Philippines

City of Muntinlupa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Muntinlupa)

The City of Muntinlupa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Muntinlupa) is the southernmost city in Philippine National Capital Region. It is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Parañaque City; by Las Piñas City to the west; to the southwest by the municipality of Bacoor, Cavite; by the municipality of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake in the country. It is classified as a Highly Urbanized City with a population of more than 400,000 and is given the nickname 'Emerald City of the Philippines' by the tourism establishment.

Muntinlupa was once notoriously known as the location of the national insular penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, where the country's most dangerous criminals were incarcerated. Consequently, Muntinlupa or 'Munti' became synonymous with the national penitentiary although it has largely shaken-off this negative image to become one of the most progressive cities in the country.

Muntinlupa is also home to some of the best commercial establishments in the metropolis and is the location of Ayala Alabang Village, one of the country's biggest and most expensive residential communities, where many of the wealthy and famous live. Among the village's well-known residents include former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, actor Aga Muhlach and his wife, actress/host Charlene Gonzalez and the prince of Brunei.

Economy and development

Barangay Alabang, part of the second district of Muntinlupa, has undergone tremendous growth mainly due to a development boom in the late 1990s. The development of two large scale commercial real estate projects namely; the Filinvest Corporate City and Ayala Land's Madrigal Business Park, changed the landscape of Muntinlupa City from what was once vast fields of cow pasture in the late 1980s, into a supercity that houses new residential, business, industrial and commercial establishments. It was a transformation reminiscent of Makati City's development boom some 30 years prior.

Some of the country's premier shopping centers, including the Alabang Town Center and the Festival Supermall, the towering Insular Life Towers, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, and the Northgate Business District, which specializes in hosting information and technology industries, are important places of interest and landmarks of the city. Nightlife is still relatively staid compared to those of its neighbors, and younger residents often flock to other cities in Metro Manila, particularly Makati, Taguig, or Manila, during the weekend to enjoy the night out.

This city has recently acquired the status 'Most Competitive City' and the 'Most Improved City' in the Philippines.

History of the name

The history of the name “Muntinlupa” comes from at least three stories.
First, its association with the thin topsoil in the area., Second, residents, purportedly replying to a question by Spaniards in the 16th century what the name of their place was, said “Monte sa Lupa”—apparently mistaking the question for what card game they were playing., Third, the topographical nature of the area, where the term Monte or mountain was expanded to Muntinlupa or mountain land.

Some documents suggest that the first and third versions of Muntinlupa and Monte sa Lupa respectively eventually became Muntinlupa either through misspelling or mispronunciation. But no record to date can firmly establish which of the three versions is historically correct.

Muntinlupa is an old term that refers to a barangay hence called as Munting Lupa (which means a smaller branch of a city or a municipality, often referred to a county) now known as the Población. As early as 1800, the Catholic priest Father Joaquín de Zúñiga chronicled it as La poblacion que sigue se llama Muntinlupa and Muntinglupa was used as the Tagalog term for the city during the American era.

Historical milestones

Date: Milestone

1601: Some 80 years after the discovery of the islands for King Philip II of Spain by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, the original lands constituting Muntinlupa could be deduced to have been friar lands administered by the Augustinians, then sold and assigned to the Sanctuary of Guadalupe.
1869: The lands were transferred to the state and large individual landholders. In an effort by the Spanish Government to bring under closer administrative control the people living in the contiguous sitios, as well as those in Alabang, Tunasan, Sucat and Cupang, the municipality was created upon the recommendation of a government official, Professor de Medicina and a prominent Castillan, Don Eduardo de Canizares.
August 6, 1898: The town supported the Philippine Revolution against the Spaniards and formally joined the revolutionary government headed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.
June 1, 1901: The Philippine Commission promulgated Rizal Province on June 11, 1901 through Act 137. Muntinlupa becomes a district of Morong, Rizal.
November 25, 1903: Under the American regime, Muntinlupa was incorporated under Act 1008 and included within the boundary of Laguna province under the municipality of Binan. Muntinlupa residents protested this Executive Act, and through their town head, Marcelo Fresnedi, filed a formal petition to the Governor for the return of the municipality to the province of Rizal.
March 22, 1905: Act 1308 paved the way for Muntinlupa's return to Rizal province to become a part of Taguig along with Pateros.
January 1, 1918: Governor General Harrison's Executive Order 108, which grants the petition of residents for an independent status of their municipality, takes effect. Vidal Joaquin, a native of Alabang, served as the first appointed mayor in 1918 while the first elected mayor was Melencio Espeleta.
January 22, 1941: The historic New Bilibid Prison, the national penitentiary, was established in the hills of Muntinlupa.
November 7, 1975: Muntinlupa became a part of Metropolitan Manila by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824 issued by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
June 13, 1986: Following the EDSA Revolution in February that year, President Corazon C. Aquino appoints Atty. Ignacio R. Bunye, Officer-In-Charge of Muntinlupa as part of a nationwide revamp of local government units. In the ratification of the 1986 Constitution, Muntinlupa together with Las Piñas formed one political district.
December 6, 1988: President Corazon C. Aquino by Proclamation 351 declares the 19th of December as 'Municipality of Muntinlupa Day'.
1995: On February 16, House Bill No. 14401 converting the Municipality of Muntinlupa into a highly urbanized city was approved by the House of Representatives. Then on March 1, Muntinlupa becomes the 65th city in the Philippines as signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos, its conversion into a highly urbanized city by virtue of Republic Act No. 7926.
March 1, 2001: An act declaring the First Day of March of every year as a Special Working Holiday in the City of Muntinlupa to be known as 'The Muntinlupa City Charter Day' by virtue of Senate Bill No. 2165.
August 3, 2007: The city hall of Muntinlupa was completely damaged and later abandoned due to a fire. The fire started at a squatters area, just behind the city hall. Almost all files, important documents and other references of Muntinlupa were burned.

Historical Landmarks

The Bureau of Corrections Administration Building - This is a prison facade that houses the offices of the prison administration. The maximum security compound, consisting of 12 buildings called brigades are located at the western side of the facade. The structures were built in 1941, and this is the Bilibid Prison as shown in films both TV and movies., Jamboree Lake - This is the smallest natural lake in the country, a favorite hang-out spot for nature lovers, as well as ordinary passers-by looking for a cool respite from the tropical heat. The lake has been in existence since time immemorial., Memorial Hill - This is a small hill in the NBP reservation compound that cradles a World War II Vintage Japanese canon. The hill is likewise the burial place of Eriberto Misa the famous Prison`s Director from 1937 to 1949., Director's Quarters - The structure manifest an influence of a pre-war architecture that characterizes the outstanding edifice. This was built simultaneously with the Administration Building in 1941. This is also the official residence of the Director of Bureau of Corrections., The Japanese Garden Cemetery - The cemetery is a burial place of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Japanese general who became famous during the Japanese occupation of the country.

Government

Muntinlupa City is governed primarily by the city mayor, the vice-mayor and the city councilors. The mayor acts as the chief executive of the city while the city councilors acts as its legislative body. The vice-mayor, besides taking on mayoral responsibilities in case of a temporary vacany, acts as the presiding officer of the city legislature. The legislative body is composed of 16 regular members (8 per district) and representatives from the barangay and the youth council.

Mayor: Aldrin L. San Pedro
Vice Mayor: Artemio A. Simundac
City Councilors:

1. Allen F. Ampaya
2. Allan Rey A. Camilon
3. Atty. Icasiano M. Dela Rea
4. Margarita Amythyst P. Labios
5. Dr. Maria Luisa B. Echavez
6. Melchor R. Teves
7. Ermie S. Espeleta
8. Marita D. Calalang
9. Francis Ian T. Bagatsing
10. Roberto A. Abas
11. Marissa C. Rongavilla
12. Joselito V. Arevalo
13. Atty. Rey E. Bulay
14. Luvi P. Constantino
15. Mamerto T. Sevilla, Jr.
16. Vergel C. Ulanday

Ex-officio Councilors:

1. Dann Henry Teves(SK President)
2. Rene So (ABC President)

District Representative: Rozanno Rufino B. Biazon

Districts and Barangays

Muntinlupa City is composed of a lone congressional district, and two legislative districts which are further subdivided into nine Barangay. Legislative District One contains four Barangays in the southern half of the city, while legislative District Two occupies the five Barangays in the northern portion of the city.

While Barangays are the administrative divisions of the city, and are legally part of the addresses of establishments and homes, many residents indicate their subdivision (village) instead of their Barangay. Listed below are the Barangays in each district and known subdivisions.

District 1 Barangays

Bayanan, Poblacion, Putatan, Tunasan

District 2 Barangays

Sucat, Buli, Cupang, Alabang, Ayala Alabang

Subdivisions

Agro Homes, Alabang 400 Village, Alabang Hills Village, Ayala Alabang Village, Brittany Bay, Camella Homes I, II, II-E, II-D, III & IV, Camella Rigdeview 1 & 2, Country Homes Subdivision, Don Juan Bayview Subdivision, Freedom Hills Subdivision, Freewill Subdivision, Gruenville Subdivision, Highway Homes Subdivision, Hillsborough Alabang, Intercity Homes Subdivision, JPA Subdivision, Kalipayan Homes, Katarungan Village 1 & 2, Lakeshore Village, Lakeview Homes, Lodora Village, Mintcor Southrow Townhouses, Mutual Homes Alabang Village, Pacific Malayan Village, Pacific Village, Parkhomes Subdivision, Pleasant Village, Posadas Village, San Jose Village, Soldiers Hills Village, South Greenheights Village, Southsuperville, Sto. Niño Village, Summitville Subdivision, Susana Heights Subdivision, Teachers Village, Tiosejo Village, Treelane Park Subdivision, U.P. Side Subdivision, Victoria Homes Subdivision, Villa Carolina I & II

Churches of Muntinlupa City:

Alabang Church of Christ (Star Mall, Alabang), Alabang Foursquare Gospel Church (Alabang), Alabang New Life Christian Center (Alabang Hills Village), Alabang United EvangelicalSucat Church, Ang Dating Daan ( Posadas Village, Putatan, and Alabang), Bible Christian Fellowship of Planas, Christ Baptist Church (Soldiers Hills Village), Christ Commission Fellowship Alabang, Christ Living Epistle Ministries Inc. (NBP Res.,Pob), Day By Day Christian Ministries South Metro.(Metropolis, Alabang), Divine Mercy Chapel (Katarungan Village I), Elohim Foursquare Gospel Church (Soldiers Hills Village), Evangelical Church of Muntinlupa (Poblacion), Fair Haven Baptist Church, Faithful Jesus Church, Iglesia Ni Cristo Chapel (National Road, Putatan, and Montillano-Alabang), Iglesia ng Dios Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan ( Lokal ng Alabang ), Ina ng Awa Parish Church (NBP Reservation), Jesus by the Lake Worship Center (Bayanan, Muntinlupa City), Jesus the Living Water Christian Church (Sto. Nino Village, Tunasan), Jesus the Lord of the Harvest and Victory Church (Montillano St., Alabang), Jesus, the Good Shepherd Church of Muntinlupa, Kordero ng Diyos Christian Church (Putatan), L'Annunziata Parish (Victoria Homes), Lighthouse Apostolic Ministry Of Pentecost (Headquarters: Soldiers' Hills Village, Putatan.

Prison Chapter:

Sampaguita Medium Security Camp, New Bilibid Prison), Lighthouse Christian Community (Buencamino St., Alabang), Manifestation of God's Glory (Sucat), Mary Cause of Joy Parish Church (Soldiers Hills Village, Putatan), Muntinlupa Christian Church (Katihan, Poblacion), Muntinlupa Church of Christ 33 A.D. (National Road, Putatan), Muntinlupa City Foursquare Gospel Church (NBP Reservation), Old Line Primitive Baptist Church (0918 5923786 Festival Supermall, Alabang), Our Lady of the Abandoned Archdiocesan Shrine (National Road, Poblacion), Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal National Shrine Parish (Posadas Village, Sucat), Sa Diyos Walang Imposible Ministry (Montillano St. Alabang), San Nicholas de Tolentino Parish Church, San Roque Catholic Church (Alabang), St. James, The Great Parish (Ayala Alabang Village), St. Jerome Emiliani & Sta. Susana Parish (Ayala Alabang), St. Peregrine Parish Church (Tunasan), The True Vine Church Global Outreach Ministry (National Road, Putatan ), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (National Road, Putatan), The Truth Christian Ministries (Tunasan), Tunaasan Evangelical Church, Word International Ministries Alabang (Alabang City Terminal), Victory Christian Fellowship - Alabang (Festival Mall, Alabang), Victory Christian Fellowship - Metro South (Elizabeth Center, Putatan)

Education

Primary and secondary education: Sucat Elementary School, Muntinlupa Elementary School (Poblacion), Bagong Silang Elementary School, Alabang Elementary School, Bayanan Elementary School (Main), Bayanan Elementary School Unit I, Buli Elementary School, Tunasan Elementary School, Christ Baptist Academy, Christ the King School of Muntinlupa, Christian Love School, Christ Life Academy - Bagong Silang, CLEM Learning Center, Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (CNSG), Putatan Elementary School, Cupang Elementary School, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, Holy Infant Academy, Holy Queen of La Salette School, Infant Jesus Montessori Center, Itaas Elementary School, La Czarina School, Liceo de Piccolo Santo, Living Light Academy, Lombosco Academy Foundation Incorporated, Maria Ferrari School, Maria Montessori Foundation, Mary Cause of our Joy Catholic School, Mary, Mother of God Parochial School, Miraculous Medal School, MBC Sinai School, MIT International School, Muntinlupa Business High School, Muntinlupa Cosmopolitan School, Muntinlupa Christian Academy, Muntinlupa National High School, Muntinlupa School for Child Development, Muntinlupa Science High School, Our Lady of the Abandoned Catholic School - Poblacion, Our Lady Of the Lake School- Cupang, PAREF Southridge School, PAREF Woodrose School, Pedro E. Diaz High School, San Beda College, Alabang, San Roque Catholic School, Sacred Heart Institute, Sacred Heart of Jesus Day Care Center, Saint Peter School of Alabang, Servite School, Spring Christian School, Soldiers Hills Elementary School, Sto. Nino School of Muntinlupa, Sunshine Christian School, South Crest School, Southernside Montessori School, Theresiana De Montealegre Dame School, The Learning Child School, U.P. Side Day Care Center, Victoria Homes Elementary School, Victoria Homes Learning Center - Victoria Homes, Wisekids School

Special Education, The Birthright Educators Foundation, Inc.

Colleges, universities, and technical schools,

AMA Computer Learning Center, Asian College of Science and Technology, Christ Baptist Bible College, Christ The King Technical School, Criminal Justice College, Datamex Institute of Computer Technology, Every Nation Leadership Institute, God's Kingdom Mission Christian Church-Lianas Super Mall, Imus Computer College (ICC) - Alabang, International Electronics and Technology Institute (IETI) College, Informatics International College - Northgate Campus (Northgate Cyberzone Filinvest Corporate City Alabang), Informatics Computer Institute- Festival (Festival Mall), Muntinlupa Institute of Technology, Lyceum of Alabang (Formerly National College of Science & Technology - Alabang), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, Philippine Science and Technology Center, Phoenix One - Alabang (Formerly NIIT Philippines), San Beda College Alabang, Sout Mansfield College

Web References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Manila
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Bay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corregidor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntinlupa_City