Morong, Rizal


', officially the ', is a of the Philippines| in the province of,. According to the, it has a population of people.
A popular attraction is Spanish-era St. Jerome's Parish Church. The town is also known for featuring the balaw-balaw side dish, as well as for having education as its priority- "Una Ang Edukasyon", that is why during the early-1970s and early-1990s, it became the center of education. Students from different places mostly in the nearby towns of Rizal would come and study in Morong.

History

Morong was considered the province before it was called Rizal. Its original name was Politico Militar Distrito de Morong, which included the towns that make up present-day Rizal province.

Discovery, Founding and Christianization

On January 16, 1572, Captain Juan Maldonado, a trusted officer under Martin de Goiti, a Deputy of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, came to a thriving community by a river while leading a Spanish contingent exploring the areas East of Manila. They named the community, Moron, after a township in Spain. This happened almost a year after Martin De Goit occupied Manila after routing the forces of Rajah Soliman.
The Spaniards found an organized community along both banks of the river but outlying settlements / barangays were in conflict with each other. The barangays were subjugated and the natives Christianized starting 1578 by Franciscan missionaries Juan de Placencia and Diego de Oropesa. They constructed chapels attached to a bigger settlement to allow religious and civil administration. Later, this settlement was converted into a pueblo. which they called Pueblo de Moron. Baras, Tanay, Pililla, Binangonan were the visitas under Pueblo de Morong.
Pueblo de Morong was made the provincial capital of the Franciscan Order at that time.
The visita of Pilang separated from Morong and became the independent town of Pililla. Binangonan followed in 1621.

Politico-Militar Distrito de Morong

The Politico-Militar Distrito de Morong or Distrito de Morong was created out of the provinces of Manila and Laguna composing the pueblos of Morong, Pililla, Tanay, Baras, Binangonan, Jalajala, Angono, Antipolo, Boso-Boso, Cainta and Taytay.
During the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, each town was admistered by a gobernadorcillo, elected annually by all natives of the locality, subject to the approval of the suerior government in located in Manila. In the 19th century, gobernadorcillos were elected by 12 cabezas de barangay.
In the pueblo of Morong, it was different. A gobernadorcillo was not elected but was appointed by the governor of the province based on his economic wealth, training and educational background. He chose his own people and were not elected to help him with his duties. They did not receive salary but were exempted from paying taxes and doing forced labor.

Public Works Built Under Forced Labor

Puente de San Geronimo

The original Bridge of Morong was made of adobe stones, shaped and placed together, forming an arch over the river. The strength and stability of the bridge came from the weight of its wedge-shaped stone blocks and its upright position. The stones were cemented with mortar, a mixture of fine sand, lime, molasses and juice of ground puso-puso leaves. Heavy piers of the arch were planted on the opposite banks of the river. No metals were used during its construction from 1696 to 1701.

St. Jerome Parish Church

This church was constructed not only by men, but also women and children. Stones dug from a hill called Kay Ngaya; lime from the stones of the mountain Kay Maputi; sand and gravel from Morong River; and timber were contributed by the townspeople.

Irrigation Works

In 1850, Fr. Maximo Rico drew the plan of the irrigation dam at Uugong where it drew water from the falls and supervised the construction of the irrigation canal from Uugong dam to the ricefield in San Pedro. The canal measured 501 meters long and 2.1 meters deep. Other sources say that the construction started by Franciscan priests in 1848.

Comandancia

During the period of Spanish colonization, this building housed the Comandacia del Distrito Politico-Militar de Morong, the seat of Government for the Distrito. It was originall made of adobe stones, hard wood and galvanized iron sheets for roofing. During the early American period, it was converted into a school. It was damaged after the second world war, but rebuilt with alterations and continued to be used as a primary school building. It was later torn down and rebuilt using reinforced concrete materials and used as the municipal office building for the government of Morong. In 2011, the local government offices were transferred to the new municipal building in a different location. The Comandancia's second floor has since been converted into a public museum.

Bantayan and Torrita

Bantayan was a small guardhouse where civil guards were stationed at the entrance of the town. On the other hand, a torrita was a small tower with bells that provided the signal directed to the central station in front of the Commandancia.

World War I

The first Filipino to die in World War I was Private Tomas Mateo Claudio, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in the Battle of Château Thierry in France on June 29, 1918. The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor. The main street of the town was also named in his honor.

World War II

The Puente de San Geronimo was intentionally blasted by the guerrillas so that Japanese troops could not cross and occupy the Northern part of Morong and Rizal until reinforcements could come. The plan worked for a few days but Japanese troops were eventually able to cross the river at a shallower part farther downriver. The Japanese occupation of the town was broken up by then-Lieutenant Edwin Ramsey, leading the last cavalry charge in U.S. military history with horses from the 26th Cavalry Regiment which he and a platoon of Philippine Scouts had ridden there from Fort Stotsenburg.
During the Liberation, Filipino troops of the 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and 4th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary including the recognized guerrillas of the Col. Markings Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC guerrillas liberated and captured the towns in Morong, defeated Japanese forces and forced them to surrender by the end of the War.

Barangays

Morong is politically subdivided into 8 barangays with 3 situated in the poblacion.
In terms of area, San Guillermo or San Guilmo as locals known is the biggest of the eight barangays of Morong. It borders the towns of Binangonan, Teresa and Tanay. San Guillermo is a farming community with a population of 6,522 and 1,377 total dwellings. While majority in the barrio depend on farming as a livelihood, many others are engaged in businesses like garment industry, poultry and piggery.
San Isidro Labrador is the patron Saint of San Guillermo, a feast in his honor is celebrated annually the 15th of May. In 2005, the small chapel of San Isidro Labrador became a full pledge Parish in the serving 10,500 Catholics.
Also in 2005, San Guillermo National High School was established.
The first wave of San Guillermo immigrants to America came in the early-1900s. San Guillermo natives living in California maintain their cultural heritage by hosting a gathering on Memorial Day in celebration of feast of patron saint San Isidro Labrador. Most San Guillermo natives live in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the feast is alternately celebrated in both cities since its conception in 1979.

Maybancal

A Barangay in Morong Rizal, Located in the east of the town. The main industries are Farming, Textile Manufacturing, and Food Industry. There are about 8,709 people who live in this area and the ratio of men to women is 1:2.

San Juan

Barangay San Juan is the center of business and trade in the town of Morong Rizal. It is also said to be the highest remitting income revenue in the whole barangay of the town. This is where establishments are seen such as Jollibee, Morong Centerpoint, SM Savemore, RCBC Savings Bank, UCPB Savings Bank, D.I.Y Hardware, Mercury Drugstore, and Mang Inasal. Other local establishments found in this area are THRIFTMART, Camillus chicken, Mateo's bookstore, Morong Doctor's Hospital, Rizal Provincial Hospital, Hernandez bookstore, ERWIN'S boutique, Skin Cellance de Rizal, Supreme Care Medical Diagnostic and Imaging Center Inc., Cesar S.D. Mateo Memorial Clinic, and Cristina Mart. The facade of the St. Jerome's church, a Department of Tourism recognized tourist spot is also located.

San Pedro

Barangay San Pedro is the capital barangay of Morong, Rizal. Barangay San Pedro lies adjacent with the Laguna Bay in the east, bounded at the south with the town of Cardona, on the west by Barangay Bombongan and on the north by Barangay San Jose and Barangay San Juan. Barangay San Pedro has a total land area of 368 has. and around 7,000 populations as of 2010 census.
As a poblacion barangay, the seat of Local Government of Morong are located here. Barangay San Pedro has many establishments such as Morong Public Market, Sea Oil Gasoline Station, PhilOil Gasoline Station, Aldec Agri-Dynamics Company, Era Plaza Restaurant,Emmas Panciteria Restaurant, Kamalig Restaurant, Kainan, Inuman, At iba pa Beer House, "Sabungan", AMA Bank, Macro Bank.
Barangay San Pedro is the center of education in Morong. There are many educational institution that can be found in this barangay namely San Pedro Day Care Center, Jose S. Mapa, St. Claire School, Jesus My Shepperd Montessori School, Renaissance School of Science and Technology, EAST Systems Colleges of Rizal, Inc., and Timoteo A. Reyes Elementary School.
Barangay San Pedro has many landmarks such as Morong Town Plaza, "Statwa ng Magsasaka",and "Puking Bato" sa Boulevard Park.

Lagundi

Barangay Lagundi is the easternmost barangay of Morong, Rizal. The main road is Raymundo Street which connects to the northernmost barangay and boundary of Baras, Rizal and the capital of Rizal Province, Antipolo. The road access towards the aforementioned barangays are concrete and access is easy unlike before. There are two public elementary schools in the barangay, namely: Lagundi Elementary School and Pulong Kumunoy Elementary School. To cater the needs of accessibility of students, Morong National High School annexed a campus beside the Lagundi Elementary School.
Commercial establishments are abundant, most especially to the entry point. Alfamart and certain stores and restaurant chains are located within the vicinity. During All Saint's Day, the area is known to be a marketplace for flowers from Baguio and neighboring municipalities in Cordillera.
The barangay's patron saint is the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sunday masses are celebrated in the chapel every 5:00PM presided by a Roman Catholic Priest from the mother parish, St. Jerome Church. During the feast day in June, a procession is often held.

Climate

Demographics

In the, the population of Morong, Rizal, was people, with a density of.

Religion

60% of the population in Morong Rizal is composed of Roman Catholics. Other religions in town are the following:
Morong is also known for its "Kayas Kawayan". The town is the first and is known to make Baluwartes, an art made of bamboo, with intricate designs. Usually used during special events such as weddings, cordero, and fiestas, its usually found in the entrance gate of the event. During cordero, the lamb- which is made of cake, sweet potatoes and potatoes, is placed and processioned around the town until the church in a small kayas kawayan, carried by men, adorned with flowers.
Now this art is being copied by the nearby towns.

Games

Some of the famous games in Morong, Rizal are the following. This dates from the 1940s to 1997.