Lupao is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 36,832 people in 6,361 households.

The town is derived from the Ilocano word “lupa”, the name of an itchy plant found in great abundance within the town and its outskirts at the time of the town’s foundation in 1913. It is situated in Nueva Ecija, Region 3, Philippines.

History

During the Spanish rule, the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Nueva Ecija extended to as far south at Cabiao and the towns of San Quintin, Rosales, Balungao and (H)umingan in the north, which later on formed part of the province of Pangasinan. Lupao was a component barrio of Umingan. It remained so until 1871 when some residents led by a Señor Calderon petitioned the Governor General for the segregation of Lupao as a barrio of Umingan and the eventual creation of Lupao as “Tenencia Absoluta” to be headed by a Teniente Absoluto. On September 28, 1871, the Govierno Superior Civil de Filipinas decreed the creation of Lupao as Tenencia Absoluta. It signified the formal segregation as barrio and the eventual creation as “pueblo” of the province of Nueva Ecija. Under the Spanish rule, a pueblo is created through the Laws of the Indies and represented a local government unit. The pueblo was an agency of the Central Government.

Salvacion was the first barrio of Lupao. Its initial territory also included Barrio Cabaritan now known as San Jose City. Barangay San Roque was known as Odiao and San Isidro as Macaniaoed. Among the first leaders of the municipality during the twilight years of Spanish Rule were Benito Romualdo as “Capitan Municipal” and Celestino Jabalde as ‘Juez de Paz”.

In 1898, soon after the Treaty of Paris (1898) was signed and the payment of 20 million dollars for the possession of the Philippines, the United States Military Government (USMG) issued General Order No. 43 proclaiming the establishment of municipal governments. The Second Philippine Commission (the Taft Commission) acting as the upper house of a bicameral legislature then issued Act No.82 in 1901, “The 1901 municipal code” provided for popularly elected presidents (mayor), vice presidents (vice-mayor), and councillors to serve on municipal boards.

It was only in 1913 that Lupao became a town mainly through the concerted efforts of Gen. Manuel Tinio and Former Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon of the Philippine Assembly (lower house). Its Founding Fathers were Victoriano Joanino, Calixto Laureta, Felix Carpio, Juan Briones, Anacleto Ganareal, Luis Mamaligaa, Gregorio Babagay, Sicto Baclig, Remigio Blas Caoile and Candido Mata.

Tourist Attractions

* Sto. Domingo Dam
* Macannae Dam
* Everlasting Resort
* Pinzal Falls

Town Administration

* Victoriano Joanino (Founder / First President (mayor))
* Felix Carpio
* Sixto Baclig
* Tranquilino Saroca
* Pablo Del Rosario
* Juan Briones
* Nemesio Cabiles
* Pio Dacanay
* Jose Tecson
* Emilio Buencamino
* Marcelo Neri
* Luis Ancheta
* Jovino Tienzo
* Guillermo Mabalot
* Pastor Domingo
* Alfredo Briones
* Carlos Castaneda
* Tiburcio Santilliana
* George Castaneda
* Alfredo Vendivil
* Alexander Joanino
* Richard Ramos

Barangays

Lupao is subdivided into 24 barangays.

* Agupalo Este
* Agupalo Weste
* Alalay Chica
* Alalay Grande
* Barangay Tienzo
* Bagong Flores
* Balbalungao
* Burgos
* Cordero
* Mapangpang
* Namulandayan
* Parista
* Poblacion East
* Poblacion North
* Poblacion South
* Poblacion West
* Salvacion I
* Salvacion II
* San Antonio Este
* San Antonio Weste
* San Isidro
* San Pedro
* San Roque
* Santo Domingo