The Valenzuela City government has declared November 12 a special non-working holiday to commemorate the city’s 401st founding anniversary.
The announcement, made on Thursday, October 31, marks a significant day in Valenzuela's history.
According to the city’s historical records, it is stated that after the Manila archdiocese was established on August 14, 1595, friars stationed in Catangalan sought to divide the area further to improve efforts to convert locals to Catholicism.
On November 12, 1623, Spanish Governor-General Alfonso Fajardo de Entenza officially declared the separation of Sitio Polo from Catangalan, establishing Polo as an independent town.
Although Valenzuela previously celebrated its foundation on November 7, the city council passed a resolution in 2010 to adopt November 12 as the official foundation date.
Historically, Polo served multiple roles under Spanish rule, functioning as a garrison, a friar estate, and the political center.