Brief History of Bamban
Long before settlers came\, the place which was to become the town of Bamban, was a vast track of wild land extending eastward, and on the west side composed of foothills and mountains lush with vegatation and all trees extending deep into the Zambales ranges. The thick forest and mountains were then inhabited by the Aetas (locally known as Baluga), and the Sambals, both of whom subsisted only of fishing and native or wild animals which abounded in the place. Occasionally, daring traders from Pampanga and the Tagalog province, mostly enterprising Chinese, braved the wilderness togo northward to Capas and Tarlac.
Before the advent of the Spanish era, small settlers came, attracted by the fertile land and the glittering silver of the river that cut through the mountain to spill down the flat land, making if fertile. The settlers started small clearings in the thick growth of Bamban plants which covered vast portions of the land bordering the river a small distance from the foothhills. (because of these plants, the place was eventually named Bamban).
Bamban is one of the smallest towns of Tarlac province. Being the southernmost town, it has a common boundary with Mabalacat, Pampanga, and in the west, with Zambales. The boundary is defined by the Parua River, which is a source of irrigation water, food, and sand gravel of infrastructure projects. The mountainous region situated in the western part comprises almost two-thirds of the total land area, which used to be within the US Military Reservations. Nestled in this part are the BLISS projects and to the north, the MAR settlement project, which when completely developed will be a source of livelihood and food supplies for Region III.
Settlers upon settlers came to carve clearing in the land, and soon a small community was formed. About 1700, Agustinian Recollects came and established the Mission de Pueblos de Bamban. But the pueblo was then a part of Pampanga. In 1837, a new boundary line was established, thereby permanently making Bamban part on the province ot Tarlac.
Official recognition as a town was sanctioned by the gobernadorcillo in the town of Tarlac. Don Martin Sibal was subsequently appointed head and commissioned with the rank of CAPITAN. Among the first settlers were the Sibals, Lugtu, Dayrit, Macale, Vergara, Manipon, and Dela Cruz clans.
During the revolution of 1896, Bamban was one of the first to take up arms against the Spaniards. Northwest of the town situated among the hills are remnants of strongholds built by brave band of Bambanenses who joined Gen. Servilliano Aquino in the uprising in Tarlac. Up to this time, a portion of the foothills in the area is called BATIAWAN or look-out points. Many a brave son died in this movement for liberation.
When the Americans came in 1900, the small pueblo gradually grew in to a teeming town. The Bamban Sugar Central was established and further gave impetus to its growth. Don Pablo Lagman was the first to be appointed president and Don Laureano Campo as vice president under the American military government. Other prominent families then took over the helm of government. During the Commonwealth era, the Sibals, the Lumboys, the Santoses, the Punsalangs, to mention a few, enjoyed political power until the outbreak of World War II.
Bamban is like the legendary phoenix , which must be resurrected from its ashes. The whole poblacion was devastated and burned during the liberation. Undaunted, the people returned from hiding and began rebuilding even while the campaign was raging deep in the mountains. Growth was even because of proximity of Clark Air Base. But Bamban can not be the same again. The Aftermath of the war was felt fo a long time. Consequently, prominent families left the town for the city to establish big business and name for themselves. Notable among these were the Mejias, the Lugtus, the Dela Cruz, and the Sibals (of Alemar's). Bamban was in for a big change.
