Bacoor

Bacoor
Component City
City of Bacoor Lungsod ng Bacoor
Aerial view of Bacoor with SM City Bacoor in the foreground
Seal
Nickname(s): Cavite's Gateway to the Metropolis Marching Band Capital of the Philippines City of Transformation
Map of Cavite showing the location of Bacoor
Bacoor Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°27′N 120°57′E / 14.450°N 120.950°E / 14.450; 120.950Coordinates: 14°27′N 120°57′E / 14.450°N 120.950°E / 14.450; 120.950
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Cavite
Congr. districts	2nd District of Cavite
Incorporated	September 28, 1671
Cityhood	June 23, 2012
Barangays	73
Government[1]
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Strike B. Revilla (Lakas-Magdalo)
• Vice Mayor	Catherine S. Evaristo (Lakas-Magdalo)
• Representative	Lani Mercado-Revilla (Lakas)
• City Council	Councilors First District • Avelino B. Solis • Edwin G. Gawaran • Miguel N. Bautista • Rowena M. Bautista-Mendiola • Reynaldo M. Fabian • Venus G. De Castro Second District • Reynaldo C. Palabarica • Hernando C. Gutierrez • Gaudencio P. Nolasco • Bayani M. De Leon • Leandro A. De Leon • Roberto R. Javier
Area[2]
• Total	52.40 km2 (20.23 sq mi)
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	520,216
• Density	9,900/km2 (26,000/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4102
Dialing code	46
Website	www.bacoor.gov.ph

Bacoor, officially the City of Bacoor (Filipino: Lungsod ng Bacoor), is a first-class urban component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is a lone congressional district of Cavite and is the province's gateway to Metro Manila.

History

Spanish period

Some accounts indicate that the city of Bacoor, also named Bakood or Bakoor was founded as pueblo or town in 1671. When Spanish troops first arrived in Bacoor, they met some local inhabitants in the process of building a bamboo fence (bakod in Filipino) around a house. The Spaniards asked the men what the name of the village was but because of the difficulties in understanding each other, the local inhabitants thought that the Spaniards were asking what they were building. The men answered "bakood". The Spaniards pronounced it as "bacoor" which soon became the town's name.^[4]

Revolutionary period

During the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896, Bacoor is one of the first towns in Cavite to rise up. A Katipunan chapter, codenamed Gargano, led by Gil Ignacio from barrio Banalo, started the hostilities in Bacoor on 2 September 1896, three days after the revolution began.^[5]

On 17 February 1897, General Emilio Aguinaldo's 40,000-strong force confronted a 20,000-strong Spanish reinforcement at the Zapote River. The Katipuneros reinforced the southern bank of the river with trenches designed by Filipino engineer Edilberto Evangelista. They also blew up the Zapote Bridge with explosives which killed several Spaniards crossing it and thereby preventing them from reaching Cavite and forcing them to retreat to Muntinlupa. Despite the Filipino victory, they lost the brilliant Evangelista who was killed in action.^[5][6]

However, after the Spanish counteroffensive in May 1897, Bacoor and the rest of Cavite finally fell to the Spaniards, forcing Aguinaldo and his men to retreat to Biak-na-Bato.^[5]

American period

With the Philippine declaration of independence from Spain on 12 June 1898, hostilities reignited in Cavite and Bacoor was designated as the first capital of Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary government until it was transferred to Malolos, Bulacan in 1899.^[5] The Zapote Bridge became the site once again of another battle on 13 June 1899, this time between Philippine and American troops. An American force of 1,200 men supported by naval gunfire from the American squadron in Manila Bay crushed a 5,000-strong Filipino force led by General Pío del Pilar.^[7][8] Zapote Bridge's special place in Philippine history is depicted today in Bacoor's city seal.

Japanese occupation

During World War II, in 1942, Japanese occupation forces entered Bacoor and other towns of Cavite province. From 1942 to 1945, many Caviteños joined the Cavite Guerrilla Unit (CGU), a recognized guerrilla group headed by Colonel Mariano Castañeda. This group would eventually become the Filipino-American Cavite Guerrilla Forces (FACGF). Colonel Francisco Guerrero and the FACGF's 2nd Infantry Regiment was put in charge of Japanese resistance in Bacoor. The FAGCF, together with Filipino soldiers under the 41st, 4th, and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army liberated and recaptured Bacoor and defeated the Japanese Imperial Army forces from January to August 1945, during the Allied liberation of the Philippines.^[9]

Cityhood

On 25 July 2011, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10160 creating the City of Bacoor.^[10] It was ratified through a plebiscite on 23 June 2012,^[11] wherein 36, 226 of the town's 40,080 registered voters voted in favor of cityhood while those against were 3,854.^[12] With the incorporation of Bacoor as a city, it was divided into two legislative districts, Bacoor West and Bacoor East. During the 2013 mid-term elections, the citizens of Bacoor voted for six councilors for each districts forming a 12-person city council.

Geography

Physical

Bacoor is strategically located at the gateway to Metro Manila. A sub-urban area, the city is located approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Manila, on the southeastern shore of Manila Bay, at the northwest portion of the province with an area of 52.4 square kilometers. It is bordered to the east by Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, to the south by Dasmariñas, to the west by Kawit and Imus, and to the north by Bacoor Bay an inlet of Manila Bay. Bacoor's is separated from Las Piñas by the Zapote River and from Imus and Kawit by Bacoor River.

Most of the city is composed of flat, formerly agricultural lands, with some areas such as the coastal barangays of Zapote, Talaba, Niog, and Panapaan lying below sea level. Some barangays such as Molino and Queens Row are situated on the hills that form valleys along the upstream portion of Zapote River.

Political subdivisions

Bacoor City is politically subdivided into 73 barangays^[13] grouped into two legislative district namely, Bacoor West and Bacoor East, which are represented in the city council by their respective councilors.

Bacoor West

Bacoor East

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification system, Bacoor features a tropical savanna climate that borders on a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Aw/Am). Together with the rest of the Philippines, Bacoor lies entirely within the tropics. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very small, rarely going lower than 20 °C (68 °F) and going higher than 38 °C (100 °F) . However, humidity levels are usually very high which makes it feel much warmer. It has a distinct dry season from late December through April, and a relatively lengthy wet season that covers the remaining period. Southwest monsoon or Habagat can occur from June to September and can cause flooding in parts of the city.

Climate data for Bacoor, Cavite
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (90)	34 (93)	34 (93)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	31.8 (89.4)
Average low °C (°F)	24 (75)	24 (75)	25 (77)	27 (81)	27 (81)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	25.6 (78.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	32.9 (1.295)	31.7 (1.248)	28.2 (1.11)	26.9 (1.059)	188.9 (7.437)	225.7 (8.886)	420.0 (16.535)	377.9 (14.878)	332.4 (13.087)	145.1 (5.713)	128.8 (5.071)	76.3 (3.004)	2,014.8 (79.323)
Avg. rainy days	6	6	4	4	12	18	21	23	21	17	14	10	156
Source: World Weather Online[14]

Demographics

Population census of Bacoor
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	159,685	—
1995	250,821	+8.83%
2000	305,699	+4.33%
2007	441,197	+5.19%
2010	520,216	+6.18%

According to the 2010 census of population, Bacoor has a population of 520,216 people,^[3] making it the second most populous city in the province after Dasmariñas. The city is a bedroom community which owes its large population to the influx of low and middle-income settlers who availed of the various housing projects and subdivisions in it.^[15]

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Bacoor, which part of the Diocese of Imus. The city is the seat of the Vicariate of St. Michael, the Archangel and the Vicariate of Sto. Niño de Molino. One of Bacoor's notable parish priests is Fr. Mariano Gómez, one-third of the GomBurZa triumvirate implicated in the Cavite Mutiny and then parish priest of the Bacoor Cathedral.

During the Philippine Revolution, some of Bacoor's inhabitants became members of the Philippine Independent Church also known as the Aglipayan Church, the religious arm of General Emilio Aguinaldo's government. The Aglipayan church has a long and colorful history in the city. It is one of the first Catholic congregations in the Philippines to join the new movement and then Catholic priest Fr. Fortunato Clemena became the first Aglipayan priest, as well as the first Aglipayan Bishop of Cavite, during the Aglipayan Schism period. Most of the first members were Katipuneros headed by General Mariano Noriel who is also the first president of the laymen organization.

A significant population of Muslims (mostly middle-class Maranao traders and stall owners) is located around Zapote and Molino where local mosques are located. A number of Protestant Christian denominations such as Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (Molino Outstation), United Methodist Church, and Evangelical Christian Denominations such as Molino Community Christian Fellowship (Southern Baptist), Jesus Is Lord Church, and Lighthouse Worship Center can also be found in the city.

Local government

Mayors of Bacoor, Cavite

Luis Landas, 1908–1909

Gregorio De Guia, 1912–1915

Hilarion Guzman, 1916–1919

Simon Reyes, 1919–1922

Francisco Gaudier, 1925–1928

Marcelo Miranda, 1925–1930

Eduardo Ocampo, 1931–1934

Marcelo Miranda, 1942–1945

Dr. Generoso Sarino, 1946–1947

Arsenio Castillo, 1948–1954

Benigno Guinto, 1954–1960, 1963–1967

Pablo G. Sarino, 1960–1963, 1967–1986

Angelito Miranda, 1988, assassinated a few days later

Buencamino Cruz, 1988–1992

Victor I. Miranda, 1992–1996

Jose Ignacio Francisco, 1996–1998

Jessie B. Castillo, 1998–2007

Strike B. Revilla, 2007–present

Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,^[16] the city government is to be composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice-mayor (bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Panlungsod alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.

The following are the elected officials of the City of Bacoor for the term 2013–2016:

Representatives, officials and members of the city council

Representative	Lani Mercado-Revilla (Lakas)
Mayor	Strike B. Revilla (Lakas)
Vice Mayor	Catherine "Karen" S. Evaristo (Lakas)
Councilors	Bacoor West	Bacoor East
	Avelino B. Solis	Reynaldo C. Palabarica
	Edwin G. Gawaran	Hernando "King" C. Gutierrez
	Miguel N. Bautista	Gaudencio P. Nolasco
	Rowena M. Bautista-Mendiola	Bayani M. De Leon
	Reynaldo M. Fabian	Leandro A. De Leon
	Venus G. De Castro	Roberto R. Javier
ABC President	Victorio L. Guerrero, Jr. (Salinas II)
Provincial Board Members	Edralin G. Gawaran	Rolando S. Remulla

Economy

Commerce

Bacoor is currently experiencing a rapid shift from an agriculture-based economy to a residential/commercial urban center. Nowadays, retail, manufacturing, banking and service sectors are Bacoor's primary income earners. Commercial activities are sporadic throughout the city ranging from wholesale to retail establishments, restaurants and eateries, hardware and construction supplies and other service-related industries, especially those located in SM City Bacoor where it serves as the city's main income earner. The mostly residential area of Molino is also home to SM Center Molino at the corner of Molino Road and Daang Hari. The entrance area from the Coastal Road to Aguinaldo Highway in Talaba and the area surrounding the Zapote Public Market (now the Bacoor Public Market) are other commercial centers. Bacoor has branches of 11 different commercial banks all over the city.

Meanwhile, agricultural area has lessened to only 100 hectares while fishponds which likewise decreased to almost half of the original 760 hectares. Salt production, fishing, oyster and mussel culture, which are now being threatened to near extinction because of pollution and overpopulation, are the other sources of income of the residents. These industries are also threatened by the construction of the Cavite Coastal Road Extension which will directly affect the Bacoor shoreline.^[17]

Land use

Land use developments in Bacoor include a proposed industrial village in Barangay Niog which will include light cottage industries with supporting residential and commercial facilities. A vast tract of land in Molino area, on the other hand, is envisioned to host residential, institutional and commercial facilities. Dubbed as the New Bacoor, the land use plan in Molino seeks to utilize the area not only as a dormitory for individuals who work in Metro Manila but also for people who have migrated to Bacoor in search of economic advancement.

Tourism

Bacoor also touts itself as a tourism and recreational center with reach of Metro Manila residents. Aside from its numerous shopping malls, the city offers visitors a taste of history, culture, and local cuisine through various resorts, restaurants, and other places of interest. These include:

Places of Interest

Festivals

• Bakood Festival (Araw ng Bacoor): September 29
• Marching Band Festival (Town Fiesta): Second Sunday of May
• Battle of Zapote Bridge Commemoration: February 17

Shopping Malls and Supermarkets

Education

Public Schools

Private Schools

Infrastructure

Transportation

Bacoor is described as a bedroom community with most of its citizens commuting to and from Metro Manila to work. The city is the connected to Metro Manila by major thoroughfares: CAVITEX and Quirino Avenue in the north, Daang Hari in the south, and Marcos Alvarez Avenue in the east.^[18] It is also the terminus of the Aguinaldo Highway and Tirona Highway which connects the city to the rest of Cavite. Common forms of transportation are buses, mini-buses, public utility vans, jeepneys.^[18]

Due to the congestion of Bacoor's major thoroughfares and overpopulation, the city suffers from daily heavy traffic. This hoped to be eased in the future as the city will become the terminus of the Manila Light Rail Transit System once its southern extension has been completed.^[19] Bacoor is also part of the proposed Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALEX), which is currently in the bidding process.^[20]

Health

To address the health concerns of the city's aging population and urban poor population, several public and private hospitals have been established in the city. The local government also initiated a discount program for senior citizens in city wherein they can avail of discounted medical care and medicines in hospitals in and outside of Bacoor.

Bacoor has one major public hospital and 7 major private hospitals aside from a number of small private clinics.

Notable People

• Mariano Noriel, served as general under Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary army during the 1896 Philippine Revolution
• Leon Guinto, former mayor of the City of Manila during the Japanese occupation
• Serafin R. Cuevas, esteemed lawyer and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1984–1986) and Secretary of Justice (1998–2000)
• Diether Ocampo, actor, singer, and model
• Marian Rivera, commercial model and actress
• Wesley So, chess grandmaster and 8th youngest chess grandmaster in history
• Strike Revilla, incumbent mayor of Bacoor
• Manuel R. Pamaran, esteemed lawyer and former presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan from 1978 to 1986, known as "The Hanging Judge" for deciding over high-profile cases using death penalty
• Cesar N. Sarino, former Secretary of Interior and Local Government and former General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
• Pedro F. Espiritu, Governor of the Province of Cavite (1931–1934)
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio, director of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, a full professor of the UP Conservatory of Music, founder and the first president of the Philippine Bandmaster's Association

Sister cities

Local city
Las Piñas City, Philippines Legazpi City, Philippines

Gallery

• 

  Bacoor town plaza

• 

  Downtown Bacoor, known as Poblacion

• 

  Gen. Edilberto Evangelista Avenue

• 

  Aguinaldo Highway

• 

  Fishing boat in Bacoor Bay

• 

  Oyster trade

See also

• Manila-Cavite Expressway

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bacoor.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bacoor.

• City of Bacoor
• Bacoor Information (as retrieved from Cavite.info)
• Official Website of the Provincial Government of Cavite
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information

	Cavite City Bacoor Bay	Manila Bay
	Kawit Imus City		Las Piñas
	Bacoor
		Dasmariñas	Muntinlupa

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