Silang, Cavite


Silang, officially the Municipality of Silang, is a municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people. Its land area is 209.43 km², making it the largest municipality in cavite.
It is known for its scenic landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Also renowned for its agricultural produce particularly sweet mangoes, which are regarded as some of the best in the country.
WWW silang.gov.ph

Etymology

The name of Silang originates from Tagalog silang, meaning "mountain pass".

History

Precolonial 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 of Diego Jorge de Villalobos; his claim extended to what is today the towns of Carmona, Amadeo, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, and Tanza. On February 3, 1595, the parish of Silang was established, formally creating the town.
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, Cabuyao to the east, Tagaytay to the south, and Amadeo to the west.
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, the Adventist University of the Philippines, and the Philippine Publishing House Headquarters.
With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of the Manila's conurbation which spans southward toward Lipa, Batangas.

Barangays

Silang is politically subdivided into 64 barangays, as indicated below.
  • Acacia
  • Adlas
  • Anahaw I
  • Anahaw II
  • Balite I
  • Balite II
  • Balubad
  • Banaba
  • Batas
  • Biga I
  • Biga II
  • Biluso
  • Bucal
  • Buho
  • Bulihan
  • Cabangaan
  • Carmen
  • Hoyo
  • Hukay
  • Iba
  • Inchican
  • Ipil I
  • Ipil II
  • Kalubkob
  • Kaong
  • Lalaan I
  • Lalaan II
  • Litlit
  • Lucsuhin
  • Lumil
  • Maguyam
  • Malabag
  • Mataas na Burol
  • Malaking Tatiao
  • Munting Ilog
  • Narra I
  • Narra II
  • Narra III
  • Paligawan
  • Pasong Langka
  • Poblacion I
  • Poblacion II
  • Poblacion III
  • Poblacion IV
  • Poblacion V
  • Pooc I
  • Pooc II
  • Pulong Bunga
  • Pulong Saging
  • Puting Kahoy
  • Sabutan
  • San Miguel I
  • San Miguel II
  • San Vicente I
  • San Vicente II
  • Santol
  • Tartaria
  • Tibig
  • Toledo
  • Tubuan I
  • Tubuan II
  • Tubuan III
  • Ulat
  • Yakal

Climate

Silang has a tropical savanna climate with a pronounced dry season from November to April. Its nearness to Tagaytay is the reason for its near-winter like cold temperatures during the early dry season, especially in the villages straddling the Tagaytay border and the town proper.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Silang was 313,145 people, with a density of.It has a land area of 209 km². Making it the largest municipality in cavite.

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 under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Imus.
Adherents of the Philippine Independent Church, also known as the Aglipayan Church, under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Cavite.
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, lanzones, 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 slowdown 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, 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

Government

Incumbent municipal officials

  • Mayor: Gen. Edward "Ted" Carranza
  • Vice Mayor: Cris "Kidlat" Reyes
  • Sangguniang Bayan Members:
  • *Ronnie "Isang Bagsak" Doneza
  • *Ivan Chester Amutan
  • *Allan Tolentino
  • *Ara Loyola
  • *Eric "Cokiat" Garcia
  • *Aristides "Ari" Velazco
  • *Romeo "Ohmie" Toledo
  • *Carlo Madlansacay
  • Liga ng mga Barangay President: Luciano "Jun" De Jesus Jr.
  • Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President: Jasper Marcus Anarna

List of chief executives

Gobernadorcillo :
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:
  1. Victor Belardo 1893–1894
  2. Nicolas Montoya 1895–1896
  3. Martin Medina 1896
  4. Isidoro Montoya 1896–1897
  5. Marcelo Madlansacay 1897
  6. Vicente Poblete 1897–1898
  7. Jose Kiamzon 1898–1901
During the American period, the 2nd commission passed the municipal code that created municipalities. The leaders were called Presidente Municipal:
The first elections were held in 1903.
Municipal mayor:

Health care

  • Estrella Hospital
  • Velazco Hospital
  • Silang Specialists Medical Center
  • Mazenod Hospital

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the Silang I Schools District Office, and Silang II Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary 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-Westgroven
  • 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
  • The Sisters of Mary School – Boystown
  • The Sisters of Mary School – Girlstown
  • 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

Secondary schools

  • Kaong National High School
  • Lumil National High School
  • Gen. Vito 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

Higher educational institutions

Notable people