Arayat, Pampanga

For the mountain of the same name, see Mount Arayat.

Arayat, officially the Municipality of Arayat (Kapampangan: Balen ning Arayat; Tagalog: Bayan ng Arayat), is a municipality in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 144,875 people.^[3]

Arayat
Municipality
Municipality of Arayat
Gen. Jose M. Alejandrino Monument in front of the Municipal Hall
Flag Seal
Map of Pampanga with Arayat highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Arayat Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°08′57″N 120°46′09″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Pampanga
District	3rd district
Barangays	30 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Maria Lourdes M. Alejandrino
• Vice Mayor	Monching Changcoco
• Representative	Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr.
• Municipal Council	Members Ramon M. Changcoco Ronald S. Venasquez Federico B. Hipolito Cheryl M. Lumbang Genalyn M. Tan Rufina A. Alejandrino Edith V. Kabigting Jovito D. Bulanadi
• Electorate	81,178 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	134.48 km2 (51.92 sq mi)
Elevation	55 m (180 ft)
Highest elevation	981 m (3,219 ft)
Lowest elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	144,875
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
• Households	32,005
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	16.19 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 507.3 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 445 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 441.8 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 49.98 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Pampanga Rural Electric Service Cooperative (PRESCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2012
PSGC	0305403000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)45
Native languages	Kapampangan Tagalog
Website	www.arayat.gov.ph

Geography

Arayat is bordered with Candaba, Mexico, Magalang, Santa Ana, and Cabiao in Nueva Ecija. A large portion of Mount Arayat is located within this municipality.

Arayat is 22 kilometres (14 mi) from San Fernando, 88 kilometres (55 mi) from Manila, and 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Santa Ana.

Barangays

Arayat is politically subdivided into 30 barangays, as shown below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Arenas
• Baliti
• Batasan
• Buensuceso
• Candating
• Gatiawin
• Guemasan
• La Paz (Turu)
• Lacmit
• Lacquios
• Mangga-Cacutud
• Mapalad
• Palinlang
• Paralaya
• Plazang Luma
• Poblacion
• San Agustin Norte
• San Agustin Sur
• San Antonio
• San Jose Mesulo
• San Juan Baño
• San Mateo
• San Nicolas
• San Roque Bitas
• Cupang (Santa Lucia)
• Matamo (Santa Lucia)
• Santo Niño Tabuan
• Suclayin
• Telapayong
• Kaledian (Camba)

Climate

Climate data for Arayat, Pampanga
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	31 (88)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	28 (82)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	23 (72)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	6 (0.2)	4 (0.2)	6 (0.2)	17 (0.7)	82 (3.2)	122 (4.8)	151 (5.9)	123 (4.8)	124 (4.9)	99 (3.9)	37 (1.5)	21 (0.8)	792 (31.1)
Average rainy days	3.3	2.5	3.6	6.6	17.7	22.2	25.2	23.7	23.2	17.9	9.2	5.2	160.3
Source: Meteoblue[5] (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)

Demographics

Population census of Arayat

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 12,904 —     1918 12,302 −0.32% 1939 22,510 +2.92% 1948 22,783 +0.13% 1960 32,976 +3.13% 1970 45,840 +3.34% 1975 52,739 +2.85% 1980 56,742 +1.47%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 73,189 +2.58% 1995 85,940 +3.05% 2000 101,792 +3.70% 2007 118,312 +2.10% 2010 121,348 +0.93% 2015 133,492 +1.83% 2020 144,875 +1.62%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8][9]

In the 2020 census, the population of Arayat, Pampanga, was 144,875 people,^[3] with a density of 1,100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,800 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Arayat

10 20 30 40 2000 30.03 2003 16.23 2006 9.40 2009 8.69 2012 7.28 2015 9.45 2018 6.40 2021 16.19 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Education

Arayat Institute

Schools

• Adelle Grace Montessori School, Inc.
• Anderson Elementary School
• Arayat Central School
• Arayat Ecumenical Learning Center, Inc.
• Arayat Holy Child Educational Foundation, Inc.
• Arayat Institute
• Arayat National High School
• Arenas Elementary School
• Baliti Elementary School
• Bitas Elementary School
• Blooming Fields Academy
• Buensuceso Elementary School
• Cacutud Elementary School
• Camba National High School
• Candating High School
• Cupang Elementary School
• Exact Colleges of Asia
• Gatiawin Elementary School
• Gatiawin High School
• Justino Sevilla High School
• Lacmit Elementary School
• Mapalad Elementary School
• Mesulo Elementary School
• Palinlang Elementary School
• Plazang Luma Elementary School
• San Antonio Elementary School
• San Juan Baño Elementary School
• San Juan Baño High School
• San Nicolas Elementary School
• Tabuan Elementary School
• Telapayong Elementary School

Tourism

There are many examples of tourist attractions in Arayat. Some examples include the 100 Steps, Mount Arayat Day hike, and the Palm Cabanas Resort. It receives about 33,000 visitors a year, ranging from relatives that come to visit family, to people that want to explore new cultures. Located in Poblacion, there is also the Santa Catalina de Alejandria church. It has features that have close similarities to the Renaissance.

History

Early days

Arayat Pampanga began as a small village that was formed way before the Spanish Colonial Era. While there have been many theories about who and where the town officially started, most locals believe that the city was founded by prince Balatagas of the Madjaphit empire.

During it's start, most citizens were farmers. This is how Arayat got most of its tax dollars. Agriculture also still plays an important role in the GDP of Arayat. In 1579, Arayat was considered to be the best Spanish settlements in Pampanga. During the 1600s, Arayat became a fort for Spanish conquest. The first mission was established in 1590 by Fray Juan de Valderama. By the 1850s, however, New Barangays have formed and added up to a total of 11 barangays.

Industrial revolution

During the 1900s, the amount of Barangays rose from 11 to 23. Jose Alejandrino, Mamerto Natividad helped fend off American colonizers that arrived on December 10, 1942. In the 1930s, however, The former president, Manuel, L. Quezon and Dr Emigido Cruz, decided to make Arayat their second home. They built a farm, chapel, school, hospital, irrigation systems, and homes for the farm helpers. He also brought a group of Japanese experts to teach new farmers.

Gallery

View of Mount Arayat and Pampanga River Heritage Santa Catalina Church (built in honor of St Catherine of Alexandria) View of San Juan Baño plantations Front of Arayat Municipal Hall Arayat Public Market Calo-Medina Ancestral House

Arayat Municipal Hall