NCR- National Capital Region

History

Manila was first founded in June 24, 1571 by three Spanishconquistadors, led by Martn de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo andMiguel Lpez de
Legazpi. In 1867, the Spanish government of the Philippines founded the municipalities and territories south of the District of Morong
in Nueva Ecija, north of the Province of Tondo and Imperial Manila, and isolated these from their mother province -- Nueva Ecija. The
government created the Province of Manila composed of the Province of Tondo to the south and the isolated territories of Nueva Ecija to
the north. The parts of Tondo were Navotas, Malabon, andCaloocan; and the parts of Nueva Ecija
were Mariquina, Balintawak, Caloocan,Pasig, San Felipe Neri (presently called Makati), Las Pias, what had been known as Paranaque,
and Muntinlupa were combined to form the Province of Manila. The capital of the Province was Intramuros, then itself called and
considered to be Manila, a walled city located along the banks of the Pasig River and Manila Bay in the present Manila.
In 1897, while the Imperial City of Manila was being prepared for industrialization, most houses in Tondo were demolished to give way
to railroad construction. One of those whose house was demolished was Andres Bonifacio, the founder of theKataastaasan,
Kagalanggalangan, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Supreme and Revered Union of the Children of the Nation) or KKK, a secret
organization which aimed for independence and self-governance away from the Spanish government. In 1896, the Cry of
Balintawak was initiated, an event which denounces the Spanish authority by tearing theircedulas or residence tax slips. On December
30, 1896, Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero, was executed by the Spanish government in Bagumbayan, an execution site near
Intramuros. This event led to the Filipino uprising against Spain. Likewise, The Province of Manila was the 8th and last Province to
revolt against Spain paving the establishment of the Federated Philippine Republics (composed of Nueva
Ecija,Pampanga, Bulacan,Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Manila). The Province remained in existence until 1901, when its
territory was subdivided by the Americans.
In 1901, the Philippine Assembly created the City of Manila composed of the Municipalities of Ermita, Intramuros or Imperial City of
Manila, Tondo, Santa Cruz, Sta. Ana, San Nicolas, San Miguel, Paco, Port Area, Pandacan, Sampaloc,Quiapo, Binondo and others. Some
Assemblymen included the municipalities of Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig, Paraaque, Malabon, Navotas, San Juan, Makati, Mandaluyong
(San Felipe Neri), Las Pias, Muntinglupa and Taguig-Pateros to a new province named Rizal. The capital of the province was Pasig.
In 1941 as an emergency measure, President Manuel L. Quezoncreated the City of Greater Manila, merging the city and municipal
governments of Manila, Quezon City, San Juan del Monte, Caloocan, etc. and appointing Jorge Vargas as Mayor. Existing mayors of the
included cities and municipalities served as vice-mayors for their areas. This was in order to ensure Vargas, who was Quezon's principal
lieutenant for administrative matters, would have a position of authority that would be recognized under international military law. There
were doubts if the Japanese Imperial Army poised to occupy Manila would recognize the authority of members of the Quezon cabinet.
The City of Greater Manila was abolished by the Japanese with the formation of the Philippine Executive Commission to govern the
occupied regions of the country. As an administrative concept, however, the City of Greater Manila served as a model for Metro Manila
and the position of Metro Manila governor established during the Marcos administration.
In 1976, owing a great respect to the history of Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree 824, creating the
Metropolitan Manila Area. The site of the old province of Manila could no longer be used for agricultural purposes and therefore the
term 'province' was not applicable. The decree seceded the 12 municipalities and 2 cities of Rizal, the municipality
of Valenzuela in Bulacan, Quezon City and Manila. The Metropolitan Manila Commission is created to administer the emerging
metropolis. Marcos appointed his wifeImelda Marcos as governor of Metro Manila.
In 1986, after a major government reorganization, PresidentCorazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 392 and changed the structure
of the Metropolitan Manila Commission, renaming it the Metropolitan Manila Authority. Metro Manila mayors chose from among
themselves the chair of the agency.
In 1995, through Republic Act 7924, Metro Manila Authority was reorganized and became the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority. The chair of the agency is appointed by the President and should not have a concurrent elected position such as mayor.