Town
Guagua
Historic river port town, home of the 1607 Betis Church, a National Cultural Treasure.
Guagua is a municipality about 10 km from San Fernando, with 31 barangays and about 129,000 residents at the 2020 census. Its name comes from "wawa", river mouth, and its navigable river made it Pampanga's port to Manila for centuries, with a busy trading community.
Its best-known landmark is the Saint James the Apostle Parish Church in Betis, a Baroque church from 1607 declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001. In the town center, the Immaculate Conception Parish Church dates to 1772.
Guagua also has the Lopez Mansion, built in 1929 by a sugar magnate and described as the first all-concrete house in Pampanga, now restored as an events venue.
Good to know about Guagua
What is Betis Church?
The Saint James the Apostle Parish Church in Betis, Guagua, is a Baroque church from 1607. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.
How far is Guagua from San Fernando?
About 10 km. Guagua is also about 27 km from Angeles and 76 km from Metro Manila.
What does Guagua mean?
The name comes from wawa, meaning river mouth, recorded as early as 1590.