Mexico, Pampanga's first capital

A town said to be named by Mexican soldiers became Pampanga's first capital, then lost it after the Maniago revolt.

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Discover Pampanga Editors · October 2026

The old brick belfry of Saint Monica Church in Mexico, Pampanga

Photo: FBenjr123 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA · via Wikimedia Commons

Why is there a Mexico in Pampanga? Local legend says the town was founded by soldiers from Mexico serving the Spanish crown. In Spanish times it was even pronounced like the country, me-hee-ko; the American period brought the anglicised pronunciation used today.

The first capital

The town and its parish were founded on April 24, 1581, and Mexico became the first capital of Pampanga in the early Spanish period.

The Maniago revolt

In 1660, Don Francisco Maniago led the Pampanga Revolt against forced labour and rice tributes. It was put down in 1661, and Mexico lost its political standing; the capital moved to Bacolor.

A trading town

Mexico stayed rich. By the 18th century Chinese merchants and their mestizo de sangley descendants linked it with Guagua and Malabon by river trade, and its commercial centre became known as the Parián, after the Chinese quarter of Manila. The barangay is still called Parian, and its old mansions remain. Walk them on our Parian heritage walk.