Information about Masantol, Pampanga, Philippines

         Masantol is located in the province of Pampanga, close to Manila Bay, and about 40 miles north-northwest of Manila.  It has a population of about 50,000 people in 9,000 households.  Its latitude and longitude are 14°54 N, and 120°43 E.  The town consists of 26 barangays or barrios.  Santa Lucia Matua is the barangay where Calvary Chapel Masantol is located, just across the town’s bridge.
         The name “Masantol” means “many santol.” There used to be many of these fruit trees in Masantol, but only a few remain in some backyards.  What exist in abundance today are fishponds and shrimp farms.  One person said a more appropriate name for Masantol today would be “Masugpo” in Tagalog or “Maparo” in Kapampangan, which means “many shrimp.”  Raising shrimp has become a very profitable business for those who own and manage these farms in Masantol.
         The once large acreage of rice plantations has been converted to shrimp farms and fish ponds to raise mainly milkfish (“bangus”) and tilapia.  Some people have said the water has become too salty to plant rice in the Masantol area.  Rice farming is still a livelihood in other areas of Pampanga.  Also, the province of Pampanga is known throughout the Philippines for good cooking.
         The unemployment rate is very high in Masantol as the case in most other parts of the Philippines.  Because of the lack of jobs, many people of Masantol (as well as many Filipinos in general) seek employment in other parts of the Philippines and abroad (the U.S., Canada, Europe, Middle East, and other parts of Asia).  These people then send home portions of their earnings to relatives still residing in Masantol.  Otherwise, life is mainly at the poverty level for most of the people in Masantol.  It is economically a 3rd class town in a 3rd world country.  There are many squatters along the river; needless to say, the river is very polluted. 
         A typical home has only two rooms, and many have only dirt floors.  Many homes have no running water, but water in Santa Lucia Matua is available and free from the barangay office, located also just across the bridge.  Many homes also have no toilets.  Because of the poverty, many children do not complete their education, many have rotten teeth, and most people cannot afford to get needed dental or medical care.  Families often sleep in one room on the floor.  They will use mats or cardboard to sleep on.
         People that do have nice homes with running water, bathrooms, and plenty of furniture and rooms are either from the United States or they have relatives working in the United States or abroad.  
         The nearest urbanized cities near Masantol are San Fernando, the capital of Pampanga, and Angeles City, where the former Clark Air Base was located.  Pat and Cindy do most of their shopping at the well-known SM shopping mall and supermarket in San Fernando.
         Tagalog is the national language in the Philippines.  Kapampangan is the dialect spoken in Pampanga.  Pat is fairly fluent in Kapampangan, and Cindy is learning Tagalog.  The people are friendly in Masantol; many are shy and soft spoken.  As far as we know, Cindy is the only Caucasian American living in the town of Masantol. 
        Each barangay has a public elementary school, so most can walk to school.  However, some children must ride the riverboats to get to school every day.  Many of the high school students must pay the fare to ride a motorcycle cab (“Honda”) to the one public high school in the town.  Another popular form of transportation in town is the “tricycles.”  There is also a private Catholic high school located in the town plaza near to the largest Catholic Church in town.  Though public school tuition is very inexpensive compared to U.S. standards (about $7 for the entire school year), it is unaffordable for many poor families.  The average wages a person earns in Masantol is between $2 to $5 per day, and work is on a temporary basis for many people.  Though there is much poverty, most people are cheerful and families work in whatever jobs they can find to provide and raise their children the best they can.