Novo Ecijano and Hukbalahap Communist guerrilla resistance groups from 1942 to 1944 in the town fought the invaders, with liberation coming in 1945 by the Allied troops.

The joint forces assisted the Novo Ecijano and Hukbalahap Communist resistance groups and defeat the Japanese soldiers and officers under the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces and the Makapili soldiers and begins the Battle of San Leonardo and the Battle of Gapan between the Japanese and the combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops on January to April 1945 and ended World War II.

[5] San Leonardo is located between Gapan and Santa Rosa along the Maharlika Highway.

Poverty Incidence of San Leonardo Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Primarily depends on rice cultivation, vegetable production, poultry, piggery & commercial fishery.

San Leonardo has vast rice fields and land for growing vegetables and poultry products.