MUNICIPALITY OF CALOOCAN, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 2

Location - Caloocan is two miles inland from the Bay of Manila and ten miles northwest of Pasig on the main road. Geographically, it is 49° 39' latitude 120° 58' longitude.

Population - 16,458; during 1918 - 19,551; and 1903 - 9,291.

The area of the territory is 12,000 hectares.

History - The town's name originated from the Tagalog "Look" and Bahia in Spanish. Caloocan in 1814 was part of the Tondo District, but after a year, it was organized as a town with San Roque as the patron saint.

Industry - The different industries found in Caloocan are furniture-making, farming, manufacturing, fishing, and embroidery.

The municipal officials from 1937 to 1937 are the following:

Pablo Pablo Segundo Asistio

President Vice-President

Oscar Bello Alejo Candido Rufino Carreon Zosimo Galauran Blas Bernardino Lucas Pascual Estaquio Rivera Melchor Batongbacal Felicisimo Bernardo B. H. Aquino Sofronio Abrera Dr. Jose Concepcion Josefa Bustamante Mariano D. Aquino Francisco Reyes

Councilor " " " " " " Municipal Treasurer Principal Clerk Municipal Secretary Justice of the Peace President of the Sanitary Division Nurse Chief of Police Postmaster

Some prominent residents who helped in the progress of Caloocan were Cayetano Lucban, Dr. Fausto Galauran, Dominador Aquino, Emilio Sanchez, Cecilio Apostol, Regino Asistio, Jose B. Sanchez, Godofredo Herrera, and Dr. Cuerpo Cruz.

Geographical Description - The Province of Rizal is situated in the central part of Luzon Island and lies about 14° 140' latitude and 121° 10' east longitude. It is bounded to the north by Bulacan; to the east by Tayabas and Laguna; to the south by Laguna de Bay and Cavite; and to the west by Manila Bay and the City of Manila. The extreme measurements from north to south are about 52 miles and from east to west about 43 miles. The total area is approximately 1,026 square miles. Except the western part, which is low and flat, the entire region is broken by the spurs and ridges of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The underlying materials are chiefly volcanic tiff, andesitic lava, and agglomerates.

Historical sketch - This province was created under the provincial act of February 6, 1901, by the enactment of the Philippine Commission on June 11, 1901 to embrace all the territories in the island of Luzon except Manila, and the Politico-Military District of Morong. The newly-created province was named after Dr. Jose Rizal, who is our foremost national hero, through the suggestion of Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera to the Civil Commission. This province is composed of the 19 towns of Manila Province and 14 towns of the Morong District. Pasig, Parañaque, Taytay, and Cainta were thriving Tagalog settlements and were trading with the Chinese before the Spanish conquest.

In 1571, Juan de Salcedo, who was the first Spaniard to visit the region, brought the people of Taytay and Cainta under Spanish authority. They were thickly-populated and trade was flourishing.

During the Chinese uprising in 1639, serious disturbances occurred and there was considerable damage to property. The churches of Pasig, Taytay, and San Mateo were burned. At last, order was restored.

Again, in 1762, another disturbance occurred. The British forces occupied Manila. In his attempt to starve the British, the Spanish government or Simeon de Anda detailed Spanish forces in Pasig. When the British commander Backhouse learned of this, he sent troops to dislodge the Spanish troops. A battle was fought in Maybunga. Because the British were better-equipped, the Spaniards were defeated and retreated

to Marikina.

Agriculture - The land, topography, soil, and climatic conditions and the nearness to the Manila market make the growing of different fruit trees profitable. The chief products are rice, sugar, corn, and zacate for horses. To foster better agricultural development, on December 24, 1925, the Rizal Province Nursery made available an appropriation of ₱2,000,000 for this project.

Commerce - Commerce was wholly confined to internal trade. The principal exports are lumber, hats, mats, salt, sugar, cigars, cigarettes, lime, and cement. The chief imports are agricultural machinery, dry goods, wine, liquor, hardware, petroleum, gasoline, furniture, and fixtures.

Mineral Resources - We find mineral resources in the following places:

Limestone - Binangonan, Montalban

Gold - Tanay, San Mateo, Antipolo

Iron and Platinum - Pililla, Tanay

Sand, Gravel, Adobe Stones - Marikina, Pasig, San Juan

Guano and Kaalin - Montalban, Tanay, San Mateo, Pasay

Clay - San Pedro, Makati

Salt - Parañaque, Las Piñas

Administration - in 1931 to 1931, the following were the provincial officials:

Governor Board Member Board Member Secretary Prov. Treasurer Prov. Fiscal Div. Supt. Prov. Auditor Dist. Engineer Sanitary Dist. Off. Register of Deeds District Commander

Francisco Sevilla Ludovico Labao Juan R. Sanchez Norberto Ferrer Balbino Kabigting Jose Bautista Celedonio Salvador Angelo Angelos Fernando E. Sison D. Ma. M. Aycardo Teodoro Gonzales Capt. Rafael Jalandoni

Sheriff

Gregorio Velasquez

Governor Board Member Board Member Senators in the Upper House	Francisco Sevilla Ludovico Laban Nicanor Garcia Juan Nolasco, Sr. Juan Sumulong, Jr.
Representatives of the Lower House	Pedro Magsalin 1st District Eulogio Rodriguez 2nd District

The two representatives of Rizal sent to the First Philippine Assembly were Cayetano Lukban and Bartolome Revilla. The Upper Chamber Assembly was created under the Jones Law. The first senators were Pedro Guevarra and Rafael Palama [Palma?].

Education - Rizal is one of the progressive school divisions. Natives are conscious of their part in the intellectual uplife of the race. There is a marked progress in securing better qualified teachers both for the primary and the intermediate. This, in a way, contributed in fostering efficient instruction. At present, there are 131 well-housed schools. In Health Education, the health program developed to include health teaching, improved military equipment, physical education, and promote bodily growth. Health officers and nurses visit, vaccinate and inspect schools thrice a year. Private institutions cooperate to minimize the number of illiterates and maintain a high standard of learning.

Religious beliefs - The dominant belief of the people is Christianity. The old inhabitants believed in deities and spirits. The principal Christian sects are Roman Catholic Apostolic, Aglipayan, and various Protestant denominations.

Politics - There are various parties and associations. The major parties are Democrata Nacionalista, which is anti-coalition, headed by Manuel Quezon; Nacionalista Democrata, which is pro-independence, headed by Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas; and Sakdalista, headed by Benigno Aquino; and the Filipino Fascist, headed by Miguel Cornejo. An

association that was organized in Caloocan is the "Kamay ng Panulat." There are also organizations of different fraternities and religious societies.

19. Caloocan
20. It was named Caloocan because there were many "Loocs."
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. The first Cry of Balintawak was shouted here in Caloocan. People were tortured during the Japanese time. People were held in "sonas" here during the Japanese occupation and were killed.
26. Lives and property were destroyed during the war of 1941-1945.

b. Construction of roads, bridges, churches.

27. Houses were built with the stairs facing the morning sun. The marriages of couples are announced for three consecutive Sundays in the church. Kissing the hands of the old people as a sign of respect. Wearing black dresses as a sign of mourning.
28. Some people still believe in the "mangkukulam" and "taong lupa."
29. The popular songs are kundimans and modern songs. Games are bowling, basketball, baseball, soccer. Amusements are movies, bowling, billiards, bingo, radio, dances.
30.
31. Time is measured by the sun, shadows, and clocks.
32. In union there is strength.
33.

34. Don Cecilio Apostol

36. Rizal
37. It was named after the great patriot, Dr. Jose Rizal.
38. 1896
39.
40. Don Cecilio Apostol
41.
42. The Japanese destroyed many lives, property, and institutions during the war of 1941-1945.

Submitted by:
(Miss) PACITA E. REYES
(Mrs.) LEONOR S. MANAHAN

The earlier history of Caloocan is linked with that of Tambobong or Malabon, particularly the old territory of "Maysilo." According to Buzeta y Bayo, the site of this town originated as follows: In 1768, the Jesuits were expelled from the Philippines, and the government confiscated their hacienda of Maysilo, including the famous stone plantation house called "Casa Maysilo." Later on, the government sold a part of the territory, which became the site of the present town of Caloocan. Fr. Juan de Medina, in his "Relacion de los Conventors y Pueblos Fundados por los PP Agustinos," put 1765 as the year of its creation (año de creacion) as a town (pueblo). Buzeta described this town in 1845, saying that it was situated on a small hill called LALOMA, and that it was separated from Tondo in 1845. These conflicting data are the problems left for someone to solve.

1845 - Caloocan had 14,665 housed inhabitants and 1,569½ tributes (Buzeta).

On November 26, 1858, Novaliches was separated from the Province of Bulacan and annexed to the Province of Manila.

1876 - Caloocan's population was 8,070; and Novaliches' population was 2,012 (Cavada).

1879 - The eccesiastical survey of this year by the Recollects showed this town to have 2,166 tributes and a population of 7,511.

1888 - On September 1, 1888, the government sustained the contention of Caloocan that the town of Malabon as inside the jurisdiction of the former, and the latter was ordered to build one inside its own jurisdiction.

1896 - On the evening of August 29, 1896, while the Katipuneros were discussing the general uprising against the Spanish government at the Supreme Andres Bonifacio's headquarters at Balin-

tawak, the Spanish troops came and, after an unequal combat, the Katipuneros dispersed with an understanding of meeting again at Mandaluyong. The population was 7,829.

1898 - This town joined the Revolutionary Government of General Aguinaldo.

1901 - On June 11, 1901, Caloocan and Novaliches (then an independent town) were incorporated in the newly-created Province of Rizal by Act. No. 137 of the Philippine Commission.

1903 - By enactment of Act No. 942 by the Philippine Commission, in accordance with its policy of economy and centralization, the municipalities of Caloocan and Novaliches were merged into one. The population of Caloocan was 6,291 and of Novaliches was 1,556.

1918 - The population was 19,551.

1929 - The impressive "Bonifacio Monument" was erected on the Manila North Road to honor the Great Supremo and the Katipunan, who began the revolution by rising against Spanish sovereignty in the territory of this municipality.

1939 - According to the Census Commission, the population of this municipality was 38,820.

Submitted by:
(Miss) SALVACION A. BAUTISTA
(Miss) ROSA G. GAVINO

Transcribed from:

Historical Data of the Municipality of Caloocan, Province of Rizal, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.