Parañaque

"On the coast near Manila are Laguo (i.e. Lagyo), Malahat, Longalo, Palañac, Vakol, Minacaya, and Cavite. All these villages are in the neighborhood of Cavite, and belong to his Majesty, to whom they pay tribute."

Miguel de Loarca, Relacion de Yslas Filipinas (1582)[7]

Due to their proximity to the sea, the early Parañaqueños traded with the Chinese, Japanese, Indonesians, Indians and Malays. Traditional livelihoods included salt-making, fishing, planting rice, shoemaking, slipper-making and weaving.[6]

Parañaque was officially founded in the year 1580 by Order of Saint Augustine and it was Fray Diego de Espiñar, O.S.A. who became the first minister of the town. The Council of the Definitors (a conference of chiefs of the religious orders) held on 11 June 1580 (Conquistas delas Islas of Fray Gaspar San Agustin, O.S.A.) accepted the village of Palanyag, as Parañaque as an independent pueblo. Other towns in the islands which simultaneously established on the same date according to the 1580 chapter of the Augustinians was; Malolos (in Bulacan) Bulacabe (in Panay) Bantayan (in Cebu). The image of Palanyag's patroness, Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag, was brought to St. Andrew's Cathedral in La Huerta on August 10, 1625. Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag is the third oldest Marian Image in the Philippines.

Early Spanish census dated 1591 to 1593 also mentioned Longalo (or Don Galo) and Parañaque as two villages along Manila Bay composed of some 800 tribute-payers. Politically, Don Galo and Parañaque were then under the Encomienda and Provincia de Tondo. The community was headed by cabezas de barangay, a westernized version of datus (chieftains), and the principalia, the local aristocrats, who together justified and moderated the demands of the Spanish colonizers. Education was limited to the principalia as they were the only ones who could afford it.

Historical accounts state that the town's strategic location enabled the townspeople to play an important role in Philippine history. Palanyag was located at the crossroads of Manila, between the provinces of Cavite and Batangas. In 1574 during the invasion of the town by the Chinese pirate Limahong, Parañaquenos, particularly those from Barangay Don Galo, heroically aided in preventing the attack in Manila. This incident became known as the "Red Sea Incident" due to the blood that flowed through the sacrifice of the people of barrio Santa Monica. With the arrival of Spanish forces led by Captain Juan de Salcedo from Ilocos, Limahong was finally repulsed and the occupation of the town was prevented.

When the British invaded Manila in 1762, the townspeople once again remained loyal to the Spanish colonizers, especially the Augustinians. The invasion however showed that the Spaniards was not invincible and that their rule was not to be permanent. More than a hundred years later, this would prove to be true. During the Philippine Revolution of 1896–1898, the Spaniards realized that the town was a practical gateway to Cavite, the bastion of the revolutionary Katipuneros. Conversely, the Katipuneros based in Cavite saw the town as their gateway to Intramuros, the Spanish seat of government in Manila. Prominent Paraqueños such as Manuel Quiogue and secular priest Father Pedro Dandan y Masangkay became leading revolutionary figures.

During the American Period of the Philippines, Parañaque became one of the first municipalities in the Metro Manila region.

A burning building along Taft Avenue which was hit during the Japanese air raid in Barrio Parañaque, 13 December 1941.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, Parañaque supplied leadership to guerilla movements such as the ROTC Hunters, as well as food and arms. Parañaque was one of the first towns to be liberated and its guerillas helped pave the way for the combined American and Philippine Commonwealth forces to enter the south of Manila. As can be gleaned from the above, Parañaque has played and continues to play a strategic role in the Philippines' political and economic progress, as shown by the quick recovery the town shown following the damage it incurred during the long Battle of Manila in 1945.

Parañaque was a municipality of the province of Rizal, until November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, when Parañaque became a part of Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region.[8]

Parañaque was later converted as the eleventh city of Metro Manila on February 15, 1998, and was chartered and urbanized by then President Fidel V. Ramos during the celebration of the city's 418th Founding Anniversary. Joey Marquez became its first city mayor.

Owing to Parañaque's strategic location, it is an important centre for trade and business in Metro Manila. Baclaran, where a large number of dry goods stores are located, is one of the busiest markets in the country. Small fishing villages called “fisherman's wharves” are also situated alongside Barangay La Huerta, where the famous DAMPA, a seaside market with numerous restaurants serving fresh seafood, is found. This has the country's international airport and the Duty Free Philippines for imported goods.[9] and of course Ang Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City where three (3) integrated resorts (IR) licensed by PAGCOR - Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation are located. On October 9, 2018, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange was officially opened in Parañaque City, and is the first landport in the Philippines.

In 2020, Parañaque and the entire metropolitan Manila was placed under community quarantine for two months due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

The native language of Parañaque is Tagalog, but the majority of the residents can understand and speak English.

Most of Parañaque's population are Christians, mainly Roman Catholic.

Roman Catholic churches in Parañaque are under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Parañaque. There are two National Shrines, the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (commonly known as the Baclaran Church or Redemptorist Church) and the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians; the Parañaque Cathedral or the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew is the oldest church in Parañaque and the mother church of the Diocese of Parañaque. There are about 90 parishes and 2 sub-parishes. El Shaddai, a Catholic charismatic renewal movement, is centered in the city.

The Greek Orthodox Church (from which the icon of the Perpetual Help originated) also has a cathedral in United Paranaque V - the Annunciation of the Theotokos Orthodox Cathedral - the first Orthodox church in Southeast Asia consecrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. [16]

Other Christian denominations include Iglesia ni Cristo and Members Church of God International. There are also a number of non-Catholic (primarily Protestant) churches in Parañaque.

There is also a minority of Muslims, primarily living on Baclaran. There are two mosques in Parañaque.

SM City Sucat

Parañaque also relies on shopping centers as part of its economy. The principal malls include SM City Sucat (opened in July 2001), SM City Bicutan, and SM City BF Parañaque (opened in 2016), all owned and operated by SM Supermalls of SM Prime Holdings. Ayala Malls Manila Bay owned and operated by Ayala Malls started their operation last September 26, 2019. Robinsons operates one mall inside BF Homes and one supermarket. There are also smaller malls like Jaka Plaza, Pergola Lifestyle Mall, Aseana Square Mall and Noah's Place Mall. Walter Mart has two malls of its franchise inside Parañaque. Duty Free Fiesta Mall is also located in Parañaque. Baclaran functions as the city's flea market, primarily selling clothing, especially school uniforms and costumes.

Solaire Resort & Casino

Hotels and gambling also form part of Parañaque's economy. Integrated resorts Solaire Resort & Casino, City of Dreams Manila and Okada Manila attract foreign tourists. Closed in 2014, Casino Filipino once served as a casino in the city until the opening of Ang Bagong Nayon Pilipino or Entertainment City, in parts of barangays Tambo and Don Galo. Cockfighting is also common in the barangays. The Roligon Mega-Cockpit, found in Tambo, is considered as the largest and most modern cockpit in Asia.

Parañaque is famous for its lively festivals, such as the caracol, a festival that revolves around boats.

Parañaque has the Sambalilo Festival a festival that showcases different colors, sizes, and designs of the Sambalilo hat. The Sunduan Festival is a tradition in the city that depicts the act of a man fetching the object of his affection from the woman's home to bring her to church or the town plaza. Both festivals are held around February 13–15 for the cityhood of Parañaque's annual anniversary.[16]

The city stages the cenaculo, a reenactment of the passion of Christ, during Holy Week, the Pasko ng Pagkabuhay during Easter, and the Santacruzan, a procession reenacting the search of the True Cross of Christ, in May. Shortly thereafter, the colorful Flores de Mayo, a festival commemorating the discovery of the cross by Queen Elena (mother of St. Constantine) is held.

An outstanding feature of this historic town by the bay is the cultivation of its cultural traditions such as the komedya and bati-bati, among others, that continue to attract local and foreign tourists alike, especially during the summer months.

Parañaque is known for sabong, a form of cockfighting constrained in coliseums.

Parañaque is served by the LRT-1 (via Baclaran Station which is located in Pasay City) and the PNR (via Bicutan station). The LRT-1 is to be extended to Bacoor. The actual construction officially started on May 7, 2019 because the Right-of-way is cleared from obstructions. The actual construction will start from Baclaran to Sucat. The groundbreaking of LRT Line 1 South Extension Project was held on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Once its partially operational, Parañaque will be served by the LRT-1 (via Redemptorist Station, Manila International Airport Station, Asia World Station, Ninoy Aquino, and Dr. A. Santos Station). Partial operation of the project will be in the end of 2021 and full operation will be in first quarter of 2024.

NAIA Terminal 1

Parañaque is the location of Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport as the airport complex sits on the Pasay-Parañaque border. It is located along Ninoy Aquino Avenue and many major international airlines operate flights from the terminal.

Parañaque is served by a network of expressways and arterial roads.

Expressways, like Manila-Cavite Expressway, and Metro Manila Skyway connects the city with the rest of Metro Manila and Calabarzon. The at-grade portion of Metro Manila Skyway in Parañaque has two service roads, namely the West Service Road and East Service Road, which both serves the communities and businesses lying near the expressway. The NAIA Expressway is the airport expressway that connects NAIA Terminal 1, Manila-Cavite Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway and also the Entertainment City under development on the reclaimed area.

Dr. Santos Avenue (formerly Sucat Road), Roxas Boulevard, Doña Soledad Avenue and Elpidio Quirino Avenue functions as the city's principal arterial roads. Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5 South Extension), which has been involved in land ownership controversies involving then Senator Manny Villar, and C-6 Road, which is proposed to be an expressway, serves as secondary arterial roads.

BF Homes Parañaque is served also by a network of arterial roads, serving residential and commercial areas within it.

Similar to other cities in Metro Manila, public utility vehicles (PUV) such as buses and jeeneys ply throughout Parañaque to serve commuters. The Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx) is located in Barangay Tambo and serves as an intermodal transport hub for PUV's.[17][18] PITx is also planned to connect with the future Asia World LRT-1 station.[19]