CITY OF PASAY, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 1

July 10, 1953

Sir:

I have the honor to submit herewith one copy of the complete manuscript of the History of Pasay City as requested in General Memorandum No. 34, s. 1953.

Very respectfully,

[SGD.] ZACARIAS DE VERA
Superintendent of City Schools

July 10, 1953

The Director of Public Schools
Manila

Sir:

I have the honor to submit herewith one copy of the complete manuscript of the History of Pasay City as requested in General Memorandum No. 34, s. 1953.

Very respectfully,

[SGD.] ZACARIAS DE VERA
Superintendent of City Schools

In a bureau directive embodied in Memorandum No. 34, s. 1952, the Director of Public Schools, Director Benito Pañgilinan, favorably endorsed Executive Order No. 586 of the President of the Philippines, which has to do with the collection and compilation of historical data regarding barrios, towns, cities, and provinces.

Our City Superintendent Zacarias de Vera then organized several committees to work on the project. Several school principals were given discretion to form their own local committees for collecting data in each of the barrios of Pasay. The coordinating committee was given to the Principal of the Pasay City High School who, in turn, assigned his committee to work on general compilation.

The History Department of the High School, composed of Miss Aurea C. Martin, Miss Felicisima R. de Leon, [and] Miss Estela P. Balderrama did much in the collection of the said data.

To Mr. Martin Venago, we owe a lot for his valuable manuscripts which he did not hesitate to furnish us.

To the Engineer's Office of Pasay City, we are thankful for their indulgence in giving us information pertaining to cadastral matters.

To Atty. Miguel Cornejo, who helped several committees in the compilation of data.

To the different subcommittees, namely: History of Matibay - Mr. Anatano Jose, chairman; Emilia M. Fuentes, Lolita

Palacol and Juana T. Cruz.

The Committee on Compilation:
Mr. Bernardo A. Fajardo - Chairman
Miss Alicia G. Aldana - Editor
Miss Josefina V. Javier - Member
Miss Estela P. Balderrama - Member
Miss Felicisima R. de Leon - Member
Miss Aurea C. Martin - Member

Pages
I. II. III.	Preface Historical Background Political Development Pasay City Grows	I and II 1 - 5 6 - 14
	Territorial Limits Maps Economic Expansion	15 - 22 22-A 23 - 30
IV.	Appendix
	Myths and Legends 1. Origin of Barrios 2. Sitios and Streets Index to Some Streets and Places Pasay City Chief Executives	31 - 45 46 - 52 53 - 54 55 - 58
V.	Bibliography

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Bureau of Public Schools
Division of City Schools
PASAY CITY HIGH SCHOOL
Pasay City

PASAY CITY
I

Pasay City boasts of a historical saga, a tale of beauty and progress. Long before the Spanish conquistadores ever set foot on these unnamed isles, several waves of barangay-riding Malays had already reached our shores. They had already occupied the site of Manila and its suburbs of 40 towns, not excluding the territory now called Pasay.

To trace the history of Pasay City is to trace the origin and growth of Manila¹. Historical records show that noted geographers had in their jottings the establishment of Manila as early as 170 A.D. Magini, an Italian historian, averred that Ptolemy had mentioned Manila in his writings as early as this date. Claudius Ptolemy² was very positive of his assertion, although other historians seem to disagree with him. Father Colin believes that the site called "Las Manilas³" had already been named to places where the Tagalogs⁴ were residing a very long time ago, even earlier than the above date.

1. Manila was then a kingdom, with its seat in Tondo, and its jurisdiction spread over the following areas: Tondo, Binondo, Tambobong, and Navotas, Caloocan, Sta. Cruz, Quiapo, Sampaloc, Mariquina, San Mateo, Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta, Pasig, San Miguel, Dilas, Hermita, Malate and Pasay, Parañaque and Malibay, Sta. Ana, San Felipe, San Juan, San Pedro, Makati, Pateros, Taguig, Bosoboso, Las Piñas, Pandacan, Muntinlupa.

2. Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus) was an Egyptian astronomer and geographer.

3. Meaning "may nilad," a native plant growing in the suburbs.

4. Corrupted from the word "taga-ilog," or inhabitants on both sides of the Pasig River.

With the coming of the second wave of our Malay ancestors, a strong chieftain, Rajah Lakandula, better known as Rajah Matanda, settled on the site of Manila. His territory extended to more than 40 towns already mentioned. Rajah Lakandula was assisted in his rule by his young and brave nephew, Rajah Soliman.

Raja Muda Soliman, for a while, was a recognized chief in Manila. However, before the Spanish conquerors could set foot on his kingdom, he had already left the islands on a daring venture. His mission was an answer to the challenge of the Sultan of Sumatra to all royal warriors in the neighboring countries. He (the Sultan of Sumatra) wanted his arch-enemy, the Sultan of Borneo, to be annihilated and to have his head offered to him at any cost. The prize at stake was the hand of his lovely daughter, the Princess of Sumatra.

Rajah Soliman, young, robust, and handsome, appeared at the court of the Sultan of Sumatra and dared the challenge. Impressed by the royal warrior, the Sultan helped him in the preparations necessary for the battle against their mighty opponent, the Sultan of Borneo. Proving true to the expectations of the Sultan, the great warrior won over his adversary. Taking the head of the Sultan of Borneo, young Soliman presented it to the Sultan of Sumatra, who did not hesitate to make the victorious warrior his son-in-law. The prize at stake was won — the beautiful Princess of Sumatra.

For a time, the young rajah lived with the royal family, who were his in-laws, and among foreign subjects. He often thought of his subjects in Manila and later decided to go back to his former kingdom.

When told of Soliman's desire to return to Manila, the Sultan of Sumatra heeded the request and helped in the preparations for the journey. One day, Rajah Soliman and his pretty bride arrived in Manila.

Much to his disappointment, he found that everything was changed. During Soliman's absence, his uncle, Rajah Lakandula, concluded a blood compact with Legaspi on May 18, 1571. He also assumed full authority over the kingdom — he then became the absolute ruler. His actions were based on the assumption that Rajah Soliman's return was unheard of because the Sultan of Borneo whom he was to encounter was a brave and famous one. No longer were Soliman's subjects loyal to him. All loyalty was transferred to Lakandula.

Enraged with the state of affairs, Rajah Soliman waged war on his uncle who, thinking of his own benefit and safety and taking advantage of the terms of the blood compact, invited some Spaniards, led by Martin de Goiti, to rally to his side. Rajah Soliman had to brave it out with his few, poorly clad and ill-equipped soldiers whom he had brought with him from across the seas,

some from Sumatra and some from Borneo. Overcome both in might and number, Rajah Soliman's soldiers had to give up and escaped into the inner nook (Kaluokluokan⁵) of the territory of Manila while the others fled as far as Cainta.

Undaunted by his bitter defeat, Rajah Soliman approached his uncle, Rajah Lakandula, and demanded a proper settlement for his kingdom. The old rajah, later on, owing to his sense of justice and fair dealing, conceded to his nephew's request — thus, a partition was made.

All lands lying north of the Pasig River was appropriated by Rajah Lakandula, while all lands on the opposite side were given to Soliman. Soliman's territory included Ermita, Malate, Singalong, Pasay, etc. He chose, however, a place in Sta. Ana as the seat of his government and named it Namayan, later on popularly known as Lamayan — the name it holds to our day. The wedlock of Rajah Soliman and the Princess of Sumatra was blessed with two children — namely, Princess Pasay, a beauteous maiden who inherited her mother's qualities such as her charm, beauty, talent; and a son, Prince Suwaboy.

⁵ Later known as "Kalookan," the same place which bears the same name to our day.

Before the death of Rajah Soliman, he divided his kingdom between his two children, giving, however, Pricess Pasay the bigger portion of it.

Princess Pasay then reached a ripe age and before long, chose among her suitors a man who equalled her father in bravery and soundness of character. She gave her hand to a well-known gentleman who had royal blood in him, too — the Prince Maytubig. The happy pair soon had a daughter who was baptized in the Catholic church. She was given the Christian name Dominga and nicknamed Ingga. She was given the surname Custodio after her godfather's family name, a wealthy Spaniard living somewhere in Singalong near the barrio known as Balite. It was here that Dominga later lived, and so the river running the course of the place was known as "Pasong Ingga," but the place lived up to our time. The main road upon which she built her home is called Dominga⁶ and is at present known by that name.

Upon the death of Princess Pasay, Dominga inherited the rights of her mother's territory and, thus, became the sold proprietor of the place⁷ — however, it still continued to be named Pasay after the memory of her princess mother.

6. Street running parallel to Taft from Vito Cruz to Buendia.

7. In Dominga's time, she asked every owner of a house to pay 25 centavos annually for the piece of land it [he/she] occupied. The amounts collected were then handed over to the priest-in-charge of Malate Church, as contribution to the needs of the patroness saint, Our Lady of Remedies. Before Dominga died, a written will was drawn up supposedly to the effect that the entire compound of Pasay was donated by her to the church. It became church property.

Pasay underwent a gradual political evolution since its establishment up to its acquisition of its prerogatives as a city.

Pasay was originally included in the 40 towns which were under the jurisdiction of Manila — so with the occupation of the city — this territory of Pasay was attached to Sta. Ana de Sapa for purposes of civil and religious administration. It remained so for 149 years; however, in 1727, the territory became attached to Malate. The transfer was prompted by the convenience it would bring to its Catholic residents, who found it easier to make their daily religious trips to Malate rather than to Sta. Ana. For another 137 years, Pasay remained under the jurisdiction of Malate up to 1863.

During this period of dependence, lawlessness was ever-rampant in Pasay. "Tulisanes" from other towns and provinces terrorized the inhabitants on their frequent raids, leaving behind countless numbers of murders, rape, and kidnappings. The more prominent citizens of the locality thought of seeking aid from someone who could ably save and protect the town from further destruction. A Spaniard in the person of Cornelio Pineda, residing in Singalong, did not hesitate to extend the necessary protection. Out of gratitude to this benefactor, the people decided to change the name of Pasay to Pineda in his honor.

In 1863, prominent people of Pasay petitioned both the ecclesiastical and civil authorities to make the town an independent pueblo. They demanded the right to run a local government and to

Historical Data of the City of Pasay, Province of Rizal, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.