Paombong, Bulacan

Paombong (Filipino: Bayan ng Paombong) is a third class partially urbanmunicipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Dubbed as the "Vinegar Capital of the Philippines", Paombong is famous for its vinegar extracted from the sap of sasa (nipa), thus the term "sukang Paombong" (Paombong vinegar) became known in Luzon and other parts of the Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,940 inhabitants.

Etymology

Local legend has it that the name "Paombong" was taken from the long bamboo tube called "bumbong" or "tukil" which is used for collecting nipa sap. The practice of extracting nipa sap with bumbongs made the town known as the town with many bumbongs.

The local people claimed that the Spaniards who first visited the place were so amused with the bumbong that, after learning its name from the natives, they named the town after the container, a name which later evolved to Paombong.

History

Paombong was originally one of the visitas (barrio) of Malolos mentioned in Capitulo XXXVI of Conquistas de Las Islas libro segundo by Fray Gaspar San Agustin.In a meeting held in Tondo Convent,the Provincial Chapter created the Town of Malolos in June 1580 with Fray Mateo Mendoza OSA as its first minister,together with Barrio Mambog under the patronage od San Roque,Matimbo with Santa Cruz and Paombong with Santiago Apostol.In 1619 Augustinians established Paombong Convent and not long after, civilian rulers took over, but their reigns were dictated upon and was under the mercy of the friars.