San Mateo, Rizal

Infobox Settlement
official_name = San Mateo, Rizal
other_name = Municipality of San Mateo
native_name = Bayan ng San Mateo
nickname =
settlement_type =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
city_
citylogo_size =


mapsize =
map_caption = Map of Rizal Province showing the location of San Mateo, Rizal


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =
pushpin_mapsize =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Philippines
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = CALABARZON
subdivision_type2 = Districts
subdivision_name2 = 2nd District of Rizal
subdivision_type3 = Barangays
subdivision_name3 = 15
subdivision_type4 = Class
subdivision_name4 = 1st Class Municipality
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Jose Rafael E. Diaz (NPC)
leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
leader_name1 = Hon. Bartolome N. Rivera, Jr. (NPC)
leader_title2 = Congresswoman
leader_name2 = Hon. Adelina S. Rodriguez (2nd District) (NPC)
leader_title3 =
leader_name3 =
established_title = Incorporated (town)
established_date =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
area_magnitude =
unit_pref =
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 55.09
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total = 184,860
population_density_km2 = 3356
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro = Manila
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
population_urban =
population_density_urban_km2 =
population_density_urban_sq_mi =
timezone = PST
utc_offset = +8
timezone_DST = Manila
utc_offset_DST =
latd= |latm= |latNS= 14|43|N
longd= |longm= |longEW= 121|7|E
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type = ZIP Code
postal_code = 1850
area_code = 2
blank_name =
blank_info =
blank1_name =
blank1_info =
website = [http://www.sanmateorizal.com San Mateo, Rizal: Official Website]
footnotes =

San Mateo, Rizal (Filipino: "Bayan ng San Mateo, Lalawigan ng Rizal" or simply "San Mateo") is a first class urban municipality of Rizal Province. Located on the island of Luzon, San Mateo is one of 13 municipalities and a capital city that make up the Province of Rizal, Region 4-A (Calabarzon Region) of the Philippines. San Mateo is part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway. Metro Luzon is composed of Region 3, Region 4-A (CALABARZON) and the nearby National Capital Region. Metro Luzon is one of four Super Regions in the Philippines.

San Mateo is located along the western border of Rizal Province, it is bordered on the west by Quezon City, to the south by Marikina City and Antipolo City, the capital of Rizal Province, and to the north by Rodriguez (Montalban) also in Rizal province. It is approximately 26 km. away from Manila.

Conurbated with NCR, San Mateo is one of the fast-track municipalities in Rizal Province, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Provincial Government of Rizal. The municipality features many spacious parks, tree-lined streets and roads, and industrial zones. Most of the municipality is composed of residential areas and the other side is composed of tons of trees, high plateaus and rocky mountains.

Built up area

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the city is now included in Manila built up area which reaches Cardona in its Westernmost part.

Geography

San Mateo is one of the largest municipalities in Rizal Province in terms of land area, at approximately 50 square kilometers. San Mateo lies in the Marikina Valley. The valley extends south towards Marikina City, Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal. The Marikina River runs through the western portion of the municipality and the Nangka River runs through the southern portion. The dynamic Sierra Madre Mountains, the longest mountain range in the Philippines, are located at the mid-eastern portion, while the Quezon City hills are located to the west.

San Mateo is a lush valley bounded by mountain ranges and sliced by a river. Located along the western border of Rizal Province, it is bordered on the west by Quezon City, to the south by Marikina City and Antipolo City, the capital of Rizal Province, and to the north by Rodriguez (Montalban), also in Rizal Province. It is approximately 26 km. away from Manila and lies within coord|14|43|N|121|7|E|display=inline,title.

The western portion of the municipality is occupied by numerous industrial parks, business establishments, residential areas and interesting places; it is also the location of the "center" of the city which is the busiest district of the municipality and the location of the municipal hall. The eastern portion is primarily residential subdivisions and the high mountain ranges of the Sierra Madre.

History

In his book Conquistas De Las Islas Filipinas, Father Gaspar De San Agustin records the Municipality of San Mateo in 1572 as a town annexed to Pasig. He described the inhabitants as “fierce but friendly and of quiet disposition.” Father Juan de Medina, in his account Relacion de los Con ventos Y Pueblos Fundados por los PP. Agustinos, likewise put 1572 as the year the Parish of San Mateo was established. However according to Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor in the Philippines (1571 to 1572), it was Juan do Salcedo, his nephew who discovered the site of present-day San Mateo during one of his expeditions to Manila from Cebu. Accounts say that two years before he came to Manila from Cebu, Legazpi sent Salcedo along with 150 soldiers to prepare the inauguration of the City of Manila. It must have been Salcedo who discovered the town before Legazpi inaugurated Manila on June 25, 1571.

Still, another account was that of Father Cavada, an Augustinian priest, who said that the first chapel in the country, having the Patron ] Saint Matthew] was built by the riverside in 1596 south of the present Poblacion of San Mateo which was then only a Barrio of Tondo. Saint Matthew thus gave to the town its name when the chapel was set up during his feast day.

What may be gleaned from the above accounts somehow is that San Mateo was discovered sometime in 1571, while it was in 1596 when it acquired its first church. It may be true, too, that the Parish of San Mateo was set up in 1572.

Aside from the controversy over the date of its discovery or creation, there is also uncertainty as to how San Mateo acquired its name. According to one account, when the Spaniards made a reconnaissance of Manila’s environs, they came upon the San Mateo flood plains and became enamored by the natural beauty of the place. They decided to establish a community in the place and one day, a Spanish scribe happened to stand on a mound with a book on one hand and a pen on the other. His statue-like pose prompted a companion to laugh and comment, "Muy" friend, the way you are now makes you look like Saint Matthew, referring of course to the usual way the evangelist saint is depicted in his statues. In the midst of their banter and merriment, they decided to call the place they discovered ‘San Mateo’.

Another account says that the Municipality of San Mateo was so called because of its geographical resemblance to another town in Spain with the same name. As described by Paluzie in a geographical book, this small Spanish town was near a high mountain (and) has a river that flows in its center which often floods but quickly recedes. this town is also a grazing ground for big animals and a fishing village. Indeed, San Mateo is presently traversed by the Maly and Nangka rivers and its flood plains may have been a lush grazing area then.

The Augustinian priests in San Mateo were later formally replaced (in 1689) by the Jesuits who as early as 1637 included San Mateo as one of their missions, with the missions of San Isidro and Paynaan under it. The Jesuit Order brought with them an image of the Virgin Mary which came from the town of Aranzazu, Nueva Vizcaya, Spain. The Jesuits were the ones responsible for building the church presently located in the Poblacion since the original chapel set up by the Augustinians beside the river was destroyed during a flood. The location of the present church is in Barangay Sta. Ana and its patron saint is the Virgin Mary of Aranzazu. The original images of Saint Matthew which was housed in the old Augustinian chapel has been transferred to Barangay Dulongbayan (formerly llaya) and is now the patron saint of the Barangay and whose feast day is always celebrated on September 21.

Over the centuries, San Mateo has had a colorful and distinguished history. In 1639, a pitched battle ensued between Chinese rebels, on one hand and Spanish and native troops, on the other. The Chinese were defeated and retreated east to the Sierra Madre Mountains, but not before burning the town and its church.

On May 16, 1687, the territory and convent of San Mateo were added to Pasig by the Augustinians, with the headquarters and residences of the missionary at Mariquina (Marikina). Two years later, the Agustinians handed over the ecclesiastical administration of San Mateo to the Jesuits. In 1699, the convent of St. Augustine won in a court case against the native inhabitants with regard to a claim over a ranch in the district of San Mateo.

From 1696 to 1746, the town residents rebelled against the Spanish authority in the municipality. They were forced to go to the mountains and abandon the lowland settlement. However, in 1746, the townspeople returned to the lowlands after having been wooed and persuaded by the Jesuit priests.

The independent-mindedness of the San Mateo people showed itself again in the 15-year period from 1751 to 1765 when the natives rebelled against Spanish governance. The residents were ordered to surrender their weapons, but they refused. With this resistance, the Spanish government was forced to reduce the town to ruins.

In 1712, the Conde de Lizarriaga, the Governor of the Islands, sent Captain Don Lorenzo de Yturriaga together with 12 soldiers to punish Captain Pambila, a native chieftain who was reportedly inciting the residents to revolt against the Spanish government and the local Spanish priest. Captain Pambila attacked the Spanish officer, but the latter was able to parry the blow and shot the native leader dead.

San Mateo with its large size was dismembered on April 27, 1871 when Captain General Isquierdo issued a decree separating the barrios of Balite, Burgos, Marang and Calipahan from San Mateo and formed them into the new municipality of Montalban (Rodriguez).

During the Spanish Period, there was only one public school in San Mateo and the educational advancement of the youth was very slow. There were very few feathers and the books used were limited to the religious tracts called Eaton, Camia, Castiana and Doctrina Christiana After knowing how to read, most students quit school while a few who were wealthy enrolled in the friar schools in Manila.

In November, 1896, during the revolution against Spain, General Llanera of the Filipino forces made San Mateo his headquarters. And on August 6, 1898, San Mateo joined the revolutionary government of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. During the Philippine-American War, Gen. Licerio Geronimo’s guerilla bands from the foothills of San Mateo and Montalban attacked the American troops in October, 1900. However, the Filipinos were defeated. A curious twist of history occurred when during the fighting, Gen. Lawton—the famous general who captured the elusive Indian rebel named Geronimo, among his exploits—was also killed by the forces of a Filipino bearing the same name—Gen. Licerio Geronimo. In the eyes of the Filipino people, Gen. Geronimo became a great man for killing an illustrious American General who distinguished himself during the American Civil War and the American military campaign in Cuba as well as In northern, southern and central Luzon.

During the American Occupation. Act. No. 137 of the Philippine Commission incorporated San Mateo into the newly created province of Rizal on June 11, 1901. In line with its policy of fiscal economy and centralized governance, the Philippine Commission enacted Act. No. 942 in 1903 which consolidated the municipalities of San Mateo and Montalban, with the former serving as seat of government. On February 29, 1908, Executive Order No. 20 separated San Mateo from Montalban, making the former an independent municipality. Its real divisions then included the barrios of Ampid, Sta Ana, Guitnangbayan, Dulongbayan, Malanday, Guinayang and Maly. However, due to constant development of the rural areas and the increase in population, the barrios of Guitnangbayan and Dulongbayan were divided into two sections.

With regard to education, it was in 1909 during the American Period when public schools were opened in the country under the supervision of Dr. David Burrows. San Mateo became one of the recipients of the benefits of the new democratized system of education when Mr. Frank Green was assigned to the town as the first school supervisor who was assisted by two Filipino teachers, namely, Jose Bernabe and Miguel Cristi. The English Language was also taught in the public school. Transportation and other facilities in the municipality were increased and repaired thus resulting to more communication and exchange of goods and services.

During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese Army occupied San Mateo, but no battle transpired between the Japanese and Filipino forces. There were only minor encounters between the Japanese soldiers and members of the Filipino guerilla forces. Nevertheless, some prominent residents of the town were killed and maltreated by the Japanese military on suspicion that they were either members or supporters of guerillas.

Upon their arrival in the municipality, the Japanese forces recommended the appropriation of school buildings and some big houses and used them as their headquarters. Productive rice lands irrigated by water from the main pipe of the Metropolitan Water District have also been forcibly appropriated and tilled under the direct supervision of the Japanese officials. Livestock and crops were likewise confiscated to supply the food needs of the Japanese military in San Mateo and Montalban (now Rodriguez).

When the American forces landed in Manila and started recapturing the surrounding areas, San Mateo came under the line of fire of the U.S. Forces. Residents were advised by the Air Raid Warden to vacate the Poblacion and seek refuge in Sitio Kalamyong on the west bank of the Marikina River. There they built temporary shelters while the U.S. Air Force bombarded the Japanese Headquarters in Montalban everyday. However, one afternoon a lamentable thing happened when a bomb carried by one American Air Force plane was accidentally released over the evacuation area at Sitio Kalamyong. About one hundred civilians died from the accidental bomb explosion.

Although in the aftermath of the war the American Government compensated the people of San Mateo for the war damages they sustained, there were cases when the amounts received were not considered commensurate to the sufferings endured. When municipal governance was instituted by the Spaniards in San Mateo in 1799, the town was governed by a Governadorcillo who served for one year and exercised the power to appoint the Cabeza de Barangay for the same term of one year. However, there were instances when the Governadorcillo served for two or three years. The first resident appointed to the post of Governadorcillo in 1799 was Donato Sulit while the last one to hold the post in 1895 was Ismael Amado, Jr. who incidentally continued serving up to 1905 even after the establishment of the Civil Government under the American Regime in 1901 when he was appointed Kapitan Municipal by the Military Governor of the United States Army Department.

How did San Mateo become part of Rizal? Republic Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission incorporated this town into the newly created Rizal Province on 11 June 1901. In 1903, the Philippine Commission "in line with the policy of economy and centralization " as opposed to today's policy of decentralization enacted Act No. 942 which consolidated the Municipalities of San Mateo and Montalban, with the seat of government at San Mateo. Executive Order No. 20, dated February 29, 1908 separated Montalban from San Mateo, thus formalizing the latter's status as an independent municipality.

Timeline

Landmarks

*Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu

*San Mateo Municipal Hall

*Plaza San Mateo

Notable Schools/Colleges

*Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Parochial School (NSDAPS)

*St. Matthew College (SMC)

*Roosevelt College San Mateo (RCSM)

*ICCT Colleges San Mateo Campus

*Informatics San Mateo

*Global Career Access Training Institute

*Kids' World Christian Academy (KWCA) High School

*Christ the Lord of Harvest Academy (CLHA), Inc.

*Eastern Star Academy

Restaurants/Fast Food Chains

*Jollibee with Greenwich San Mateo

*Chowking San Mateo

*McDonald's San Mateo

*Max's Restaurant San Mateo

*Goldilocks Ampid

*Tropical Hut

Supermarkets/Groceries

*PUREGOLD San Mateo (soon to open)

*Budgetlane Sulit Market

*Jaynith's Supermarket

*Suave Grocery

*Grocer-E

*Mercury Drug Ampid

Banks

*Premier Bank

*Metro Bank

*Bank of the Philippine Islands

*Merchants Bank

*RCBC Savings Bank

*Banco Rodriguez

*Banco San Juan

*Marikina Valley-San Mateo (MVSM) Bank

Roads/Bridges

*Gen. Luna Road

*C-6 Road (under planning/construction)

*Batasan-San Mateo Bridge

*Maarat Biking and Rally Road and Circuit

Memorial Parks

*Paraiso Memorial Park

*Columbary of the Divine Mercy Shrine

*San Mateo Roman Catholic Cemetery

*Sto. Rosario Cemetery

Hospitals

*St. Mattheus Hospital

Resorts/Leisure Parks

*9 Waves Water Park/Ciudad Christia Resort

*Timberland Heights (Sub-Urban Living)

*Patio Isabel Y Jardin (Events' Venue)

*God's Love Farm and Resort

*EarthHeaven EcoCommunity

*Green Nature Resort

*Villa Trinidad Resort

*Villa Diaz Resort

Public Elementary Schools

There are 13 notable Elementary Schools in San Mateo, Rizal:

1. Malanday Elementary School (MDES)

2. Dulong Bayan Elementary School

3. Guitnang Bayan Elementary School

4. Maly Elementary School (MES)

5. San Mateo Elementary School also known as Central School

6. Justice Vicente Santiago Elementary School known as Justice School

7. Ampid Uno Elementary School

8. Ampid Dos Elementary School

9. Pintong Bukawe Elementary School

10. Silangan Elementary School known as Silangan

11. Banaba Elementary School

12. Doña Pepeng Elementary School

13. Santo Niño Elementary School

Public Schools Quiz Bee

*2008 Pampurok na tagisan ng talino sa SK/Hekasi, Kulturang Pilipino, Buhay at Panunulat ni Rizal (Grade Five) "September 8,2008:"

"1st Place:" San Mateo Elementary School

"2nd Place:" Malanday Elementary School

*2008 District Quiz Bee in Science and Health 5 Coming Soon

*2008 District Quiz Bee in Mathematics 5

Coming Soon

People

The native citizens and the people who live in San Mateo are called "San Mateans."

Ethnic groups

Like other places in Metro Manila and Rizal Province, the original settlers were Tagalogs. Throughout the centuries, there has been constant migration of Spaniards, Visayans, Bikolanos, Ilokanos, Chinese and Americans. There have also been very small migrations from India, Korea and Japan.

Languages

The main language is Filipino, which is based on Tagalog. In addition, due to continuous development of the municipality, the English language is used in education, business and industry.

Religions

San Mateo was one of the seats of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries, and has been used as the base of Roman Catholic missions in the Philippines. Religious orders include the Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Jesuits, and the Augustinians, which were the first to arrive in Marikina, the south of San Mateo. Almost 90% of San Mateans are Roman Catholic,5% are INC known as Iglesia ni Cristo,2% are Protestanism and 3% are Born Again.

Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu, is the Patron Saint of San Mateo, and there is a parish named after her. Other notable churches in the municipality are the Iglesia ni Cristo and others Christian/Evangelical churches. There are also small number of Sikhs mainly the Indian immigrants, a few Buddhist Chinese, and Muslims in San Mateo.

Government

San Mateo is governed by a Mayor and Vice Mayor elected to three-year terms. The Mayor is the executive head and leads the municipal's departments in executing the municipal ordinances and improving public services, while the Vice Mayor heads a legislative council. San Mateo is one of the municipalities in District 1 of Rizal Province.

Incumbent Mayor: Hon. Jose Rafael "Paeng" Diaz
Incumbent Vice Mayor: Hon. Bartolome N. Rivera, Jr.
Incumbent 2nd District Congressman (Rizal): Hon. Adelina S. Rodriguez

"(need more information about Government of San Mateo)"

Education

The municipal government prides itself in giving a free, quality education to its children. There are also privately-owned academic institutions including [http://rooseveltcollege.edu.ph Roosevelt College San Mateo] (simply "RC San Mateo" or "RCSM") and [http://www.stmatthewcollege.com St. Matthew College] (SMC)in Ampid II, [http://nsdaps.edu.ph Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Parochial School] , located just across from the municipality hall, and [http://www.clha.page.tl Christ the Lord of Harvest Academy] (CLHA), located in Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal. SMC and CLHA are some of the private schools in San Mateo that are empowered and duly recognized by the Department of Education, with SMC being the first and only PAASCU accredited school. San Mateo's literacy rate is 95%.

Health

San Mateo has medical missions and provides free medical operations in the municipality. There are hospitals in San Mateo. Numerous clinics provide basic health check-ups for San Mateans. The municipality also offers a privileges card for discounted fees and free emergency and medical services.

Peace and order

"(need more information about Peace and Order of San Mateo)"

Tourism

San Mateo has its own share of attractions to offer. Historical landmarks and churches, antiquated houses, and art galleries, can be viewed by history and culture buffs.

Economy

Industries

The industrial establishments found in San Mateo are classified as light to medium industries. Welding shops/motor pool is the predominant industry found within the municipality. Other industrial establishments are relatively small scale, e.g. leather craft and kiskisan. More over agri-business establishments i.e., poultry & piggery do exist within the municipality.

Manufactures

"(need more information about Manufactures of San Mateo)"

Commerce and trade

The Central Business District is strategically located amidst the concentration of settlements. A major commercial area starts from the vicinity of the public market, bounded by the national road going to Rodriguez (Montalban) and Daangbakal St. at Barangay Guitnangbayan II. This commercial zone is a conglomeration of financial institutions, a public market, restaurants/small eateries, retail stores and the like.

Another area, which may be considered as major commercial area, is within the vicinity of Delos Santos St. corner Gen Luna St., in Barangay Ampid I. Other minor commercial areas are located near the Producer’s Market at Barangay Banaba and in the corner of Patiis & Gen Luna St. , in Barangay Malanday.

Banking

"(need more information about Banking of San Mateo)"

Transportation

San Mateo has a variety of conveyances that provide the residents with ready means of transportation. These are public utility jeepneys, buses, tricycles, pedicabs and even airconditioned Tamaraw FX taxis are operating in the town. These facilitate the movement of people and goods to Metro Manila and nearby towns of Rizal.

There are two jeepney terminals in San Mateo, one at Modesta Village, Barangay Sto Niño, and Tierra Monte, Barangay Silangan, respectively.

Transportation routes passing San Mateo, are Montalban-Cubao (jeepneys), San Mateo-Cubao (jeepneys), Marikina-San Mateo (jeepneys), & Commonwealth, QC-San Mateo (jeepneys) thru the San Mateo-Batasan Bridge . These routes traverses Quezon City, Marikina City, San Mateo and Rodriguez (Montalban).

Jeepneys are the most common form of transportation within the municipality because of its convenience and low fare as compared to other forms of transportation. Other modes are tricycles and pedicabs which are used mainly to transport people and goods where regular jeepney routes are not available.

Utilities and Communications

Power Infrastructure

Power services in the town are provided by the Manila Electric Company, Inc. (MERALCO), except in the mountain barangay of Pintong Bukawe. There were 23,189 customers in San Mateo as of March 1999. Of these, 27,115 or 95.37 percent residential customers while commercial, industrial and streetlights number 971 (4.19 percent), 36 (0.15 percent), and 67 (0.29 percent), respectively. The municipality of San Mateo had a total demand of 55,355 megawatt-hours in 1998.

Water Infrastructure

The main source of the municipality’s water supply are deep wells, pump wells (operated by Manila Water), open wells, springs and other ground water resources. The municipality can be classified as a watershed since its topography is characterized by rolling to mountainous terrain.

Communication Infrastructure

Telecommunications serve as a major link, within the sub-sectors and among other sectors of the economy, in the population centers and hinterlands. It also serves as a catalyst for growth and development. Telephone (Fixed landline & Wireless), & DSL Broadband Internet services are being provided by the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), PT&T and Digital Telecommunications Philippines. While cellular phone services are provide by Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular.

ister Cities/Municipalities

These are sister cities or municipalities with strong relationship and partnership.
* Antipolo City, Philippines
* Marikina City, Philippines
* Quezon City, Philippines
* Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines

ee also

* Rizal Province
* Marikina City

External links

* [http://www.sanmateo.gov.ph Official Website of the Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal]
* [http://www.batangsanmateo.com Official Website of the BATANG SAN MATEO]
* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]

* [http://www.nsdaps.edu.ph Official Website of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Parochial School]
* [http://www.clha.page.tl Official Website of Christ the Lord of Harvest Academy, Inc.]