HISTORY OF PINAMALAYAN

(Oriental Mindoro)

History

The name Pinamalayan, as the story goes, came

from the words “Ipinamalay na” (It has been made known
to us), as exclaimed by its first settlers from Marinduque
who lost their bearing amidst a turbulent sea, when a
rainbow appeared in the horizon after praying to God
Almighty and it guided them towards safety and to a
place where they discovered abundant resources for
livelihood. Other resources attribute the name
Pinamalayan simply to the fact that the area was once a
vast area planted with rice, hence the name “PINAGPALAYAN”.

The town of Pinamalayan is one of the oldest in the Province of Oriental

Mindoro. Its territory once went as far as the old settlements of Sumagui and
Anilao which are now part of Bansud and Bongabong respectively. The Town of
Pola was also a former part of Pinamalayan until it got its permanent township
status in the early years of American Colonization while Gloria was separated from
Pinamalayan in 1964.

These territorial organizations signify the role of

Pinamalayan as a major political and economic
center in the southern part of Oriental Mindoro way
back the latter years of Spanish regime.
Administrative orders regulating secular activities in
these settlements were once sent from Pinamalayan
thereby giving the town derivative advantages in
trade, infrastructure development and social
facilities, and even political accommodations at the
onset of the century. Pinamalayan was organized as
a permanent settlement in 1800’s in leadership of a Gobernadorcillo. In 1914, the
Municipal Council acted on the selection of a new town site through viva-voce
voting. It was in 1916 that the seat of the municipal government was transferred
from Lumambayan to its present site. During the American occupation, American
planners made sure that the town is properly laid out according to a planning
system that include wide, symmetrical roads with appropriate drainage facilities.
It was also during that time that a big plaza was constructed adjacent to the
municipal building. To date, Pinamalayan remains a model in town planning.

Presently, Pinamalayan is identified as one

of the three major growth centers of the
province together with Calapan City and Roxas.
It is classified as a First Class Municipality by virtue
of DOF Department Order No. 20-05 as
implemented by BLGF Memorandum Circular
No. 01-M (43)-05 issued on January 31, 2006. The
municipality’s strategic location (being at the
center of the province), its well- panned Urban
Core, the presence of the Intra-Regional
Transport, its high agricultural potentials and the high percentage of available
labor force spell the advantage necessary for sustainable development
strategies. Its physical environment and socio- economic accomplishments are
efficient starting points from which development efforts may be linked with.
Having the best planned Poblacion in Oriental Mindoro, Pinamalayan with its grid-
pattern of roads at 20-meter wide right-of-way in major segments can still absorb
further urban growth and remains a model in town planning.

With its current state of economy and development, Pinamalayan is vying

to become the second city in the Province of Oriental Mindoro.