Zambales

The name of the province is derived from "Zambales", the Hispanized name of the Sambal people. The Sambal were the original dominant ethnic group of the region.{{cite book |last1=Reed |first1=William Allan |title=Negritos of Zambales |date=1904 |publisher=Bureau of Public Printing, U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=24–29}}

File:Zambales province 1918 map.JPG

The Spanish first explored the area in 1572, led by Juan de Salcedo.{{cite book|last1=Lancion|first1=Conrado M. Jr.|last2=de Guzman|first2=Rey (cartography)|title=Fast Facts about Philippine Provinces|date=1995|publisher=Tahanan Books|location=Makati, Metro Manila|isbn=971-630-037-9|pages=162–163|edition=The 2000 Millenium|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r0EOAQAAMAAJ|access-date=February 7, 2015|chapter=The Provinces}} Off Cape Bolinao (now part of Pangasinan), he and his men liberated a Zambal chieftain and his followers from a Chinese pirate ship. This act gained the natives' goodwill. Shortly thereafter, the province was organized. Among the earliest towns founded were Subic (1572), Botolan (1572), Masinloc (1607), Iba (1611), and Santa Cruz (1612).{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130105165648/http://www.zambalesnow.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=4&limitstart=4 "Municipalities"]}}. Zambales Now, Official Website of Zambales. Retrieved on 2012-05.24.
** The year of 1542 in the founding of Subic is a misprint and should be the year 1572 like in Botolan as Salcedo was born in 1549. Zambales was originally derived from 2 parts: the southern area from Pampanga and the northern area from Pangasinan.

During the Spanish period, a 1774 map was made, which clearly named Scarborough Shoals as Panacot Shoal, a feature under complete sovereignty of Spanish Philippines, specifically of Zambales. The shoal's current name was chosen by Captain Philip D'Auvergne, whose East India Company East Indiaman Scarborough briefly grounded on one of the rocks on September 12, 1784, before sailing on to China. When the Philippines was granted independence in the 19th century and 20th century, Scarborough Shoal was passed by the colonial governments to the sovereign Republic of the Philippines.W. Gilbert (1804) A New Nautical Directory for the East-India and China Navigation .., pp.480=482.{{cite book|author=Joseph Huddart|title=The Oriental Navigator, Or, New Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies: Also for the Use of Ships Trading in the Indian and China Seas to New Holland, &c. &c|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbwBAAAAYAAJ|year=1801|publisher=James Humphreys|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FbwBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA454 454]}} By the end of the 1700s, Zambales had 1,136 native families and 73 Spanish Filipino families.[http://www.xeniaeditrice.it/zu%C3%B1igaIocrpdf.pdf ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO PRIMERO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish)]{{rp|539}}[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ_2 ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO SEGUNDO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish)]{{rp|31,54,113}}

Masinloc became the province's first capital. However, the capital was moved among the last three towns above during its history before finally settling in Iba, due to its strategic location. Seven of the province's original northern towns, which included Bolinao, Infanta, San Isidro, now Burgos, Anda, Bani, Agno and Alaminos were later transferred under the jurisdiction of Pangasinan because of their distance from the capital. The first civil governor of Zambales during the colonial American era was Potenciano Lesaca from 1901 to 1903.

Under a 1947 Military Bases Agreement,{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-ph-ust000011-0055.pdf|title=Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines Concerning Military Bases|date=March 14, 1947|publisher=United States Library of Congress|access-date=December 16, 2017|archive-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212010914/https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-ph-ust000011-0055.pdf|url-status=live}} the Philippines granted the United States a 99-year lease on several U.S. bases, including U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/The-early-republic#ref387410|title=Philippines : The Early Republic|publisher=britannica.com|access-date=December 16, 2017|archive-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216144620/https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/The-early-republic#ref387410|url-status=live}} A later amendment in 1966 reduced the original 99-year term of the agreement to 25 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/16/world/philippine-senate-votes-to-reject-us-base-renewal.html|title=PHILIPPINE SENATE VOTES TO REJECT U.S. BASE RENEWAL|date=September 16, 1991|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=March 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319152855/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/16/world/philippine-senate-votes-to-reject-us-base-renewal.html|url-status=live}} A renewal of the agreement in 1979{{cite book|last=Rodriguez|first=Dylan|title=Suspended Apocalypse: White Supremacy, Genocide, and the Filipino Condition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERde5HJQo0cC|year=2010|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-5349-2|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=I0un2XY17VkC&dq=bases+agreement+renew&pg=PA892 892]|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419120655/https://books.google.com/books?id=ERde5HJQo0cC|url-status=live}} allowed the U.S. to continue operating the bases until November 1991,{{cite news|last=Drogin|first=Bob|title=After 89 Years, U.S. Lowers Flag at Clark Air Base|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-27-mn-209-story.html|access-date=March 12, 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 27, 1991|archive-date=December 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225214542/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-27/news/mn-209_1_clark-air-base|url-status=live}} when the Philippine Senate rejected a bill for the renewal of U.S. bases in the Philippines.

{{main|Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship}}

The beginning months of the 1970s marked a period of turmoil and change in the Philippines, as well as in Zambales.{{Cite book |last=Robles |first=Raissa |title=Marcos Martial Law: Never Again |publisher=Filipinos for a Better Philippines, Inc. |year=2016 }}{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/edsa/the-ph-protest/ | title=A History of the Philippine Political Protest | website=www.officialgazette.gov.ph | access-date=2024-08-16}} During his bid to be the first Philippine president to be re-elected for a second term, Ferdinand Marcos launched an unprecedented number of foreign debt-funded public works projects. This caused{{Cite journal |last=Balbosa |first=Joven Zamoras |date=1992 |title=IMF Stabilization Program and Economic Growth: The Case of the Philippines |journal=Journal of Philippine Development |volume=XIX |issue=35 |url=https://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/pjd/pidsjpd92-2imf.pdf |access-date=November 6, 2022 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921141056/https://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/pjd/pidsjpd92-2imf.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O_L9k58WM9UC&q=The+Philippine+economy+under+Marcos:+A+balance+sheet |title=The Philippine Economy: Development, Policies, and Challenges |last1=Balisacan |first1=A. M. |last2=Hill |first2=Hal |date=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195158984 |language=en}} the Philippine economy took a sudden downwards turn known as the 1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis, which in turn led to a period of economic difficulty and a significant rise of social unrest.{{Cite journal |last=Cororaton |first=Cesar B. |title=Exchange Rate Movements in the Philippines |journal=DPIDS Discussion Paper Series 97-05 |pages=3, 19}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/rebellionrepress0000kess |title=Rebellion and repression in the Philippines |last=Kessler |first=Richard J. |date=1989 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0300044062 |location=New Haven |oclc=19266663 |url-access=registration }} {{rp|page="43"}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sp3U1oCNKlgC|title=Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism|last=Celoza|first=Albert F.|date=1997|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275941376|language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/philippinesreade00schi |title=The Philippines reader : a history of colonialism, neocolonialism, dictatorship, and resistance |last=Schirmer |first=Daniel B. |date=1987 |publisher=South End Press |isbn=0896082768 |edition=1st |location=Boston |oclc=14214735 }}

With only a year left in his last constitutionally allowed term as president Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law in September 1972 and thus retained the position for fourteen more years.{{Cite book |title=Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn. |publisher=Asia Publishing Company Limited |year=1998 |editor-last=Magno |editor-first=Alexander R. |location=Hong Kong |chapter=Democracy at the Crossroads}} This period in Philippine history is remembered for the Marcos administration's record of human rights abuses,{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/062.html|title=Alfred McCoy, Dark Legacy: Human rights under the Marcos regime|date=September 20, 1999|publisher=Ateneo de Manila University}}{{Cite book|title=State and society in the Philippines|last1=Abinales|first1=P.N.|last2=Amoroso|first2=Donna J.|date=2005|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-0742510234|location=Lanham, MD|oclc=57452454}} particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/182828-marcos-dictatorship-martial-law-youth-leaders-killed|title=Gone too soon: 7 youth leaders killed under Martial Law|work=Rappler|access-date=June 15, 2018}} During the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, Zambales was one of the most militarized areas.{{Cite news |first1=Dexter |last1=Cabalza | first2=DJ | last2=Yap | first3=Gabriel | last3=Cardinoza | first4=Jeannette I. | last4=Andrade | first5=Julie M. | last5=Aurelio | first6=Matthew | last6=Reysio-Cruz | first7=Philip C. | last7=Tubeza | first8=Vince F. | last8=Nonato |date=September 22, 2017 |title='Never again to martial law' |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/932565/never-again-to-martial-law |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clarkhumanities.org/oralhistory/2006/2484.htm|title=Life During Martial Law|website=www.clarkhumanities.org}} Among the Zambales activists who were killed by the Marcos regime during this time were Ellecer Cortes,https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/ellecer-cortes/ Dennis Deveraturda,https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/dennis-deveraturda/ and Butch Landrito - all of whom were later recognized at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial for resisting the Marcos regime's assault on democracy.https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/vergel-landrito/

In Olongapo, the continuation of the Vietnam war through this period meant the arrival of a constantly growing number of U.S. Sailors to Subic Naval Base, and along with it, the rapid growth of prostitution.Paz, J. C. Pipe Dream for the Ladies: Constructs of Rights of Prostituted Women among Social Actors in the Sex Industry of Olongapo City, Zambales The policies of the Marcos administration encouraged the growth of the sex-industryThanh-Dam Truong, Sex, Money, and Morality: Prostitution and Tourism in South-east Asia (London: Zed Books, 1990){{rp|page=128}} because it increased the flow of higher value currency into the Philippine economy.Santos, P. (2015). Sexuality, Gender, and US Imperialism after Philippine Independence: An Examination of Gender and Sexual Stereotypes of Pilipina Entertainment Workers and US Servicemen.{{rp|page=13}} The economy of this part of Zambales evolved from a largely agricultural orientation at the end of the 1960s towards one built around sex industry related businesses such as bars by the mid-1970s.

In 1986, the province was one of the main supporters of the People Power Revolution in Manila, which topped the 21-year dictatorship and installed Corazon Aquino as president, bringing back democracy to the country.{{cite web|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/50480/defying-marcos-filipino-americans-emerged-as-a-force-against-tyranny|title=Defying Marcos, Filipino Americans emerged as a force against tyranny|first=Benjamin|last=Pimentel|date=September 18, 2012}}

The province was heavily affected by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Due to this, the economy of the province weakened for some time, but regained vitality a few years after the government ordered the revitalization of the province and established growth in its southern towns, which later became a significant economic zone in the country by 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/mount-pinatubo-eruption-1434951|title=Learn About the 1991 Mount Pinatubo Volcanic Eruption|website=ThoughtCo}}{{cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1997/fs113-97/|title=The Cataclysmic 1991 Eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, Fact Sheet 113-97|website=pubs.usgs.gov}}

The 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff led to a situation where access to the shoal was restricted by the People's Republic of China.{{cite web | url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/01/20/13/chinese-%E2%80%98occupation%E2%80%99-bajo-de-masinloc-could | title=Chinese 'occupation' of Bajo de Masinloc could reduce PH territorial waters by 38 percent | publisher=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs | work=VERA Files | date=January 21, 2013 | access-date=February 15, 2014 | author=Tordesillas, Ellen}} However, in 2016, following meetings between the Philippine president Duterte and his PRC counterparts, the PRC allowed Filipino fishermen to access the shoals for fishing.{{cite news|last1=Krishnamoorthy|first1=Nandini|title=South China Sea: Philippines sees Chinese attempt to build on reef near its coast|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/south-china-sea-philippines-sees-073054541.html|access-date=February 9, 2017|publisher=IBT International Business Times|date=February 9, 2017}}

In 2018, it was revealed that for every 3,000 peso worth of fish catch by Sambal fisherfolks, China siphoned them in exchange for 'two bottles of mineral water' worth 20 pesos.{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/204968-china-coast-guard-filipino-fishermen-panatag-shoal-bottled-water-fish|title='2 bottles of water for P3,000 worth of fish in Panatag Shoal'|date=June 14, 2018}} The revelations led to public unrest against China and the Duterte-administered Philippine government. Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte fired back against his fellow Filipinos, including those from Zambales, saying that China's acts were 'fine' as they were 'only barter'.{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/14/18/palace-ph-not-conceding-scarborough-shoal-rights-to-china|title=Palace: PH not conceding Scarborough Shoal rights to China}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/656273/bayan-condemns-china-coast-guard-harassment-of-pinoy-fishermen-in-scarborough-shoal/story/|title='UNACCEPTABLE': Bayan condemns China Coast Guard harassment of Pinoy fishermen in Scarborough Shoal}}{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/998898/carpio-duterte-admin-should-stand-by-filipinos-harassed-at-scarborough-shoal|title=Carpio: Duterte admin should stand by Filipinos harassed at Scarborough Shoal|first=Tetch|last=Torres-Tupas|date=June 8, 2018}} On June 14, 2018, China's destruction of Scarborough Shoal's reefs surged to an extent which they became visible via Google Earth and Philippine satellites, as confirmed by the University of the Philippines Diliman.{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/15/1824890/destruction-scarborough-shoal-seen-google-earth |title=Destruction of Scarborough Shoal seen on Google Earth |publisher=Philstar.com |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=October 22, 2018}}

File:SanAntonio,101Zambalesjf.jpg

File:SanAntonio,Zambalesjf8947 13.JPG

Zambales lies on the western shores of Luzon island along the South China Sea. Its shoreline is rugged and features many coves and inlets. The Zambales Mountains in the eastern length of the province occupies about 60% of the total land area of Zambales. Subic Bay, at the southern end of the province, provides a natural harbor, and was the location of the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay until its closure in 1992.

The summit and crater lake of Mount Pinatubo lies within Botolan municipality in Zambales, near the tripoint of Zambales, Pampanga and Tarlac provinces.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1955). [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/philippines/txu-oclc-6539351-nd51-1-450.jpg "Tarlac map"]. University of Texas in Austin Library. Retrieved on May 24, 2012. This volcano, once considered dormant, erupted violently in June 1991. The former summit of the volcano was obliterated by the massive eruption and replaced by a {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} wide caldera, within which Lake Pinatubo is situated. With an average depth of {{convert|800|m|abbr=on}}, Lake Pinatubo is the deepest lake in the Philippines. The highest point of the caldera rim is {{convert|1485|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, some {{convert|260|m|abbr=on}} lower than the pre-eruption summit. A vast portion of the Zambales province acquired desert-like features in 1991, after being buried by more than {{convert|20|ft|m}} of lahar.

Zambales has two pronounced seasons: dry from October to June, and wet from July to September.

Zambales comprises 13 municipalities and one highly urbanized city, which are divided into two legislative districts.{{PSGC detail|nscb}} Olongapo City is a highly urbanized city and administers itself autonomously from the province. Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) a Philippine-claimed territory, is a designated part of the province.

The northern half of the province typically comprises the municipalities of Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, and Palauig. The central half of the province consists of the municipalities of Iba (the capital), Botolan, Cabangan, and San Felipe. The southern half of the province is composed of the municipalities of San Narciso, San Marcelino, San Antonio, Castillejos, Subic, and the highly urbanized city of Olongapo.

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{{Further|List of barangays in Zambales}}

The 13 municipalities and 1 city of the province comprise 247 barangays, with Santa Rita in Olongapo City as the most populous in 2010, and Owaog-Nibloc in Botolan as the least. If cities are excluded, Calapacuan in Subic has the highest population as of 2010.{{PH census|2010|03}}

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The population of Zambales in the 2020 census was 649,615 people,{{PH census|current}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|649,615/3,645.83|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}. When Olongapo City is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 909,932 people, with a density of {{Pop density|823888|3830.83

|km2|mi2|prec=0}}.

{{See also|Aeta|Sambal people|Tagalog people|Ilocano people|Kapampangan people|Pangasinan people}}

The Aetas of Mount Pinatubo were the earliest inhabitants of what is now the province of Zambales. They were later displaced by the Sambal, an Austronesian people after whom the province is named. Many Sambal still believe in superstitions and mysteries that have been handed down through the generations.

The Tagalogs, the Ilocanos, the Sambal, the Kapampangans, and the Pangasinans today constitute the five largest ethnic groups in Zambales; these identities may and do, however, overlap with one another due to intermarriage{{cite web |url=http://www.world66.com/asia/southeastasia/philippines/iba/ |title=Iba travel guide |access-date=December 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203235229/http://www.world66.com/asia/southeastasia/philippines/iba |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }} and other factors. The less-populated valley of the province was settled by settlers from the Ilocos and the Tagalog regions, leading to the assimilation of Sambals to Ilocano & Tagalog settlers & modern decline in the Sambal cultural identity and language.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sinupan.org/2019/02/27/the-historical-indung-kapampangan-evidence-from-history-and-place-names/ |title=The Historical Indúng Kapampángan: Evidence from History and Place Names |access-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201071013/https://www.sinupan.org/2019/02/27/the-historical-indung-kapampangan-evidence-from-history-and-place-names/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://subliblog.com/2019/08/04/zambales-province-home-province-of-subic-bay-and-mt-pinatubo/|title=Zambales Province, Home Province of Subic Bay and Mt. Pinatubo|date=August 4, 2019}}[https://www.ibazambales.gov.ph/history-of-iba/ History of Iba][http://region3.dilg.gov.ph/zambales/index.php/about/who-we-are Who We Are: Zambales] Most of the people of southern Zambales are migrants from different parts of the country, owing the influx of job opportunities brought on by the U.S Subic Naval Base (San Antonio and Subic) during the American regime of the country. Many people found jobs and permanently settled there. The presence of the Americans greatly influenced the culture and way of life of the inhabitants.

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File:Marian Image of Apo Apang, Botolan, Zambales (both Roman Catholic and Aglipayan Church).jpg Patroness of the Province of Zambales]]

The people of Zambales are predominantly Roman Catholic (78.22%) under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Iba. A sizeable portion of the population also belongs to the Aglipayan Church (6.12%) under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Zambales and Iglesia ni Cristo (6%) the province has subdivided into 2 Ecclesiastical Districts of the Church has numerous locales dominates in cities and municipalities even in remote barrios . The remaining are divided with other Christian groups such as Born-again Christians, United Methodist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist, United Church of Christ in the Philippines as well as Non Christians which is usually represented by Muslims.

Town fiestas honoring patron saints are practiced in each parish.

{{Further|Roman Catholic Diocese of Iba}}

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{{Main|Sambalic languages|Tagalog language|Ilocano language|Kapampangan language|Pangasinan language}}

Sambal, Tagalog, and Ilocano are the three main languages of Zambales. Ilocano has 115,337 native speakers, Sambal has 114,637, and Tagalog has 250,637 (plus 24,995 non-native speakers).{{cite web |url=http://www.visitzambales.com/newlayout/index.php?action=portfolio |title=Zambales |access-date=August 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912061442/http://www.visitzambales.com/newlayout/index.php?action=portfolio |archive-date=September 12, 2007 |url-status=dead }} Sambal residents in Iba have switched their language from Sambal to Ilocano & Tagalog, while Castillejos has shifted from Ilocano to Tagalog, and Cabangan from Ilocano and Sambal to Tagalog. Sambal & Sambalic languages as a whole are most closely related to Kapampangan. More than 119,126 spoke other languages as their parent tongue, such as Kapampangan and Pangasinan (also spoken by Sambals on the Zambales-Pangasinan boundary), including non-Philippine languages such as English and Hokkien Chinese. Other Sambalic languages spoken in Zambales are Botolan, Ambala, and Mag-antsi. About 75 percent of the population speaks and understands English to varying degrees of fluency, and road signs are mostly written in that language.

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Zambales is considered first-class when it achieved its annual revenue growth of P2.09 billion from 2020 to 2022 with economy grew by 5% in 2023, which was slower than the 11.2% growth in 2022. Tourism plays a large role in the economy of Zambales. Local and foreign tourist flock its many beaches creating many job opportunities and contributing to the economy. Most of the province is still agricultural but there are considerable industrial & commercial zones that provide jobs not just for residents of Zambales but also for neighboring provinces. Mining has recently been booming in Zambales where there is an abundant deposit of Nickel and other minerals.

File:Iba,Zambalesjf9268 05.JPG

Zambales is basically an agricultural province. The chief products are rice, mangoes, corn, vegetables, and root crops. Major industries include farming, fishing, and mining.

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• Feast Day of Ina Poon Bato {{small|(Botolan)}} — January{{nbsp}}24. The Ina Poón Bató is a purportedly miraculous, syncretised image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Legend has it that before the arrival of the Spanish in the area sometime in the 17th century, local Aeta peoples had discovered a carved wooden statue on a large rock that they called Apo Apang ("Little Queen") and began worshipping the image. On the arrival of Recollect missionaries in 1607, the natives associated the statue with the Roman Catholic depictions of the Virgin Mary, and the image was subsequently Christianised as Ina Poón Bato ("Mother of the Lord Rock").
• Singkamas Festival and Town Fiesta {{small|(San{{nbsp}}Marcelino)}} — 3rd Week of February
• Town Fiesta {{small|(San{{nbsp}}Narciso)}} — {{nowrap|February 19–25}}
• Pundakit Festival of the Arts {{small|(San{{nbsp}}Antonio)}} — February{{nbhyph}}July
• Zambales Multi Sports Festival Senakulo — 3rd Week of March
• Panagkakadua-an Festival {{small|(San Felipe)}} - 1st Week of April
• Good Friday {{small|(Castillejos)}} — April
• Foundation Day Celebration {{small|(Palauig)}} — April{{nbsp}}10
• Grand Fiesta {{small|(Cabangan)}} — {{nowrap|April 21–25}}
• The Dinamulag Festival "Zambales Mango Festival" {{small|(Iba)}} — 3rd Tuesday of April The Dinamulag Festival also known as the Zambales Mango Festival is an annual festival held in the province of Zambales in the Philippines to celebrate or encourage bountiful harvest of the province's mangoes. The festival was first held in 1999.
• Paynawen Festival {{small|(Iba)}} — 3rd Week of April Paynauen ‘Duyan’ Festival is held every April 25 – May 1 in Iba, Zambales. It commemorates the provincial capital's founding anniversary (founded in 1611) traces its origin from a Zambal word which means rest or pahingahan – the ancient name of Iba before the Spanish conquistadores founded the village on the shore of the Bancal River in 1611. The festival features photo competition and exhibit, sand sculpture competition, skate boarding, 2-cock derby, carabao race, beauty pageant, kite flying, banca race, boxing tournament, street dancing / Duyan Parade, among other activities.
• Marunggay Festival and Town Fiesta {{small|(San{{nbsp}}Antonio)}} — Last Week of April
• Domorokdok Festival {{small|(Botolan)}} — May{{nbsp}}4
• Laruk Laruk Festival {{small|(Candelaria)}} — Last Week of October
• Binabayani Festival and Town Fiesta {{small|(Masinloc)}} — November{{nbsp}}30 The Binabayani Festival occurs every November in the city of Masinloc in Zambales. A dance/play depicting the clash between the Spanish and the Natives of Masinloc or the triumph of Christianity over Paganism. The war dance starts with a procession in the afternoon of November 29 and opens in a mass on November 30. This annual religious festival is celebrated with day long activities in honor of San Andres, the patron saint of Masinloc. Binabayani is a war dance that portrays the battle between the Christian and the Aetas in the town of Masinloc. It is a word that means “bravery”. It is usually featured at the town plaza on the 30th day of November for the public to witness.
• Kaligawan Ha Mayanan {{small|(Candelaria)}} — {{nowrap|December 29–30}}
• Olongapo Mardigras {{small|(Olongapo)}} — Last Week of October

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There are a number of higher educational institutions in the province. The President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU), the first state university in the province can be found in Iba. It has also satellite campuses in the municipalities of Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Botolan, San Marcelino, and Castillejos. St. Joseph College-Olongapo, a college run by the Roman Catholic Church can be found in Olongapo City. The Columban College, run by the Catholic Church can be found also in Olongapo. The Magsaysay Memorial College is also run by the Roman Catholic Church and can be found in San Narciso.

{{directory|1=section|date=September 2018}}

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• AIE College International (Olongapo City)
• AMA Computer College (Olongapo City)
• AMA Computer Learning Center (Olongapo City)
• Asian Institute of Computer Studies (Olongapo City)
• Best Freeport Colleges Inc. (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Polytechnic College of Botolan (Botolan)
• Capstone Institute of Business and Arts (Olongapo City)
• Central Luzon College of Science and Technology (Olongapo City)
• College of Subic Montessori Subic Bay (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Collegio de Castillejos (Castillejos)
• Columban College - Barreto Campus (Olongapo City)
• Columban College - Santa Cruz Campus (Santa Cruz)
• Columban College - Main Campus (Olongapo City)
• Comteq Computer and Business College (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Don Bosco College of Zambales (Castillejos)
• Don Luis Orin Junior College of Criminology, Inc. (Iba)
• First EDT Learning Center, Inc. (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Freeport SBLC Inc. (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• GIS Institute of Technology Phils Inc. (San Marcelino)
• Global City Innovative College Subic (Olongapo City)
• Gordon College (Olongapo City)
• Holy Infant Jesus College(Olongapo City)
• Hopeful Beginnings Institute (Iba)
• Keystone Subic International Language Center (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Kolehiyo ng Subic (Subic)
• Lorraine Technical School (Olongapo City)
• Lyceum of Subic Bay (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Magsaysay Memorial College (San Narciso)
• Metro Subic Colleges (Olongapo City)
• Micro Asia College of Science and Technology (Santa Cruz)
• Micro Asia College of Science and Technology (Iba)
• Mondrian Aura College (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Network Computer and Business Colleges (Olongapo City)
• Northern Zambales College (Masinloc)
• Philippine Merchants Marine Academy (San Narciso)
• President Ramon Magsaysay State University - Candelaria (Candelaria)
• President Ramon Magsaysay State University - Castillejos (Castillejos)
• President Ramon Magsaysay State University - Main Campus (Iba)
• President Ramon Magsaysay State University - Masinloc (Masinloc)
• President Ramon Magsaysay State University - Western Luzon Agricultural College (San Marcelino)
• San Antonio Institute of Commerce and Technology (San Antonio)
• Sand Valley Institute of Arts and Trades (Iba)
• St. Benilde Center for Global Competence (Olongapo City)
• St. Joseph College (Olongapo City)
• St. Nicolas Systeq College (Palauig)
• St. Theresa's College - (San Marcelino)
• STI College (Olongapo City)
• Subic Bay Foreign Language Center (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Law Enforcement Academy (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Subic Bay Colleges Inc. - (Olongapo City)
• Subic Institute of International Studies (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Technological College of San Felipe (San Felipe)
• The Thomasites Center for International Studies (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• University of the Philippines - Extension Program in Olongapo (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)
• Virgen de los Remedios College (Olongapo City)
• Virgin de los Remedios College of Criminology (Iba)
• Zambales Academy (San Narciso)
• Zambales Lifesaving Inc. PCG Accredited Lifeguard training organization (Botolan)

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;President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU): The President Ramon Magsaysay State University, commonly referred to as PRMSU, is a state university/government-funded higher education institution in Iba, established in 1910. The university is named after former President Ramon Magsaysay, a native of the province. Its main campus is situated in the capital town of Iba, while satellite campuses are located in Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Botolan, San Marcelino, and Castillejos. The university also offers nursing courses at the Mondriaan Aura College in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Business Administration at the Wesleyan College of Manila under a consortium program.

; Columban College, Olongapo: The Columban College, is a private-catholic educational institution in Zambales that was established in 1961. the college was founded by the missionaries from Ireland under the Missionary Society of St. Columban until they turn over the institution to the Diocese of Iba. the institution's main campus is situated at the heart of Olongapo City, other campuses situated at Bo. Barretto, Olongapo which focuses on the southern part of Zambales, and Santa Cruz, Zambales which focuses on the northern part of Zambales. they value Christian Character like any other Catholic Schools as a Christ-centered but competing institution. they offer academic programs within their reach.

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• Gerald Anderson
• Republic Brass Band
• Norman Balbuena a.k.a. Boobay
• Megan Young
• Elmer Borlongan
• Eric Cray
• Rafael Corpus
• Hermogenes Ebdane
• Loi Ejercito
• Richard J. Gordon
• Luz Magsaysay
• Mitos Magsaysay
• Ramon Magsaysay
• Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
• Lou Diamond Phillips
• Isabel Rivas
• Dennis Roldan
• Ruben Torres
• Teodoro R. Yangco
• Freddie Aguilar
• K Brosas
• Gladys Guevarra
• Wowie de Guzman
• Kristofer Martin
• Blakdyak
• Willie Miller
• Samuel Morrison
• Topex Robinson
• Arnel Pineda
• Angelee delos Reyes
• Lauren Young
• Tom Rodriguez
• Angelu de Leon
• Raikko Mateo
• Ruby Rodriguez
• Jay Washington
• Rico Barrera
• Bea Alonzo
• Gigi de Lana
• Moira Dela Torre
• Christine Juliane Opiaza
• Jacob Rica

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• {{OSM relation|1504691}}
• [http://sambal.ph/ Baluate Ng Sambal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130162037/http://sambal.ph/ |date=November 30, 2020 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120531235152/http://subicupdater.com/] Olongapo city news archive

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