Friday, March 04, 2016

Caloocan city

Caloocan City (is the third most populous city in the Philippines. It is one of the 16 cities that comprise the Philippines' National Capital Region of Metropolitan Manila. It was formerly a part of the Province of Rizal of the Philippines' Southern Luzon Region. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 1,489,040. For so long, the city's name is colloquially spelled as Kalookan. The city comprises what is known as the CAMANAVA area along with cities Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela.

History

The city’s name derivation has a story behind. It’s said to have come from the Tagalog term “lo-ok”, which means “bay”, as Caloocan is just close to the Manila Bay. Others followed another version that “lo-ok” referred to “corner” because the town was concretely located “at the corner” in early days.
Historical accounts tell us that Chinese and Indians were the first settlers of Caloocan. Their features are mostly dull-colored with slim beard, flat nose and black eyes. Most dwellers in the past worked as fishermen especially those residing in Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas and Manila Bay areas. Those huge rural areas like Maysilo Estate were possessed by the Jesuits while Piedad was owned by Don Pedro de Galarraga. Cruz and Naligas Estates were possessed by the friars. The first terrain of Caloocan stretched up to the foothills of Marikina, Tala Rivers, San Francisco del Monte, Sampalok, Sta. Cruz, Tondo and Tanza.
The first Catholic Church in Caloocan was erected in 1765 by the Spanish Augustinian scholars who made it to “lo-ok” in 1762, but in 1814, religious governance was assumed by the Recollects. Caloocan started to grow in 1802 that led to its becoming a municipality in 1815. The door for economic progress opened when the railroad project connecting Manila and Dagupan was fulfilled in 1892. It made business transactions quicker and brought Caloocan closer to the bustling Metro Manila. In 1896, however, the people of Caloocan with the leadership of Andres Bonifacio rebelled against the Spaniards. It resulted in numerous revolutions one after another in all provinces of the Philippines.
Eventually, Spain ceded the nation in 1898, but the Americans arrived. It was another test for Caloocan to get through. Periods of reconstruction were experienced. New roads, public schools and railways were erected. Later, Caloocan had to endure three years of Japanese invasion. When Philippine Independence was proclaimed in 1946, Caloocan gained its authentic freedom after all.
It’s also important to note that the galleon trade history in Caloocan contributed to its growth. The export and import of products resulted to the coming in of Mexican money. It mutually improved the economies of Manila and Acapulco. Export products generated by Caloocan businessmen were in great demand for this trade. This growth continued as years went by, and now, Caloocan is harvesting the fruits of its labor.

Geography

Caloocan is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the Manila and is bounded by Malabon and Valenzuela to the north and west, Navotas to the west, and Quezon City to the east. Northern Caloocan City is the northernmost territory of Metro Manila which most residents call it Novaliches, Caloocan City; it lies east of Valenzuela, north of Quezon City, and south of San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan and Marilao in the province of Bulacan. Caloocan's northern part is much larger than its southern half.

Territorial controversy

Caloocan once encompassed a much bigger area without being bisected into north and south.The district of Balintawak, La Loma and Novaliches were once part of Caloocan. Balintawak is a historic district because it was the original site of the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" (Unang Sigaw sa Balintawak) at a location called "Kang-kong" near Tandang Sora's house. Novaliches was an expansive sector with some hillsides that served as meeting places and hideouts for Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan.

By the 1920s, the consolidation of several municipalities, Caloocan had annexed the neighbouring town of Novaliches, as stated in the Act 942, as amended by Acts 984 and 1008 of the Philippine Commission, bringing its total area to about 15,000 hectares extended to the foothills of Marikina, San Mateo and Montalban in the east; Tinajeros, Tanza and Tala rivers in the North; San Francisco del Monte, Sampalok, Sta. Cruz and Tondo in the south; and Dagat-Dagatan or Aromahan in the west.

When Quezon City was created in 1939, 1,500 hectares of land from Caloocan, the following barrios or sitios namely: Balintawak, Balingasa, Kaingin, Kangkong, La Loma, Malamig, Matalahib, Masambong, Galas, San Isidro, San Jose, Santol and Tatalon, was to be given to the new capital city. Instead of opposing it, Caloocan residents willingly gave land to Quezon City in the belief it will benefit the country's new capital.

However, in 1949, Congress passed Republic Act No. 333, which redefined the Caloocan-Quezon City boundary. The barrios of Baesa, Talipapâ, San Bartolomé, Pasong Tamó, Novaliches, Banlat, Kabuyao, Pugad Lawin, Bagbag, Pasong Putik, which once belonged to Novaliches and had an area of about 8,100 hectares, were excised from Caloocan. The remaining portion of the Novaliches is now what we call North Caloocan. This caused the division of Caloocan into two parts, the southern section being the urbanised portion, while the northern section becoming suburban-rural.

Economy

Caloocan City's 10th Avenue area is well known for the clusters of motorcycle dealers and motorcycle spare parts dealers. Among the major and famous streets are P. Zamora Street and A. Mabini Street.

Numerous banks have branches in the city such as Banco de Oro, East West Bank, MetroBank, Maybank, Chinabank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Our Lady of Grace Credit Cooperative, etc.

The city also has a number of shopping malls and stand-alone supermarkets and hypermarkets including Victory Central Mall, Puregold Monumento, Araneta Square, Uniwide Warehouse Club Monumento, and SM Hypermarket Monumento which are located in Monumento area in the south. Zabarte Town Center, Savemore Market Zabarte, Savemore Market Kiko Camarin, and Puregold Zabarte, are shopping malls located in Barangay 175 Camarin area at the north. Puregold Deparo, which is opened last November 2015, and Ultra Mega Supermarket Deparo are stand-alone supermarkets located at Barangay 168 Deparo which serves the residents of Deparo and the nearby barangays of Bagumbong and Llano.

Manila North Tollways Corporation (the concession holder of the North Luzon Expressway), is headquartered in Caloocan.

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