History

Nueva Ecija was created as a military comandancia in 1777 by Governor General Clavería, with the capital at Baler (now part of Aurora). It was formerly part of the province of Pampanga. From its humble beginning, its land area grew to cover almost the entire island of Luzon. Spanish Records in the Philippines recognizes 2 Spanish countries in the Pacific-- Las Islas Filipinas and Nueva Ecija. Poverty was the only reason why Nueva Ecija was not given recognition as a separate country from the Philippines by the King of Spain in 1840s. From 1777 to 1917, Nueva Ecija's territory was however subdivided to give way to the creation of other provinces. The Province of Tayabas (now Aurora and Quezon) including Polillo Islands, the provinces of Palanan (now Isabela), Cagayan, the province of Nueva Vizcaya, the territory which became part of the Province of Quirino, and the province of Manila north of the province of Tondo in 1867, and the District of Morong (now Rizal) were among those created out of Nueva Ecija.

During World War II the Imperial Japanese Army entered the province and Nueva Ecija was taken in 1942. In February, 1942, under the leadership of Luis Taruc the Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon-People's Army Against the Japanese) which was the military arm to the Communist Party of the Philippines, began to attack Japanese forces from the villages of Sitio, Bawit, Baryo, San lorenzo and Cabiao. Thousands of these Filipino guerillas would engage the Japanese in Nueva Ecija occupation of the Philippines. In 1945, American and Filipino forces liberated Nueva Ecija with Filipino guerillas continuing to harass the Japanese at every opportunity. On January 30, 1945 American Army Rangers, Alamo scouts and Filipino guerillas conducted a raid to liberate Allied civilians and prisioners of war in Cabanatuan, this was successful with over 516 rescued. By January 31, 1945, the liberated civilians and POWs reached Talavera, the rescue is commorated in Talavera.

The Province was named after the old city of Écija in Seville, Spain.

In 1896, Nueva Ecija became one of the first provinces to revolt against Spanish rule, and one of the provinces which declared its independence in 1898.