Outline: History of Paraaque

I. Pre-Spanish and Spanish Period

a. Paraaqueos trading with other Asian nations
i. Since Paraaque was close to the sea, the Paraaqueos traded with the
Chinese, Indonesians, Indians, and Malay
ii. Source of livelihood of Paraaqueos salt-making, fishing, planting rice,
shoemaking, slipper-making and weaving
b. Founding of Paraaque 1572
c. Ermita, Las Pias, and Cavite part of Paraaque before
i. History of the words Ermita, Las Pias, and Cavite
d. Paraaques former name Palanyag
e. Spanish story of how the word Paraaque came to be
f. Government in Paraaque during Spanish period
i. Cabesa de Barangay, Principalia
g. Fr. Diego de Espinar Augustinian missionary assigned to look after Palanyag
h. Palanyag's patroness
i. Nuestra Seora del Buensuceso
i. First battle in Paraaque Red Sea incident
i. During the invasion of the Chinese pirate Limahong in 1574
j. British invasion in 1762
i. Paraaqueos supported Spaniards
II. Philippine Revolution Against Spain
a. Role of Paraaque strategic location
i. Aiding the Katipunan
b. Prominent Paraaqueos - Manuel Quiogue and secular priest Father Pedro
Dandan
III. World War II
a. Role in supporting guerillas
 IV. Cultural traditions
a. Komedya, Sunduan, and Bati

V. Pictures
a. Old Church in Paraaque before
b. Salt beds in Paraaque before
c. St. Andrews Church before Shrine of Nuestra Seora
d. Coast line of Paraaque before

References:
Castro, Jose Marc. Paraaque City Guide. Accessed February 27, 2012.
http://www.expatforum.com/articles/cities/paranaque-city-guide.html
City of Paraaque. About the City. Accessed February 27, 2012.
http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/home/index.php/about-the-city
Justiniano, Maureen. Got any heroes in your family baul?Accessed March 5, 2012.
http://www.pilipino-express.com/history-a-culture/special-features-history-a-culture/980-
got-any-heroes-in-your-family-baul.html
Manila Info Philippines. History of Paraaque City. Accessed February 27, 2012.
http://manilainfo.blogspot.com/2010/05/history-of-paranaque-city.html

Paleric. Filipino Priest Exiles in Spanish Guam. Accessed March 5, 2012.

http://paleric.blogspot.com/2011/04/filipino-priest-exiles-in-spanish-guam.html
Paraaque City Islands Philippines. Paraaque Islands Paraaque History. Accessed February
27, 2012. http://paranaque.islandsphilippines.com/paranaque_history.php
Wow City. About Paraaque. Accessed February 27, 2012.
http://ph.wowcity.com/paranaque/page_city_info
Beginnings
Prominent Paraqueos, like Manuel Quiogue and secular priest Father Pedro Dandan became
leading revolutionary figures. When the Americans took over, one of the first towns to have a
municipal government was Paraaque.
Another outstanding feature of this historic town by the bay is the cultivation of its cultural
traditions like the Komedya, Sunduan, and Bati, among others that continue to attract local and
foreign tourists alike, especially during the summer months.
From Palanyag to Paraaque
Palanyag, the old name for the city of Paraaque, generally means "my beloved", among other
definitions, for as far as its residents are concerned, this best describes their affection for their
hometown. Another version came from the combination of the terms "palayan" and "palalayag",
the former meaning ricefields of which the city once abounded in and the latter pertaining to the
sailing and fishing occupation of many of its residents. This was also a sign of cooperation and
goodwill between the two major working sectors of the town, the farmers and the fishermen. It
was however a drunken guest, during a certain affair which decided on the final name, who said
"Mabuhay ang Palanyag at ang mga taga-Palanyag! (Long live Palanyag and the people of
Palanyag!)" So the name stuck from that day on. Another version, according to tradition, was
when a Spanish soldier told the driver of his caruaje or horse-drawn carriage, to "Para aqui, para
aqui (Stop here, stop here)!" The driver, uncomprehending, kept on prodding his horse to go on
while the soldier angrily repeated his instruction: "Para aqui, para aqui!" Onlookers just laughed
as the Spaniards empathically said "para aniya aqui para aniya aqui (he said 'stop here' he said
'stop here)." For days the incident was repeated around and term "para aniya aqui" stuck. There
is another story that says of an imposing balete tree at the mouth of the Paraaque. It looked
like a boat sailing slowly and majestically, earning the Tagalog term Palanyag, a corruption of the
term "palayag" which means "point of navigation". Further adulteration of the word later
resulted in the word "palanyaque". A historian believes the town's name may have come from
the term "palanas" which means a "broad flat plain," the geographic description of Paraaque.
Other origins of the name Paraaque are "palanac" (with no special meaning), "patanyag" or
contest for popularity, and "paranac", a native term for the shell product that used to be the
livelihood of the natives of the town at one time. Paraaque, in the olden times, was where many
people unboard the "kalesa", or horse-drawn carriage and would usually tell the conductor to
"para na aque", which literally means "stop now, boy". The word "para", taken from the Spanish
word "parar" which means to stop, "na" is a term in the Filipino language which means "now",
and "aque" taken from the Filipino term "lalaki" or "lalake", meaning "boy". The phrase "para na
aque" was used so often that it eventually evolved into a term pertaining to a place, thus,
Paraaque. An alternative meaning of "para na aque" is "stop here", where the term "'aque'"
might have also come from the Spanish word "aqui" which means "here". Whatever the correct
origin of the name of Paraaque, the various terms strongly suggest the town's storied and
mosaic past.

- Manila Info Philippines. (n.d.). History of Paraaque City. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
From http://manilainfo.blogspot.com/2010/05/history-of-paranaque-city.html
-

-
-
-
- The city of Paraaque, or Lungsond ng Paraaque, is a constituent city of Metro Manila,
the National Capital Region found on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is located
approximately 8 kms south of Manila, the countrys capital; and bordered to the north
by Pasay city, Muntinlupa City to the southeast, Las Pias to the southwest, Taguig City
to the northeast, and to the west by the Manila Bay.
- Paraaque is the home of the Baclaran (Redemptorist) Church, which is the national
shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is the most attended church in Asia where
Catholic pilgrims petition their prayers and requests every Wednesday. The Holy Virgin
has reputation for granting all requests petitioned through weeks of novena or
devotion.
- The citys old name is Palanyag derived from palayan, referring to the rice fields that
were abundant in the city, and palalayag, referring to the fishing and sailing
occupation of its residents. There are many local tales of its evolution to
Paraaque. One most popular tale suggests that it came from the phrase, Para na
aque, or Stop now, boy. The area used to be a usual stop for horse-drawn carriages
during the Spanish era, and this phrase is usually said to indicate to the driver that the
passenger wishes to get off. Para came from the Spanish term to stop, na from
the Tagalog term for now, and aque from the Tagalog word for boy lalki or
lalake
- Its history is just as colorful as the tales of the citys etymology. Paraaque was founded
as a town in 1572, the towns strategic location at the crossroads of Manila and the
provinces of Cavite and Batangas had allowed the townsfolk to play significant roles
throughout the Philippines history. Paraqueos had twice helped the Spanish defend
Manila and ward off invadersonce, when the Chinese pirate Limahong attempted to
attack Manila in 1574,, and when the British launched an invasion of Manila in
1762. The townspeople however, would not stay loyal to the Spanish colonizers for
long. When the Philippine Revolution broke out in the late 19th century, some
prominent revolutionary leaders, like Manuel Quiogue and secular priest Father Pedro
Dandan, emerged from its people. During the Japanese occupation in World War II,
 Paraaque was an ardent supporter of the guerilla movement. History lay quiet after
the war, until the then municipality of Paraaque became a component of Metro
Manila. It was incorporated into a city on February 15, 1995.

Castro, Jose Marc. (2007). Paraaque City Guide. Retrieved February 27, 2012. From
http://www.expatforum.com/articles/cities/paranaque-city-guide.html