Rizal

Infobox Philippine province
name = Rizal
sealfile = Ph seal rizal.png region = CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
capital = Antipolo City [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101682/Rizal-capitol-to-be-transferred-to-Antipolo gmanews.tv, Rizal capitol to be transferred to Antipolo] ] | founded = June 11, 1901
pop2000 = 1,707,218
pop2000rank = 11th largest
popden2000 = 1,304
popden2000rank = 2nd highest
areakm2 = 1,308.9
arearank = 10th smallest
hucities = 0
componentcities = 1
municipalities = 13
barangays = 187
districts = 4‡
languages = Tagalog
governor = Casimiro Ynares III ("2007-2010") (NPC)
vice governor = Frisco S. San Juan Jr. ("2007-2010") (NPC)
locatormapfile = Ph locator map rizal.png

Rizal is a province of the Philippines located in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 20 kilometers east of Manila. The province was named after the country's national hero, José Rizal. Rizal's capital is now Antipolo. But the Capitol is still located in Pasig City, [http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno7829.html Sec. 52, Republic Act No. 7829] ] used to be the provincial capital which is now part of Metro Manila. Rizal Governor Casimiro A. Ynares III on June 17, 2008 announced the transfer of the Capitol from Pasig. Its P 270-million capitol building, being constructed in Antipolo City by Ortigas & Co., owner thereof, will be completed by December. Built on 5-hectare lot at the Ynares Center, it will employ 2,008 employees. Rizal is bordered by Metro Manila to the west, the province of Bulacan to the north, Quezon to the east and Laguna province to the south. The province also lies on the northern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.

Rizal is a mountainous province perched on the western slopes of the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Antipolo City boasts of a wonderful view of Metro Manila and it is where Hinulugang Taktak, a waterfall popular with tourists, can be found.

People and culture

Tagalog is the main language that is spoken in this province, being part of the region where Tagalog is predominantly spoken.

Majority of the population practice Roman Catholicism and many towns in Rizal have centuries-old Spanish churches. A notable church is the Antipolo Cathedral in Antipolo City.

Economy

The primary source of economy in Rizal province are the huge piggery estates owned by Manila-based families. In the northern towns, farming is the main industry, while fishing predominates in the southern towns.

In a study recently conducted by the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB), Rizal province came out to be the Philippines' least poor province with a poverty incidence rate of 3.4%, even lower than that of the National Capital Region or Metro Manila.

Geography

Political

Rizal is subdivided into 13 municipalities and 1 city.

Government

The provincial legislature or the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is composed of ten elected members. Four members are elected from each of the province's legislative district, while each of Antipolo City's legislative district elect a single member.

History

The province of Rizal was originally composed of 26 towns. The territory began with the organization of the Tondo province and Laguna province during the Spanish administration. Some of the towns like Pasig, Parañaque, Taytay and Cainta were already thriving. Tagalog settlements which carried on trade with the Chinese and Arab traders long before the Spanish conquest.

From the reports of the Encomiendas in 1582-1583, the Encomiendas of Moron (Morong) was under the jurisdiction of La Laguna and, the Encomiendas of Passi (Pasig), Taitay (Taytay) and Tagui (Taguig) belonged to the Province of Tondo. It was recorded that in 1591, the Encomiendas of Moron and Taitay were under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Order in the Province of La Laguna; and the Encomiendas of Nabotas (Navotas), Tambobo (Malabon), Tondo, Parañaque, Longalo (Dongalo), Tagui and Pasig were under the jurisdiction of the Augustinians in the Province of Tondo.

In 1853, a new political subdivision was formed. This consisted of the towns of Antipolo, Bosoboso, Cainta and Taytay from the Province of Tondo; and the towns of Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, Angono, Binangonan and Jalajala from the Province of La Laguna, with the capital at Morong. This district was later changed to Distrito Politico-Militar de Morong after four years.

In 1860, by virtue of Circular No. 83, dated September 2, 1859, the Province of Tondo became the Province of Manila. All its towns were placed under the administration, fiscal supervision and control of the Governor of the new province.

The town of Mariquina (Marikina) became the capital of the Province of Manila during the tenure of the revolutionary government of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. The Province of Morong had for its capital the town of Antipolo for the period 1898-1899, and the town of Tanay for 1899-1900.

On February 6, 1901, the First Philippine Commission sought to establish civil government in the country through a provincial organization act after the Filipino-Spanish and Filipino-American conflicts.

Therefore, on June 5, 1901, a historic meeting was held at the Pasig Catholic Church for the organization of a civil government in the Provinces of Manila and Morong, with 221 delegates in attendance. The first Philippine Commission, headed by President William Howard Taft and composed of Commissioners Luke E. Wright, Henry C. Ide, Bernard Moses and Dean C. Worcester, discussed with the Assembly the issue of whether or not to write the Province of Manila with Morong Province, was not self-sufficient to operate as a separate province.

Although the delegates from Morong, Don Hilarion Raymundo and Don Jose Tupas, objected to the proposal, Delegate Don Juan Sumulong of Antipolo strongly advocated the move. After much acrimonious debate and upon the suggestion of Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera the body agreed on the creation of a new province independent of the Province of Manila. The new province was aptly named after José Rizal, the country's national hero.

On June 11, 1901, the province of Rizal was officially and legally created by virtue of an Act No. 137 by the First Philippine Commission which during the time was acting as the unicameral legislative body in the island of Luzon.

The new province was composed of 27 municipalities, 15 from the old province of Manila (Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Parañaque, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros, Pasig, Marikina, San Mateo, and Montalban (now Rodriguez)); and 12 from the Politico-Militar District of Morong, (Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Antipolo, Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Pilillia, Tanay, Taytay and Teresa). The seat of the provincial government is Pasig.

On November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, the 12 towns of Las Piñas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Malabon, Navotas, Pasig and Marikina were incorporated into the newly formed Metro Manila Region thereby leaving the remaining 14 towns to the Province of Rizal.

External links

* [http://www.rizalprovince.gov.ph Official Website of the Provincial Government of Rizal]
* [http://www.paraisophilippines.com/2008/08/24/rizal/ Rizal Province - Window of the East]

Notes