CHAPTER 2

MALABON AND ITS

ORIGIN
THE HISTORY OF MALABON TO
TAMBOBONG
ALGORETH’S “ETIMOLOGIAS FILIPINAS” says
that Malabon was named “Tambobong” more than
four hundred years ago.
TAMBOBONG was said to have been one of the
tribal domainof RAJAH SOLIMAN, cousin of
RAJAH MATANDA of the nearby Manila Area
The former name originated from the numerous
tambo trees growing in the area. While the name that
endured describes the abundant tender and edible
shoots of the bamboo: “LABONG”, which was one of
the original ingredients of MALABON’S SIGNATURE
DISH: the Pancit “Malabon”.
In the Spanish Era, the riverside town became the
convenient spot for the friars and government officials
of the Intramuros.
They were known to call the place Malabon. It was
“mala” because of the mud that dirtied and ruined
their expensive leather shoes and exqusite, long robes
imported from europe; and it was “bon/buen” for its
restorative fresh air and excellent cuisines.
Historian listed various years for the town’s foundation:
being 1571. 1600. 1607 and 1670. Records show that
March 21, 1599, Tambobong came under the
administration of Agustinian Friars as a bisita or
parish along with the town of Navotas. However, after
260 years and within several years span, the twin towns
seperated and rejoined and later rendered autonomous
prosperity.
During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries,
Tambobong benefited from its robust economic activities
due to its proximity to the Walled City of Intramuros and
the Galleon Trade in the Manila Bay Area.
In 1768, “Casa Regal de Tambobong “. a
tribunal building was established indicating the
town’s voice in legal and political affairs of the
times.
Tambobong’s further industrialization was
manifested by the1851 establishment in Hulo of
a huge tobacco factory called “La Princesa”
owned by the King of Spain.
1888 was highlighted by the first Trambia de
Bapor that plied Malabons River system which
was an efficient entry to the northern provinces.
After the American Revolution of 1896-1898,
Twentieth Century,Malabon became a town
of Rizal Province through the Philippine
Comission Act no. 942. Six years later , in
January 6,1906, Malabon and Navotas were
reestablished as two distinct towns.
Malabon, officially the City of Malabon
(Tagalog: Lungsod ng Malabon), is a 1st
class highly urbanized city in Metropolitan
Manila, Philippines. According to the 2015
census, it has a population of 365,525
people.
Located just north of Manila, it is primarily a
residential and industrial town and is one of
the most densely populated cities in the
metropolis. It has a total land area of 15.96
square kilometers.
Malabon is part of the sub-region of Metro
Manila informally called CAMANAVA,
which consists of CAloocan, MAlabon,
NAvotas, and VAlenzuela cities. Caloocan
lies to the south and east, Navotas to the
west, and Valenzuela to the north. Malabon
also borders the town of Obando in the
province of Bulacan to the northwest.
GEOGRAPHY Malabon is one of the most densely populated cities in
the Philippines and its low-lying, flat terrain makes it
prone to frequent flooding, especially during high tides,
heavy rains and when the river and dams overflow. The
four cities in CAMANAVA are commonly affected by
interconnected rivers, one of which is the Tullahan
River.
The river system used to be navigable and fishing was
the major livelihood activity in the area. The River used
to be wider and deeper with better quality water, and
was a regular source of different species of fish, an
important food source for local residents. Also, trees
and crops like play (rice) and vegetables used to be
grown along the riverbanks. However, these
agricultural plots have been replace by industrial yards,
which also became home to thousands of informal
settlers who built makeshift dwellings without legal
claim to the land.
GEOGRAPHY Floods have worsened in recent years,
occurring more frequently and reaching
depths of several feet. Most affected are
families in the communities that are along or
near the riverbanks. The river has become
narrower and shallower over the years, and its
capacity to hold water has decreased. With
more frequent intense rains, the riverbanks
flood regularly and flooding reaches farther
into low-lying and densely populated areas of
the city.
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