Zambales Islands Philippines
"Zambales History"

The name of the province is derived from its earliest inhabitants, the Zambals, whom the Spanish found worshipping spirits called anitos. They were referred to as “Sambali,” from the Malay word samba, meaning “to worship.” The term was later Hisparicized to “Zambal.”

When Juan de Salcedo came to explore the area in 1572, he landed at Cape Bolinao, then a part of Zambales. The Spaniards drove a group of Chinese pirates off the coast of Bolinao thereby earning the good will of the natives.

Zambales was one of the earliest provinces created during the Spanish rule. As founded in the 16th century, it was composed of the area extending from Cape Bolinao in the north to Subic on the south. Due to their inaccessibility from the capital, seven towns in the northern portion of Zambales - from Bolinao to Infanta and including Alaminos - were later ceded to Pangasinan, forming that province’s western part.

Zambales is the home province of the seventh president of the Philippine Republic, Ramon Magsaysay, who hailed from Castillejos.