History of Angeles

and shopping malls. Within Balibago is the neon-lit Fields Avenue, known for its bars, nightclubs and what could be one of the world's largest concentration of go-go bars. Adjoining Clark Freeport Zone is the site of world-class resorts, casinos, duty-free shops and beautifully landscaped golf courses. The city, and the rest of the Pampanga region, is known as the culinary center of the Philippines.

Angeles is served by the Clark International Airport in the Clark Freeport Zone. As the former home of Clark air force base (then the largest United States military facility outside of the continental United States), it was significantly affected by the pullout brought about by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The economy of Angeles was heavily dependent on the American base at that time. The city is also infamous for its red-light district centered on Fields Avenue.

In 1993, a full cleanup and removal of volcanic ash deposits began and the former U.S. base re-emerged as Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). The creation of CSEZ has helped to offset the loss of income and jobs previously generated by the presence of the U.S. base in the city. Today, Angeles and Clark form the hub for business, industry, aviation, and tourism in the Philippines as well as a leisure, fitness, entertainment and gaming center of Central Luzon.

Angeles City ranked 15th in a survey by MoneySense Magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live in the Philippines" in its March–April 2008 issue. In August 2007, the greater metropolitan area centered on Angeles, called Metro Angeles, which includes San Fernando, Mabalacat, Porac, and Bacolor, was also mentioned as one of the 12 Metropolitan Areas in the Philippines by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and named as one of the six region-based metropolitan areas with relatively high GDP rates, with Metro Angeles garnering 8.5%