BARANGAY BANTOG HISTORY

Barangay Bantog is also part of the South District Division of Barangays in Tarlac City. It bounded by Barangay Cut-Cut 2nd on the North, Barangay Lourdes on the West, and Barangay Asturias on the South and Munucipality of Lapaz on the East.

It is approximately 11.9 kilometers away from city proper. It has a total land area of 579.09 hectares where in the whole area corresponds to residential and commercial area. It is also divided into seven zones namely: Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3 to Zone 7.

Barangay Bantog classified as Rural Barangay, it has a total population of one thousand six hundred ninety six (1,696) as of 2005, and a household population of three hundred forty seven (347).

Barangay Bantog is one of the eight barangays within Hacienda Luisita. Most of the residents in this barangay were hacienda workers. Approximately 10 % are working in the factory like IWS and Sanyo. At present, there is a massive unemployment due to unresolved dispute between labor and management of Hacienda resulting poverty. For survival and daily living people planted vegetables and tree bearing fruits in their backyards. The vast land of sugar cane plantation turned to garden of grasses and weeds. As of now, residents of this barangay acquired their needs on their mini business like sari-sari stores, barbeque stands and so on. Others were finding another employer so that they could have a source for their daily needs.

Barangay Bantog at present, according to its early settlers cannot trace when where the word “Bantog” derived, or for what it is all about. According to Mr. Simeon Capiendo, pioneer of this barangay. At that time, this place known as “Bangar” it derived from the name of a tree situated here together with Calumpang and Apalit tree. One of their sources of income is by means of farming. At that time their way of farming or planting the palay is by means of sowing, and when they harvesting, a piece of timber were used it has a round sculpture at the center together with a piece of log with round shape at one edge. It serves as their milling instrument. Transportation at that time was not available. If they want to buy anything they needed, they have to walk going to the market. Schools and churches are not also established at that time. One way of their learning is by means of story telling come from the book of Cantilla. Barangay Bantog is one of the oldest barangay established in Tarlac. Nobody can tell when, where or whom the word “Bantog” be referred. As years passed and changing time it was still amaze for them on how it could name as “Bantog”. Capiendo, Navarro, Tacusalme, Cabral, and Espiritu Family are the pioneer of this barangay.

Eigthy percent of the total populations are Pampango, and the rest are Tagalog, Bisaya, Pangasinense, and Ilocano.

Barangay Bantog celebrates their feast day every last week of February, as a thanksgiving to the patron Sta. Corazon de Jesus.