Paniqui was a sprawling town that covered a wide area at that time. Some of the barrios that formerly comprised Paniqui were “San Roque” now Cuyapo; “Barog” now Gerona; “San Jose De Camiling” now Camiling; “Bani” now Ramos; “San Ramon” now Moncada; and Anao. An uprising led by Caragay during the early part of 1720 forced the Local Government in “manggang marikit” to abandon the place and evacuate for lower lands called Acocolao, a place two kilometers west of the present Poblacion. This is the historical sitio where the first Moro in the Philippines, Sultan Ali Mudin embraced Christianity and got baptized in 1750.
The period between 1750 and 1896 were painful years of Spanish tyranny and oppression. Bandits and insurrectos conveniently sprouted among the people executing sporadic attacks upon the Conquistadores. These attacks on the Spaniards, who came on the islands bringing the Sword and Cross were marred by cholera and small pox epidemics also punctuated by floods and typhoons.
A group of Paniqui patriots banded together by a common consciousness of oneness, unselfish devotion for freedom and spurred by Spanish ruthless tyranny, organized a legitimate segment of the Katipunan on January 12, 1896. They were a far cry from the bandits that used to harass the Spaniards.
These dauntless men made daring exploits unrecorded in the history of the Katipunan. The most prominent of which was the ambuscade of Spanish soldiers along the road going to Anao that killed a great number of men. These incidents were a prelude to the end of the Spanish occupation Paniqui.
Accordingly, as in all parts of the islands, the Philippines independence was declared but short-lived as the Philippine-American War of 1899 was waged. The outstanding contribution of Paniqui in the war efforts against the Americans was sending thirty members of the Militia National under Capt. Felizardo de Vera of Bulacan to stem the unabated march of the superior American forces in hot pursuit of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Events moved fast and in no time Americans over ran the town Paniqui in the middle of November 1899. The advent of American occupation brought in a transition from the aristocratic and enigmatic characteristic of Spanish conquistadores to the democratic way of life under American tutelage. Paniqui like the rest of the country became a segment of the citadel of democracy in the Far East. Paniqui, as a child, tempered and molded on the anvil of democracy, found full expression during the dark days of Japanese occupation. Its people formed the nucleus of a powerful guerilla organization under the command of Col. Jose C. Maristela. People weak in strength and character would cast its lot with the Japanese and have prostituted itself to blind servitude and meek obedience of its masters for the price of existence. However, the indomitable people of Paniqui, burning with the fire of freedom and democracy in their hearts, did not fall prey to this. In Paniqui, the Japanese faced an enemy that is mighty in its fury and relentless in vengeance. The members of the Guerilla force under Col. Maristela dedicated their unflinching loyalty to the cherished ideals of our motherland, the Philippines. They established a militia under the very nose of the Japanese. The Guerilla outfit also preserved the landmarks of Paniqui such as the sugar central, municipal building, public schools and practically all the unpretentious private homes. One of the bloodiest chapters of this guerilla outfit was recorded on May 8, 1945. During that day, the Guerilla forces annihilated two platoons of Japanese Soldiers at Sta. Ines in the process killed 52 sons of Nippon.
Today, the people of Paniqui, are still bonded by the same persuasion that held them together during the most trying moments in history. They are working hand in hand to make their native town progressive, respected and united.
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