Cavite City

Cavite City
Component City
Cavite skyline as seen across Manila Bay
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Historic and Cultural City of 3 Bays International Transport Hub of the Future
Motto: Para Dios y Patria
{{#property:P242}} Map of Cavite showing the location of Cavite City and the islands of Cavite province under its government
Cavite City Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	[[{{#property:P17}}]]
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	[[{{#property:P131}}]]
Congressional District	1st district
Founded	May 6, 1571
Cityhood	September 7, 1940
Barangays	84
Government
• Mayor	Bernardo S. Paredes (Lakas-CMD)
• Vice Mayor	Percilito P. Consigo (Lakas-CMD)
Area
• Total	24.80 km2 (9.58 sq mi)
• Land	10.89 km2 (4.20 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	101,120
• Density	4,100/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	{{#property:P281}}
Dialing code	{{#property:P473}}
Income Class	3rd class
Classification	Component City; Urban

Cavite City, officially the City of Cavite (Chavacano: Ciudad de Cavite; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cavite), is a city in the Province of Cavite, in the Philippines. The city was the capital of Cavite province from the latter's establishment in 1614 until 1954, when it was transferred to the newly created city of Trece Martires City near the center of the province. The city is classified as a fourth-class city in terms of income classification.

The city started as the small port town of Cavite that prospered during the early Spanish colonial period when it became the main seaport of Manila hosting the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade and the port used for other heavy and larger sea-bound ships. Thereafter, San Roque and La Caridad, two former independent towns of Cavite province, were later added to form one municipality. The present larger Cavite City now includes the communities of San Antonio (includes Cañacao and Sangley Point), the southern districts of Santa Cruz and Dalahican, and the outlying islands of the province, including the historic Corregidor Island.

Geography

Cavite City and peninsula (lower left) in relation to the City of Manila (upper middle)

The City of Cavite occupies most of the hook-shaped Cavite Peninsula that juts into Manila Bay. The peninsula is bounded by Bacoor Bay to the southeast. The peninsula ends at two tips - Sangley Point and Cavite Point. Cañacao Bay is the body of water formed between Sangley Point and Cavite Point. The latter was the location of the old historic Port of Cavite. Both Bacoor and Cañacao Bays are inland bays of the larger Manila Bay. The city's only land border is the Municipality of Noveleta to the south.

The city is the northernmost settlement in the Province of Cavite, which lies southwest from Manila with a direct distance of about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) but about 35 kilometres (22 mi) by road. Sangley Point, the former location of the United States Sangley Point Naval Base, is the northernmost part of the city, peninsula and province. The former American military naval base has since been converted into a Philippine military base.

The historic island of Corregidor, the adjacent islands and detached rocks of Caballo, Carabao, El Fraile and La Monja found at the mouth of Manila Bay are part of the city's territorial jurisdiction.

Population

According to the 2010 census, Cavite City has a population of 101,120 people in a land area of 10.89 square kilometres (4.20 sq mi).

Population census of Cavite City
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	91,641	—
1995	92,641	+0.20%
2000	99,367	+1.51%
2007	104,581	+0.71%
2010	101,120	−1.22%
Source: National Statistics Office

Subdivisions

The city proper is divided into five districts: Dalahican, Santa Cruz, Caridad, San Antonio, and San Roque. These districts are further subdivided into eight zones and a total of 84 barangays.

Barangays

Cavite City is politically subdivided into 84 barangays.

3

History

Etymology

There are several names attributed to present-day Cavite City. Its early settlers, who were Tagalogs, called it "Tangway," meaning peninsula. The name "Cavite" evolved from the word Kawit or Cauit meaning "hook" as people from other places refer to it, referring to the hook-shaped land along the coast of Bacoor Bay. It was mispronounced by the Spaniards as "Kawite" or "Cavite" there being no "K" in the Castillan alphabet, then changing "w" to "v" so as to conform to their accentuation. The Chinese traders or the Sangleys who came to Cavite to do business with the natives called it Keit, a corruption of the word Kawit.

Pre-Hispanic era

The early inhabitants of Cavite City were the Tagalogs ruled by the Kampilan and the bullhorn of a datu, the tribal form of government. According to folklore, the earliest settlers came from Borneo, led by Gat Hinigiw and his wife Dayang Kaliwanag who bore seven children. Archaeological evidences in the coastal areas show prehistoric settlements.

The Spanish shipyards and arsenal in Cavite (circa 1899)

Spanish colonial period

On May 16, 1571 the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi declared the region a royal encomienda, or royal land grant. Spanish colonizers settled in the most populated area of the place (present day Kawit), they called it Cavite. The old Tangway at the tip of the Cavite Peninsula, across Bacoor Bay was referred to as Cavite la Punta meaning "Point of Cavite" or Cavite Point. Upon discovering that because of its deep waters, Cavite la Punta was a suitable place for the repair and construction of Spanish ships and galleon, the Spanish moved their settlement there and called itCavite Nuevo (New Cavite) or plainly Cavite, while the first settlement was renamed "Cavite Viejo" (and in the early 20th century, regained its former name, Kawit).

In 1590, the Spaniards fortified Cavite Nuevo with a muralla (high thick curtain walls) on its western, northern and eastern side while the side fronting Baccor Bay remained open. Fort Guadalupe on the easternmost tip was also built at the same time, and the town became the Puerto de Cavite (Port of Cavite) or Cavite Puerto. The Fort of San Felipe Neri and Porta Vaga gate were constructed in 1595 and completed in 1602. Puerta Vaga (corrupted to Porta Vaga) was the port city's barbican western and only principal entrance from San Roque. It was flanked by the western wall protected by two bastions at its north and southern end. The wall and gate were also separated from the mainland by a moat, which also made the town like an island.

Foundation

The Governor's Palace in Cavite Puerto adjacent to the naval yard in 1899, with Cañacao Bay and Sangley Point in the background.

Cavite was officially founded as a town in 1614 with Tomás Salazar as the earliest known gobernadorcillo recorded. At the same time, the town became the capital of the new politico-military province of Cavite, established also in 1614. Like some other provinces during the Spanish era, the province adapted the name of its capital town [e.g., Bulacan, Bulacan; Tayabas, Tayabas (now Quezon province); Tarlac, Tarlac; Manila, Manila province ; Balayan, Balayan Province (now Batangas); Taal, Taal (now Batangas); and the present Batangas, Batangas].

San Roque was founded as a separate town also in 1614. It was placed under the civil administration of Cavite Puerto until it was granted a right to be a separate and an independent municipality in 1720. La Caridad, formerly known as La Estanzuela of San Roque, separated and was founded as town in 1868. The Spanish Governor General Jose de la Gardana granted the petition of the people led by Don Justo Miranda to make barrio La Estanzuela an independent town.

Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade

The skyline of the old Port City of Cavite in 1899 with the bell towers of several churches visible at maximum resolution. Taken from a ship docked at the navy yard

The Port of Cavite (Puerto de Cavite) was linked to the history of world trade. Spanish galleons sailed every July to Acapulco (Mexico) while another ship sailed from Acapulco to Cavite. Galleons and other heavy ocean-going ships were not able to enter the Port of Manila along Pasig River because of a sand bar that limits entrance to the river port only to light ships. For this reason, the Port of Cavite was regarded as the Port of Manila, the main seaport of the capital city.

At the height of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, the Port of Cavite was the arrival and departure port of the Spanish galleons that brought many foreign travelers (Mostly Spaniards and Latinos) to its shores. The Port of Cavite was fondly called Ciudad de Oro Macizo meaning the "City of Solid Gold". The Chinese emperor at one time sent some of his men to this place they called Keit (Cavite) to search for gold.

Between 1609 and 1616 the galleons Espiritu Santo and San Miguel were constructed in the shipyard of the port, called the Astillero de Rivera (Rivera Shipyard of Cavite), sometimes spelled as Ribera.

City of churches

The bell tower of San Pedro Church and San Pedro Street in 1899

As the town was progressing, it also became a cosmopolitan town that attracted the different religious orders to set up churches, convents and hospitals within the limited confines of the fortified town. The Franciscan Hospital de San Jose (Saint Joseph Hospital) was built for sailors and soldiers in 1591, the San Diego de Alcala convent in 1608, the Porta Vaga (La Ermita), Our Lady of Loreto (Jesuit), San Juan de Dios (St. John of God), Santo Domingo (Dominicans), Santa Monica (Recollects), and San Pedro, the port's parish church. At the most, the fortified town enclosed eight churches, the Jesuit college of San Ildefonso, public buildings and residences, which served the needs of its population of natives, soldiers and workers at the port, transients and passengers on board the galleons.

It was also during those times when it was called "Tierra de Maria Santisima" (Land of Most Holy Mary) because of the popularity of the Marian devotion in this place. Plazas and parks were evidence of importance, Plaza de Armas across from San Felipe Fort, Plaza de San Pedro across from the church and Plaza Soledad across from Porta Vaga, Plaza del Reparo was at the bayside.

San Roque isthmus

The San Roque causeway in 1899 connecting Cavite Nuevo to San Roque town.

The narrow San Roque isthmus or causeway (now M. Valentino Street) connected Cavite Puerto to San Roque town, its only border town. Maps from the 17th century shows that this narrow isthmus was wider, as wide as the town itself. Problems with rising water and the encroaching waves that plagued Cavite Puerto since the beginning must have eroded the land into a narrow isthmus.

American colonial period

Control over the port was turned over to the Americans by Spain after the Treaty of Paris of 1898at the turn of the 19th century. At the start of the American era, Cavite Puerto became the seat of the U.S. Naval Forces in the Philippines. It was redesigned to make way for modern ships and armaments. The ruinous historical structures like Fort Guadalupe were demolished, along with most of Fort San Felipe.

Local government administration was under the renamed Presidentes municipales with the direct supervision of the American Army Officers (the first being Colonel Meade). The first Filipino Presidentes municipales were appointed: Don Zacaria Fortich for Cavite Puerto, Don Francisco Basa for San Roque, and Don Pedro Raqueño Bautista for Caridad.

In 1900, the Caviteños tasted their first election under the American regime. They elected in each pueblo or town, local officials called Presidente municipal, Vice-Presidente municipal and a Consejo (council) composed of Consejales (councilors). They elected Don Gregorio Basa as Presidente Municipal of the town now known as Cavite City.

File:Manuel rojas.JPG

Manuel S. Rojas in 1949

In 1901, the Philippine Commission approved a municipal code as the organic law of all local governments throughout the country. In its implementation in 1903, the three separate pueblos of Cavite Puerto, San Roque and La Caridad were merged into one municipality, which was called the Municipality of Cavite. By virtue of a legislative act promulgated by the First Philippine Assembly, Cavite was again made the capital of the province. Subsequently its territory was enlarged to include the district of San Antonio and the island of Corregidor. The Municipality of Cavite functioned as a civil government whose officials consisted of a Presidente Municipal, a Vice-Presidente Municipal and ten Consejales duly elected by the qualified voters of the municipality.

In 1909, Executive Order No. 124, of Governor-General W. Cameron Forbes, declared the Act No. 1748 annexing Corregidor and the islands of Caballo (Fort Hughes), La Monja, El Fraile (Fort Drum), Sta. Amalia, Carabao (Fort Frank) and Limbones, as well as all waters and detached rocks surrounding them, to the Municipality of Cavite.

Cityhood

Under the Philippine Commonwealth, Assemblyman Manuel S. Rojas, grandfather of Mayor Bernardo Paredes, sponsored Commonwealth Act No. 547 elevating Cavite town to a chartered city. Upon approval into law on September 7, 1940, the executive function of the city was vested on an City Mayor appointed by the President of the Philippine Commonwealth. The legislative body of the City of Cavite was vested on a Municipal Board composed of three electives, two appointive and two ex-officio councilors, the presiding officer of which is the City Mayor.

The old historic section of Cavite City in 1941 before its destruction in 1945. The eastern part was the U.S naval base and former Spanish naval shipyard.

World War II

File:Stamonica ruins.jpg

Only the belfry of the Santa Monica Church of the Recollects remains today after the old port city of Cavite was heavily bombarded in World War II.

During World War II in 1941, Japanese Imperial Forces bombed the city and destroyed the US Naval installations. The ruling Japanese leaders appointed at least two city mayors of Cavite City.

In 1945 during the fight for the liberation of the country from Japanese hands, the US and Philippine Commonwealth military bombarded the Japanese forces stationed in the city, completely destroying the old historic port city of Cavite. The old walls and the Porta Vaga gate were damaged. Most of the structures were destroyed while some of the church towers remained. The city was littered with bomb craters.

After the war, the city's local administration resumed the way it was before the war. The walls, gate and ruins of the old city were later removed. Only the bell tower of the Santa Monica Church of the Recollects and the two bastions of Fort San Felipe remain of the old city.

Transfer of provincial capital

Republic Act No. 981, passed by the Congress of the Philippines in 1954, transferred the capital of the province from Cavite City to the newly established Trece Martires City. Subsequently, the city charter was amended. By virtue of an amendment to the charter of Cavite City, the City Mayor, City Vice Mayor and eight councilors were elected by popular suffrage. The first election of city officials was held in 1963.

Reclamation

In the latter part of 1960s or early 1970s, the land adjacent to the San Roque isthmus was reclaimed. The new land is now occupied by the San Sebastian College – Recoletos de Cavite and some residential houses. The present Cavite City Hall is built where the north tower end of the western wall was, which was already partly reclaimed by 1945.

Half of the old port city, including Fort San Felipe, is now occupied by Naval Base Cavite and is closed to the public. The old historic core of Cavite is now part of the San Roque district of Cavite City and is referred today as either Fort San Felipe or Porta Vaga. The former location of the Porta Vaga gate, the western wall and its towers are now occupied by the Governor Samonte Park.

Culture

Religion

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga (Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga) is the patroness of Cavite City and the Celestial Guardian and Protector of the entire Province of Cavite since her arrival in Cavite shore. The most venerated image of Our Lady of Porta Vaga is an invaluable treasure inherited by the Caviteños from their ancestors. This is the oldest existing dated Marian painting in the Philippines.

The Ermita de Porta Vaga or Porta Vaga Church, one of the churches in Cavite Puerto, where Our Lady of Solitude was enshrined with the western wall of Cavite Puerto visible to the left of the building.

The image of the virgin is painted on a canvas. The virgin is depicted as a lady in mourning. Mary, garbed in black and white attire, seems to be on her knees as she contemplates the passion of her son. Before her are the crown of thorns and the nails instrument of Christ's passion. An inscription was found at the back of the painting - A doze de Abril 1692 años Juan Oliba puso esta Stma. Ymagen Haqui, which means,"The sacred image was placed here by Juan Oliba on April 12, 1692". This particular icon was used to bless the galleon plying between Cavite and Acapulco (Mexico) during formal sending off ceremonies. Thus, she was also called the Patroness of the Galleons.

The image was originally enshrined at the Ermita de Porta Vaga, a small church located adjacent to the Porta Vaga gate of Cavite Puerto and was destroyed during the last world war. The image is presently enshrined at the San Roque Parish Church, one of the three parishes in the City.

Other religious groups in the city include the Aglipayan Church, Iglesia Ni Cristo (I.N.C), Jehovah's Witnesses, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), The United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Churches, Baptists and Bible Fundamental churches, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Dating Daan and other UPC churches.

Chavacano

Chavacano sometimes spelled as Chabacano, a pidginized Spanish language formerly spoken by majority of the people living in the city of Cavite, which originated during the arrival of the first Spaniards in the late 16th century. During this period, the people that lived near the military arsenal in Cavite City put themselves in contact with the Spaniards and began to incorporate in their own dialect many Spanish words, which then gave birth to the Hispanic - Philippine pidgin dialect called "Chabacano".

Today, only a fraction of the people in the city of Cavite speaks the Chavacano dialect, mostly elders, so perhaps it will come to cease of its existence or completely disappear in the near future. According to the Philippine professor, Alfredo B. German who wrote a thesis on the grammar in Chavacano dialect, the present conditions no longer favor the disenrolment of the same one. There are many reasons for the probable disappearance of the Chavacano dialect, but the main one is the massive arrival of the Tagalog-speaking people in the city of Cavite. The educated class has scorned the Chavacano dialect, refusing to speak it, and replace it with the Tagalog language.

One of the poets and Philippine writers, Jesus Balmori expressed himself in Chavacano. He was a great admirer of the dialect and wrote several verses in it. Another admirer of this dialect was Don Jaime de Veyra, the illustrious writer and famous Philippine historian, who feared more than all the probable extinction of the Chavacano when he wrote the following prophetic lines, "I am afraid that the inevitable absorption of the "Tagalog invasion" on one side and the invasion of the English on the other hand, will wipe out or extinguish this inherited Castilian language in existence with his last representatives in the following generation."

Professor Gervacio Miranda who also wrote a book in Chavacano said in his preface the following thing,"My only objective to write this book is to possibly conserve in written form the Chavacano of Cavite for posterity," fearing the extinction of the dialect.

The survival of this hybrid language depends on their people, the people of the city of Cavite, who have inherited this dialect from their ancestors. Some now live in Olongapo City and so far, there are only less than 500 people who could speak this language in the city. According to many opinions, Chavacano was scattered in different places of the Philippine archipelago, only of its sort in the Far East or perhaps in the Hispanic world. Chavacano is also spoken by a majority in Zamboanga City, where its future survival is much more secure.

Economy

Key issues and opportunities

The city is beset by a number of development challenges and has continuously sought to address this within the means available to the city.

Livability

The city has to cope up with the fact that informal settlers would have to be considered in its development plans since 35 of its 84 barangays are lying along the coast of the city. As the city has proven to be vulnerable to effects of sea-level rise and considering that it is lying below sea level, there is also the need to address the saltwater intrusion that affects the city’s supply of potable water. It becomes evident that an essential component of the city’s envisioned development is the provision of an alternative route that would help the city become accessible via land or sea transport. The operation of Ferry Services from Cavite City to the Mall of Asia is an initial step towards that direction.

Sangley Point Development Project

The Sangley Point Development Project aims to transform Sangley Point into an international logistics hub with a modern airport and seaport through Executive Order no. 629 of 2007, directing the Philippine Reclamation Authority to execute the plan.

Symbols

Seal

The seal of Cavite City

The current seal of the city was designed by Mayor Timoteo O. Encarnacion, Jr. It was adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod through Resolution No. 140-90, then approved by the Local Executive on September 7, 1990. On November 3, 1993, the National Historical Institute and the president, through the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a Certificate of Registration recognizing the new seal.

The shield stands for bravery and fortitude. The colors red, white, blue, yellow stand for the loyalty of the people to its government. The inclusion of the rays portrays the role of Cavite as one of the original provinces that rose up in arms against Spanish domination in 1896 in the Philippine Revolution.

The white triangle inscribed within the shield with the letters KKK at the corners represents the part played by The city in the organization of the Katipunan. Don Ladislao Diwa of the city was one of the triumvirate who organized the patriotic group. Many Katipuneros came from the city.

Within the white triangle are symbols representing various events:

• At the bottom of the triangle is a fort with figures "1872" symbolizing the Cavite mutiny of 1872 at the Cavite Arsenal.
• At the background is a map of the city including the island of Corregidor representing the role of the island in the city's history.
• The obelisk at the left memorializes the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite who were executed by the Spaniards on September 12, 1896.
• The sheet music at the right symbolizes Julián Felipe, composer of the Philippine National Anthem who was from the city, .
• The fort symbol representing the Royal Fort of San Felipe and its role in the city and country's history being the place where the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite were detained and where the Cavite mutiny of 1872 took place.
• The scroll on the uppermost portion of the triangle contains the City motto "Para Dios y Patria" ("For God and Country") in Chabacano dialect to emphasize the native dialect of the city.
• The green laurel leaf encircling the right and left portions of the KKK triangle symbolizes victories by reason.

Flag

City flag of Cavite

The flag of the city created by Mayor Timoteo O. Encarnacion, Jr. and was adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod through Resolution No. 95-081 dated September 6, 1995 in time for the 55th Cavite City Charter Day. The meaning, symbol and significance of the flag components:

• The two red strips symbolize courage and bravery.
• The middle green strip symbolizes progress and advancement
• The half sun has a twofold meaning. If the rising sun, it means the hope, dreams and visions for progress. If the setting sun, it stands for the sunset that can be seen in the city's western shores.
• The five yellow stars symbolize the five districts of Cavite City.
• The three sets of waves below the half sun, in three colors of navy blue, light blue and white. It signifies that Cavite City is a peninsula surrounded by water while the three colors represent Cañacao Bay, Bacoor Bay and Manila Bay.

Education

Main category: Schools in Cavite City

Elementary

• Bagumbuhay Elementary School
• Corregidor Elementary School
• Dalahican Elementary School
• Estansuela Elementary School
• Garita Elementary School
• Julian Felipe Elementary School
• Ladislao Diwa Elementary School
• Manuel Rojas Elementary School
• Ovidio Dela Rosa Elementary School
• Porta Vaga Elementary School
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Elementary School
• Sangley Elementary School
• Santa Cruz Elementary School
• Dasmarinas I Central School
• Dasmarinas II Central School

Private

2

High school

Public

• Cavite National High School
• Sangley Point National High School
• Dasmarinas National Hig School
• Dasmarinas North National High School

Private

2

Tertiary education

Public

• Cavite State University, Cavite City Campus
• Cavite City Technical and Vocational School

Private

• San Sebastian College – Recoletos de Cavite
• St. Joseph College Cavite City
• St. Gregory

Notable people from Cavite City

• Julian Felipe
• Ladislao Diwa
• Joel Lamangan
• Emmanuel "Sonny" Sugatan
• Ferdinand Topacio
• Ronald Cayetano
• Wilma Doesn't
• DJ eL Reynolds
• I.L Noval
• Ronaile A. Miranda
• Kesz Váldez
• Efren Peñaflorida
• Leopoldo Salcedo
• Nash Aguas
• Celeste Legaspi
• Ronnie Del Carmen

Sister cities

Cavite City has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

• Ceuta, Spain
• Chilpancingo, Mexico
• Melilla, Spain
• San Diego, California, United States
• Tainan, Taiwan

External links

• Official Cavite City Government website
• Official Website of the Cavite City Library and Museum
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information