Infanta, officially the Municipality of Infanta (, Ilocano: Ili ti Infanta), is a municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

It is known as the largest lambanog manufacturer in the province of Quezon. The town is also known for its giant mountain snail locally known as bayugo dishes. The municipality is nicknamed as "the Gateway to the Pacific", and the Vision of Infanta is Lingap Agad.

Etymology

Infanta, a title given to the Princess or Heir Apparent of the Spanish Monarchy back in the 13th century. It specifically referred to Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria, the eldest daughter of King Philip II of Spain, the namesake of the Philippines.

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Franciscan Friar

! Position

! Year

|-

| Bernardino de la Concepción

| Confessor

| 1617

|-

| Juan de Mansilla

| Confessor

| 1619

|-

| Lorenzo Valdés

| Confessor

| 1632

|-

| Vicente Pilas or San José

| Preacher

| 1639

|-

| Dionisio de la Concepción

| Confessor

| 1652

|-

| Pedro de Alburquerque

| Preacher

| 1653 / 1659

|-

| Baltasar of San Diego

| Confessor

| 1659

|-

| Juan Antonio dela Purificación

| del Moral

| 1727-1731

|-

| Nicolás Valverde or de Jesús

| Confessor

| 1741 / 1765

|-

| Vicente Mars

| Preacher

| 1758

|-

| Manuel de Sacedón

| Preacher

| 1758

|-

| José de Jesús or de San Esteban

| Chorister

| 1759

|-

| Julián de Madrid

| Preacher

| 1760

|-

| Manuel de San Ramón

| Confessor

| 1768

|-

| Atanasio Argovejo de Jesús María

| Preacher

| 1774

|-

| José Engracio de Alarilla

| Preacher

| 1785

|-

| Juan Moveno

| Preacher

| 1811

|-

| Tomás Pobeda

| Preacher

| 1823

|-

| Baltasar Barceló de San Antonio

| Preacher

| 1825

|-

| Antonio Huertas Felipe

| del Moral

| 1848-1853

|-

| Lucas Martínez

| Preacher

| 1864

|-

| Cirilo Sanz

| Preacher

| 1867-1869

|-

| Francisco Arriaga

| Preacher

| 1883

|-

|}

Spanish Colonial Era

In 1578, more than half a century after Ferdinand Magellan and his men landed in Cebu and thirteen years after Miguel López de Legazpi founded the first Spanish settlement also in Cebu, a Spanish priest named Esteban Ortíz arrived in Binangonan de Lampon and planted a wooden cross symbolizing the introduction of Spanish colonial rule at the place. In 1696, Don Diego Mangilaya, a native chieftain developed the settlement.

Since its establishment, the area has been attacked by Moro pirates, and visited by typhoons and cholera epidemics as recent as 2004. In 1803, Captain Pedro de León affiliated Binangonan de Lampon to the province of Nueva Ecija and in 1850, Kapitan Rafael Orozco withdrew Infanta from the province of Nueva Ecija and joined it with the province of Laguna to the west.

District of Infanta

thumb|right|Map of the historical District of Infanta in 1856-1902 when its territories were annexed to Tayabas (Quezon).

thumb|350px|The municipality of Infanta was part of the Distrito de La Infanta, which was established by a decree of the Superior Government issued on March 18, 1858.

See: Distrito de La Infanta

Philippine Revolution

On July 20, 1898, a group of Infanta Katipuneros headed by Colonel Pablo Astilla attacked the Spanish forces holed up at the limestone convent and after several days of siege and fighting, the Spanish soldiers surrendered.

American Colonial Era

By virtue of the December 10, 1898 Paris Treaty of Peace, American soldiers occupied the town of Infanta and appointed Kapitan Carlos Ruidera Azcárraga as the first "town presidente." He was followed by Rufino Ortíz in 1903 who withdrew Infanta from the province of Laguna and joined it to the province of Tayabas. He also ordered the planting of coconut trees in the barrios (now barangays) of Infanta. During the administration of town "presidente" Gregorio Rutaquio (1911–1916), he constructed the "Gabaldón type" of school house. In 1917-1919, Agustin Pumarada served as the town president. From 1923 to 1928, Don Florencio Potes became town "presidente". He constructed the concrete municipal building and the first telegraph office of the town. From 1935 to 1939, Mr. Fabián Sollesa served as town "presidente". During his incumbency, the Infanta-Famy Road traversing the Sierra Madre from Infanta to Laguna and Rizal provinces was constructed. Also, piped water from a spring reservoir in barrio (barangay) Gumian was installed.

Japanese Occupation

In December 1941 the Japanese Imperial forces occupied the town of Infanta. On May 25, 1945, the liberation by combined Filipino and American soldiers entered in the town was supported by the guerrilla fighters fought the Japanese Imperial forces until the end of World War II.

Creation of two municipalities and religious territory

On July 21, 1949, the municipality of General Nakar was created from the territory of Infanta.

The following year, in 1950, Infanta gained religious significance when it was designated as the seat of the Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Infanta.

Later, Infanta underwent another territorial change when barangay Real was separated and established as an independent municipality on June 22, 1963.

Legend

According to the legend, the people who established the first settlement in the land that became Infanta were led by an elder named Nunong Karugtong. These settlers crossed the Sierra Madre Mountains from somewhere in what is now Rizal Province in search of better living conditions. After examining multiple sites, they eventually settled on a site near the Bantilan River, where the discovery of a huge Yam root convinced them that the site was ideal for settlement. This eventually became the site of the settlement which European colonizers would call Binangonan de Lampon which in turn would eventually become the Municipality of Infanta.

Geography

The Municipality of Infanta has a land area of , representing 1.5% of the area of Quezon.

Infanta is situated from the provincial capital Lucena, and from the country's capital city of Manila. It is accessible to Metro Manila through the Marcos Highway.

Barangays

Infanta is politically subdivided into 36 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. There are six barangays which are considered urban (highlighted in bold).

  • Abiawin
  • Agos Agos
  • Alitas
  • Amolongin
  • Anibong
  • Antikin
  • Bacong
  • Balobo
  • Banugao
  • Batican
  • Binonoan
  • Binulasan
  • Boboin
  • Catambungan
  • Cawaynin
  • Comon
  • Dinahican
  • Gumian
  • Ilog
  • Ingas
  • Langgas
  • Libjo
  • Lual
  • Magsaysay
  • Maypulot
  • Miswa
  • Pilaway
  • Pinaglapatan
  • Poblacion 1
  • Poblacion 38
  • Poblacion 39
  • Poblacion Bantilan
  • Pulo
  • Silangan
  • Tongohin
  • Tudturan

Climate

Demographics

thumb|right|Welcome arch

Economy

The town is currently undergoing preparations for establishing a bayugo breeding center that would supply bayugo to townsfolk. The move is intended to stop the decline of bayugo in the wild. Also it is the center of economic activity in the northern part of Quezon.

Education

thumb|Mount Carmel School of Infanta

The Infanta Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public elementary and high schools.

Infanta is the center of educative learning, with four colleges that attract many students to study from nearby towns of Real, General Nakar, Polillo, Panukulan, Burdeos, Patnanungan and Jomalig.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Abiawin Elementary School
  • Agos-Agos Elementary School
  • Alitas Elementary School
  • Banugao Elementary School
  • Binonoan Elementary School
  • Cacawayan Elementary School
  • Dinahican Elementary School
  • Disciples Christian School
  • Gumian Elementary School
  • Infanta Central School
  • Kiborosa Elementary School
  • Learnpoint Kiddie School
  • LFJ Cornerstone Academy
  • Libjo Elementary School
  • Lual Elementary School
  • Magsaysay Elementary School
  • Miyunod Elementary School
  • Mount Carmel School
  • New Little Baguio ES
  • Picab Elementary School
  • Star of Hope Christian School
  • Stepstone Christian Academy
  • The Jesus Christ Worldwide Montessori
  • Tongohin Elementary School
  • Tudturan Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Binulasan Integrated School
  • Infanta National High School
  • Langgas National High School
  • Little Friends of Jesus Corner Stone Academy
  • Mount Carmel School of Infanta
  • Tongohin National High School

Higher educational institutions

  • ACTS Computer College
  • Northern Quezon College
  • Rizal Marine Technological College
  • Southern Luzon State University

Media

FM Stations

  • 92.7 Spirit FM (Catholic Media Network)
  • 94.3 Brigada News FM (Brigada Mass Media Corporation)
  • 95.9 DABIG C Radio (Prime Broadcasting Network)
  • 105.3 Radyo Natin (Manila Broadcasting Company/Radyo Natin Network)

Cable and Satellite

  • Infanta Cable TV Network
  • Cignal TV

Town's Hymn

The Hymn of the Town of Infanta is entitled "Mabuhay Ka Infanta" written by the alumni of Mount Carmel School of Infanta.

Notable

  • Guillermo Nakar
  • Pablo Astilla

Notes

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System