Municipalities: Zambales comprises 13 municipalities and 1 highly urbanized city, which are divided

• Botolan

• Cabangan

• Candelaria

• Castillejos

• Iba

• Masinloc

• Olongapo City

• Palauig

• San Antonio

• San Felipe

• San Marcelino

• San Narciso

• Sta. Cruz

• Subic

Iba, officially the Municipality of Iba, is a 2nd class municipality and capital of the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,581 people.  As the capital of the province, it is the second largest provincial capital in terms of land area in Central Luzon Region after Tarlac City.

“Zambales is a popular destination due to its proximity and accessibility to Metro Manila and nearby cities. It offers visitors beautiful beaches, stunning views of the cove, outdoor experiences, and affordable travel destinations.”

History

The name of the province is derived from its first inhabitants, the Zambals, who found spirits venerated by the Spanish as Anitos. They were called "Sambali", from the Malay word samba, which means "to worship." Later, the term became "Zambal". When Juan de Salcedo came to explore the area in 1572, he landed at Cabo Bolinao, then part of Zambales. The Spanish expelled a group of Chinese pirates off the coast of Bolinao, winning indigenous goodwill. Zambales was one of the first provinces to emerge during Spanish rule. When it was founded in the 16th century, it consisted of the area stretching from Cape Bolinao in the north to Subic in the south. Due to their inaccessibility from the capital, seven cities in the northern part of Zambales from Bolinao to Infanta and including Alaminos were later ceded to Pangasinan and formed the western part of this province. Zambales is the home province of the seventh president of the Republic of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay, who was born in Iba and later moved to Castillejos, where his residence still serves as a museum today.