ITS ORIGIN
How
Caloocan got its present name is a story by itself. According to
opinions and even beliefs, the name Caloocan orginated from the Tagalog
word “lo-ok” (bay) in view of its proximity to Manila Bay being located
in Dagat-Dagatan, a small lake separated by Manila Bay and town of
Navotas. Others believed that the word “lo-ok” meant “sulok” or corner.
In the past, Caloocan was actually located “at the corner” where the
ends of the old towns of Tondo and Tambobong (Malabon) meet.
The first name of Caloocan when it was still a small barrio of Tondo
was Aromahan or Espina as the Spaniards used to call it. The site of
the barrio was located in a low place called Libis, west of the center
of the poblacion of Caloocan. It was then commonly called Libis Espina.
In 1762 the spanish Augustinian priests reached the insular “lo-ok”,
and eventually established the first Catholic Church the barrio in
1765. However, the spiritual administration of Caloocan was transferred
to the Recollectos in 1814.
In 1802 Caloocan began to grow. When it was converted into a town in
1815, the poblacion had to be moved from the western fringe to its
present site.
Geography
Caloocan
is divided into two areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north
of the City of Manila and is bounded by Malabon City and Valenzuela
City to the north, Navotas to the west, and Quezon City to the east.
Northern Caloocan City is the northermost territory of Metro Manila and
lies to the east of Valenzuela City, north of Quezon City, and south of
San Jose del Monte City in the province of Bulacan.
The city is politically subdivided into 188 barangays.
THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
Early records reveal that the first inhabitants of Caloocan were
composed of “Chinese, mestizos or Indians of the Philippines. Father
Zuñiga described them as dull-colored, thin-beared, flat nosed, and
black-eyed. In their customs, ingenuity, and qualities, they are like
the rest of the nation..”
The arable portions of Libis
Espina owned by the Augustinians were leased to the inhabitants. At
that time, there were only about 500 inhabitants.
Most of the people were fishermen, especially those who resided near
Dagat-Dagatan, the Navotas and Manila Bay boundaries. Those who
inhabited in the mountain areas were engaged in agriculture, producing
crops. The large agricultural areas were those in the Maysilo Estate,
owned by the Jesuits; the Piedad owned by Don Pedro de Galarraga; and
the Cruz and Naligas Estates, owned by the friars.
The
British invasion in 1762 and the expulsion of the Jesuits from the
Philippines in 1768 have totally changed the socio-economic conditions
of the inhabitants. The Spanish Government confiscated most of the
agricultural lands in Caloocan, the bigger portion of which was owned
by the Maysilo Estate. Later on, this was sold to a Spanish mestizo.
The British occupation of manila had ill effects on the peace and order
condition of Caloocan. When they gained full control of the Walled
city, they opened the jails and set all the prisoners free. Based on
the account of Father Zuñiga, these prisoners, joined by other restless
elements sought refuge in Caloocan, “murdered men were seen on the
roads, naked and pierced with dagger stabs, thereby showing the
terrible conditions in which they had been killed to rob them.”
When Caloocan became a town in 1815, it occupied a vast territory. Its
territorial jurisdiction was bounded on the north by the barrio of
Tinajeros, Malabon, and Tanza River; on the east by the town of
Marikina; on the south by the towns of Sampalok and Santa Cruz, the
Hacienda de Santa Mesa, and the sitio of San Francisco del Monte; and
on the west by the towns of Tondo and Malabon. The first
gobernadorcillo was Mariano Sandoval, while the first curate was Fray
Manuel Vaquerro, a Recollect.
Miguel
Saludes became the first capitan municipal when the Maura Law changed
the Title of the town head during the last three years of the Spanish
regime. Others who held the same position were Silverio Baltazar and
Pedro Sevilla.
The socio-economic condition greatly
improved after Caloocan was established as a town in 1815. The town
became peaceful. It no longer suffered from restless residents caused
by the collection of tributes, forced labor, agrarian unrest, and
oppression committed by the Spanish officials.
THE ECONOMY MOVES
Shortly
after the town was constituted, people were producing various
agricultural products and engaged in weaving, rope making, quarrying,
and even earthen-jar making. As a consequence of the galleon trade, the
country’s merchants experienced a boom in the trade between Manila and
Acapulco. The flow of products from the Philippines resulted in the
inflow of more Mexican money. Within the context of trade necessities
for the mutual benefit of Manila and Acapulco, the demand for
Philippine products increased. Export products produced by Caloocan
entrepreneurs were in great demand in Manila to meet the commitments of
the Philippine traders to Acapulco.
When the Manila
Railroad Company Limited started developing a railway, the people of
Caloocan had high hopes of enjoying economic benefits upon the
completion of the project.
On February 23, 1892 the hopes of the people of Caloocan for a better
socio-economic life became a reality when part of the Manila-Dagupan
line from Manila to Mabalacat, Pampanga was inaugurated. Historian
Leopoldo R. Serrano described the event thus: “ The locomotive name
Hernando Cortes pulling two de luxe cars, two first class cars, six
second-class cars, and two freight cars arrived at the Caloocan station
at 7:17 o’clock in the morning. The train carried the governor general;
the archbishop of Manila; the segundo cabo; the intendant; and the
civil governors of Manila, Pampanga, and Tarlac-the three provinces
benefited by the lines. These dignitaries spent some time in Caloocan
inspecting the warehouses and shops of the Manila Railroad Company.”
The door of economic opportunities for the people of Caloocan was fully
opened when the railroad line from Manila to Dagupan was finally opened
on November 23, 1892 ten (10) months after the Manila-Mabalacat line
was inaugurated.
Quoting again historian Serrano, “The completion of the Manila-Dagupan
line proved to be a great boon to the inhabitants of Caloocan. It
brought the town closer to Manila and other points in Central Luzon,
facilitated the transportation of the products of the town to those
points, and gave employment to many residents of Caloocan. The coming
of the British and Spanish railway employees also favorably affected
the town.”