Capas, and in the south-west by Bamban. It covers an area of 245.7 square km (94.9 sq mi).

It has two great rivers, the first being Lucong River which originates from Dingding and Namria creeks in Capas, Tarlac; it is visible from the bridge at Barangay Santiago, and merges with the Rio Chico before joining the Pampanga River. The second is Parua River, which originates from the Sacobia-Bamban river that comes from Mount Pinatubo. Parua River is heavily silted with 7 meters of sand deposits; its bridge was destroyed by lahar and is visible at Barangay San Nicolas Balas. It also merges with the Rio Chico before joining Pampanga River. Both rivers are utilized to irrigate the town's agricultural lands, consisting mainly of rice and sugar crops. Parua River, which at times appears as a bed of sand due to the scarcity of water, is also a quarry site for sand and ash used as construction material.

Barangays Concepcion is politically subdivided into 45 barangays: • Alfonso • Balutu • Cafe • Calius Gueco • Caluluan • Castillo • Corazon de Jesus • Culatingan • Dungan • Dutung-A-Matas • Green Village • Lilibangan • Mabilog • Magao • Malupa • Minane • Panalicsian (Panalicsican) • Pando • Parang • Parulung • Pitabunan • San Agustin (Murcia) • San Antonio • San Bartolome • San Francisco • San Isidro (Almendras) • San Jose (Poblacion) • San Juan (Castro) • San Martin • San Nicolas (Poblacion) • San Nicolas Balas • San Vicente (Caluis/Cobra) • Santa Cruz • Santa Maria • Santa Monica • Santa Rita • Santa Rosa • Santiago • Santo Cristo • Santo Niño • Santo Rosario (Magunting) • Talimunduc Marimla • Talimunduc San Miguel • Telabanca • Tinang.

Tourist Industry • Aquino Family Ancestral House – The marker was unveiled by President Aquino, III on September 10, 2011. (Ancestral houses of the Philippines). • Santuario de la Immaculada Concepción (formerly Immaculate Conception Parish Church) belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarlac (Latin: Dioecesis Tarlacensis) under the current bishop, Florentino Ferrer Cinense, appointed in 1988, and under the Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception, Vicar Forane: Msgr. Tirso Daquigan, Parish Priest, Titular: Immaculate Conception, Feast day, December 8). Fr. Melvin P. Castro, Chancellor. • Col. Jesus R. Lapus Memorial Sports Complex • Ninoy Aquino Monument (bronze statue) • Concepcion Municipal Hall (depicted on the back of the 500-peso bill) • Orchard Valley Resort

Voice of America relay station at Barangay Tinang, as seen from SCTEX • Voice of America Relay Station (also used by the Philippine Broadcasting Service for shortwave station DZRP Radyo Pilipinas Worldwide)