Malabon City

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

History

Algoreth’s “Etimologias Filipinas” says that Malabon. once a quaint town, was named “Tambobong” more than four hundred years ago. Tambobong was said to have been one of the tribal domain of Rajah Soliman, cousin of Rajah Matanda of the nearby Manila area. 
The former name originated from the numerous tambo trees growing in the area.  While the name that endured describes the abundant tender and edible shoots of the bamboo: “labong”, which was one of the original ingredients of Malabon’s signature dish: the Pancit “Malabon”. 


In the Spanish Era, the riverside town became the convenient vacation spot for the friars and government officials of the Intramuros. They were known to call the place Malabon. It was “mala” because of the mud that dirtied and ruined their expensive leather shoes and exquisite, long robes imported from Europe; and it was “bon/buen” for its restorative, fresh air and excellent cuisine.
Historians listed various years for the town’s foundation; being 1571, 1600, 1607 and 1670.  Records show that on March 21, 1599, Tambobong came under the administration of the Augustinian Friars as a bisita or parish along with the town of Navotas. However, after 260 years and within several years span, the twin towns were separated and rejoined and later rendered autonomous for posterity.
During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, Tambobong benefited from its robust economic activities due to its proximity to the Walled City of Intramuros and the Galleon Trade in the Manila Bay Area.
In 1768, “Casa Regal de Tambobong”, a tribunal building was established indicating the town’s voice in legal and political affairs of the times. 
Tambobong’s further industrialization was manifested by the 1851 establishment in Hulo of a huge tobacco factory called “La Princesa” owned by the King of Spain.  
1888 was highlighted by the first Trambia de Bapor that plied Malabon’s River system which was an efficient entry to the northern provinces.
After the American Revolution of 1896-1898, Twentieth Century Malabon became a town of the Rizal Province through the Philippine Commission Act No. 137.   It was reunited with the town of Navotas through  Philippine Commission Act No. 942.  Six years later, in January 6, 1906, Malabon and Navotas were reestablished as two distinct towns.

Government

Malabon City is governed by incumbent Mayor Canuto Oreta, Vice-Mayor Arnold D. Vicencio and 12 City Councilors, for Districts I and II.
On April 21 , 2008, Malabon City’s newly-constructed 11-storey city hall building along F. Sevilla Blvd. in Barangay San Agustin, was inaugurated by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Malabon’s 7th City anniversary. It was dubbed as a “potential business center of the city,” a one-stop shop for government transactions, due to its state-of-the-art facilities such as 3 high-speed elevators and the new city hall building and its offices' “digital system.”

Heritage Houses

Malabon houses several old homes of historical value: the Dionisio family home, Rivera house, Villongco house, Luna house, the Martinez house, Chikiamco house, the Rojas-Borja house, the Santos-Lapus house, the Luna house and Pantaleon Bautista house, SyJuco (formerly Gaza) house, and the Raymundo house considered to be the oldest located at Cayetano Arellano Street. Other old but well preserved heritage houses in Malabon include the Asilo de Huertano, the Paez House, and the Nepomuceno House.

Local Venice, industry and culture

The city is tagged as the Local Venice , due to year long floods and gradual sinking. The City of Malabon is a place famous for its Pancit Malabon and its predominantly Atlantic ambience. It is also famous for other variety of foods, such as puto sulot, puto bubong, sapin-sapin, broas, bibingka and the camachile. The culinary delights are abundant in its specialty eateries such as the Nanay’s Pancit Malabon, Rosy’s Pancit Malabon, the Pescadores Restaurant, and the Balsa sa Niugan, a floating restaurant with 350 seats. It is also known for the Bulungan at Tanong Market, the "bulungan" system or whispered bidding in fish trading.
Other Malabon industries include sugar refinery, patis making, cigar making, fishing and Ilang-ilang trees flower extract production where the distilled perfume is exported. Its most famous festival is the "Pagoda-Caracol", a fluvial procession with street dancing to commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion every 8th of December.

by Reian at 8:10 PM |