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This pre-1754 map shows no sign of San Fernando
16
This post-1754 map shows San Fernando has taken its place
among other towns of Pampanga
SANFERNANDOBEFORE
SPAINCREATEDIT
THE OLD NAME
COULD HAVE BEEN
KARAPDAPAN,
MALATAIP,
BEKUTAN OR
BULUSAN
Kragi Garcia
San Fernando has always been considered among the later
towns of Pampanga (having been created only in 1754, compared
to Macabebe, Lubao, Sasmuan, Betis, Bacolor, Mexico, Arayat,
Candaba, etc. which already existed even before the Spaniards
came in 1571).
But San Fernando could not have been formed out of nothing.
There must have been an older but smaller community in the area
long before the Spaniards arrived, especially considering that it
was in the vicinity of two ancient towns, Bacolor and Mexico. The
name of that older community is the subject of c uriosity.
Maybe the Will of Fernando Malang Balagtas can provide a clue.
We know that the San Fernando River used to be called the
Betis River. In his Will, as translated in E. Arsenio Manuel’s Dictionary
of Philippine Biography, Balagtas names the various towns
located on both sides of the Betis River:
“He declares and orders that all the high and low irrigated
lands with bamboo trees, nipa plantations and mangrove trees,
located in the towns of Macaveve, Carapdapan, Betis, Uaua,
Malataip, Bacolod, Becutan and Bulusan, on both sides of the Betis
River with those of Mejico, be not claimed by his children and ancestors….”
Familiar are the towns of Macabebe, Betis, Guagua, Bacolor
and Mexico which indeed are all located along the Betis (San
Fernando) River. Which modern-day towns was Fernando Malang
Balagtas referring to when he wrote Carapdapan, Malataip,
Becutan and Bulusan? Could they be in the vast area between
Bacolor and Mexico—the modern-day San Fernando? (Ivan
Henares)