Official Seal     Municipality of Cainta     The Municipality of Cainta (Filipino: Bayan ng Cainta) is a first-class urban municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It is one of the oldest (originally founded in August 15, 1571), and is the town with the second smallest land area of 26.81 km² next to Angono with 26.22 km². Cainta serves as the secondary gateway to the rest of Rizal province from Metro Manila. Cainta became one of the most urbanized towns due to its proximity to Manila. With a population of 289,833 inhabitants, Cainta is the second most populous municipality in the Philippines, per the 2007 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office. Its income of PhP490 million makes it the second richest municipality in the country. Tagnames · Your Gateway to the East · Information Technology Capital of the Province of Rizal · Bibingka Capital of the Philippines Geography Cainta is bounded on the north by Marikina City and San Mateo, on the west by Pasig City, and on the east and south by Taytay. It lies in the Marikina Valley, is 10% rolling hills and 90% residential-industrial. It has the province's highest number of rivers and streams. Historians claim that Cainta's old geographical boundaries encompassed the mountain slopes of Montalban. Seal The logo of Cainta – the emblem inside the double circle represents the flag of the Philippines in red, white and blue color. The three stars represent Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The eight sun rays represent the eight provinces that started the revolt against the Spaniards. The buildings represent the different business establishments operating in the municipality. The suman sa ibus, suman sa lihiya and suman antala represent the livelihood of its people; the same with bottled sweets made out of coconut milk called matamis na bao, nata de coco, caong, beans and many others. The piglets represent the backyard hog raisings, a small scale industry. Legend Legend has it that there was an old woman called "Jacinta" who was well known not only in her own native town but also in the neighboring towns. In her youth, she was very popular because of her great beauty, kindness, and wealth. Although she was a member of a very rich clan, she showed generosity of heart to the poor. Hence, she became very much loved and respected. Jacinta grew to be an old maid because after her sweetheart got sick and died, she never fell in love with anyone else. When her parents died and she was left alone in the house, she continued her charity work. She gave alms to the long line of beggars who came to her, and housed and took care of the orphans and children in the streets. In her old age, she was still very popular and was fondly called "Ka Inta" ("Ka" referring to a term of respect for the elderly, as well as a term for the feeling of comradery or "kapwa" feeling for someone). One Christmas Day, however, when the old and the young called on her to give their greetings, she was not by the window to welcome them. People wondered at her absence and shouted her name to call her attention but no one came to answer. Concerned, they went up the house and discovered the dead body of "Ka Inta" lying on the floor. Beside her were the piles of Christmas gifts she was preparing to give to her well-wishers that day. People far and wide grieved over her death. In memory of her goodness and her generosity, her native town was named after her and was called "Cainta". People According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 289,833 (see above). Its population consists of 70% Catholic, 10% Protestant, 10% atheist and 10% of various sects, including Iglesia ni Cristo, Muslim and others. The people of Cainta are mostly Tagalog-speaking Filipinos. A considerable number of the population are descended from Indian soldiers who mutinied against the British Army when the British briefly occupied the Philippines in 1762 to 1763. These Indian soldiers called Sepoy settled in town and intermarried with native women. The Sepoy ancestry of Cainta is still very visible to this day, particularly in Barrio Dayap near Brgy. Sto Nino. Their unique physical characteristics make them distinct from the average Filipinos who are primarily of Malay and Chinese origins. Culture During Cainta's modernization period, traditions became more glamorous, most especially during the lenten season. The most noteworthy rituals are the Cenakulo (a stage play of the passion and death of Christ) and the Ang Pagpapapako or Penetencia (a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ). The Cenakulo The Cenakulo in Cainta dates back to 1904. It originated from Barrio Dayap (the entire area now includes Barangays Sta. Rosa, Sto Niño and Sto. Domingo). At that time the population consisted of a small group of residents who were mostly related to each other. Since most of the people believed that calamities were brought in by evil spirits, they decided to put up cross on a vacant lot to counter them. The barrio people paid homage to the cross by lighting it every night. One memorable incident happened during the lenten season when a strange fragrance supposedly emanated from the cross. The news spread out not only in the barrio but also in the entire town of Cainta. Believing in the mystery of the cross, many people in Barrio Dayap and the whole town of Cainta have since then vowed to read the Pasyon (Seven Last Words of Christ) every lenten season. This has been enriched by an actual portrayal of the Passion of Christ on the streets which was formerly called "Officio". Many problems have been allegedly solved and illnesses cured through the cross as many people continuously believed. Over the years the followers of the cross have multiplied rapidly. To give deeper meaning to their devotion and showcase their religiosity, they broached the idea of staging the Pasyon. The first stage play was held a few years later, although initially it was limited in scope. It became so popular that the presentation was expanded to include stories from the Old Testament and other stages in the life of Christ and has become known as the Cenakulo. The venue was transferred to an open field in 1966 to accommodate a larger audience. Samahang Nazareno Inc. was organized in 1960, developed and enhanced the various aspects of cenakulo. The local Roman Catholic parishioner gave the association its moral and financial support for it believed that it was an effective means of imparting its Christian message to the public. Penetencia On Good Friday, the town witnesses a yearly depiction of the station of the cross in the crucifixion of Christ. A devotee, in hopes of being absolved from sin plays the role of Christ and voluntarily sacrifices himself to be flailed and whipped and be "nailed" on a cross, although most of the wounds are shallow and superficial. This spectacle might seem barbaric to a foreigner, however it has been a long-held tradition accepted by many of the inhabitants not only of Cainta, but of other parts of the country as well. This is held by 10 different groups at the Liwasang Bayan (town plaza) and in other parts of town. Barangays Cainta is politically subdivided into seven barangays. In the mid 1990s, Cainta submitted a petition to the Rizal provincial government to consider a proposal for additional barangays, to make a total of 25 barangays. The proposal is still pending. Barangay Population(2000) San Andres (Pob.) 61,708 San Isidro 32,730 San Juan 91,196 San Roque 7,646 Santa Rosa 1,519 Santo Domingo 41,084 Santo Niño 6,628 History Spanish rule Founded in November 30, 1571, Cainta was a fiercely independent village that fought valiantly against the Spaniards but was later defeated and became a visita (annex) of Taytay in 1571 under the Jesuits. Changes in ecclesiastical administration made Cainta a part of Pasig under the Augustinians but it was deeded back to the Jesuits by the King of Spain in 1696. Cainta became a separate township in 1760. After the death of Rajah Matanda, Adelantado Miguel de Legaspi received word that two ships, San Juan and Espiritu Santo, had just arrived in Panay Island in the central Philippines from Mexico. One ship was under the command of Don Diego de Legaspi, his nephew, and the other of Juan Chacon. The two ships were in such disrepair when they arrived in Panay that one of them was not allowed to return to Mexico. Legaspi ordered that it be docked on the river of Manila. The Maestro de Campo was sent to Panay to oversee its transfer to Manila, with Juan de la Torre as captain. To help spread the faith, several Augustinian friars were commissioned by Spain and were among the ship's passengers. One of them was Father Alonso de Alvarado, who had been in the armada of Villalobos. Another was Father Agustin de Albuquerque, who became the first parish priest of Taal town, south of Manila. Some of the missionaries were sent to Cebu province in the central Philippines to accompany Father Martin de Rada the Prior. Four stayed to work in Pampanga province and the environs north and south of Manila, which included the then-village of Cainta.. Conversion to Catholicism The chief religion is Roman Catholicism. When the Spaniards came they celebrated the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle and a mass was held in a chapel made of nipa (coconut branches) and wood. Many people came to attend and consequently were baptized into the faith. The Church of Cainta was completed in 1715. It was gutted during World War II. Only the outer walls and the facade remained which was repaired with a coat of Portland cement. In 1727, an image depicting Our Lady of Light was brought to Cainta from Sicily, Italy, and was among the structures destroyed by Japanese and American bombs. Except for the outer walls, now greatly renovated, hardly anything remains of the old church. Extensive damage was also caused by recurrent earthquakes and typhoons that plagued the Philippines. The natives helped in its restoration and the new building was completed in February 25, 1968 and blessed by Manila Cardinal Archbishop Rufino Jiao Santos. The Battle of Cainta Meanwhile Legaspi was determined to subjugate the people of Cainta and Taytay, a neighboring town. He sent his nephew Juan de Salcedo with a galleon (a small ship propelled by oars and sails) and 16 small boats accompanied by a hundred Spanish soldiers and many Visayas natives allied with them. Salcedo sailed on August 15, 1571, arriving in Cainta on the 20th. He sought peace from the villagers but the village chief, Gat-Maitan, responded arrogantly, told him the people of Cainta, unlike those of Manila, were not cowards, and would defend their village to the death. Confident in the defenses offered by their fort and the security of the site, they were joined by people from Taytay. These two villages are on a plain on the shores of a river that flows from La Laguna and before arriving there divides in two large arms, both with abundant water. On its banks are found the two villages, half a league from each other, with the river passing through both before finally becoming one in a part of the terrain encircled by thick bamboo groves. These bamboos were tied together with liana, turning them into a thick wall where the people had constructed two ramparts with their moats full of water. By the river, they had built strong bulwarks with wooden towers and good artillery, guarded by a large number of warriors armed with arrows, swords and other projectile-type arms. Deciding to attack, Salcedo first sent Second Lieutenant Antonio de Carvajal with some escorts to reconnoiter the town and determine the weakest point where they could enter. Carvajal, wounded by an arrow in his arm, returned with the information that the weakest spot, the least fortified and with the easiest access was the other part of an arroyo on the side of La Laguna where many boats could be seen entering the river. Salcedo ordered installed in the prow of the galley a stone-throwing mortar. He and his men then spent the night on shore, while 20 soldiers and numerous allies from Manila remained with Carvajal on the galley with orders that when they heard firing, they should proceed with the attack on the bulwarks and the houses in the town, while Salcedo and his men tried to enter through the wall by the arroyo. When they heard the sound of the bugle, the signal that they had taken the town, they were to stop firing. After giving these instructions, Salcedo began his march and turned toward the river where the attack was to take place. He arrived in the arroyo and found it defended by a fistful of valiant Cainta men who started to fire arrows and hurl lances. Taken by surprise, the soldiers without waiting for Salcedo's order attacked the rampart and were overwhelmed by a rain of arrows. Finding such tenacious resistance, they began to retreat and flee in disarray. Salcedo berated his men harshly for having attacked without his orders. Observing that in the other part of the arroyo the rampart was lower, he ordered a skiff brought there and after beaching it, he ordered some of his soldiers to use it as passage to the other side and take a more elevated point from where they could fire at the defenders of the town. With the defenders retreating, Salcedo and his men were able to approach the wall and breach it. The intrepid Gat-Maitan with his Cainta men came to close the breach, forcing Saavedra to back off. In the meantime, the cannons of the galley destroyed the bulwarks and the houses in the town in a manner the people had not seen before. And the shouts of the 600 Visayans allied with the Spanish made the natives believe that the Spaniards were already inside the poblacion [town proper]. Because of this, the valiant defenders of the breach abandoned it and retreated to the center of the town. Salcedo observed this from a distance and ordered the breach attacked again. This time, the Spaniards encountered little resistance. Led by Salcedo and with Saavedra carrying the Spanish banner, they succeeded in entering the town. Together with their soldiers, they advanced rapidly and shortly scaled the wall where a bloody battle was fought. The Cainta men, encouraged by their chief Gat-Maitan, preferred to die rather than surrender. Having taken over the walls, the Spaniards climbed the towers and hoisted the Spanish banner. At the blare of the bugle, the cannons stopped firing from the galley. Cainta became an independent town in 1760. During the brief British occupation of Luzon (1762–1763), part of its British India troops known as Sepoys lived and intermarried with the natives in one of the town's barrios. The Indian left a culinary legacy in the spicy and highly-seasoned dishes that are now part of mainstream Cainta cuisine. Cainta became part of Tondo (starting 1763) but separated in 1883 and incorporated with the district of Morong. Post-Spanish era In 1913, under the American rule, Cainta and Angono were consolidated with Taytay as one government entity. In January 1, 1914, it once again became an independent municipality and remained so to this day. Cainta is one of fourteen (14) municipalities of Rizal Province after the inclusion of other towns of what are now referred to as Antipolo, Angono, Binangonan and Taytay. Across the town The main road of Cainta is Ortigas Avenue Extension, a heavily congested corridor that passes through the business district of Ortigas Center and leads to Mandaluyong City and San Juan in the west and the town of Taytay and Antipolo City in the east. Another major road is Francisco P. Felix Avenue (formerly known as Imelda Avenue) which runs across Ortigas Avenue Extension and connects the town to Marikina City to the north and Taytay to the south. The point of intersection between these two main arterials is known simply as Junction. A. Bonifacio Avenue, located in the town proper, is the town's most frequently-traversed street. At the current time, Cainta is under the management of the MMDA, which pertains to the traffic situations, particularly in the Junction area. Development Public works Cainta continues to strive for growth and advancement. Recently a proposed road widening along its busiest corridor, A. Bonifacio Avenue, has come into reality. This major road is set to be widened from its existing 10 meters width to expand by 15 meters. The span of expansion is from the Junction area up to the Cainta Catholic Church. This would result to a two-lane accommodation for traffic flow and provide necessary loading and unloading station throughout the municipal road. Vast infrastructure improvements is evident along the municipality. With the help of the national government and local and provincial authorities, Cainta's major thoroughfares are being upgraded to serve the growing number of motorist passing across the town, upgrade is evident along Ortigas Avenue Extension, F.P.Felix Avenue and the Bonifacio Avenue. Basic services and utilities Water In past decades Cainta had been suffering a lack of potable surface water supply, with only deepwell water source available. Today, almost the entire municipality of Cainta is supplied 24 hours a day with potable water from the Manila Water Company Inc.,MWSS concessionaire for East Zone, along with several towns in Rizal Province. Telecommunications Cainta is primarily served by the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications Co. (PLDT), Digital Communications (Digitel)and Bayan Communications Inc (through its Bayan wireless landline and broadband service). Mobile carriers Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular also cater Cainta's mobile communication needs. Cainta is also covered on both GSM and 3G (WCDMA) technology of the three largest telco in the country, providing excellent reach in mobile communication. Innove Communications Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, has expanded its telecommunications and broadband services throughout the province including the Municipality of Cainta. It empowers the town with several options to get connected to the internet fast and reliable. This also includes the roll-out of WIMAX technology upgrading the link of the municipality to the Cyberspace. Internet access is a vast necessity across the town, and Wi-Fi is readily available through Malls and internet cafe's in Cainta. Economy Today Cainta has a robust economy as evidenced by several commercial and industrial establishments that have sprouted. Cainta is the richest municipality in the province and the second ranking in the country after Cabuyao, Laguna with respect to Income Revenue growth.(based on 2007 COA Report). The town continues to attract businesses because of its proximity to Manila and the town's burgeoning population which mostly consists of hard-working and hospitable people. The early part of the 21st century witnessed the founding of numerous manufacturing firms, including the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, the largest car manufacturer in the country, the Monde M.Y. San Corporation, one of the nation's leading biscuit manufacturers and BF Construction Philippines. Here are some of the prominent businesses in Cainta: Call centers Teletech Holdings Text Switch Unlimited Teleperformance Malls, department stores and supermarkets Robinson's Place Cainta Sta. Lucia East Grandmall Makro Philippines - Cainta Puregold Cainta Robinson's Place Metro East Ever Gotesco-Ortigas Native delicacies The most common livelihood in Cainta is the making of native delicacies, which is largely a cottage industry. Its native desserts are among the nation's best. Dating back to the 15th century, it became the town's principal source of income for more than four centuries. Suman (rice cake wrapped in banana leaf), latik (boiled down coconut milk used for glazing), coconut jam and the famous bibingka, are but a few of the sweet delights that lure many visitors to this town. During the 20th century, Cainta dazzled the whole country when it baked the biggest rice cake ever and the town became known as the "Bibingka Capital of the Philippines". Bibingka is believed to have been adapted from the Indian cuisine, an influence from its Sepoy population. It comes from the Indian word bebinca also known as bibik, a dessert made of flour, coconut milk, and egg. The Philippine version is made of rice flour, coconut milk and salted duck eggs. Butter and sugar are used for glazing after cooking and before serving. Built-up area With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the city is now included in the Manila built up area which reaches Cardona in its Westernmost part. Landmarks Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Cainta's premier mall. The restored Church of Cainta blessed on February 25, 1968 Cainta Junction- A major intersection, adjoining the Metropolitan Highways (FELIX Avenue at the North, A. Bonifacio Avenue to the South, and Ortigas Avenue on its East and West Bounds). The busiest and a critical point where it connects Metro Manila and the rest of the Rizal province. The Cainta Municipal Hall- when the old municipal building (located at the current Town Plaza) was destroyed by a fire, then-Mayor Benjamin Felix called the attention of the Provincial Government to build a new one at a lot in Rosepack Subdivision. it was finished in 1995. Hunters ROTC Monument- located at Brgy. San Juan, this place is a memorial for those who bravely faced the Occupation Authorities during the World War II. Valley Golf and Country Club- one of the two well-known golf courses in the province of Rizal aside from Eastridge in Binangonan, Rizal. Liwasang Bayan (Town Plaza)- located at the Poblacion (town proper). It was the former place of the old Municipal Hall destroyed in 1995. Today, is host to some convocations and assemblies for Caintanos. In Holy Week, a Senakulo is shown for the public. Our Lady of Light Parish- standing firmly as one of the most beautiful and oldest churches in the province, it is erected upon the directives of Fr. Gaspar Marco, S.J. in 1707 and was finished by Fr. Joaquin Sanchez in 1715. Upon its elevation into a Parish in 1760, this church is renovated many times because of heavy rains and earthquakes. In 1889, this church was destroyed during the Filipino-American war, leaving only the adobe wall surviving. A mural depicting the patroness of the town, painted by national artist Fernando Amorsolo, has replaced the image ravaged during the war. This image is currently placed on the left side portion of the Church's main altar. On 1966, a reconstruction of the church emerged upon the initiative of Cardinal Rufino Jiao Santos. It was solemnly blessed on February 25, 1968. On December 1, 2007, during the official town fiesta, a Historical Marker was installed by the National Historical Institute on its facade, coinciding with the celebration of the third centenary of the construction of the Church. The current parish priest is Rev. Msgr. Arnel F. Lagarejos, SThD, a Diocesan Priest from the town of Binangonan. Sta. Lucia East Grandmall- the premier mall of Cainta, hence, the whole province as well. This mall provides easy shopping galore with exquisite fun through its technological amenities. See note 1 below; Robinson's Place Cainta- located at the heart of Junction, this mall allocates Caintanos the shopping galore. Conversion to Cityhood In late 2003, former Cainta mayor Nicanor Felix, with the rest of its Sannguniang Bayan members, unanimously approved a resolution for Cainta's cityhood bid. On that same year, on its annual fiesta, the Municipality had its theme "Cainta: Lungsod 2004", promoting its bid for cityhood. But, on the contrary, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Rizal denied the resolutiuon stating that "it must resolve first its boundary disputes with Pasig City, Antipolo City and Taytay". However, in January, 2010, current Rizal Governor Jun Ynares III now pushes the cityhood of Cainta and Taytay, due to the overabundance of jobs, amenities, and its people. Schools Elementary Janssenville Elementary School Cainta Catholic College Cainta Elementary School San Juan Elementary School San Juan Elementary School- Unit 1 F. P. Felix Elementary School KABISIG Elementary School San Francisco Elementary School Marick Elementary School St. Joseph Elementary School Exodus Elementary School Karangalan Elementary School