Morong, Rizal

Morong
municipality

Morong Church

Seal
Nickname(s): "Puso ng Rizal"
Motto: Buwis mo ang kailangan, para sa kaunlaran

Map of Rizal showing the location of Morong
Morong

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°30′43″N 121°14′20″E / 14.51194°N 121.23889°E / 14.51194; 121.23889Coordinates: 14°30′43″N 121°14′20″E / 14.51194°N 121.23889°E / 14.51194; 121.23889
Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Rizal
District 2nd District of Rizal
Founded 1572
Barangays 8
Government[1]
 • Mayor Armando DS. San Juan (UNA)
Area[2]
 • Total 37.58 km2 (14.51 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 60,972
 • Density 1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 1960
Dialing code 2
Income class 2nd Class

Morong is a second class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,194 inhabitants.[3] A popular attraction is Spanish-era St. Jerome's Parish Church. The town is also known for featuring the balaw-balaw side dish.

Morong is also known for having education as its priority- "Una Ang Education" (Education first), that is why during the early 70's and early 90's, it became the center of education. Students from different places mostly in the nearby towns of Rizal would come and study in Morong.

History

Morong was considered the province before it was called Rizal. Its original name was Politico Militar Distrito de Morong, which included the towns that make up present-day Rizal province.

Discovery, Founding and Christianization

On January 16, 1572, Captain Juan Maldonado, a trusted officer under Martin de Goiti, a Deputy of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, came to a thriving community by a river while leading a Spanish contingent exploring the areas East of Manila. They named the community, Moron, after a township in Spain. This happened almost a year after Martin De Goit occupied Manila after routing the forces of Rajah Soliman (Sulayman).[4]

The Spaniards found an organized community along both banks of the river but outlying settlements/barangays were in conflict with each other. The barangays were subjugated and the natives Christianized starting1578 by Franciscan missionaries Juan de Placencia and Diego de Oropesa. They constructed chapels (visitas) attached to a bigger settlement to allow religious and civil administration. Later, this settlement was converted into a pueblo. which they called Pueblo de Moron. The letter "g" was added to Moron as years passed. Baras, Tanay, Pililia, Cardona, Binangonan and Teresa were the visitas under Pueblo de Morong.[4]

Pueblo de Morong was made the provincial capital of the Franciscan Order at that time.[4]

The visita of Pilang separated from Morong and became the independent town of Pililia. Binangonan followed in 1621.[4]

Politico-Militar Distrito de Morong

Main article: Distrito de Morong

The Politico-Militar Distrito de Morong or Distrito de Morong was created out of the provinces of Manila and Laguna composing the pueblos of Morong, Pililia, Tanay, Baras, Binangonan, Jalajala, Angono, Cardona, Antipolo, Boso-Boso, Cainta and Taytay.[4]

During the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, each town (pueblo) was admistered by a gobernadorcillo, elected annually by all natives of the locality, subject to the approval of the suerior government in located in Manila. In the 19th century, gobernadorcillos were elected by 12 cabezas de barangay.[4]

In the pueblo of Morong, it was different. A gobernadorcillo was not elected but was appointed by the governor of the province based on his economic wealth, training and educational background. He chose his own people and were not elected to help him with his duties. They did not receive salary but were exempted from paying taxes and doing forced labor.[4]

Public Works Built Under Forced Labor

Puente de San Geronimo

Morong Church and bridge

The original Bridge of Morong was made of adobe stones, shaped and placed together, forming an arch over the river. The strength and stability of the bridge came from the weight of its wedge-shaped stone blocks and its upright position. The stones were cemented with mortar, a mixture of fine sand, lime, molasses and juice of ground puso-puso leaves. Heavy piers of the arch were planted on the opposite banks of the river. No metals were used during its construction from 1696 to 1701.[4]

St. Jerome Parish Church

This church was constructed not only by men, but also women and children. Stones dug from a hill called Kay Ngaya; lime from the stones of the mountain Kay Maputi; sand and gravel from Morong River; and timber were contributed by the townspeople.[4]

Irrigation Works

In 1850, Fr. Maximo Rico drew the plan of the irrigation dam at Uugong where it drew water from the falls and supervised the construction of the irrigation canal from Uugong dam to the ricefield in San Pedro. The canal measured 501 meters long and 2.1 meters deep. Other sources say that the construction started by Franciscan priests in 1848.[4]

Comandancia

La Commandancia

During the period of Spanish colonization, this building housed the Comandacia del Distrito Politico-Militar de Morong, the seat of Government for the Distrito. It was originall made of adobe stones, hard wood and galvanized iron sheets for roofing. During the early American period, it was converted into a school. It was damaged after the second world war, but rebuilt with alterations and continued to be used as a primary school building. It was later torn down and rebuilt using reinforced concrete materials and used as the municipal office building for the government of Morong. In 2011, the local government offices were transferred to the new municipal building in a different location. The Comandancia's second floor has since been converted into a municipal museum.[4]

Bantayan and Torrita

Bantayan was a small guardhouse where civil guards were stationed at the entrance of the town. On the other hand, a torrita was a small tower with bells that provided the signal directed to the central station in front of the Commandancia.[4]

World War I

Tomas Claudio Monument

Tomas M. Claudio a Morong native is listed as a hero in the Philippines; The first Filipino to die in World War I was Private Tomas Mateo Claudio who served with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in the Battle of Château Thierry in France on June 29, 1918. The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor. The main street of the town was also named in his honor.

World War II

During the Japanese occupation of World War II, the Mateo compound, now the Cesar S.D. Mateo clinic was used as a Japanese base. The Puente de San Geronimo (old Morong Bridge) was intentionally blasted by the guerrillas so that Japanese troops could not cross and occupy the Northern part of Morong and Rizal until reinforcements could come. The plan worked for a few days but Japanese troops were eventually able to cross the river at a shallower part Farther downriver. During the Liberation, Filipino troops of the 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary including the recognized guerrillas of the Col. Markings Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC guerrillas liberated and captured the towns in Morong, defeated Japanese forces and forced them to surrender by the end of the War.

Barangays

Morong is politically subdivided into 8 barangays with 3 situated in the poblacion.[2]

San Guillermo

In terms of area, San Guillermo or San Guilmo as locals known is the biggest of the eight barangays of Morong. It borders the towns of Binangonan, Teresa and Tanay. San Guillermo is a farming community with a population of 6,522 and 1,377 total dwellings (2000 census). While majority in the barrio depend on farming as a livelihood, many others are engaged in businesses like garment industry, poultry and piggery.

San Isidro Labrador is the patron Saint of San Guillermo, a feast in his honor is celebrated annually the 15th of May. In 2005, the small chapel of San Isidro Labrador became a full pledge Parish in the Diocese of Antipolo serving 10,500 Catholics.

Also in 2005, San Guillermo National High School was established.

The first wave of San Guillermo immigrants to America came in the early 1900s. San Guillermo natives living in California maintain their cultural heritage by hosting a gathering on Memorial Day in celebration of feast of patron saint San Isidro Labrador. Most San Guillermo natives live in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the feast is alternately celebrated in both cities since its conception in 1979.

AMaybancal

Caballero monument, Barangay AMaybancal

A Barangay in Morong Rizal, Located in the east of the town. The main industries are, Farming, Textile Manufacturing and Food Industry. There are about 8709 people live in this area and the ratio of men to women is 1:2.

San Juan

Barangay San Juan is the center of business and trade in the town of Morong Rizal. It is also said to be the highest remitting income revenue in the whole barangay of the town. This is where famous establishments are seen such as Jollibee,Morong Centerpoint, SM Savemore, RCBC Savings Bank, UCPB Savings Bank, D.I.Y Hardware, Mercury Drugstore,CHICBOY,Mang Inasal,and Infinitea. Other local establishments found in this area are THRIFT MART (former: RoNan grocery store), Camillus chicken, Mateo's bookstore, Morong Doctor's Hospital, Rizal Provincial Hospital, Hernandez bookstore, ERWIN'S boutique, Skin Cellance de Rizal, Supreme Care Medical Diagnostic and Imaging Center Inc., Cesar S.D. Mateo Memorial Clinic, and Cristina Mart. The facade of the St. Jerome's church, a Department of Tourism recognized tourist spot is also located.

San Pedro

Barangay San Pedro is the capital barangay of Morong, Rizal.Barangay San Pedro lies adjacent with the Laguna Bay in the east, bounded at the south with the town of Cardona, on the west by Barangay Bombongan and on the north by Barangay San Jose and Barangay San Juan. Barangay San Pedro has a total land area of 368 has. and around 7,000 populations as of 2010 census.

As a poblacion barangay, the seat of Local Government of Morong are located here. Barangay San Pedro has many establishments such as Morong Public Market, Sea Oil Gasoline Station, PhilOil Gasoline Station, Aldec Agri-Dynamics Company, Era Plaza Restaurant,Emmas Panciteria Restaurant, Kamalig Restaurant, Kainan, Inuman, At iba pa Beer House, "Sabungan", AMA Bank, Macro Bank.

Barangay San Pedro is the center of education in Morong. There are many educational institution that can be found in this barangay namely San Pedro Day Care Center, Jose S. Mapa, St. Claire School, Jesus My Shepperd Montessori School, Renaissance School of Science and Technology, EAST Systems Colleges of Rizal, Inc., and Timoteo A. Reyes Elementary School.

Barangay San Pedro has many beautiful landmarks such as Morong Town Plaza, "Statwa ng Magsasaka",and "Puking Bato" sa Boulevard Park.

Demographics

Population census of Morong
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 32,165—    
1995 36,048+2.16%
2000 42,489+3.59%
2007 50,538+2.42%
2010 52,194+1.18%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

Religion

60% of the population in Morong Rizal is composed of Roman Catholics. Other religions in town are the following:

Landmarks

The view of old Uugong falls at the Uugong park resort owned by Rafael Pacheco
Uugong Park now has a resort made and owned by a local artist named Rafael Pacheco, who is known not only locally but internationally because of his paintings. His medium for his paintings are his fingers. The resort does not use the old falls anymore, instead two pools were made, inside the resort you can view the now dead waterfalls and its river. Interesting in the new Uugong resort are the displayed collection of paintings and sculpture of Mr. Pacheco.

Culture and Tradition

St. Jerome image displayed at the main altar of the church during his feast day.
The main tableau of the 2010 Pabasang Bayan in Morong

Artistry

Kayas Kawayan An Art made of Bamboo..

Morong is also known for its "Kayas Kawayan". The town is the first and is known to make beautiful Baluwartes, an art made of bamboo, with intricate designs. Usually used during special events such as weddings, cordero, and fiestas, its usually found in the entrance gate of the event. During cordero, the lamb- which is made of cake, sweet potatoes and potatoes, is placed and processioned around the town until the church in a small kayas kawayan, carried by men, adorned with flowers. Now this art is being copied by the nearby towns.

Games

Some of the famous games in Morong Rizal are the following. This dates from 1940's-1997.

References

  1. ↑ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 11 September 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Province: RIZAL". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pascual, Timoteo; Guillermo, Liwayway (1978). Morong's 400 Years. Manila: UST Press.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morong, Rizal.
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