CITY OF PASAY, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 4
PART IV
PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V | PART VI
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8. Phone Shop
10. Private Hospitals9. Puericulture Centers 11. Bed Capacity of Bed Hospitals 12. Restaurants 13. Gasoline Stations 14. Undertakers and Funerarias 15. Billiard Halls 16. Bowling Alleys 17. Boxing Rings 18. Cabarets 19. Cockpits 20. Movie Houses and Theaters 21. Nightclubs 22. Colleges 23. Secondary Schools 24. Elementary Schools |
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Summary
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Submitted by:
III-1
[Appendix]
A P P E N D I X
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Myths and Legends in Pasay City
A. How Pasay City was Named
There are several versions concerning the origin of the name of Pasay City, and among them may be mentioned the following legends:
1. A young man, it seemed, was lying prostrate on the ground due to a certain ailment when some Spanish Cazadores happened to pass by and asked this young man what happened to him and from where he came. The young man, in a state of delirium, sighed, "Paz, ay." The Spaniards mistook this remark for the name of the town they were in. In reality, the young man was just calling his lady love with whom he was hopelessly in love.
2. It seemed that in the early days, this place had an abundant growth of pasaw, a kind of grass. Hence, people referred to this place as the town of Pasaw, and finally came to be known as Pasay.
3. This place seemed to be the dumping ground of exiled persons. Hence, the remark "Todo se pasa alla," the word pasa being corrupted to Pasay by the natives.
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M. dela Cruz Elem. School
San Isidro Elementary School
ni Jose P. Santos
Pasay City High School
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IV-1
(Teacher)
B. How the Six Barrios were Named
1. Two Versions of Barrio San Jose
-o)o-
Long ago, when there were yet a few people in these parts, there lived a family who had two sons named Rafael and Jose. The common occupational activities of the people were farming, raising buyo leaves, and fishing.
Rafael was selfish, and he envied his brother Jose, who was more favored by their parents. One day, Rafael went with Jose to herd carabaos. Rafael killed his brother.
Days went by. Rafael could not keep his secret any longer. He dug a deep hole. He shouted in the hole at the top of his voice the following:
"I killed my brother Jose!"
He then covered the hole with earth and a bamboo clump grew over the place.
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Bonifacio Elementary School
2. Origin of Barrio San Rafael
During the Spanish conquest of the Philippines, these redoubtful [probably "redoubtable"] conquistadores spread their culture and religion by means of the cross and the sword. Radiating from Manila as their base of operation, they sent exploring parties into every nook and corner of the surrounding territories.
One of these parties, headed by the young lieutenant Don Miguel Prado de Ruivivar and the equally young but fervent Fray Pedro Niño de Vasquez, reached the tranquil shores of Manila Bay. Along the shores, they saw numerous bancas beached on the white sands, while fishing nets were stretched to dry on long bamboo poles. Obviously, this was a fishing community. They approached a group of fisher folks who were huddled under a pandan tree. The party was surprised to find these naturally happy people sad and anxious with worry.
Through the native interpreter, they learned that the people were sad because, for days and days now, their catch from the sea was hardly enough for their food. Sensing a rare opportunity, Fray Pedro Niño de Vasquez, through his interpreter, [spoke to] the group of fishermen. He started to relate to them the story of San Rafael, the patron saint of fishermen. The fisher folks were skeptical at first, but soon became interested in the story of
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the saint who gave Tobias, a faithful son, a cure for his blind father, which was the gallbladder of a fish. Seeing and feeling the people so much interested, the Reverend Fray de Vasquez had the opportunity to demonstrate the Christian faith. He showed the fishermen an image of San Rafael and told the head man of the group to carry it with them, go out to sea, and catch fish again.
Still doubting the existence of such a miracle, the fishermen obeyed. They threw their nets into the sea and, wonder of wonders, what a catch they had! Their fishing nets almost broke due to the heavy catch. Formerly, they could only catch small fishes that half-filled their nets, now they bulged with fleshy "lapu-lapu" and "talakitok" and others. Exultantly, they rowed to the shore to dump their catch on an unbelieving crowd. Then, they leapt ashore and went direct to where the Spaniards were. They knelt before the good priest, who blessed them and gave thanks to the Lord for this miracle. From then on, their thriving community was easily converted to the Christian faith and that barrio adopted the good San Rafael as their patron saint to this date.
In commemoration of this miracle, the people celebrate yearly a fluvial parade and procession along the shores as the feast of the patron saint, San Rafael, which falls on the 31st day of October. San Rafael, then, is widely known as the good patron of abundant catch. Thus, the barrio of San Rafael originated.
Mrs. Iluminada C. Gatchalian
Miss Felisa V. Felix
Mrs. Socorro H. Rosel
Jose Rizal Elementary School
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3. Barrio San Roque
San Roque, or Tabing-Ilog as it is called, is the third biggest district of Pasay. It is so called in honor of its patron saint, San Roque.
San Roque was founded more than one and a half centuries ago by Juan Vergel Cruz and Juan Palakpak. The residents engaged in extensive buyo raising. Buyo or ikmo raised in San Roque was the source of the biggest income of the people. They also raised fruit-bearing trees and rice. They held processions and invoked the aid of San Roque to help them have a bountiful harvest.
San Roque can boast of a history that is colorful and impressive. It can boast of several sons who showed civic consciousness and lofty patriotism. In the famous land of Pasay, Telesforo Apelo Cruz, a native of San Roque, was the instigator of the legal battle instituted by the people of Pasay in 1847 against the false claim of the Augustinian friars to the territory. The friars alleged that Pasay was a part of their estate, and as such, the residents must pay land rentals to them. Apelo Cruz was assisted by other sons of San Roque. Because the friars were influential and were backed by the government, the people lost in the legal battle. Apelo Cruz was severely punished for his active part in fighting the powerful friars.
In 1863, prior to the separation of Pasay from Malate, several prominent families of San Roque petitioned the central government to change the name of Pasay to Pineda in honor of a great philanthropist and civic leader of the time. Later, however, Pineda was again changed to Pasay.
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Principal – Padre Zamora
Elementary School
4. San Isidro or Balite
This district or barrio was formerly known as Balite. The name was taken from the tree of this demonination which grew wild in one of the nooks of the place. Later on, it was called San Isidro due to an image of this saint introduced by Reverend Fray Bague, for the barrio folks to serve as their patron saint.
Although there is not much to say about the historical background of this district, the most essential reminiscence of every native citizen is the fact that the real and only proprietress of the whole compound of Pasay preferred to stay and pass her days until she returned her soul to the Almighty Creator. Yes, it was in Pasong Ingga where the venerable Dominga Custodio, the only daughter of Princess Pasay, lived. This very same place has its present street named Flores. Nevertheless, her name in this connection is utilized and designated to name the street stretching from Vito Cruz to Buendia. This is in commemoration of her importance in the annals of the place which endearingly respected and highly paid an everlasting tribute to her royal great-
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ness, besides her charitable undertakings and endowments during her existence toward her country folks. But, it proved fatal to them because, in the long run, it culminated in the great pecuniary profits of the friars. Due to the wise scheme conceived by them after the death of Dominga, the entire inheritance of hers passed to be the property of the said friars.
A son of this barrio who was given a fitting remembrance by these people was Maximo Sandejas. This gentleman was the first among the town folks who graduated from a normal course during the Spanish regime. He was granted a street with his name carved on it. One or some of the Manapats of this barrio were known to be popularly acknowledged as great declaimers during their days. They visited different places or provinces to compete with other noted poets then, on various occasions, especially when there were feasts held in honor of the towns' patron or patroness saints.
This district comprised from the actual city boundary of Manila in the north, Taft Avenue Extension in the west, Buendia Street in the south, and the Ayala subdivision in the east.
Among the sons of the barrio who held executive posts of the local government were as follows:
| Year |
1823 1825 1842 |
Juan Zamora Tomas Petalla Gregorio Manapat |
Alcalde Alcalde Gobernadorcillo |
Pasay City High School
From: Martin Venago's
Brief History of Pasay City
PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V | PART VI
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