The History I Visited by Yrwyn Policaprio

While writing this article, a question popped-up on my mind, "why did the group actually ended up with the topic History in their blog anyways?" but then I remembered, we wanted to travel and we want it to be meaningful. So the group decided that it should be, meaningful in the sense that it's not only for the sake of complying to a subject requirement although it really is, not for the sake of having something to write about, not for the sake of the readers but, for the sake of ourselves as well, knowing and appreciating pieces of our history. But with this, I realized that we didn't just write about history, we made our own history through this experience as well.  

This whole experience-- writing blogs, visiting places and knowing its history--  everything was new to me, I never thought that I would be doing something like this, thanks to our Online Writing class 'coz it made me do it, and I enjoyed it :)


It was like hitting many birds with one stone actually, we were able to enjoy ourselves while doing our subject requirement, we're gaining new knowledge, experiencing new things and exploring history all together.


Every trip felt amazing, we traveled and saw what was today's history compared before. The changes that happened to those places after so many years-- what were kept from the original infrastructure, what were improved and what are removed. We were able to travel to what was history then and what is history now, and everything was worth it.


Obviously, we can't do anything to travel back to time, but we managed to at least know the history of the places we visited -- Manila, Montalban and Malabon. Every place really has their own history, and that makes these places what they are now, and what they will be tomorrow, their history is their foundation, and inspiration to strive harder to achieve and improve for the better. 


This history that I visited will surely be one of the many histories of my life :)

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Malabon Old Houses By: Catherine Ramirez

     Malabon, a city image immediately associated with flood.Yet it is much more a city where old Filipino and traditional houses during Spanish period still exist. From the Conception Church of Malabon, old and fascinating houses are very noticeable. 

     The first one is the house in front of the Conception Church known as Farmacia Borja; built in 1923,two storey house owned by the Rojas-Borja Family. It is said to be one of the most preserved stone and wood house in the city.Due to the efforts of the present owner, the house still shows the structure, art nouveau.Unfortunately were not able to enter the house due to Dr. Raymundo Gonzales (owner) clinic time.

     

Benedicto Luna house under construction

     Next house is the Benedicto Luna House of the Santos Family; a three storey Filipino colonial period illustrado house built in the 1960's. The house is located at General Luna corner Paez St. Barangay conception. The house is said to be abandoned, but as what we learn from the some of the residents it is actually under construction for rental purposes.

    Another Luna House is the Paez Luna House which is said to be the treasure of Malabon. It is a two storey Filipino Spanish colonial period Illustrado House , has an art nouveau elements and an outstanding period ornate facade. The most fascinating about the house is the two rooms with ceiling paintings done by Fernando Amorsolo. Word is, Amorsolo was courting one of the Lunas residing in the house and had painted the ceiling with art Nouveau- styled drawings of women and flowers as symbol of his love.

     Below is the David Ignacio House; a 1930s two storey Filipino colonial period Illustrado House. The front of the house is along C. Arellano St. and to its rear is a river.The interior is said to have an ornate carving despite the exterior's quite unpreserved look.

     The oldest house in the city is the Raymundo House, built in 1861. It has a wall structure, especially standing out on its wall gateway which inscribed with a Hapsburg Eagle. Unfortunately, were unable to capture the House, since were already carried by a jeep going to our next stop. But, when I actually saw it. I immediately remember the wall city- Intramuros because of quite similar structure of the two.

     Moreover, the Malabon Torism Office described that such Old Houses land property are mostly in large  measures because Malabon used to be a huge vast of agricultural land. Old Houses of Malabon are mostly named after some Filipino heroes neither their families specifically Juan Luna and Jose Rizal who used to visit some of the old houses.


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A Trip to Malabon by Yrwyn Policarpio

As the group finds another spot for their historical trip, they targeted the City of Malabon for it's numerous old houses and churches preserved. For someone who's not "tubong Malabon" efforts must be made to fully understand and appreciate the beauty and the history of the city.

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The city is situated in the Northern Sector of Mega Manila, bounded on the North by the City of Valenzuela, on the West and Southwest by the City of Navotas, and on the East and Southeast by Caloocan City.

Malabon was founded by the Agustinians on May 21, 1599 and was then known as Tambobong for its numerous bamboo trees and abundant bamboo shoots. Later, during the Spanish era, the place was then called Malabon-- "mala" for the mud that dirtied leather shoes and "bon" for its fresh air and excellent cuisine.

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Malabon was officially made a municipality of the newly-created province of Rizal on June 11, 1901 by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 137. 

When Act No. 942 was promulgated, Malabon was merged with Navotas under a new government. 

On January 16, 1906, Act No. 1441 separated Malabon from Navotas into two distinct municipalities of the Rizal province.

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And on November 7, 1975, Malabon became a part of Metro Manila through Presidential Decree No. 824.

The first mayor of Malabon was Don Agustin Salamante, a Spanish mestizo originally from Cavite. 

With the recent population census, Malabon city has a total population of 347 484 with 21 barangays having commercial fishing as their industry and their known for their "bagoong" or fish paste products.

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The striving city have lots of accomplishments in improving and developing their town together with the infrastructures that have been made for the benefit of the people themselves.

From the 1939 Municipio on the right, to the old city hall in the middle before it became the present City Hall on the left.
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To the Oreta Sports Center built to boost morale, recreation, and welfare for the entire constituencies. The Malabon City Digital Infrastructure Project (MCDIP) which aims to provide efficient delivery of services to its constituents, to ensure effective and efficient collection of taxes and fees, and to institute transparency; as well as to improve business transactions within the LGU. And many more projects and programs of the incumbent mayor and officials. 

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Just So You Know:

The first issue of the La Indenpendencia, the official publication of the revolutionary government, were printed in Malabon's Asilo de Huerfanos on September 3, 1898.

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Asilo de Huerfanos was an orphanage built to house the orphans of the plague in 1882.

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Malabon Churches by Veronica Trubanos

Our group decided to visit the City of Malabon and it’s funny because all of us don’t know how to go there but after trying our luck we finally reached the place. The first stop that we visit was the San Bartolome Church. It is located at barrio San Agustin within the school of saint James Academy. August 24 is their feast day.

The church was first built by the Spaniards in 1621 and finished in 1854.  In 1861 the facade and its twin towers were constructed.  The architecture of San Bartolome Church was simple and elegant but imposing.  With its portico of Ionic columns reminiscent of a Greek temple, it was said to be "one of the most beautiful examples of ecclesiastical architecture that Spain has left the country." The interior was mostly untouched, though, keeping its simple and dignified design with a few flourishes from the era.

Old San Bartolome Church

As you can see in this picture (below) the church seems beautiful on the outside, but when we entered, we're disappointed, the beautiful ceiling of this church becomes ugly. We were sad on what we saw because one of the oldest and beautiful Churches in Malabon turn into unattractive. One of the resident there tell us something on what happen in that church, he told that everything was because of the parish priest named Fr. Ric Torrefiel. Also, he told that Mayor Oreta gave P4 Million to this priest to beautify again this church but nothing happened.

New San Bartolome Church

The second church that we visit is the Concepcion Church; this was near the Imaculate Concepcion Academy. 

The parish of the Immaculate Concepcion was constructed in 1600 by the townspeople of Malabon. The image was installed in the main altar in 1700, and formerly known as the La Purissima Concepcion. It was canonically crowned on December 7, 1896 thorough a Papal Bull issued in September 1986 and it was renamed into Immaculada Concepcion in honor of the Dogma of the Immaculate Copcepcion which declared by Rome in 1854.

They told that that the image of Virgin was miraculous because one story comes up that there a Chinese businessman fell accidentally into the Malabon river in 1880, while waiting for the rescue, he called and prayed to the Virgin and promised to help in building the church near him. He was about to sink when a boat came just to save him. He donated a marble font to the Concepcion Church on which the name of his wife was inscribed.

Also, I was impressed of their big statue of Jesus, it was the asset of this church to get the attention of the people because I know all of us will take a look in that statue.

We cannot enter inside because it was locked. But I think this church looks good. Like the San Bartolome church, it is also old. They celebrate the feast of Imaculate Concepcion during December 8 and some events follows.

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