There are various explanations of the nature of the name of Pasay but the one given most weight is that it was named after a princess of the Namayan Kingdom. It was said that around 1175, Pasay was part of the Kingdom of Namayan, the ancient name of Sta. Ana de Sapa, and its territory extends from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay. During the reign of Rajah Soliman, he divided his territory for his two heirs – Dayangdayang Pasay or Princess Pasay and Prince Suwabory. Princess Pasay got the southwestern part of Namayan and its present territories comprise of Culiculi, Bangkal, Malibay, Pasay and Baclaran. Because people were happy with her just ruling, they immortalize Princess Pasay by calling their town, “Pasay”.

Gradually, during the Spanish Colonization, residents of Pasay became mere laborers or tenants when Spaniards took over their lands. By 1700, the Augustinian Order owned almost all of Pasay. They developed Pasay into a picturesque countryside with a vast agricultural land called Hacienda de Meysapan. It had some of the most advance sugarcane warehouses, boilers, and mills. It was also famous for its oranges or suha and betel nut.

However, Spaniards maltreated the natives and charged unreasonable fees or tributes to landowners. This compelled the inhabitants of Hacienda to launch an agrarian rebellion in 1745. The rebellion escalated into banditry which caused havoc in Pasay, instilling fear among the people.

To give them security, Don Cornelio Pineda – a Spanish horticulturist from the town of Singalong – requested the Spanish civil government to assign a contingent of guardias civiles, backed up by a squad of cuadrilleros (policemen today), and a squad of tanoria (barangay tanod today), which eventually drove the bandits away. As gratitude, the villagers changed their town’s name to Pineda. In this time of momentary peace and progress, Pineda became an independent pueblo (Spanish equivalent of town) on December 2, 1863 upon the recommendation of then Archbishop Gregorio Martinez of Sta. Cruz. December 2 is celebrated today as the Foundation Day of Pasay City.

The town became more attractive to traders when the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade made a stopover in Pineda heading towards Manila from Ternate, Cavite. It also became the converging points of people from all parts of Luzon for competitions and events.

After centuries of Spanish rule, came the Americans. They settled between the shores of Pasay and Parañaque with the first American base in Pasay named Camp Dewey. Despite the hostilities of war and insurgence in the country, the Americans further developed Pineda by reclaiming the area between the present Taft Avenue and Roxas boulevard, which was once a part of the sea, as new land (Old Reclamation Area), constructing new and wider roads, and building residential subdivisions.

The Pasay municipal building was soon established with its first president municipal Don Catalino Taylo. On June 11, 1901, Pineda was annexed to the Province of Rizal by virtue of Republic Act No. 137. On August 4, 1901, by virtue of Com. Civil Law #227 passed by the Municipal Board, the name Pineda was reverted back to Pasay. Two years later, on October 12, 1903, Act No. 942 merged Pasay with the southern municipality of Malibay, expanding its territory.

As the Philippine-American war ended in 1902, Pasay was considered as one of the cleanest and healthiest towns in the country. It became the favorite destination of both foreigners and natives. Many distinguished personalities visited or resided in the city. In 1905, Manila’s most important street, Calle Real (now F.B. Harrison) was extended to Pasay. The tranvia, an advanced transportation model back then, connected Pasay to Manila and its surrounding towns. Polo aficionados also came to Pasay as they formed the Manila Polo Club in 1909 through the efforts of Governor General Cameron William Forbes, who donated the vast track of land which included the present site of the Cuneta Astrodome. When a huge fire burned the Manila Polo Club, it was transferred to its present location at Forbes Park in Makati.

In the 1930s, the Nichols Field (now Villamor Airbase) of the Americans was built and the Philippines experienced the age of aviation. The former rural town had become a suburb of the capital city.

Unfortunately, Pasay was both witness and victim of the enormous devastation caused by World War II, especially during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Nevertheless, Pasayeños were determined to rehabilitate and develop the city again after the war. Houses of faith were constructed in different parts of Pasay; the New Reclamation Area (from Roxas Blvd. to the current bay) and the Airport Area (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) were also developed.

On June 21, 1947, President Manuel Roxas signed Republic Act 183 elevating Pasay into a city, called “Rizal City”, after the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. It was then the only city in the entire Rizal province. The bill was lobbied by then Rizal Province 1^st District Congressman Ignacio Diaz. However, many residents could not get them to call their city by its new name. Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez, Jr. then filed a bill returning the city to its original name. On June 7, 1950, President Elpidio Quirino signed into law Republic Act. No. 437, changing the name of Rizal City back to Pasay City. This was also the time when schools began sprouting in Pasay. One of the firsts was the Padre Burgos Elementary School which was the first public school bulding in Pasay City, and was initially named Pasay Central School.

In the 1950s, Pasay City was slowly regaining back its old glory, beginning with the establishment of the Manila International Airport (now known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA) and the Manila Motor Coach (Matorco), a doube-decker bus that can accommodate as many as 100 passengers. Cartimar Market, hailed as the city’s most modern and best laid-out shopping center in that area, was also established.

During the 30-year reign of Mayor Pablo Cuneta, the longest-serving mayor in the country, Pasay became a center of international culture and the arts with the establishments of significant structures in the City such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Folk Arts Theater, the Film Center, the Philippine International Convention Center, the Coconut Palace, the Nayong Pilipino, and the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibition (Philcite).

When Pres. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 557, declaring every barrio in the country as barangays, Mayor Cuneta ordered the creation of 487 barangays. However, upon the firm suggestion of Secretary Jose Roño of the Department of Local Government, the number of barangays was cut down to 200, organized into several zones. In 2018, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed R.A. 11403, creating Barangay 201 in Pasay City, which was lobbied by Congresswoman Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

On November 7, 1975, when the Metro Manila Commission was created under Presidential Decree No. 824, integrating four cities and 13 towns, Pasay City became part of Metropolitan Manila. On December 22, 1979, along with Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, and other cities in the country, Pasay became a highly urbanized city. Unfortunately, along its progress, Pasay was labelled as a “sin city” because of the proliferation of prostitution dens masquerading as nightclubs and bars.

After the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, more important structures were continued to be built in Pasay City such as the World Trade Center and the Star City Amusement Park. In 2000, the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 were opened in the city. All these and other infrastructure projects, along with the rehabilitation and reclamation of Manila Bay - spurred a new era of growth in the city that continues to this day. In 2013, Mayor Antonino “Tony” Calixto successfully steered Pasay City away from its notorious label, “sin city”, into greater heights and rebranded it as the “Travel City” of the Philippines. With the continued developments of premier hotels, theme parks, casinos, and malls that can host international conventions and trade expositions, Pasay City, under the unparalleled leadership of Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, continued to be more than a gateway to the Philippines but a complete all-in-one destination for tourists – a world-class Travel City.

REFERENCES:

• Duldulao, M. D. (1998). Pasay City : Gateway to the Philippines. Makati City: Japuzinni Publishing Division.
• Pasay. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 18, 2022, from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasay
• Pasay makes the leap from sin town to travel city. (2013, December 13). The Manila Times. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/2013/12/13/news/top-stories/pasay-makes-the-leap-from-sin-town-to-travel-city/60384
• Velasco, M. T. (2013). Pasay : A Rizal Kingdom’s evolution to travel city. Quezon City: Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.
• Velasco, M.T. (2019). Pasay : Rise of the travel city. Quezon City: Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.

PASAY MAYORS (1811 – PRESENT)

ALCALDE

1811 Juan de Jesus

1812 Marcelo Celeridad

1813 Gavino Vergel

1814 Domingo Cifra

1815 Bernardo de Jesus

1816 Enrique Cuneta

1817 Gavino Vergel

1818 Marcelo Celeridad

1819 Froilan Fernando

1820 Miguel Tolentino

1821 Joaquin Protacio

1822 Marcos Cabrera

1823 Angel Isidro

1824 Miguel Tolentino

1825 Tomas Inocencio

1826 Andres Aragon

GOBERNADORCILLO

1827 Dionisio Fernando

1828 Damaso Sanchez

1829 Protacio de Jesus

1830 Idefonso Sanchez

1831 Juan Vergel

1832 Juan Antonio

1833 Joaquin Protacio

1834 Marcos Cabrera

1835 Dionisio Fernando

1836 Andres Aragon

1837 Flaviano Protacio

1838 Serapio Celeridad

1839 Santiago Raymundo

1840 Genaro Cabrera

1841 Juan Vergel Cruz

1842 Gregorio Manapat

1843 Santiago Raymundo

1844 Igmidio Cabrera

1845 Alejandro Ignacio

1846 Eutropio Manapat

1847 Eutropio Manapat

1848 Gregorio Vergel Cruz

1849 Juan Escobal

1850 Francisco del Rosario

ALCALDE

1851 Flaviano Protacio

1852 Tomas Aragon

1853 Teofilo Protacio

1854 Faustino Celeridad

1855 Santiago Raymundo

1856 Tomas Aragon

1857 Fortunato Vergel Cruz

1858 Telesforo Apelo Cruz

1859 Fortunato Santos

1860 Rufino Cabrera

1861 Benedicto Decena

1862 Buenaventura Cabrera

1863 Manuel Fernando

1864-65 Pedro Vergel Cruz

1866-67 Faustino Celeridad

1868-69 Abito Vergel Cruz

1870-77 Hermogenes Vito Cruz

1872-73 Fortunato Vergel Cruz

1874-75 Teodoro Aragon

1876-77 Marcario Vergel

1878-79 Pedro Aragon

1880-81 Macario Vergel Cruz

1882-83 Marcelino Tolentino

1884-85 Lorenzo Protacio

1886-87 Isaac Tolentino

1888-89 Rufino Cabrera

1890 Leocadio Villa Real

1891-92 Catalino Taylo

1893 Maimo de Jesus

CAPITAN MUNICIPAL

1894 Marcelino Tolentino

1895-97 Marino Reyes

1898-99 Catalino Taylo

PRESIDENTE MUNICIPAL

1900-05 Pascual Villanueva

1906-08 Gregorio Villanueva

1908-10 Mauro Reyes

1910-12 Eugenio Villa-Real

1912-19 Pascual Villanueva

1919-22 Miguel R. Cornejo

1931-34 Moises San Juan

ALCALDE

1934-37 Moises San Juan

1937-40 Rufino Mateo

1940-42 Moises San Juan

1942 Adolfo Santos

DISTRICT CHIEF (APPOINTED)

1942-45 Enrique Manaloto

1945 Alipio Pestañas

Nicanor Santos

Adolfo Santos

APPOINTED CITY MAYOR

1946-50 Rufino Mateo

1950-51 Carlos Revilla

1952-54 Primitivo Lovina Sr.

1954-55 Adolfo Santos and Enrique Manaloto

1955-56 Jose Milan

CITY MAYOR

1950-53 Pablo Cuneta (acting)

1953-55 Pablo Cuneta

ELECTED CITY MAYOR

1956-59 Pablo Cuneta

1960-63 Pablo Cuneta

1968-71 Jovito Claudio

1972-80 Pablo Cuneta

1981-86 Pablo Cuneta

1986-87 Eduardo Calixto (OIC)

1987-88 Norma Urbina (OIC)

1989-91 Pablo Cuneta

1992-95 Pablo Cuneta

1995-98 Pablo Cuneta

1998-April 2000 Jovito O. Claudio

2000-01 Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad

2001-04 Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad

2004-06 Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad

2006-07 Allan T. Panaligan (OIC)

2007-10 Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad

2010-13 Antonino “Tony” Calixto

2013-16 Antonino “Tony” Calixto

2016-2019 Antonino “Tony” Calixto

2019-Present Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano

REFERENCES:

Duldulao, M. D. (1998). Pasay City : Gateway to the Philippines. Makati City: Japuzinni Publishing Division

Velasco, M. T. (2013). Pasay : A Rizal Kingdom’s evolution to travel city. Quezon City: Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.