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In the 19th century during the Spanish Colonial Period, Dasmariñas was
stages, it was a part of its mother town of Imus (now City of Imus). It was
once a part of a vast Recollect Hacienda that supported all the various
Recollect Order and the parish priest of Imus met to discuss the creation of
the new town and parish separated from Imus. At that time, there were only
creation of the new town on May 12, 1864 with Don Juan Ramirez elected
as gobernadorcillo.
missionaries and friars, this process was advantageous not only for
evangelization but also for bringing people under the Spanish rule. A new
town called Tampus was formed. From that time on, the people of Tampus
built their houses within the hearing distance of the church bells – "bajo las
network of roads and bridges built by the best architects and engineers of
In the same year, the new town was rechristened Perez-Dasmariñas to
honor the 7th Governor General of the Philippines, Don Gómez Pérez
Toward the end of 1866, the new town Perez-Dasmariñas had complied
the center of the town with the church and the convent made of stone and
bricks, a casa tribunal (courthouse) made of wood and nipa, a primary
school for children and various houses made of nipa were built in
designated areas. A cemetery was located around 200 yards away from
other towns of Cavite. For the first time, a town was created not by a
preceding petition of the barrio people and its local officials as required by
legal procedures and custom at that time. Instead, high ranking church
officials and the Cavite politico military governor were the prime initiators of
its foundation.
For the sake of the people of the growing town and for their own interest,
the Recollects sent a petition to Madrid for the creation of a new parish of
Salitran was considered the most important and famous during the Spanish
regime because it was the site of the Recollect casa hacienda (estate
house). Salitran came from the Tagalog word "sal-it" meaning "people from
another town". It was also once named as Bayanan because of the large
de Imus, there were many people from different provinces who lived there
belief that there were Ilocanos who settled there. Pasong Santol in Salitran
got its name because of the abundance of santol trees.
Tampus, the center of the newly formed town was located at the end of
the deep forest in contrast with one of the sitios which was called "Pintong
from its location, as in the case of Barrio Burol which suggests the high
word "salawag" refers to long bamboo poles to which nipa roofing are tied
Nancaan, now called Langkaan, was derived from the Tagalog word
"langka" (jackfruit). It is the biggest fruit tree in the Philippines which was
reportedly brought from India to Malaysia and found its way to our country.
The presence of lot of jackfruit trees may be the reason it was called
Nancaan.
Malinta or Malintaan, on the other hand was derived from the Tagalog
word "linta" which means leech. The abundance of leeches in the place
accounted for its name.
On July 18, 1899, three more sitios of Perez-Dasmariñas were raised to
trees in the place; barrio Tamban was renamed San Jose and Barrio
suspicious of the local elite's activities. There were alleged top hierarchy
other top military officials. The purpose of the meeting was to determine
whether it was just to apprehend the notable elites who were "Masons". At
the time, "Masons" were bitter enemies of the church and their liberal ideas
natives to fight for their rights and even for their freedom. Fortunately for
the elites, no decision was during the meeting. Thus, the local leaders
Barzaga, the municipal secretary, gathered the people to liberate their town
the casa tribunal and casa hacienda in Salitran, killing the religious clergies
As towns in Cavite fell into the hands of Filipino revolutionaries, the
person took over the command of the islands, Camilo de Polavieja, with
Spaniards regained the control of the province. After the fall of Silang, the
Molina who went to take the left. The troop under Col. Arutos who had
taken Paliparan, went westward to cut the escape of the Filipinos to Imus
and Carmona. Gen. Lechambre sent the main force toward the south.
The Caviteños suffered terrible defeat because of lack of arms and
the interior. They started burning all houses except the church. Seeing they
were surrounded by fire, some of the rebels went out of hiding but were
immediately met by open fire. Those who took refuge at the casa tribunal
refused to come out and were all burned alive. Even those who took refuge
resistance from the revolutionaries who occupied the casa hacienda but to
his great surprise, they were able to take the place without any resistance.
They hoisted the red and gold flag of Spain and converted it as their
headquarters.
Pasong Santol was one of the most significant in the Caviteños' desire to
keep their province under their control. It was the bloodiest battle fought in
Cavite. It was during these series of battles in Cavite when Gen. Emilio
and elected its officers in the Tejeros Convention in Rosario, Cavite. In said
were 150 men inside the "tribunal" or town hall when Spaniards set fire to
the building and all 150 were killed. Others took refuge in the convent. This
also was set on fire and the men were shot as they emerged. Others had
meters, the strong doors of the church were bombarded and the troops
the province of Cavite in the middle of June 1899. The Americans could not
land directly at Bacoor because Zapote river was defended by the Filipino
an angle which made the Filipinos hardly visible. The American's 14th
Infantry Battalion swam across the during the Battle of Zapote River and
under the cover of military artillery, charged against the Filipinos who then
to the American camp that the Filipino soldiers had evacuated the town and
that the native mayor was disposed to surrender it formally to the
Americans. The battalion thus went there to take possession, but before
reaching the place, the Filipino revolutionists closed in on all sides, and a
heavy firefight went on for hours. The Americans were saved from
Placido Campos, who sided with General Emilio Aguinaldo since the
Political Prison on Postigo St., Intramuros, Manila where they were kept for
six months.
Conrado Malihan as vice-president. They served their office until the civil
82, the new Municipal Code, placing each municipal government under the
municipal council, who were elected by qualified voters every two years. In
line with this, Placido Campos was again elected as the head of the
In 1903, the American government made the first census in the
Campos. When the census was finished, the total population of the town
was only 3,500. Before the revolution of 1898, the population was 12,000.
had 200 persons with ages ranging from 18 to 59 years, men and women,
Comparing the population prior to the revolution with that of 1948, there
totaled 12,000.
From 1905 to 1916, the law which was passed in 1901 took effect. It
this was to punish the insurrectos for not surrendering. Besides, the
inability of the people to work outside from fear of being suspected by the
Together, they agreed to delete the word "Perez" and retain "Dasmariñas"
as the new name of the town. For the second time, Placido Campos
and has given up many lives for national independence. There were many
times when the Japanese conducted zonifications in the town. The barrios
remote places and thinking that guerrillas were hiding there, these two
barrios were zonified two times giving up several lives. The Japanese
Meanwhile, after surviving in the Bataan Death March and released from
Captain Jose Bautista, Lt. Colonel Jose Medina Carungcong, 1st Lt.
Beltran, 2nd Lt. Teodoro Sapida, 2nd Lt. Pacifico Menez, S/Sgt. Melecio
Filomeno Mantele this unit provided guerilla warfare and prepared to attack
with every armed men when the Allied landed on the Batangas Beeches,
the Imperial Japanese Army and provide evacuation plans for them and
In May 1943, The Imperial Japanese Army have received intelligence
reports of the Dasmariñeo guerilla camp of the 4th Infantry regiment in the
west side of the town of Dasmariñas, here they positioned 2 long range
cannons and fired 30 rounds, damaging rice plantations, crops and killing
Dasmarinas town became too hot to the Japanese because of the active
zonification on July 25, 1943 in the town proper until Dasmariñeo guerilla
camp until they are released except Lt.Col. Jose M. Carungcong who was
On June 24, 1944 The Hunters ROTC guerillas headed by Col.
Emmanuel De Ocampo, Lt. Col Vic Estacio and Col. Eleuterio Terry
Adevoso raided the Muntinlupa New Bilibid Prison and rescued many
prisoners of war and a good haul of firearms and ammunition among the
prisoners was Dasmariñeo guerilla Lt. Col Jose Carungcong (4th Infantry)
who managed a jailbreak during the raids of the prison camp, the Japanese
Military authorities immediately issued a P50,000 peso reward in exchange
for the head of the Dasmarineo guerilla Lt. Col. Jose Carungcong as
On August 25, 1944 with the help Dasmariñeo Guerilla soldiers of the 4th
Ickard, Col. Quintin Gellidon, Col. Dionisio Banting, Col. Guillermo Monfort,
(Markings) and 70 others more made a jail break at the Muntinlupa, Rizal
prison camp, the escapee's were in poor health condition and deprived of
proper meals and were too skinny from bone to skin, here they were kept
and given aid and sustenance and were treated by Major - Dr. Dominador
Neneng, Dasmarinas.
On December 17, 1944 at about 01:00 am and lasted at about 18:00 pm
The Church was used as their garrison and all suspected male residents
involved or coordinating with the guerrilla movement of Col. E.M.
and 15 active guerilla patriots of the 4th Infantry (Cobra Unit) inside the
Church and some others that were brought at the back of the Dasmariñas
hanged at the old mango tree near the school canteen, whipped, beaten,
and tortured and were totally forced to expose and divulge the Dasmariñeo
On January 15, 1945, the day before the FACGF Gen. Castañeda - U.S
Anabu Road Salitran. The next day, Tuesday January 16, Japanese
Dasmariñas.
Aside from these, raid after raid were made and male residents were
shot to death. Some were killed because they were mistaken as guerrilla
members. Some fought face to face, during encounters in Burol, Malinta,
Paliparan and Langkaan, others were killed in other towns. Most male
residents of Dasmariñas were among those who fought with the Japanese
in Bataan and Corregidor island. Sad to state too, there were those who
joined the Bataan Death March, some of whom are already dead and some
Batangas, the Dasmariñeo guerilla force of the 4th Infantry Regiment under
all costs the National Highway 17 and attacked enemy positions at the
national highway from Palapala Road inclusive extending 3000 yards east
and west of the National Highway 17 to Salitran Road, and the 14th Infantry
rally and counterattack and to clear the path of the main allied forces which
were by now being dropped via parachute in Tagaytay City. Enemy military
vehicles approaching from the north, west and south side of the
and after the smoke of the battle have subsided the Filipino and the
the Dasmariñas Municipal hall as symbols of the hard earned freedom that
was paid by the blood and sacrifices of the Dasmarineo martyrs after years
Dasmariñas has a long list of heroes who sacrificed their lives for their
homeland during the turbulent period of the Second World War and the
period of liberation.
POST-WAR ERA AND BEFORE CITYHOOD
After the war, the Philippines became independent and Dasmariñas started
first-class municipality.
sustained growth for the Metro Manila urban area since the 1990s. The
the First Cavite Industrial Estate with 81 foreign and domestic corporations
employing 20,000,. The city also hosts one of the largest universities in
There have been several attempts to convert Dasmariñas into a city. The
Renato P. Dragon with other cityhood bills of Imus (HB 08960) and Bacoor
(HB 08959). It was filed last February 11, 1997 and read last February 13,
1997. Committee Report N0. 01361 was submitted on December 17, 1997.
It was approved on the third reading by the House last January 10, 1998. It
did not push through as a Republic Act and no plebiscite happened.
Congressman Erineo Maliksi last March 13, 2000. It was first read last
March 13, 2000. It was approved on the Second and Third reading of
House last March 15, 2000 and March 27, 2000. It was transmitted to the
senate on March 28, 2000 and received on March 31, 2009. It did not push
proposed for the third time after failure in 1997 and 2000.
October 3, 2008. It was read last October 6, 2008. It was approved by the
2008. It was transmitted and received by the Senate last November 17 and
20, 2008. It was passed by the senate on Second and Third Reading last
Philippines last October 14, 2009 and signed as Republic Act 9723 last
October 15, 2009.
44,000 voters who cast the plebiscite ballot in the town's 1,508 polling
precincts. The yes votes won overwhelmingly. The yes votes got 36,559
woman mayor and first city mayor of Dasmariñas since its incorporation as
a city. Since 1892, when Don Placido N. Campos became the first mayor,