Cavite City
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Cavite City is one of the cities of the province of Cavite in the Philippines. The city occupies a hook shaped peninsula jutting out into Manila Bay. Cavite City used to be the capital of the province. The historic island of Corregidor and the adjacent islands and detached rocks found at the mouth of Manila Bay is part of the city's territorial jurisdiction. Only few places in the Philippines can boast of a rich historical and cultural heritage that Cavite City have mustered.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
2003 local census— 103,936
The city lies 35 kilometers southwest from Manila by road. It borders the municipality of Noveleta to the south. The peninsula encloses Bacoor Bay to the southeast and Cañacao Bay to the northeast, both small parts of Manila Bay. 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. The Sangley Point Naval Base is part of the city and occupies the northernmost portion of the peninsula. This used to be an American military naval base and has since been converted into a special Philippine military base.
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City Identity
The Great Seal of Cavite City
Although the former seal of Cavite City has well served its purpose as a symbol of unity, it does not however place Cavite City in the proper historical perspective. A new seal was designed by Mayor Timoteo O. Encarnacion, Jr. 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 Great Seal of Cavite City. Shown here is the new great seal of Cavite City. The symbols stands for:
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Shield or Escudo. It stands for bravery and fortitude.
Colors RED, WHITE and BLUE, and the YELLOW of the sun's rays. It stands for the loyalty of the people of Cavite City to its government. The inclusion of the rays portray the role of Cavite as one of the original provinces who rose up in arms against Spanish domination in 1896. It also describes the fact that the western shores of the city occurs one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Philippines.
The white triangle inscribed within the escudo with the letters KKK at the corners. It represents the part played by Cavite City in the organization of the Katipunan. Don Ladislao Diwa of the city was one of the triumvirate who organized the patriotic group. There were many Katipuneros from this place.
Within the white triangle are the events represented by significant symbols:
1. At the bottom of the triangle is a fort with figures "1872". It symbolizes the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 at the Arsenal de Cavite.
2. At the background is a map of Cavite City, including the island of Corregidor. It represents the heroic and epic struggle of Corregidor as a part and parcel of the glorious history of the City.
3. The monument at the left of the center. It memorializes the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite who were executed by the Spaniards on September 12, 1896.
4. The musical paper sheet at the right of the center. It remembers Don Julian Felipe, composer of the Philippine National Anthem.
5. The sketch of the Royal Fort of San Felipe. It represents the important role it played in the city and country's history being the place where the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite were detained and the Fort where the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 took place.
6. Scroll on the uppermost portion of the triangle is the City motto, in Chabacano dialect - "Para Dios y Patria" (For God and Country in English, Para sa Diyos at Bayan in Filipino). It is in Chabacano to emphasize the native dialect of the City, which is one of its great heritage.
7. The green laurel leaf encircling the right and left portions of the KKK triangle. It symbolizes the victories of the people of Cavite City by reason not only of their bravery in times of war but likewise the progress achieved through all these historical years.
The entire design is meant to be a tribute to the fortitude of the Caviteños and their willingness to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, for their country. As a whole it represents loyalty, liberty, justice, hope, peace and progress, the virtues and aspirations of a true blooded Caviteño.
The City Flag
The flag of the city was conceptualized, designed and interpreted 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.
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The meaning, symbol and significance of the flag components:
1. The two red strips. They symbolize and signify the abounding courage and bravery of the Caviteños not only in times of war, but also in times of peace. The abounding courage to shed blood, to die for the protection of their country and also to defend and die for its values and principles. It likewise sybolizes and signifies the abounding courage to change for the better, the best and the common good. The courage and the bravery to uphold the noble values, tradition and culture of our country and people; and lastly the courage and bravery to fight for the progress of the city and the country under the principle of justice, liberty and democracy and under the divine guidance of the Almighty God.
2. The middle green strip. It symbolizes and signifies the progress and advancement achieved so far by the city, and the vision and dreams to achieve further progress under a regime of justice, liberty and democracy under the protection of God.
3. The half sun. It has a two-fold meaning. If the rising sun, it means the hope, dreams and visions of Caviteños for material, physical, moral and spiritual progress; and if the setting sun, to project the fact of the beautiful sunset that can be seen in the city's western shores.
4. The five yellow or gold stars. It symbolizes the five districts comprising Cavite City, namely: San Roque including Fort San Felipe, San Antonio including Sangley Point and the Corregidor and nearby Islands, Caridad, Santa Cruz and Dalahican up to Calero Creek.
5. 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 represents the three bays surrounding the City, namely Cañacao, Bacoor and Manila Bays.
The Cavite City Hymn
The City Hymn was composed by Kagawad Dominador D. Hugo in a hymn writing competition sponsored by the Cavite City Government together with the Division of City Schools on August 31, 1978. Adjudged by Professor Felipe Padilla de Leon and concurred by the City Council through Resolution No. 83, the hymn was officially recognized on October 2, 1978.
The original version of the hymn was translated by Dr. Enrique R. Escalante, a prominent Caviteño, into Chabacano on September 1997, in preparation for the celebration of the Centennial of Philippine Independence.
Himno ng Lungsod ng Cavite
By: Hon. Dominador D. Hugo
(Music and Lyrics)
Ang lungsod kong pinagmulan
Ay dakila sa Silangan
Ito ay pugad ng mga bayaning kay rangal
Nangasawi sa gitna ng karimlan.
Lungsod Cavite, Kami ay narito
Magtatanggol sa dakilang ngalan Mo
Sa gitna ng lungkot at madlang saya
Kaming lahat ay sama-sama.
Lungsod Cavite na aming mahal
Ikaw'y ligaya nitong buhay
Lungsod Cavite na aming sinta
Ikaw'y mabuhay sa t'wi-t'wina.
Himno del Ciudad de Cavite
Dr. Enrique R. Escalante
(Chabacano Lyrics)
El ciudad donde yo ya naci
Muchos hijos qui ya muri
No mas ya pudi ilos sufri que ta haci
Masque el vida no bale mas pirdi.
Ciudad Cavite, ta'qui todos nisos
Para el otro ta pudi sabi
Na todo'l tiempo, na todo'l occasion
Siempre junto nisos de aqui.
Ciudad Cavite, el inspiracion
Di niso vida y corazon
Ciudad Cavite, hasta qui muri
Ta dali gracias nisos aqui.
The Cavite City March
On July 13, 2000, Mayor Timoteo O. Encarnacion, Jr. endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the March composition of Maestro Rosauro M. Villareal, a renowned Caviteño artist and composer for the possible adoption as the official Cavite City March. After consultation, analysis and study made by the City Council and by knowledgeable people in the field of music, the City Mayor approved Resolution No. 00-81 on August 10, 2000 adopting the composition of the late Maestro Rosauro M. Villareal as the official March of the City.
After its approval, Mr. Victor Rufino, an employee from the Mayor's Office, wrote the lyrics of the March.
Cavite City March
Music by Maestro Rosauro M. Villareal
Lyrics by Victor Rufino
I.
The Cradle of our country's revolution,
Land of noble heroes and patriots.
Intrepid souls that here abounds,
Are threats to any aggression.
II.
A vanguard of our independence,
A partner to protect and defend.
Virtues of courage and determination,
Would push our goals to end.
CHORUS:
Cavite City, My place, my home,
Privileged and honored I would be.
To serve it's cherished tradition,
Of bravery and loyalty. (Repeat I-III)
III.
A vanguard of our independence,
Always ready to protect and defend.
Caviteños, Caviteños let us stand proud
Worthy of our history.
Brief History
Pre-Spanish Period
The name Cavite evolved from the word "Kawit" or "Cauit," meaning hook, refering to the shape of the 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.
There are several names, which were attributed to the present-day Cavite City. Its early settlers, who were Tagalogs, called it "Tangway," meaning peninsula and the people from other places refer to it as Kawit, because it looked like a sharp-edge part of the hook-shaped land along the coast of Bacoor Bay. It is almost entirely surrounded by water namely the three bays, Cañacao on the northeast, Bacoor on the southeast and Manila on the northwest. It is connected by a narrow isthmus to the mainland, giving it the shape of a hook or kawit. In fact, the Chinese traders or the Sangleyes who came here to do business with the natives called it Keit, a clear corruption of the word Kawit. According to folklores and legends, the earliest settlers came from Borneo, led by Gat Hinigiw and his wife Dayang Kaliwanag who bore seven children. Archaelogical evidences in the coastal areas show prehistoric settlements.
Spanish Period
When the Spaniards came and settled in the most populated area of the place (the present day Kawit), they christened it as Cavite. While the old Tangway, which was at its northern tip, was called "Cavite la Punta" meaning "Tip of Cavite". When they discovered Cavite la Punta to be a suitable place for the repair of their ships and galleons, they called this place Cavite Nuevo (New Cavite) and decided to move their settlement here. It was until the year 1614, when the Spaniards fortified the place with Muralla (high thick walls) and surrounded it with moats, the place was called Puerto de Cavite (port of Cavite).
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Cavite City was given royal encomienda or land grant in May of 1571 by the spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, which was named Cavite la Punta. Cavite la Punta was christened Cavite el Puerto also known as Cavite Nuevo, when the Spaniards discovered that Cavite la Punta was a suitable place for the repair and construction of their ships and galleons. Puerto de Cavite was linked to the history of world trade. Spanish galleons sailed every July to Acapulco, Mexico. Between 1609 and 1616 the galleons Espiritu Santo and San Miguel were constructed in the shipyard of Puerto de Cavite. In 1590 the surrounding walls (muralla) and Fuerte Guadalupe on the south side were built. The forts of San Felipe Neri and Porta Vaga were constructed in 1595 and was respectively completed in 1602. It was also a haven for churches, convents and hospitals. The Franciscan Hospital de San Jose was built for sailors and soldiers in 1591, the San Diego de Alcala convent in 1608, the Porta Vaga (La Ermita), San Juan de Dios, Santo Domingo, Santa Monica (Recolletos) and San Pedro, the port's parish church. 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.
At the height of the world-famous Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, which made Puerto de Cavite the point of entry and departure of Spanish galleons that brought many foreign travelers on it shores, Puerto de 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 to search for gold.
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It was also during those times when it was called "Tierra de Maria Santisima" because of the popularity of the Marian devotion in this place.
Political History
The early inhabitants of Cavite City were the Tagalogs ruled by the Kampilan and the bullhorn of a datu, the tribal form of government.
During the Spanish Administration, the place was under an "Administradores Civiles" called "Gobernadorcillo", which was later called "Capitan Municipal", assisted by a "Teniente Mayor", a "Teniente Segundo", a "Teniente Tercero", a "Teniente del Barrio" and a "Cabeza de Barangay".
Cavite City was founded as town in 1614. San Roque was added and founded as a town also in 1614. It was placed under the civil administration of Cavite el Puerto until it was granted a right to be a separate and an independent pueblo 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.
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In 1898, when the Americans came, the place was used as the seat of the U.S. Naval Forces in the Philippines. Government Administration was under the 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 Puerto de Cavite, Don Francisco Basa for San Roque, and Don Jose Raqueño Bautista for Caridad.
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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 composed of Consejales.
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 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.
Under the Philippine Commonwealth, Assemblyman Manuel S. Rojas sponsored Commonwealth Act No. 547 creating Cavite as a chartered city. Upon approval into law on September 7, 1940, the executive function of the city was vested on an appointive City Mayor who holds office at the pleasure of the President of the Philippine Commonwealth. Moreover, legislative functions as provided for in the charter 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.
In 1941, Japanese Imperial Forces bombed the city to destroy the US Naval Installations. The Japanese appointed at least two City Mayors of Cavite City. Again in 1945, the US bombarded the Japanese forces stationed here. After the liberation, the city's local administration went back to normal.
Republic Act No. 981, passed by Congress in 1954, transferred the capital of the Province from Cavite City to 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 these City Officials were held in 1963.
External link
- Satellite photo, from March, 2004 (http://archive.spaceimaging.com/ikonos/2/kpms/2004/03//browse.233666.crss_sat.0.0.jpg)
Cavite City website by Ñol Roger Santos (http://www.rogersantos.org/kabite.html)
Cavite City Library and Museum (http://www.cavitecitylibrary.home.ph)