Peñaranda is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 26,725 people in 4,940 households.

It is bordered by municipalities of General Tinio and San Leonardo and the city of Gapan.

The area was originally called Mapisong, and it was a part of the municipality of Gapan. The area was organized into a municipality by José Maria Peñaranda, a Spanish engineer, and subsequently named after him.

Peñaranda was once known for its high quality crop called ikmo, a plant used by older Filipinos as a chewing substance. Recently however, the crop is on the brink of extinction. Rice remains a flourishing farm produce.

Every May, Peñaranda residents stage a musical drama called Araquio, a re-enactment of Christians' quest led by Queen Helena and King Constantine for the Holy Cross where Jesus Christ was nailed. Actors and actresses garbed in colorful and cute costumes dramatize this century old tradition which features swordfights between the Christians and Moors.

Peñaranda is also known for its mouth-watering, native rice cakes such as espasol, putong puti and sapin-sapin.

History

In 1942, the Japanese Occupation forces entered in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija.

In 1945, entering to the Philippine Commonwealth troops taked in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija together with the local recognized guerrilla units we fronted the battles against the Japanese troops by defeated from successful to the Philippine troops and recognized guerrillas beginning the Allied Philippine Invasion of Peñaranda during World War II.

Barangays

Peñaranda is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.

* Callos
* Las Piñas
* Poblacion I
* Poblacion II
* Poblacion III
* Poblacion IV
* Santo Tomas
* Sinasajan
* San Josef
* San Mariano (Maugat)