Macabebe

Macabebe is a first-class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 70,777 people.GeographyMacabebe is located in the southern part of Pampanga. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Minalin, Guagua and Apalit; to the east by the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; to the west by the municipality of Sasmuan; and to the south by the municipality of Masantol and Manila Bay.HistoryMacabebe, an ancient town in the province of Pampanga is intimately linked to the Pampanga River (Rio Grande de la Pampanga). Thus, the Kapampangan word "Makabebe" means 'Nakabaybay' in Filipino, or 'bordering the river banks' where the town's name was derived. The Macabebes were the first known Kapampangans. In the Spanish Colonial period of the Philippines, Macabebe was considered one of the oldest and most important communities of Pampanga.The ancient town of Macabebe owes its importance to its location along the Rio Grande de la Pampanga (Pampanga River). The river's routes and its northern tributaries provided the pathways to the early major settlements in Pampanga. The English translation of Macabebe, meaning: 'sorrounded by rivers' describes the historical heritage of the ancient town.