Bacoor

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Bacoor
Component City

Lungsod ng Bacoor (City of Bacoor)

(From top, left to right) Downtown Bacoor along

Evangelista St., mussels or tahong, a staple product
of the city, the New Bacoor City Hall, aerial view of
Bacoor, SM City Bacoor

Seal

Nickname(s):
Cavite's Gateway to the Metropolis
Marching Band Capital of the Philippines
City of Transformation

Map of Cavite showing the location of Bacoor

Bacoor
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1427N 12057ECoordinates:
N 12057E

Country

Philippines

Region

CALABARZON (Region IV-A)

Province

Cavite

1427

Congr. districts

2nd District of Cavite

Incorporated

September 28, 1671

Cityhood

June 23, 2012

Barangays

73

Government[1]
Type

Mayorcouncil

Mayor

Strike B. Revilla (Lakas-Magdalo)

Vice Mayor

Catherine S. Evaristo (LakasMagdalo)

Representati

Lani Mercado-Revilla (Lakas)

ve
City Council

Councilors[show]

Area[2]
Total
Elevation

52.40 km2 (20.23 sq mi)

4 m (13 ft)

Population (2010)[3]
Total

520,216

Density

9,900/km2 (26,000/sq mi)

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

4102

Dialing code

46

Website

www.bacoor.gov.ph

Bacoor, officially the City of Bacoor (Filipino: Lungsod ng Bacoor), is a first-class urban component city in
the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is a lone congressional district of Cavite and is the province's gateway to
Metro Manila.
Contents
[hide]

1Etymology

2History
o

2.1Spanish period

2.2American period

2.3Japanese occupation

2.4Cityhood

3Geography
o

3.1Physical

3.2Political subdivisions

3.3Climate

4Demographics
o

5Economy
o

5.1Commerce

5.2Land use

5.3Tourism

4.1Religion

6Local government
o

6.1Executive

6.2Legislative
7Infrastructure

7.1Transportation

7.2Health

8Education

9Notable People

10Sister cities

11Gallery

12See also

13References

14External links

Etymology[edit]
Some accounts indicate that the city of Bacoor, also named Bakood orBakoor, was founded as pueblo or town
in 1671. When Spanish troops first arrived in Bacoor, they met some local inhabitants in the process of
building a bamboo fence (bakod in Filipino) around a house. The Spaniards asked the men what the name of
the village was but because of the difficulties in understanding each other, the local inhabitants thought that the
Spaniards were asking what they were building. The men answered "bakood". The Spaniards pronounced it as
"bacoor" which soon became the town's name.[4]

History[edit]

Bahay Tisa (Cuenca Ancestral House) served as the headquarters of the Philippine revolutionary
government in 1898

Zapote Bridge in 1899, site the historic battle in 1897 which killed Gen.Edilberto Evangelista.

Spanish period[edit]
Main article: Battle of Zapote Bridge (1897)
Bacoor was one of the flashpoints of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872. Bacoor's parish priest at that time,Fr. Mariano
Gmez, was one of the GOMBURZA trio implicated in the mutiny for
advocatingsecularization of priesthood in the Philippines. He and the rest of GOMBURZA were executed
atBagumbayan in 1872.[5][6] The death of the GOMBURZA served as the inspiration for Jose Rizal'sEl
Filibusterismo, which in turn influenced the ignition of thePhilippine Revolution.
During the Philippine Revolutionagainst Spain in 1896, Bacoor was one of the first towns in Cavite to rise up.
A Katipunan chapter, codenamed Gargano, led by Gil Ignacio from barrio Banalo, started the hostilities in
Bacoor on 2 September 1896, three days after the revolution began.[7]
On 17 February 1897, General Emilio Aguinaldo's 40,000-strong force confronted a 20,000-strong Spanish
reinforcement at the Zapote River. The Katipuneros reinforced the southern bank of the river with trenches
designed by Filipino engineer Edilberto Evangelista. They also blew up the Zapote Bridge with explosives
which killed several Spaniards crossing it and thereby preventing them from reaching Cavite and forcing them
to retreat to Muntinlupa. Despite the Filipino victory, they lost the brilliant Evangelista who was killed in
action.[7][8]
However, after the Spanish counteroffensive in May 1897, Bacoor and the rest of Cavite finally fell to the
Spaniards, forcing Aguinaldo and his men to retreat to Biak-na-Bato.[7]

American period[edit]
Main article: Battle of Zapote River
With the Philippine declaration of independence from Spain on 12 June 1898, hostilities reignited in Cavite
and Bacoor was designated as the first capital of Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary government until it was
transferred to Malolos, Bulacan in 1899.[7] The Zapote Bridge became the site once again of another battle on
13 June 1899, this time between Philippine andAmerican troops. An American force of 1,200 men supported
by naval gunfire from the American squadron in Manila Baycrushed a 5,000-strong Filipino force led by
General Po del Pilar.[9][10] Zapote Bridge's special place in Philippine history is depicted today in Bacoor's city
seal.

Japanese occupation[edit]
During World War II, in 1942, Japanese occupation forces entered Bacoor and other towns of Cavite province.
From 1942 to 1945, many Caviteos joined the Cavite Guerrilla Unit (CGU), a recognized guerrilla group
headed by Colonel Mariano Castaeda. This group would eventually become the Filipino-American Cavite
Guerrilla Forces (FACGF). Colonel Francisco Guerrero and the FACGF's 2nd Infantry Regiment was put in
charge of Japanese resistance in Bacoor. The FAGCF, together with Filipino soldiers under the 41st, 4th, and
42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army liberated and recaptured Bacoor and defeated
the Japanese Imperial Army forces from January to August 1945, during the Allied liberation of the
Philippines.[11]

Cityhood[edit]
On 25 July 2011, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10160 creating the
City of Bacoor.[12]It was ratified through a plebiscite on 23 June 2012,[13] wherein 36, 226 of the town's 40,080
registered voters voted in favor of cityhood while those against were 3,854. [14] With the incorporation of Bacoor
as a city, it was divided into two legislative districts, Bacoor West and Bacoor East. During the 2013 mid-term
elections, the citizens of Bacoor voted for six councilors for each districts forming a 12-person city council.

Geography[edit]

The Molino Dam was built during the Spanish period to divert water for farm irrigation.

Physical[edit]
Bacoor is strategically located at the gateway to Metro Manila. A sub-urban area, the city is located
approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Manila, on the southeastern shore of Manila Bay, at the northwest
portion of the province with an area of 52.4 square kilometers. It is bordered to the east by Las
Pias and Muntinlupa, to the south by Dasmarias, to the west by Kawit and Imus, and to the north by Bacoor
Bay an inlet of Manila Bay. Bacoor's is separated from Las Pias by the Zapote River and from Imus and
Kawit by Bacoor River.
Most of the city is composed of flat, formerly agricultural lands, with some areas such as the coastal barangays
of Zapote, Talaba, Niog, and Panapaan lying below sea level. Some barangays such as Molino and Queens
Row are situated on the hills that form valleys along the upstream portion of Zapote River.

Political subdivisions[edit]
Bacoor City is politically subdivided into 73 barangays[15] grouped into two legislative districts namely, Bacoor
West andBacoor East, which are represented in the city council by their respective councilors.
Bacoor West

Alima

Aniban I

Aniban II

Aniban III

Aniban IV

Aniban V

Banalo

Camposanto

Daang-Bukid

Digman

Dulong-Bayan

Kaingin

Habay I

Habay II

Ligas I

Ligas II

Ligas III

Mabolo I

Mabolo II

Mabolo III

Maliksi I

Maliksi II

Maliksi III

Niog I

Niog II

Niog III

Panapaan I/P.F. Espirtu I

Panapaan II/P.F. Espiritu II

Panapaan III/P.F. Espiritu III

Panapaan IV/P.F. Espiritu IV

Panapaan V/P.F. Espiritu V

Panapaan VI/P.F. Espiritu VI

Panapaan VII/P.F. Espiritu VII

Panapaan VIII/P.F. Espiritu VIII

Real I

Real II

Salinas I

Salinas II

Salinas III

Salinas IV

San Nicolas I

San Nicolas II

San Nicolas III

Sineguelasan

Tabing-Dagat (Town Proper)

Talaba I

Talaba II

Talaba III

Talaba IV

Talaba V

Talaba VI

Talaba VII

Zapote I

Zapote II

Zapote III

Zapote IV

Zapote V/Longos

Bacoor East

Bayanan

Mambog I

Mambog II

Mambog III

Mambog IV

Mambog V

Molino I/Burol

Molino II

Molino III

Molino IV

Molino V/Bahayang Pag-Asa

Molino VI/Soldiers Hills IV

Molino VII/Gawaran

Queens Row Central

Queens Row East

Queens Row West

Climate[edit]
Under the Kppen climate classification system, Bacoor features a tropical savanna climate that borders on
a tropical monsoon climate (Kppen climate classification Aw/Am). Together with the rest of the Philippines,
Bacoor lies entirely within the tropics. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very
small, rarely going lower than 20 C (68 F) and going higher than 38 C (100 F) . However, humidity levels
are usually very high which makes it feel much warmer. It has a distinct dry season from late December
through April, and a relatively lengthy wet season that covers the remaining period. Southwest monsoon
or Habagat can occur from June to September and can cause flooding in parts of the city.

[hide]Climate data for Bacoor, Cavite

Month

Average
high C (F)

Average low
C (F)

Jan

Feb

Ma
r

Apr

Ma
y

Jun

30

31

32

34

34

33

(86

(88

(90

(93

(93

(91

24

24

25

27

27

26

(75

(75

(77

(81

(81

(79

Jul

Aug

Sep

32

31

32

(90)

(88)

(90)

26

25

26

(79)

(77)

(79)

Oct

No

De

Yea

32

31

30

31.8

(90

(88

(86

(89.

4)

26

26

25

25.6

(79

(79

(77

(78.

2)

Averageprec
ipitationmm
(inches)

Average
rainy days

32.

31.

28.

26.

188

225

420.

377.

332.

145

128

76.

2,01

.9

.7

.1

.8

4.8

(1.2

(1.2

(1.

(1.0

(7.4

(8.8

(16.

(14.

(13.

(5.7

(5.0

(3.0

(79.

95)

48)

11)

59)

37)

86)

535)

878)

087)

13)

71)

04)

323)

12

18

21

23

21

17

14

10

156

Source: World Weather Online[16]

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Bacoor

According to the 2010 census of population, Bacoor has a population of 520,216 people,[3] making it the second
most populous city in the province after Dasmarias. The city is a bedroom community which owes its large
population to the influx of low and middle-income settlers who availed of the various housing projects and
subdivisions in it.[17]

Facade of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church of Bacoor

Religion[edit]
Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Bacoor due to the influx of migrants and is part of the Diocese
of Imus. The city is the seat of the Vicariate of St. Michael, the Archangel and the Vicariate of Sto. Nio de
Molino. One of Bacoor's notable parish priests was Fr. Mariano Gmez, one of the GOMBURZA trio
implicated in the Cavite Mutiny who served as parish priest at the Bacoor Cathedral from 1824 to his death in
1872.[5][6]
During the Philippine Revolution, majority of Bacoor's inhabitants became members of the Philippine
Independent Church also known as the Aglipayan Church, the religious arm of General Emilio
Aguinaldo's government. The Aglipayan Church has a long and colorful history in the city. It is one of the first
places in the Philippines to join the new movement, and the Catholic priest at that time, Fr. Fortunato Clemena,
became the first Aglipayan priest of Bacoor, as well as the first Aglipayan Bishop of Cavite, during the
Aglipayan Schism period. Most of the first members of the church in Bacoor were Katipuneros headed
by General Mariano Noriel, who is also the first president of the laymen organization.
Bacoor also has a significant population of Muslims, mostly middle-class Maranao traders and merchants. A
number ofProtestant Christian denomination, such as Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry, United
Methodist Church, as well as Evangelical Christian Denominations such as Molino Community Christian
Fellowship (Southern Baptist), Jesus Is Lord Church, and Lighthouse Worship Center also have a presence in
the city.

Economy[edit]

SM City Bacoor was opened on July 25, 1997, becoming the first SM Mall outside of Metro Manila
and in Cavite.

Mussels and oysters are two of Bacoor's main products

Bamboo is another common product in Bacoor

Oyster trade

Fishing boat in Bacoor Bay

Commerce[edit]
Bacoor is currently experiencing a rapid shift from an agriculture-based economy to a residential/commercial
urban center. Nowadays, retail, manufacturing, banking and service sectors are Bacoor's primary income
earners. Commercial activities are sporadic throughout the city ranging from wholesale to retail
establishments, restaurants and eateries, hardware and construction supplies and other service-related
industries, especially those located in SM City Bacoor where it serves as the city's main income earner. The
mostly residential area of Molino is also home to SM Center Molino at the corner of Molino Road and Daang
Hari. The entrance area from the Coastal Road to Aguinaldo Highway in Talaba and the area surrounding the
Zapote Public Market (now the Bacoor Public Market) are other commercial centers. Bacoor has branches of
11 different commercial banks all over the city.
Meanwhile, agricultural area has lessened to only 100 hectares while fishponds which likewise decreased to
almost half of the original 760 hectares. Salt production, fishing, oyster and mussel culture, which are now
being threatened to near extinction because of pollution and overpopulation, are the other sources of income of
the residents. These industries are also threatened by the construction of the Cavite Coastal Road
Extension which directly affected the Bacoor shoreline.[18]

Land use[edit]
Land use developments in Bacoor include a proposed industrial village in Barangay Niog which will include
light cottage industries with supporting residential and commercial facilities. A vast tract of land in Molino
area, on the other hand, is envisioned to host residential, institutional and commercial facilities. Dubbed as
theNew Bacoor, the land use plan in Molino seeks to utilize the area not only as a dormitory for individuals
who work in Metro Manila but also for people who have migrated to Bacoor in search of economic
advancement.

Tourism[edit]
Bacoor also is a tourism and recreational center with reach of Metro Manila residents. Aside from its numerous
shopping malls, the city offers visitors a taste of history, culture, and local cuisine through various resorts,
restaurants, and other places of interest. These include:
Places of Interest

Bahay Tisa (Cuenca Ancestral House)

Battle of Zapote Bridge site

Bacoor Cathedral

Bacoor Ecopark

St. Ezekiel Moreno Park (Prinza Dam)

Bacoor Public Market

Festivals

Bakood Festival (Araw ng Bacoor): September 29

Marching Band Festival (Town Fiesta): Second Sunday of May

Battle of Zapote Bridge Commemoration: February 17

Resorts

Paradiso Terrestre

Circle Island Resort

SunWind Resort

Restaurants

Kainan Sa Balsa

Digman's Original Halo-Halo

Ka Freddie's

Shopping Malls and Supermarkets

SM City Bacoor

SM City Molino

The District

RFC Molino Mall

V Central Mall

FRC Mall

Starmall Molino

Center Square Mall (under construction)

Seasons Mall (under construction)

SM Savemore

Puregold

Super 8

Emilu's

Abri Commercial

Local government[edit]
Main articles: Philippine city and Mayor of Bacoor

City Government of Bacoor

(20132016)
Representative
Lani Mercado-Revilla (Lakas)
Mayor
Strike Revilla (Lakas)
Vice Mayor
Catherine "Karen" S. Evaristo (Lakas)
Sangguniang Panlungsod Members
Bacoor West

Bacoor East

Avelino B. Solis

Reynaldo C. Palabarica

Edwin G. Gawaran

Hernando "King" C. Gutierrez

Miguel N. Bautista

Gaudencio P. Nolasco

Rowena M. Bautista-Mendiola

Bayani M. De Leon

Reynaldo M. Fabian

Leandro A. De Leon

Venus G. De Castro

Roberto R. Javier
ABC President

Victorio L. Guerrero, Jr. (Salinas II)

Provincial Board Members
Edralin G. Gawaran

Rolando S. Remulla

Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,
[19]
the city government is to be composed of a mayor(alkalde), a vice-mayor (bise alkalde)
and members(kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Panlungsod alongside a secretary to the said
legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.

Executive[edit]

The New Bacoor City Hall at the Bacoor Government Center in Brgy. San Nicolas II, Bacoor, Cavite

As with everyPhilippine city, Bacoor's chief executive is the city mayor. Elected to a term of three years and
limited to three consecutive terms, he or she appoints the directors of each city department, which include the
office of administration, engineering office, information office, legal office, and treasury office. The
incumbentmayor of Bacoor is Strike Revilla, from the Lakas Party. He first assumed office on 30 June 2007,
following his victory in the May 2007 municipal elections.[20] He was reelected in 2010 for a second term,
during which, Bacoor was converted into a city.[21] He ran and won a third as city mayor in 2013 which will
expire in 2016.[22]
The city's vice mayor performs duties as acting governor in the absence of the mayor. He or she also
automatically succeeds as mayor upon the death of the incumbent. He or she also convenes the Sangguniang
Panlungsod, the city's legislative body. The incumbent vice mayor of Bacoor is Catherine Sarino-Evaristo from
the Lakas Party. She first assumed office on 30 June 2013 after defeating former vice mayor Rosette MirandaFernando.[22]

Legislative[edit]
The city, which is a lone congressional district, is represented in the Philippine House of Representatives by
congresswomanLani Mercado-Revilla from the Lakas Party. She first assumed office from 2010 after Bacoor
(which was still a municipality back then) was given a lone congressional seat.[21] After Bacoor was elevated to
city status, she ran and won a second term in 2013 as congresswoman. [22]
Within the city, the City Board or Sangguniang Panlungsod crafts all city ordinances, performs appropriation
of city funds, issues franchises and permits, impose fees on city services, and exercise other duties and powers
as stipulated by the Local Government Code of 1991. Being a first-class city in terms of income, Bacoor is
entitled to a City Board composed of 12 members, six each from the citys two board districts.

Infrastructure[edit]

Tricycle terminal in front of SM City Bacoor

The Bacoor section of the CAVITEX

Transportation[edit]
Bacoor is described as a bedroom community with most of its citizens commuting to and from Metro Manila
to work. The city is the connected to Metro Manila by major thoroughfares: CAVITEX and Quirino Avenue in
the north, Daang Hari and theMuntinlupaCavite Expressway in the south, and Marcos Alvarez Avenue in the
east.[23] It is also the terminus of the Aguinaldo Highway and Tirona Highway which connects the city to the
rest of Cavite. Common forms of transportation are buses, mini-buses, public utility vans, jeepneys. [23]
Due to the congestion of Bacoor's major thoroughfares and overpopulation, the city suffers from daily heavy
traffic. This hoped to be eased in the future as the city will become the terminus of the Manila Light Rail
Transit System once its southern extension has been completed.[24] Bacoor is also part of the proposed CaviteLaguna Expressway (CALAX), which is currently in the bidding process.[25]

Health[edit]
To address the health concerns of the city's ageing population and urban poor population, several public and
private hospitals have been established in the city. The local government also initiated a discount program for
senior citizens in city wherein they can avail of discounted medical care and medicines in hospitals in and
outside of Bacoor.
Bacoor has one major public hospital and 7 major private hospitals aside from a number of small private
clinics.

Bacoor District Hospital

Bacoor Doctors Medical Center

Crisostomo General Hospital

Metro South Medical Center

Molino Doctors Hospital

Southeast Asian Medical Center

St. Dominic Medical Center

St. Michael Medical Hospital

Education[edit]

A public elementary school in Bacoor

See also: List of Schools in Bacoor, Cavite

As a bedroom community, Bacoor is also home to several education institutions both public and private.
Currently, there are 27 public elementary schools and seven public high schools throughout the city. Students
in the public school sector study under the K12 curriculum. There are also numerous privately run elementary
schools and high schools. Several private colleges offer academic as well as technical-vocational education.
The city is home to two universities: the Molino campus of the University of Perpetual Help System
DALTA and a campus of the Cavite State University.

Notable People[edit]

Actress Marian Riverais a native of Bacoor

Ernie Baron, weather forecaster and host of Knowledge Power on ABS-CBN. Also
known as "The Walking Encyclopedia."

Joseph Eric Buhain, swimmer and chairman of the Games and Amusement Board
of the Philippines.

Serafin Cuevas, esteemed lawyer and former Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court of the Philippines (19841986) and Secretary of Justice (19982000).

Pedro F. Espiritu, governor of the Cavite Province, (19311934).

Rubylita Garcia, murdered journalist for the newspapers Remate and The Pilipino
Times.

Leon Guinto, former mayor of the City of Manila during the Japanese occupation.

Mariano Noriel, served as general under Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary army

during the 1896 Philippine Revolution.
Diether Ocampo, actor, singer, and model.

Rey D. Pagtakhan, Canadian physician, professor and politician. He was a cabinet

minister in the governments of Jean Chrtien and Paul Martin, and served as a
member of parliament from 1988 until his defeat in the 2004 election.

Manuel R. Pamaran, esteemed lawyer and former presiding justice of

the Sandiganbayan from 1978 to 1986, known as "The Hanging Judge" for deciding
over high-profile cases using death penalty.

Strike Revilla, incumbent mayor of Bacoor.

Marian Rivera, commercial model, actress, and TV host; wife of actor Dingdong
Dantes.

Hilarion Francisco Rubio, director of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of

Music, a full professor of the UP Conservatory of Music, founder and the first
president of the Philippine Bandmasters Association.

Cesar N. Sarino, former Secretary of Interior and Local Government and former
General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Wesley So, eighth youngest chess grandmaster in history.

Sister cities[edit]
Local city

Las Pias City,

Philippines

Legazpi City,
Philippines

Davao City,
Philippines

Gallery[edit]

Downtown Bacoor, known asPoblacion

Gen. Edilberto Evangelista Avenue

Aguinaldo Highway

The City of Bacoor Sports Gymnasium

The Sagip Buhay and Recovery Health Center