Zaragoza

Zaragoza is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija in the Philippines, comprising 19 barangays and located about 140 kilometers from Manila. The area is surrounded by rice fields and farmland, with wide roads and simple homes that reflect its rural character.

The area was originally known by the Ilocano name Mangga a Lakay (Old Mango Tree) and was part of Aliaga s territory in the 1800s. In 1878, Spanish visitor Don Francisco Mas helped establish it as a town and named it Zaragoza after a city in Spain.

The name Zaragoza comes from a city in Spain, reflecting the town's colonial origins. The Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church in the center remains a vital gathering place for the community, especially during the April 5 feast day when residents dress in traditional clothes and celebrate their local patron saint together.

The area is crossed by wider roads and easily accessible by buses, jeepneys, and tricycles, with connections to nearby towns and larger Cabanatuan. The town has schools, small health centers, and government offices to help visitors navigate and access basic services.

The town received its name from a Spanish visitor based on a city in Spain, but earlier residents called the area after a notable old mango tree that served as an important landmark for generations. These two names tell the story of how local life and foreign influence blended in this place.