Porac

Porac was founded on October 31, 1594, upon the acceptance of Fray Mateo Peralta in the Friar's Intermediate Chapter (recorded by Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, by saying Porac has its First Minister and Friar, Fray Mateo de Mendoza.

The General Headquarters and Military Camp Base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary was stationed in Porac from 1942 to 1946. It was the installation from which the local military operated against the Imperial Japanese military and local collaborators from 1942 to 1945. The Mexican Expeditionary Air Force was given a base around Porac to help liberate the country from the Empire of Japan in World War II.^[8]

With an area of 31,400 hectares (78,000 acres), Porac is the largest town in Pampanga. It was once among the largest municipalities in the archipelago before it was divided into separate municipalities. Porac is 91 kilometres (57 mi) from Manila, 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the provincial capital San Fernando, and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Angeles City. It is south of Angeles City and north of Floridablanca. A portion of Mount Pinatubo is in the municipality.

Porac has a hilly to mountainous terrain in the majority of its plains. Most rivers, if not all, are heavily silted by mudflow due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and succeeding lahar flows. Tourist spots include Darabulbul Falls (nicknamed Dara Falls) in Jalung, Miyamit Falls in Sapang Uwak, and the hot springs of Sitio Puning, accessed through Sapang Bato in Angeles. Babo Pangulo offers a view of Porac and Mount Negron.

The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) traverses this town, the exit of which is located in Barangay Manuali.

In the 2024 census, the population of Porac was 147,551 people,^[16] with a density of 470 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,200 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of Porac

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]}

Porac is an important source of granite and a tamping ground of minerals.^[25]

Porac is home to the Mekeni Food Corporation, an "AAA" Meat Processing Plant accredited with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). Being classified under the "AAA" category, it is qualified to market its products, not just in the local, but in the international market as well. This means that it is compliant to all government regulatory requirements to assure food quality and safety in its operations (Sun Star, 2006).

In 2014, Ayala Land and Leonio Land embarked on developing a mixed-used estate in Porac known as Alviera. The development project combines business, residential, recreational, leisure, and institutional. The local government dubbed Alviera as the regional growth center of Central Luzon. Now, it is a premiere tourist destination in the north, and the Philippines' hub for karting with the presence of the Pampanga International Circuit.^[26]

The municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The executive branch is composed of the mayor and the barangay captains for the barangays. The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly), Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

Since the founding of the town of Porac in 1867,^[27] various Roman Catholic structures have been built in the area to aid in the religious practices of the devout Kapampangans. As of writing, three notable Spanish-era religious structures are extant within the municipality. The largest of the three, the Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church is located at Barangay Poblacion and still functions as one of Porac's main parochial structures. The other two are currently utilized as barangay chapels.

The area in and around Babo Balukbuk in Porac has strong indications of human habitation, according to investigations published on the University of the Philippines Archaeological Studies Program website. Later test excavations confirmed this conclusion through the presence of materials dated around 12th century to 17th century C.E.^[31]

There are two Schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[32] These are Porac East Schools District Office, and Porac West Schools District Office.

• Lito Lapid – Actor and Politician (Senator, 2019–present, 2004 – 2016 and Governor, 1995 – 2004)
• Mark Lapid – Governor of Pampanga from 2004 to 2007
• Juanita Nepomuceno – former congresswoman and governor from Pampanga
• Dick Israel – actor
• Vince Dizon – economist, consultant, and political aide
• Alfie Lorenzo – showbiz columnist, radio commentator, TV host and talent manager
• Jasmin Bungay – model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024
• Pedro Paulo Santos – 31st bishop and first Archbishop of Caceres.

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  Jose Songco Lapid Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium
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  Rio Grande de Pampanga
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  Public Market
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  Porac Elementary School