Valenzuela, Metro Manila

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Lore & Background

Valenzuela began as the town of Polo, established in 1623 following its separation from Meycauayan, Bulacan. The 1899 Battle of Malinta, during the Philippine–American War, was fought in Polo. In 1960, President Carlos P. Garcia ordered the split of Polo's southern barangays to form another town named Valenzuela, after Pío Valenzuela. However, in 1963, the split was revoked by President Diosdado Macapagal after political disagreements, and the merged town retained the name Valenzuela. In 1975, Valenzuela was moved from the province of Bulacan to Metro Manila, becoming the only area in the modern National Capital Region that was neither part of Spanish-era Manila, American-era Rizal province, nor the wartime City of Greater Manila. The modern borders of Valenzuela were established pursuant to its city charter when it became a highly urbanized city on December 30, 1998.

Reader's Guide

Valenzuela's significance lies in its evolution from the Spanish-era town of Polo to a key component of Metro Manila. The name Valenzuela is the surname of Pío Valenzuela y Alejandrino, a member of the Katipunan Triumvirate which started the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial authorities in 1896. Before 1960, the area was known as Polo, derived from the Tagalog term pulô, meaning 'island' or 'islet', as the town was entirely surrounded by rivers. The foundation date of November 12, 1623, was recommended by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2012, based on a proclamation letter from Governor-General Alonso Fajardo de Entenza. The construction of the San Diego de Alcalá Church began in 1627, completed in 1632, but its bell was looted during the Chinese uprising of 1635. On June 3, 1865, a strong earthquake destroyed the belfry of the church, followed by an epidemic that killed thousands. During the British invasion of Bulacan in 1762-1764, the local population fled to the forests of Viente Reales, where many succumbed to malaria. The Manila-Dagupan Railway, opened in 1892, traversed the barrios of Marulas, Caruhatan, Malinta, Dalandanan and Malanday, with the station being in Dalandanan. Valenzuela ranks as the 7th-most populous city in the National Capital Region and the 11th-most populous in the Philippines.

Did You Know?

• Valenzuela is the only area in the modern National Capital Region that was neither part of Spanish-era Manila, American-era Rizal province, nor the wartime City of Greater Manila.
• The name Polo, the original name of Valenzuela, comes from the Tagalog term pulô, meaning 'island' or 'islet', because the town was entirely surrounded by rivers.
• Pío Valenzuela, the city's namesake, was a member of the Katipunan Triumvirate and served as its provisional chairman.
• The 1899 Battle of Malinta during the Philippine–American War was fought in Polo.
• The Manila-Dagupan Railway, opened in 1892, traversed five barrios of Valenzuela: Marulas, Caruhatan, Malinta, Dalandanan, and Malanday.