Silang, Cavite

Silang, Cavite
Silang, officially the Municipality of Silang, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 295,644 people.
Silang is located in the eastern section of Cavite. It is home to the Philippine National Police Academy, PDEA Academy, and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction head office.
With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of the Manila's conurbation which spans southward toward Lipa City.
Etymology
The name of Silang originates from Tagalog silang, meaning "mountain pass".
History
Pre-Hispanic period
The traditional origins of the town are attributed to ten Bornean datus who sailed northward on board balangays and ended in Silang through Taal Lake. Its first settlers were Gat Hingiw, his wife Gat Kaliwanag, and their seven children, who later moved to different parts of the town and established their respective barangays. Gat Pandan stayed in the original community and developed the area.
Spanish colonial era
During the start of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, tracts of land were given by the King of Spain to the conquistadores and their descendants, who collected tributes from the people residing in their acquired lands. Silang originally belonged to the encomienda (land grant) of Diego Jorge de Villalobos; his claim extended to what is today the towns of Carmona, Amadeo, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, and Tanza. For many years, Silang was one of the biggest towns, by the 20th century its land area was reduced to its current size, as some of its former villages later became independent towns. Indang was the first to be granted town status in 1655. By the 19th century, the town lost land to the towns of Carmona and Amadeo, and by 1938, the town's southern lands were ceded to become part of the city of Tagaytay.
The Silang encomienda was later purchased from King Ferdinand VI of Spain for 2,000 pesetas on March 9, 1746, to prevent it from becoming a "friar land" like the other towns of Cavite, executed through the representation of Bernabe Javier Manahan and Gervacio dela Cruz.
Contemporary history
On January 22, 2023, the municipality was certified by Guinness World Records as volunteers from the municipal government and the Catholic parish church successfully lit 621 candles in a world record attempt for longest line of candles lit in relay, surpassing 366 set in India in 2016. The attempt was held to commemorate the feast of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.
Geography
The municipality of Silang is from Imus and south of Manila. It is bounded by General Trias, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, and Carmona to the north, Biñan, Santa Rosa, and Cabuyao to the east, Tagaytay to the south, and Amadeo to the west.
Barangays
Silang is politically subdivided into 64 barangays.
Climate
Silang has a tropical savanna climate (Aw in the Köppen climate classification) with a pronounced dry season from November to April.
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Silang, Cavite, was 295,644 people, with a density of .
Religion
The majority of the people in Silang are adherents of the Christian Faith, composed of Roman Catholics, Members Church of God International, Protestants, and members of independent Christian groups. Majority of the Christian population is composed of Roman Catholics.
Other Christian groups in the town include mainstream Protestants, congregations of Mormons, and other churches are also present in the town.
With the influx of migrants from other provinces, other non-Christian faiths, particularly Islam, is practiced in the town.
Economy
Silang, like most of the towns in the province of Cavite, depends on a mainly agricultural economy. The primary crops grown in the area are coconut, coffee, corn, banana, pineapple, and tree crops like mango, lansones, caimito, santol, jackfruit, guava, and avocado. Fertile soils and abundant water sources make Silang suitable not only for common commercial crops but also for high value and exotic crops production. Most of the local farmers practice intercropping to increase land productivity and lessen soil erosion. Fruit production exceeds the demand of the municipality's population, thus, supply excesses are marketed to Metro Manila and neighboring urban centers. A number of poultry and swine farms are also located in some rural barangays.
Manufacturing and trade are Silang's other major sources of income. Trade and investments grew tremendously with the influx of both Manila-based and foreign investors. Total investments were estimated at between 1996 and 2004, which helped bring about the employment of 3,000 people. Despite the slow down of progress in 2004, Land Value still soared, allowing investors to infiltrate and start business. The investment trend resulted in the increase in the price of prime realty from to per square meter and from to per square meter for raw lots in interior barangays. Trade establishments in Silang include gasoline stations, convenience stores, restaurants, lumber/hardware traders, shopping malls, groceries, resorts, and hotels.
The dry goods section of the Silang Public Market can now accommodate 228 stalls.
Silang houses the Maguyam Industrial Complex and the Daichi Industrial Complex in addition to a total of ten factories operating outside the export processing zone.
Transportation
Silang can be reached by bus or by jeepney. Coming from Manila, it would take around 2 hours to reach the town proper. Silang is accessible by land transportation. Major road networks to and from Laguna and Batangas traverse it making the town a potential trading center for agricultural products while enjoying an environment that is free of traffic and pollution problems. Commuters are assured of smooth travel within the borders of the municipality with of its good road networks of approximately . Major roads include Aguinaldo Highway, Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road, Governor's Drive (along the municipal boundary with General Mariano Alvarez), and Cavite–Laguna Expressway. Six major road projects were completed in 1996, being the Bulihan Resettlement Area Road, the Kaong-Maguyam Road, the Caramanzana Drive connecting the Silang Public Market with Aguinaldo Highway, the Sabutan-Iba Road, the DPWH funded Santa Rosa-Silang-Tagaytay Road, and the Malabag Road. The proposed Cavite–Tagaytay–Batangas Expressway will have its eastern end built in Silang.
Landmarks
Lucsuhin Natural Bridge or Cabag Caves
Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church
Government
Elected officials
Mayor: Kevin A. Anarna
Vice Mayor: Edward 'Ted' Carranza
Sangguniang Bayan Members:
Mark Anthony A. Toledo
Ivee Jayne A. Reyes
Ivan I. Amutan
Aristides Jose Virgillio A. Velazco
Perpetuo Desingaño
Luis Junjang Batingal
Juan Carlo K. Madlansacay
Eric Cokiat Garcia
LNB President: Ortega, Domingo (Brgy. Kaong)
SKF President: Buhat, Robinson Jr. Ambita (Brgy. Lucsuhin)
List of chief executives
Gobernadorcillo (Leader of 'pueblo' or bayan during Spanish Era):
As the effect of the Maura Law in 1893, the tribunal del pueblo was changed to tribunal municipal and leaders of municipalities were called Capitan Municipal:
Victor Belardo 1893–1894
Nicolas Montoya 1895–1896
Martin Medina 1896
Isidoro Montoya 1896–1897
Marcelo Madlansacay (former gobernadorcillo) 1897
Vicente Poblete 1897–1898
Jose Kiamzon 1898–1901
During the American Period, the 2nd commission passed the Municipal Code (Act No. 82) that created Municipalities. The leaders were called Presidente Municipal:
First Elections were held 1903. (Silang Historical Society)
Municipal Mayor(s):
Health care
Estrella Hospital
Velazco Hospital
Silang Specialists Medical Center
Education
Public high schools
Kaong National High School
Lumil National High School
General Vito L. Belarmino National High School
Malabag National High School
Munting Ilog Integrated National High School – Main
Bulihan National High School
Emilia Ambalada Poblete National High School (Formerly: Munting Ilog National High School- Silang West Annex)
Private schools
New Life Christian School of Cavite
Scuola di Scienza del Mija
Cavite Institute
La Belle Montessori School
AIIAS Academy
Lora Carnig School of All Nations
Little Heirs Academy
Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Academe of Cavite
Westridge Academy
St.Scholastica's College-Westgrove
Our Lady Of Peace Academy Of Cavite
Mission and Vision Reformed Christian Academy
Biga Achievers' Learning Institute
Infant Jesus Academy of Silang
Living Lamp Academy
Silang Adventist Elementary School
Hilltop Adventist Elementary School, Inc.
Imperial Learning Center
Father Michael Donoher Memorial School
Trustworthy Learning Center
Learning Links Academy
Catholic schools
The Sisters of Mary School – Boystown (Adlas Campus)
The Sisters of Mary School – Girlstown (Biga Campus)
Father Michael Donoher Memorial School
Rogationist College
Sacred Heart Villa School
St. Scholastica's College – Westgrove
Infant Jesus Academy of Silang
Risen Christ Catholic School
Paraclete Foundation Community School
Colleges, state colleges and universities
Sisters of Mary Technical Education Institute Cavite Inc.
Adventist University of the Philippines
Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies
Imus Computer College (ICC) – Silang Branch
Cavite State University (Silang satellite campus)
Far Eastern University (Silang satellite campus)
Philippine Missionary Institute
Unida Biblical Seminary
Rogationist College
PNPA (Public Safety College)
St. Benilde Montessori College
Saint Paul Seminary
Our Lady of La Salette Seminary
Gallery
Notable people
Bayani Agbayani (b. 1969), comedian
References
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
Municipalities of Cavite