Today, June 24, the City of Manila will celebrate its founding day exactly 452 years ago.
Early settlers of the area that would later be called Maynila made the right decision in the 13th century to carve out a community near the banks of the great river Pasig, where fish and fresh water so important for their survival were plentiful. The river also provided some form of security for these settlers; any potential enemy from other islands could be stopped in the cusp where the river meets the sea, before they even make land. The area's deep and protected harbor also led to the flourishing of commerce and trade, from ancient times to the present.
Their lives must have been tough and hard, but these people of the river (Taga-ilog, later to be known as Tagalog) plodded on, fighting and winning over the harsh environment, and surviving for more than 300 years before the Spanish conquerors arrived and “discovered” the place.
The wave of global colonialism that flourished in Europe brought to these shores the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi with modern war equipment, defeating the place's last indigenous Rajah, Sulayman III, in the Battle of Bangkusay.
Beginning with only the area corresponding to present-day Intramuros or Walled City, Legazpi claimed the territory for the Spanish Crown, initially as a province of Mexico.
While colonialism brought its social ills to the Philippines, it also gave this country its national character, and Manila its international standing as a 16th century trading hub. The rulers of Tondo from the north (which later became part of Manila) were royalty who were active trade partners of the Song and Yuan dynasties of China.
Later, two centuries of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade brought essential goods, new agricultural products and knowledge from Europe, African and South America across the Pacific to Southeast Asia. Manila, alongside Mexico and Madrid were the world's original set of global cities, predating the rise of New York or London as global financial centers by hundreds of years.
The city remains now as the progressive capital of the Philippines, and carries the banner of development and progress in modern society, true to the honor bestowed to it by the Spanish Crown — the Distinguished and Ever Loyal City (Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad).
Manila distinguished itself as being the microcosm of the old and the new world, with Spanish-era and American-regime architecture, culture and values co-existing with what is truly native Filipino. It has remained a bastion of the Catholic faith, with its centuries-old churches, even as the city opens up to people of various faiths and races.
Mayor Honey Lacuna, the first woman mayor of Manila, now leads and inspires its residents in attaining greater heights, making the nation's capital truly the leader among local government units.
Lacuna has lined up various activities for the Araw ng Maynila, including tree-planting, the Manila Film Festival, clean-up drive, Outstanding Manilans Award, and a civil-military parade. We join the city in this festive celebration of its foundation day.