Brief History:
The early settlers of the town of Santo Tomas were not different in terms of culture, traditions, language, love of freedom and politics when compared with their adventurous and seafaring Malayan ancestors who inhabited and cultivated the fertile land along the Rio Grande de la Pampanga and its estuaries. Aside from farming and raising of domestic animals they made use of the rich marine life and abundance of fish to supplement their economic resources in their day to day living.
Although many Thomasians were converted also to the Roman Catholic faith during the 16th century, the first Roman Catholic Church in Santo Tomas was erected only in 1767 during the administration of Spanish Governor General Jose de Raon who served in that official capacity from 1765 to 1770 succeeding ad interim Governor General Francisco Javier de la Torre.
The settlement was once called Baliwag because many of its early Catholic parishioners were always late in attending masses and other religious activities which of course this character trait is not only true to the early Thomasians but also to early Filipinos in general. The municipality of Minalin is the original mother town of Baliwag and the latter was segregated from Minalin on September 15, 1792 with the approval of Governor General Felix Berenguer y Mariquina.. Named later in honor of Saint Thomas, the Apostle, parish records on baptism, marriage and death from January 1, 1830 to 1854, the town was written as Santo Tomas de Baliwag and from 1855 to 1926, its recorded name was Pueblo de Santo Tomas.
When the town was reconstituted in 1903 under the administration of American Governor General Robert Taft, the town of Minalin was unexpectedly annexed to Santo Tomas under its political jurisdiction for a brief period which lasted until July 25, 1904. The Honorable Gregorio Pineda was appointed as Municipal President during that brief union of the two towns.
On January 2, 1905, for economy and administrative efficiency, Santo Tomas and Minalin were both consolidated with the municipality of San Fernando. Don Francisco Hizon was then the mayor of San Fernando while Don Macario Arnedo of Apalit was the provincial governor of Pampanga.
Santo Tomas was inaugurated again as an independent municipality on January 11, 1952 after a long campaign led by Patricio Gomez, a municipal councilor of San Fernando to separate the fabulous five barrios of Santo Tomas, San Matias, San Vicente, San Bartolome, Santo Rosario and Poblacion from the political jurisdiction of the provincial capital. Honorable Patricio Gomez was initially appointed by President Elpidio Quirino as the first mayor of the newly recreated municipality and the seat of municipal government was temporarily located in his house in barrio San Matias.
In 1955, Republic Act 1250 was enacted by the Philippine Congress and approved by President Ramon Magsaysay transferring the Santo Tomas seat of municipal government to barrio Poblacion. However, on June 11, 1978, President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued presidential decree No. 1441 which permanently transferred the seat of municipal government to barrio San Vicente. The new location of the municipal hall is said to be ideally and strategically located in terms of initiating an effective and meaningful change for the purpose of accelerating significant progress and economic development.
Mayor Patricio Gomez was subsequently succeeded by elected and efficient mayors Emilio Mercado, Joaquin Pineda, Macario Gomez and Demetrio Pineda.. Regino Mallari and Juan Calma served also as appointed town mayors and discharged their duties very effectively. Honorable Romulo Pineda was also elected as town mayor following the last appointed mayor. The present and popular mayor, Honorable Romeo N. Ronquillo was also elected by the people of Santo Tomas in a regular mayoral election and he was reelected for another term in the last election on the basis of his dedication and outstanding leadership in navigating the economic recovery of the town from the ravages of the flow of lahar after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and hastening the reconstruction of damaged roads, school buildings and other infrastructure projects.
Population
Total Population: 32,695
Household Population: 32,651
Number of Households: 6,375
Geography
Santo Tomas is bounded on the North-East by the provincial capital of San Fernando; on the South-East by the municipality of San Simon; on the South-West by the town of Minalin; and on the North-West by the municipalities of Bacolor and Minalin.
Barangays (7)
De La Paz, Poblacion, San Bartolome, San Matias, San Vicente, Santo Rosario
Major Industry
The primary industries of the town are pottery, ceramic, carpentry, trading and farming. Sto. Tomas is the ceramics center of Pampanga, as well as the main supplier of coffins to Central Luzon. Coffin- making and pottery are the residents' principal industries. The products have gained popular acceptance nationwide as Metro Manila funeral parlors and art center derive their sources from Sto. Tomas.
Festivals & Events
TOWN FIESTA
Although the people of Santo Tomas celebrate their annual town fiesta on December 21, the town is noted also for its annual celebration of "Sabado de Gloria" highlighted by a dinner-dance and by a traditional "Rigodon de Honor" usually participated by prominent Thomasians showcasing their expensive wardrobe and sparkling jewelry.
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Sources:
A Settlement Once Called Baliwag and Home of Beautiful Women by Alejandro S. Camiling, CPA with Teresita Z. Camiling, BSE, MA http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~camiling/santo_tomas_history.html