Martes, Setyembre 17, 2013

Chronicles of the Old Malolos

(Since this article is my first blog,i want to dedicate this to my beloved town)

One of the oldest towns in Bulacan.Situated 40 kilometers from Manila.Probably the most historic towns among all towms of Bulacan province.

The Christianization of Malolos was done by the Agustinians in November 14, 1571 and it became town in June 11 1580.Malolos formerly a large town comprising the Quingua amd Paombong.Primarily Malolos was a Royal Encomienda until it was created as a civil town.The First Church was located in the Brgy Canalate near the river, but due to the frequent high tides that submerged the area, the friars moved the church to its present location in Poblacion in 1590.Fray Mateo Mendoza OSA is the first parish priest of the town.

Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi conceded Malolos in November 14, 1571, and constituted it as an Encomienda (Blair and Robertson,The Philippine Islands,volume 34,page 304-310,paragraph 3) and part of La Pampanga until August 15, 1578, as the newly created Provincia de Bulacan was organized. The settlement was named as "Malolos" due to corruption of the word by the Conquistadores and the Natives. Legazpi entrusted the new discovered settlement to the encominedero named Marcos de Herrera, with 8 Villages along Malolos Creek, and 6 Villages in Altag Creek, was entrusted to jeronimo Tirado. Malolos, while the Christianization and Evangelization was in charge under the direction of Fray Diego OrdoƱez de Vivar and Companions from Calumpit. Later, after clearing forests and virgin lands, the settlement grew, and the population increased. After the construction of a big church in, the place was made into a civil town in 1580 with an Augustinian Priest and a Gobernadorcillo which reside in the Casa Tribunal (now Casa Real de Malolos) near River. From the very beginning, Tagalog made up the majority of the Malolos populace. They were led by prominent families, among them the Gatsalians (Gatchalian), and the Manahans.
The name of Malolos was presumably derived from the Tagalog word "Paluslos", meaning "downwards". But many claim that it was originally derived from Kapampangan word "Luslos" meaning many rivers toward the bay (which is the Manila Bay). Calumpit river, these priests came upon some natives of a riverside barrio (now Kanalate or Canalate). They asked for the name of the place. The natives, not knowing the Spanish tongue, answered that the flow of the river in that part was downstream "paluslos", which the Spaniards pronounced "Malolos" or "Malulos. The name resulted from a misunderstanding among the first Spanish missionaries who reached the city. Searching for inhabited places along the
 The Casa Real de Malolos is the first government building of Pueblo de Malolos in 1580.it was turend over to Barasoain Town in 1859.
In this document it may seen that the town already named as Malolos by Adelantado Legazpi in November 14,1571 (photo credits to the original owner)

The Spanish layout of the Town of Malolos in the late 1800s depicting the Old stone bridge altered by Americans in1925.

The Malolos Church,the Paroquia dela Inmaculada Concepcion de Malolos built by Augustinians in 1580.

August 31,1859 by the decree of the Spanish Governor,the Alcalde Mayor of Bulacan divided Malolos into 3 Separated Towns,Malolos,Barasoain and Sta Isabel each of it has its own Gobernadorcillo,A Town Church and a Parish Priest.(Barasoain and Sta Isabel will have their own article next)Because of this Political change,Malolos has decreased its geographical size.And its Government Office the First Casa Tribunal de Malolos at the foot of the bridge were turned over to the new created Pueblo de Barasoain.
A rich family of Malolos,named the Adrianos,resided in the Pariancillo.lended one of their house to be the Office of the Gobernadorcillo of Malolos and this building was renamed as the new Casa Tribunal de Malolos on  August 1859
...to be continued