EXPLAINED: The Old Rizal Province And Its Towns (And The Creation Of Metro Manila)

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Did you know that most of the cities in Metro Manila today was part of Rizal Province before?

Many people today are still puzzled as to why there is a place in Pasig called Capitolio (now spelled as Kapitolyo). The name itself implies that Pasig was once a capital city. But of what, Metro Manila or nearby Rizal Province? If Pasig was indeed the capital of Rizal Province, then why is it in Metro Manila?

Here's an explanation to what happened in the old Rizal Province and how it was dismembered and how Metro Manila was created.

PROVINCE OF TONDO

Tagalog settlement arrived some time in the pre-Spaniard period. The provincial territory began with the organization of the Tondo province and Laguna province during the Spanish administration. Some of the towns like Pasig, Parañaque, Taytay and Cainta were already thriving.

Aerial shot of Laguna de Bay in 2020

From the reports of the Encomiendas in 1582-1583, the Encomiendas of Moron (Morong) was under the jurisdiction of La Laguna and, the Encomiendas of Passi (Pasig), Taitay (Taytay) and Tagui (Taguig) belonged to the Province of Tondo.

It was recorded that in 1591, the Encomiendas of Moron and Taitay were under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Order in the Province of La Laguna; and the Encomiendas of Nabotas (Navotas), Tambobo (Malabon), Tondo, Parañaque (then La Huerta, Parañaque), Longalo (Don Galo, Parañaque), Tagui and Pasig were under the jurisdiction of the Augustinians in the Province of Tondo.

Map of the Province of Tondo 1820’s

CREATION OF DISTRITO POLITICO-MILITAR DE MORONG

In 1853, a new political subdivision was formed. This consisted of the towns of Antipolo (now a city), Bosoboso, Cainta and Taytay from the Province of Tondo; and the towns of Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, Angono, Binangonan and Jalajala from the Province of La Laguna, with the capital at Morong.

This district was later changed to Distrito Politico-Militar de Morong after four years.

The map of the Provinces of Manila and Morong from Atlas de Filipinas 1899

THE BIRTH OF PROVINCE OF MANILA

In 1860, by virtue of Circular No. 83, dated September 2, 1859, the Province of Tondo became the Province of Manila. All its towns were placed under the administration, fiscal supervision and control of the Governor of the new province.

Map of Province of Manila in 1899

The town of Mariquina (Marikina) became the capital of the Province of Manila during the tenure of the revolutionary government of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. The Province of Morong had for its capital the town of Antipolo for the period 1898-1899, and the town of Tanay for 1899-1900.

Antipolo church 1898

On February 6, 1901, the First Philippine Commission sought to establish civil government in the country through a provincial organization act after the Filipino-Spanish and Filipino-American conflicts.

Therefore, on June 5, 1901, a historic meeting was held at the Pasig Catholic Church for the organization of a civil government in the Provinces of Manila and Morong, with 221 delegates in attendance. The first Philippine Commission, headed by William Howard Taft and composed of Commissioners Luke E. Wright, Henry C. Ide, Bernard Moses and Dean C. Worcester, discussed with the Assembly the issue of whether or not to write the Province of Manila with Morong Province, was not self-sufficient to operate as a separate province.

Although the delegates from Morong, Hilarion Raymundo and José Tupas, objected to the proposal, Juan Sumulong of Antipolo strongly advocated the move. After much acrimonious debate and upon the suggestion of Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera the body agreed on the creation of a new province independent of the Province of Manila. The new province was aptly named after Jose Rizal, the country's national hero.

CREATION OF RIZAL PROVINCE

Map of Rizal Province in the 1950s

On June 11, 1901, the province of Rizal was officially and legally created by virtue of an Act No. 137 by the First Philippine Commission which during the time was acting as the unicameral legislative body in the island of Luzon.

The new province was composed of 29 municipalities, 17 from the old Province of Manila (Caloocan, Las Piñas, Mariquina (Marikina), Montalban (Rodriguez), Muntinlupa, Navotas, Novaliches, Parañaque, Pasig, Pateros, Pineda (Pasay), San Felipe Neri (Mandaluyong), San Juan del Monte (San Juan), San Mateo, San Pedro Macati (Makati), Taguig, Tambobong (Malabon); and 12 from the Politico-Militar District of Morong (Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Antipolo, Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Pililla, Tanay, Taytay and Teresa).

The City of Manila from the old Province of Manila was treated as a separate entity. The seat of the provincial government was Pasig.

Ortigas Center at night in Pasig in 2000's

In year 1939, Quezon City was established, which included parts of Caloocan, and later on, Novaliches and parts of Marikina and San Juan towns.

Cheapest Flights and Airline Tickets Online Booking

These are the old municipalities and their municipal halls under Rizal Province (Photos are taken sometime in 1936):

ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA

DISMEMBERMENT OF RIZAL PROVINCE AND THE BIRTH OF METRO MANILA

On 7 November 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, the 12 most progressive towns of Rizal were incorporated in the newly formed Metro Manila, eventually becoming the seat of government which is now officially known as the National Capital Region.

Busy hours in Ayala Ave. in Makati City in 2020's

Those 12 towns were: Las Piñas, Makati, Malabón, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupà, Navotas, Parañaque, Pásig, Pateros, San Juan, and Taguig. It also included the town of Valenzuela (formerly the town of Polô in Bulacán Province) as well as the four cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, and Pásay.

Bonifacio Global City, a bustling CBD in Taguig in 2010's

On June 19, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11475, which designated Antipolo as the official capital of Rizal.

Also in Rizal Province

ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA

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WHERE TO STAY IN RIZAL:

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