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BRIEF HISTORY OF PARAÑAQUE
An Old Village By The Sea
Another story has also been told about the Spaniards who came to the south and upon reaching his destination said, "para na aqui" to the rig driver of the calesa has was riding. But the rig driver did not understand him and presumed that the place as "Para-na-aqui". So, everytime he goes to the south, he kept on calling the place Paranaaqui. Later on the place was named PARAÑAQUE and only later they found out that paranaaqui means only to "stop me here".
On February 13, 1998, the City of Parañaque was declared and signed into law as a highly-urbanized city by President Fidel V. Ramos (R.A. 85-07) upon ratification of its creation for the purpose. To commemorate the said date, the city council approved an ordinance series of 1998 declaring February 13 of each and every year as the Foundation Day of the City of Parañaque.
The Actual Origin
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE
Boundary:
The boundaries of Parañaque are Pasay City on the north, Taguig on the northeast, Muntinlupa on the southeast, Las Piñas on the southwest and Manila Bay on the west.
Location:
Parañaque is located at the geographical coordinates of 121'01" longitude (center) and 14'30" latitude (center). It is situated on the southern portion of Metro Manila, approximately 9.5 kilometers south of Rizal Monument.
Land Area:
The city's total land area is 46.57 square kilometers which is the third largest in the National Capital Region (NCR). It is subdivided into sixteen (16) barangays with two (2) districts. Distric I and II are compose of eight (8) barangays each district. The first district comprises Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, Sto. Niño, La Huerta, San Dionisio, Vitalez and San Isidro while the second district consist of Barangays BF, San Antonio, Marcelo Green, Sun Valley, Don Bosco, Moonwalk, Merville and San Martin de Porres.
Topography:
The city is relatively flat and situated along the coastline areas of six (6) barangays namely: Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, Sto. Niño, La Huerta and San Dionisio. The other barangays such as Moonwalk, Vitalez, San Isidro, BF, Don Bosco, Marcelo Green, Merville, Sun Valley, San Antonio, and San Martin de Porres have an elevation ranging from 10 to 35 above mean water level.
Climate:
Parañaque experiences the same climate weather condition with other cities in Metro Manila. Two distinct seasons: wet season from July to September and dry season for the rest of the year. The city enjoys an annual rainfall of 1.822 mm and 34.4 degrees Celsius temperature, a relative humidity of seventy six percent (76%) and a three (3) mile/sec. speed of southeast wind.
Soil Classification:
The soil in Parañaque is classified under Guadalupe soil. It is a volcanic eject that produces a loam to clay loam texture that can hold more water. The soil contains more clay than silt. Its permeability is low with high swelling capacity.
As of this calendar year 2009, the following are the land uses in Parañaque City.
The City of Parañaque, through the Sangguniang Bayan, then passed the Ordinance No. 07-027 series of 2007, more commonly known as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning of Parañaque. It has adapted this legal tool in implementing its land use goals and objectives in its all-out support to develop the city.
Under the Section 19 of the Zoning Ordinance 07-027, all land development and building constructions/renovations/alterations of residential, commercial and industrial structures are required to secure the necessary zoning/locational clearance prior to the implementation of the project.
The ordinance will guide, control, regulate the future growth and development of Parañaque City while protecting public health, safety, peace, comfort and convenience of its constituents.
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
Population Structure
The projected population of Parañaque for the year 2008 is 568,908 with 118,960 households. This constitute about 4.78% of the total population of the National Capital Region (NCR) and 0.62% of Philippine population.
Population Growth Rate and Projection
The trend on population growth of the city for the past thirty (30) years is shown on the following table.
City of Parañaque
The city's population density currently stands at 125.76 persons per hectare. The most densely populated barangay is Barangay Baclaran with 435.03 pop/ha. Second, is Barangay Don Galo with 415.55 pop./ha
City of Parañaque, 2009
The number of male compared to the number of female varies for different age group. There are more male from the under 1 age up to 14 years of age group. Meanwhile, female outnumber the male between the ages of 15 years old until 85 years of age.
City of Parañaque, 2009
Among the sixteen (16) barangays of Parañaque, the largest in terms of population size is Barangay BF with a projected population of 85,110 second is Barangay San Isidro with a projected population of 64,011and the third is Barangay San Dionisio with 63,767 residents.
Barangay Vitalez has a lowest population for a total of 4,117 persons. Seconded by Barangay La Huerta with 7,733population and Barangay Don Galo with 9,649 residents.
Dependency Population
Parañaque has a working population (from 15 to 64 years old) as a total of 384,945 persons. The young dependents are about 31.46% or 184,243 youngsters (from age under 1 to 14 years) and 2.80% or 16,456 are old dependents (from 65 to 85 years old and above). Only 34.26% or a total of 200,699 are dependents to the working population.
City of Parañaque, 2009
SOCIAL SERVICES PROFILE
Health Profile
1.1 Health Services
The city's health situation in the last three [3] years can be highly evaluated as outstanding for being the recipient of Healthy City by the Alliance of Healthy Cities of Western Pacific Region. A healthy city is a process of improving the health of city dwellers through improved living condition and better health services with various urban development activities through the partnership of public, private and voluntary sectors.
Parañaque City, 2009
Births
The crude birth rate is a measure of the increase of population through birth statistics of birth population and registered in the Office of the Civil Registrar.
In 2008, the city had recorded 8,329 live births by a crude birth rate of 14.64 per thousand live births. This figure is slightly higher than the previous year, which is 12.60per one thousand. Of these live births, 4,417 (53%) were male while 3,912 (47%) were female. In 2008, mostly [79.48%] of deliveries were attended by trained/skilled health personnel. Of which, 46.5% were doctors. Almost 2 per every10 deliveries were attended by trained health personnel.
Small proportion (39.9%] of deliveries were done at home. Sixty [60%] of deliveries in 2008 were either done in government/private hospitals or clinics.
1.3
Morbidity
A total of 12,358 patients were seen and examined by the different health centers in 2008 . Respiratory tract infections[20.57%] remained the leading cause of morbidity in Paranaque. This was followed by dermatitis [8.54%] and wound infections [7.64%]. Among children less than 5 years old , respiratory tract infection was the leading cause of morbidity followed by dermatitis, diarrhea and pneumonia.
1.4
Mortality
There were 2,001 deaths from all causes in 2008 with the crude death rate of 3.52 per 1000 population. These was 15.59 % lower compared to the average rate for the past five years. Highest CDR was reported in Barangay Don Galo with 6.72 per 1000 population and followed by Barangay La Huerta and Barangay Sto. Nino with 5.99 and 4.02 CDR respectively. In 2008, biggest proportion [17.33%] of deaths were due to coronary artery diseases followed by hypertension [12%] and pneumonia [11%]. Six [6%] of the total deaths belong to age group 0 to 1 year. Of which , 58 % were males and 42% were females.
1.4
Health Resources
Health Facilities
The Paranaque City Health Office deliver its health services through promotion, protection, preservation and restoration of health of the people in 16 health centers and 3 barangay station. On the other hand, the curative aspect is taken cared of by 6 private and one [1] government hospital.
There are one hundred and eight (108) Day Care Centers in sixteen (16) barangays of Parañaque with one hundred and thirty three (133) Day Care Workers. The City government supports eighty-four (84) Day Care Teachers; and forty three (43) Day Care Workers are funded by the barangays.
Formal education in elementary and secondary levels are served by both public and private schools. There are thirty (30) elementary public schools and three (3) main public schools with six (6) annexes in secondary level in various barangays of Parañaque.
Tertiary education is being served by fourteen (14) private schools and one (1) public college that is the Parañaque City College of Science and Technology.
HOUSING PROFILE
A. Informal Settlers
There are approximately two hundred twenty seven (227) areas occupying the City of Parañaque, which are considered Urban Mission Areas. Four (4) areas are considered Areas for Priority Development (APD) and fourteen (14) others are undergoing Community Mortgage Program (CMP).
Barangay Sto. Niño has the most number of informal settlers, thirty five (35) followed by Barangay San Antonio with twenty five (25), Barangay San Dionisio with twenty two (22) and Barangay Sun Valley with twenty (20) clustered settlements. Household population in each settlement ranges from 50 to 1,700 families.
The city is home to 25,073 informal settler families, covering an estimated land area of 45.131 hectares. Majority of informal settler dwellings are made of light materials; only a few are made of concrete and semi-concrete materials. Monthly income of these informal settler families falls below the minimum wage.
POLICE PROTECTION SERVICES
The Police Headquarters resides in Coastal , La Huerta. It has a total strength of three hundred and fifty five (355) policemen with a ratio of one (1) policeman for every one thousand nine hundred and ninety (1,990) inhabitants (1:1,990).
For the year 2008, there are two hundred and twenty eight (228) index crimes reported against persons - murder, homicide, physical injury, rape; and against property - robbery and theft. Out of 228, there are one hundred and ninety nine (199) index crimes solved with 92.61% crime solution efficiency.
Meanwhile, there are one hundred and seventy eight (178) non-index crimes recorded and one hundred and seventy seven (201) index crimes solved with ninety two point seventy one percent (92.71%) non-index crime solution efficiency.
Parañaque has a total crime volume of four hundred and twenty seven (427) and three hundred ninety four (394) total crime solved and a crime solution efficiency of ninty two point twenty seven percent (92.27%).
FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES
Parañaque Fire Station has five (5) sub-stations including one (1) Central Fire Station with a total strength of fifty nine ( 59) BFP Personnel. Thus, a fireman to population ratio of 1: 51,707.
City of Parañaque
Year 2009
The operation activities of City Fire Station was generally focused on the two (2) vital aspects of its mandated mission : Fire Supervision and Fire Prevention.
For fire prevention aspect, the tool is on the strict enforcement of the Fire Code.
For fire supervision activities, the task is on the increase effectiveness in fire fighting and to avoid chaos in the fire scene. In addition, achieve cooperative effort and coordination among constituents and fire personnel and maximize utilization of the limited fire fighting equipments.
WATERWORKS
Much of the water supply comes from Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (Maynilad Water) whereas quite a number used pumps and artesian wells especially those in the depressed areas. Water supply is no longer the major problem of the residents of the City Government of Parañaque has done everything to provide potable and adequate water supply. It has constructed sixty nine (69) pumps and artesian wells in the different blighted areas of the city.
On the other hand, the availability of water in District I and II are provided by the MWSS and some portion only comes from deep well. At present, the main source of water is far up north (Bulacan). Parañaque is approximately 27 kms. From existing Balara Treatment Plant and 32 kms. From La Mesa Treatment Plant.
MERALCO supplies the power needs of Parañaque. Power service is distributed to the following types of consumers: residential, commercial and industrial purposes.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The existing telecommunication network of Parañaque is being served by PLDT and SMART but, PLDT covers the largest cross section of the sixteen barangays.
Expansion and upgrading of then system by way of XC5 Program is completed from Barangay San Antonio up to the South Superhighway including Moonwalk, Don Bosco, and Merville. The program also includes Sucat Barangay BF, San Isidro, San Dionisio and La Huerta.
This includes the completion and expansion of projects in Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, Sto. Niño, Ninoy Aquino, San Martin de Porres and the Coastal Marina and Asia World areas.
Four (4) telecommunication companies serves Parañaque namely: GLOBE, SMART, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Company (PT & T) and the Phil. Communication (PHILCOM).
Parañaque Central Post Office and an annex in the City Hall serves the postal system.
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Agriculture Resources
1. Farming
Annual production of vegetables which consists of pechay, mustard and kinchay reached up to 42.288 MT.
2. Fishing
Municipal fishing is the source of livelihood for sixty seven (67) fishermen which is confined along coastal areas of Manila Bay. In 2005, the average catch of banak, salinyasi, buging, kapak, alimasag, galunggong, dilis, kitang, bangus and hipon reached to 49,924 kilos.
There are 195 registered municipal fishing boats that move around the coastal waters with 15 motorized boats and 55 non-motorized boats. Twenty five (25) commercial fishing vessels are based on the coastal waters of Parañaque.
There are 15,903 business and commercial establishments that that have been issued with business permits and licenses in 2008. Out of 15,903 establishments 131 banks are registered. One hundred and twenty five (125) are commercial banks, two (2) savings banks, two (2) rural banks and two other banks. There are also one hundred and seventy-five (175) manufacturers in the city and 1,169 registered sari-sari stores in the city.
Markets
There are eighty-five (85) markets catering the consumer needs of the population. Of these number, eighty-four (84) are private markets located at different barangays and only one (1) public market situated at Barangay La Huerta.
City of Parañaque
CY 2003 - 2007
(In All Sources)
City of Parañaque
CY 2008 - 2010
City Government of Parañaque
CY 2003 - 2007
City Government of Parañaque
CY 2008 - 2010
Beginnings
The then town of Palanyag was founded in 1572. Since the place lay very proximate to
the sea, the Paraqueños did much trade with the Chinese, Indonesians, Indians and Malayans. At that time the main means of livelihood were salt-making, fishing, planting rice, shoemaking, slipper-making and weaving. The community was headed by cabezas de barangay, a westernization of the local chieftains and the principalia as the local aristocrats were called, a very durable social institution since they were the political absorbers. They justified and moderated the demands of the Spanish colonizers. Education was limited to the principalia since it is only they who could afford it. The recorded beginnings of Palanyag began in 1580 when Fr. Diego de Espinar, an Augustinian missionary, was appointed Prior or superior of the convent or religious house of the town. As resident priest, he established the mission house there, with its spiritual jurisdiction reaching up to Kawit in the province of Cavite. The Council of the Definitors (or conference of chiefs of the religious orders) held on May 11, 1580, accepted Palanyag as an independent town. The image of Palanyag's patroness, Nuestra Señora del Buensuceso, was brought to St. Andrew's Church in La Huerta in 1625. Historical accounts state that since Palanyag was located at the crossroads of Manila, the provinces of Cavite and Batangas, the town's strategic location enabled the townspeople to play an important role in Philippine history. During the invasion of the Chinese pirate Limahong in 1574, Parañaque residents, particularly those from Barangay Dongalo, heroically aided in preventing the attack in Manila. This became known as the "Red Sea Incident" due to the blood that flowed as a result of the defense made by the people from barrio Sta. Monica, the barangay's former name. When the British invaded Manila in 1762, the townspeople once again remained loyal to the Spanish colonizers, especially the Augustinians. The invasion however showed that the power of the Spaniards was not invincible and more than a hundred years later, this would prove to be true. Then came the Philippine Revolution (circa late 19th century) and the Spaniards realized that the town was a practical gateway to Cavite, the bastion of the revolutionary Katipuneros. Conversely to the rebels based in Cavite, they saw the town as their gateway to Intramuros, the Spanish seat of government in Manila. Prominent Paraqueños, like Manuel Quiogue and secular priest Father Pedro Dandan became leading revolutionary figures. When the Americans took over, one of the first towns to have a municipal government was Parañaque. During the Japanese occupation (circa 1940's), Parañaque supplied the leadership of the guerilla movement like the ROTC Hunters as well as food and arms. Parañaque was one of the first towns to be liberated and its guerillas helped in paving the way for American forces to enter Manila. As can be gleaned from the above, Parañaque then and now has and continues to play a strategic role in the Philippines' political and economic progress. Another outstanding feature of this historic town by the bay is the cultivation of its cultural traditions like the Komedya, Sunduan, and Bati, among others that continue to attract local and foreign tourists alike, especially during the summer months.
Palanyag, the old name for the city of Parañaque, generally means "my beloved", among other definitions, for as far as its residents are concerned, this best describes their affection for their hometown. Another version came from the combination of the terms "palayan" and "palalayag", the former meaning ricefields of which the city once abounded in and the latter pertaining to the sailing and fishing occupation of many of its residents. This was also a sign of cooperation and goodwill between the two major working sectors of the town, the farmers and the fishermen. It was however a drunken guest, during a certain affair which decided on the final name, who said "Mabuhay ang Palanyag at ang mga taga-Palanyag! (Long live Palanyag and the people of Palanyag!)" So the name stuck from that day on. Another version, according to tradition, was when a Spanish soldier told the driver of his caruaje or horse-drawn carriage, to "Para aqui, para aqui (Stop here, stop here)!" The driver, uncomprehending, kept on prodding his horse to go on while the soldier angrily repeated his instruction: "Para aqui, para aqui!" Onlookers just laughed as the Spaniards empathically said "para aniya aqui para aniya aqui (he said 'stop here' he said 'stop here)." For days the incident was repeated around and term "para aniya aqui" stuck. There is another story that says of an imposing balete tree at the mouth of the Parañaque. It looked like a boat sailing slowly and majestically, earning the Tagalog term Palanyag, a corruption of the term "palayag" which means "point of navigation". Further adulteration of the word later resulted in the word "palanyaque". A historian believes the town's name may have come from the term "palanas" which means a "broad flat plain," the geographic description of Parañaque. Other origins of the name Parañaque are "palanac" (with no special meaning), "patanyag" or contest for popularity, and "paranac", a native term for the shell product that used to be the livelihood of the natives of the town at one time. Parañaque, in the olden times, was where many people unboard the "kalesa", or horse-drawn carriage and would usually tell the conductor to "para na aque", which literally means "stop now, boy". The word "para", taken from the Spanish word "parar" which means to stop, "na" is a term in the Filipino language which means "now", and "aque" taken from the Filipino term "lalaki" or "lalake", meaning "boy". The phrase "para na aque" was used so often that it eventually evolved into a term pertaining to a place, thus, Parañaque. An alternative meaning of "para na aque" is "stop here", where the term "'aque'" might have also come from the Spanish word "aqui" which means "here". Whatever the correct origin of the name of Parañaque, the various terms strongly suggest the town's storied and mosaic past.
Parañaque is located approximately 8 kilometers South of Manila, Republic of the Philippines, and is bounded by Pasay City in the north, Muntinlupa City in the southeast, Las Piñas City in the southwest, Taguig in the Northeast, and the Manila Bay (Reclamation / Boulevard 2000 area) in the West, at 14°30’ latitude and 121°01’ longitude.
Land Area and Uses
47.7 square kilometers carefully planned to accomodate residential, commercial, industrial and other establishments. Residential Areas. A part of the land area used for residential purposes accounts for ancestral homes, another in posh villages, with the remaining portion occupied by apartments, boarding houses, apartelles, townhouses, and condominiums for rent or sale at very reasonable rates. Commercial Centers. The whole stretch of land, save for occasional vacant portions, fronting roadways from the Northside Barangay of Baclaran to the Southern Barangays of San Antonio and B.F. Homes, is occupied by stores, shops, banks, offices, supermarkets, restaurant, schools, service stations and other related establishments. In some areas, as in the beautifully luxurious Barangays of B.F. Homes and Don Bosco, commercial establishments are found further in the interiors and along roadways, thereby providing a welcome treat to the population of the adjoining residential and/or industrial community. Industrial Areas. Parañaque’s industrial site used to be in the Northern Barangays of Baclaran and Tambo but because of expansion and commercialization in these areas, the factories were moved to the Southern and Eastern Barangays of San Antonio, B.F. Homes, Sun Valley, Marcelo Green, Merville, and San Martin de Porres. These areas have since become the center of industry in Parañaque, and the corporate headquarters in the Philippines of both Filipino and multinational companies.
Demography Population Structure
The projected population of Parañaque for the year 2006 is 564,247 WITH 118,050 households. This constitute about 4.53% of the total population of the National Capital Region (NCR) and 0.59% of Philippine population.
Population Growth Rate and Projection
The trend on population growth of the city for the past thirty (30) years is shown on the following table.
| Population Growth Trend City of Parañaque, 1970-2000 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Census Date | Population | Growth Rate |
| May 6, 1970 | 97,214 | 4.52 |
| May 1, 1975 | 158,974 | 10.37 |
| May 1, 1980 | 208,552 | 5.58 |
| May 1, 1990 | 308,236 | 3.98 |
| Sept. 1, 1995 | 391,296 | 4.57 |
| May 1, 2000 | 449,811 | 3.03 |
Using the growth rate of 1990-2000 which is 3.85%, the following table shows the projection of population of Parañaque.
Topography
The City of Parañaque sits on a plain with parts lying along the coastline of scenic Manila Bay. Within the next decade, expansions shall be realized through an ambitious, large-scale, well-planned and fast-track development upon an approximately 1,200 hectare stretch that will contain mixed land uses for residential, commercial, institutional, hotel, residential-commercial, residential-office, greens and open spaces, among other purposes.
Climate
March to May are hot summer months. The temperature dips following intermittent rains and occasional gustiness from June to October. Cool and fair weather prevails from November to February. Parañaque experiences an annual rainfall of 1.82 mm. per minute while its temperature ranges from 23 to 33 degrees Celsius; it has a relative humidity of 76% and enjoys an average daylight duration of 12 hours.
People 
Parañaque is an ethnically-integrated community composed of warm, friendly, hospitable, and devoted Filipinos. It is also a second home to various foreign nationals who have come to like and love the city and its constituents and who have realized the locality’s potentials for growth. It is a place wherein people from the different regions of the three main island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are assimilated. Due to rapid migration, only around 10 percent of the population are native Tagalog Paraqueños; the rest is an amalgam of migrants from various regions of the Philippines, plus those foreign nationals who have adopted the City as their "second home."
Language
The City folks' main mode of communication is the Philippine vernacular called Filipino which is basically culled from the indigenous Tagalog language with evident English and Spanish influences together with traces of other languages being used by Filipinos from other regions of the country. However, official transactions are still mostly done in English which is understood and spoken as either a second or third language by most citizens.
Religion
Parañaque is not only a melting pot of variant cultures and migrants from all over the country; it is also a crossroad of diverse religions. It is also home to the Baclaran Church, known to be the most attended church in Asia, which is run by the Redemptorist fathers. Although predominantly Roman Catholic, other Christian religions and denominations freely practice their faith in the City. One would also notice the presence of Moslem communities throught Parañaque wherein they have enjoyed the respect and interaction of the Christians. Indeed, Parañaque is a place where inter-faith cooperation for social change begins, takes form, and brings fruit. Religious groups and their respective lay organizations are very active in providing the community with social services complementary to those implemented by City Hall.
Map
Main source : DULCE FESTIN-BAYBAY, Author of the first comprehensive history of Parañaque, courtesy of Parañaque's City Information Office.