Parañaque’s 17th anniversary of cityhood
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City of Parañaque celebrates the 17th anniversary of its cityhood on February 13, 2015. It is a special nonworking holiday, through Proclamation No. 543, to allow the people to participate in cultural festivities such as Sambalilo Festival, Regatta de Palanyag, Caracol, Komedya, and Bati-bati, as well as events such as job fair, flea market, trade showcase, and grand parade.
Parañaque, a former municipality of Rizal province, became part of Metro Manila on November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824. It is composed of two congressional districts and two legislative districts which are subdivided into 16 barangays.
Due to its proximity to Manila Bay, Parañaque, headed by Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, is a major trade and business center. It is a booming city; its busiest shopping hub is Baclaran where the famous Redemptorist Church housing the pilgrim image of Mother of Perpetual Help as well as a big number of dry goods stores are found. Other landmarks are Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and main Duty Free store. The Amvel Business Park is where El Shaddai followers hold their fellowship and prayer meeting.
Traditional livelihoods are saltmaking, fishing, planting rice, shoemaking, slipper- making, and weaving. Small fishing villages called “fisherman’s wharf ” are situated in Barangay La Huerta, where a seaside market with several restaurants serve fresh seafood. Bulungan sa La Huerta is where vendors and sellers haggle seafood prices.
Parañaque was founded in 1572 by Spanish missionaries who called it “Palanyag.” In 1580, Fr. Diego de Espiñar, an Augustinian priest, was appointed prior of the convent. The Council of the Definitors on May 11, 1580, accepted Palanyag as an independent town. The image of Palanyag’s patroness, Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, the third oldest Marian image in the country, was brought to St. Andrew’s Church in La Huerta in 1580. Palanyag, meaning “my beloved,” refers to people’s love for their town. It was a combination of “palayan” (rice fields) and “paglalayag” ( sailing and fishing by residents). Parañaque’s present name is derived from “para aqui,” a command used by a Spaniard to the driver of caruaje (horse-drawn carriage) to stop so he could disembark.
When the British invaded Manila in 1762, the people remained loyal to the Spanish colonizers, especially the Augustinians. During the Philippine Revolution of 1896- 1898, the Katipuneros based in Cavite used the town as their gateway to Intramuros, the Spanish seat of government in Manila.
Parañaque was one of first towns to be liberated in World War II and its guerrillas helped the combined American and Filipino forces to enter Manila. After the liberation and Battle of Parañaque in 1945, the general headquarters of Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary was stationed in the city.