San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija

During World War II, Imperial Japanese forces sacked San Leonardo during the opening stages of the Japanese Occupation. Novo Ecijano and Hukbalahap Communist guerrilla resistance groups from 1942 to 1944 in the town fought the invaders, until the town's liberation in 1945.

From January to April 1945, the combined military force of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary, and the United States Army recaptured and liberated the town. The joint forces assisted the Novo Ecijano and Hukbalahap Communist resistance groups in defeating the soldiers and officers of the Imperial Japanese armed forces and the Makapili soldiers. Thus began the Battle of San Leonardo and the Battle of Gapan between the Japanese and the combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops on January to April 1945.

The municipality has a land area of 151.90 square kilometers or 58.65 square miles which constitutes 2.67% of Nueva Ecija's total area. This represented 2.97% of the total population of Nueva Ecija province, or 0.55% of the overall population of the Central Luzon region. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 451 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,169 inhabitants per square mile.^[6]

San Leonardo is located between Gapan and Santa Rosa along the Maharlika Highway. It is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Cabanatuan, 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Palayan, and 101 kilometres (63 mi) from Manila.

Poverty incidence of San Leonardo

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]}

Primarily depends on rice cultivation, vegetable production, poultry, piggery & commercial fishery. The area has a farming economy. San Leonardo has vast rice fields and land for growing vegetables and poultry products.

The San Leonardo Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[21]

Hospitals and clinics can be found for their check up and treatment.

• Dr. Gloria D. Lacson General Hospital
• Nueva Ecija Medical Center
• South Ecija Doctors Hospital

• Bea Binene - actress ^[22]

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  Town hall
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  Municipal covered courts
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  St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church
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  Public market
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  Biggest gymnasium in Nueva Ecija