Mandaluyong City has lots of stories to tell — heroic undertakings, cultural and supernatural beliefs, romance and more.

The following stories tell of unusual names of places and features that inspire curiosity among inhabitants (old and new), researchers, and passers-by.

There are different stories on the origin of the ancient name “Mandaluyong”.

Legend says that the city was named after the romance of a tribal couple, Manda and Luyong. Manda was a lovely daughter of a Barangay chieftain, while Luyong was a Maharlika despised by Manda’s father.

As was the custom at that time, the maiden’s hand was given to whoever wins a series of tribal competitions in the barangay. Luyong emerged as the victor and the couple was eventually married, amidst the objection of Manda’s father. Thereafter, the couple settled in a place that was later called Mandaluyong, a literal concoction derived from their names.

Another story says that the place was named from Luyong, a kind of tree that was abundant in the place and from which beautiful canes and home furniture were made of. Still, another story says that during the Spanish regime, the place was called Madaluyong to describe its rolling terrain which resembles giant waves of the sea. The consonant ‘n’ was later affixed by some Spanish writers, hence, the name Mandaluyong.

According to Pedro Patricio in his book (Mandaluyong: 1837-1975), Mandaluyong had five (5) original barrios as per the first recorded census in 1903 (Table 1.03).

From these five (5) evolved 22 sub-barrios which, like the original barrios, then became independent barangays.

This place used to be called “Buhangin” (sand) before it was named Poblacion because the whole stretch of the area, from F. Blumentritt corner of New Panaderos Extension up until the Catholic Church and the cemetery, was topped with sandy soil of about 2-3 inches thick.

The first settlers of this place were Muslim Filipinos. They were later driven away by the Spanish colonizers who came to the place. Still unnamed till then, the inhabitants called it “Namayan” in memory of the original settlers of the place.

Hulo means “outer part” or “external” location of a barrio or town. When Barangka was still a sloping forest, Hulo was already a sitio with a few inhabitants. Early inhabitants of Mandaluyong used to call the place as such because of its remoteness of location. This place continued to be called as such until the name was officially adopted when it eventually became a barrio.

Located at the southeast shoreline of Mandaluyong is a small barangay called Buayang Bato. Its legend tells of an old Chinese man long time ago who, despite conversion to Christianity of his fellow Chinese nationals residing in this place, ridicules the religion.

One day, while the old man was on a boat crossing the Pasig River, the Devil decided to take him to hell. Transforming into a crocodile, the Devil swam towards the boat. The old man, who had never seen such a huge crocodile, was terribly shaken. Realizing that the god he worships is too far away in China, he began to call on Saint Nicholas, whose statue he saw in Guadalupe Church across the Pasig River, to save him.

Miraculously, the creature turned into a stone. Shortly after, the old man embraced Christianity. And the stone crocodile, it is said, could be found during low tide at the bank of the river near the Tawiran (ferry station). The place came to be known because of this stone crocodile, “buayang bato” in Filipino.

Alongside Brgy. Buayang Bato is Barangka, then a single barangay but later divided into four (4) during the time of Municipal Mayor Bonifacio Javier: Barangka Ilaya (Uptown), Barangka Itaas (Upper) Barangka Ibaba (Lower), and Barangka Drive.

It was said that at the time when the Philippines was under the Spanish Regime, there lived an old woman named Barang who had a young daughter. The daughter was in the rice fields when she was attacked by a man. As she was calling her mother for help “Ka Barang, Ka Barang!” the surrounding hills echoed her cry which was heard by the Spaniards. And as the story goes, the place came to be called Barangka.

This place is located on the uplands where steps are carved in its rocky hills and used as stairways. However, this place is more popular for its historical significance because of the role it played during the Spanish occupation.

It was in this place, where, on August 28, 1896, Andres Bonifacio issued a proclamation setting Saturday, August 29, as the date of the attack on Manila. At 7:00 o’clock on Saturday evening, Supremo Andres Bonifacio held a meeting which was attended by more or less 1000 “Katipuneros”. Weapons were distributed during this meeting and the revolution began as church bells tolled.

Lying on the lowlands adjoining Hagdang Bato is Saniga which used to be a marshland teeming with various fruit-bearing and hardwood trees. The place was home to many local heroes who gallantly fought during the Spanish, American and Japanese occupations. Thus, some of its streets are named after them like Capt. Magtoto St., Capt. Gabriel St., and Pvt. E. Reyes St.

During the 1960’s and 70’s, progress gave way to concrete roads and houses sprouted in neighboring areas. This neighborhood was called New Zaniga Subdivision, while the original Saniga was renamed Old Zaniga.

As the name implies, this place is a vast plain used to be planted with rice and corn. The place abounded with trees and was popular to bird hunters. Once it was a private property developed by its owner, Ortigas, Madrigal and Company, into a subdivision providing a site for the municipal center. Afterwards, it was made a separate barangay through a Presidential Decree. Its original name, Plainview, was retained and at present, it hosts the Mandaluyong City Hall and other public institutions.

At the northern part of the city is Barangay Wack-Wack, known internationally for the Golf and Country Club it hosts. Stories tell that many years ago, the place was a vast grassland which was home to numerous large glossy black birds called “uwak” (crow). It was from this “uwak” that the name “Wack-Wack” was derived.

Formerly called San Felipe Neri, Mandaluyong was once a barrio of Sta. Ana de Sapa, Province of Tondo, during the Spanish colonial rule. It was separated from Sta. Ana de Sapa in 1841 and established its own parish in 1863.

During the American regime, it became a first class municipality but was later consolidated with the municipality of San Juan del Monte under Presidential Act No. 942. For several months in 1904, it became the capital of the province of Rizal. It became an independent municipality by virtue of House Bill No. 3836 in 1907, and was officially named the Municipality of Mandaluyong.

At the onset of World War II, the municipality was occupied by the Japanese and later liberated by American forces on February 9, 1945. In the 1960's, following a period of reconstruction and development, it became a component municipality of the Greater Manila Area, which today is known as Metropolitan Manila.

On February 9, 1994, forty-nine years after its liberation from the Japanese, Mandaluyong has been converted into a highly urbanized city by virtue of Republic Act 7675 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

Residents of Mandaluyong have always been known for their industry. Men did the laundry to the amusement of non-residents until shortly after the war, while the women ironed the clothes.

These industrious people trace their roots to Emperor Soledan (also known as “Anka Widyaya” of the Great Madjapahit Empire) and Empress Sasaban of the Kingdom of Sapa whose son Prince Balagtas ruled as sovereign of the kingdom in about the year 1300.

More than a century later, in about the year 1470, it expanded and was called the “Kingdom of Namayan” with “Lakan Takhan” as sovereign. The vast Kingdom comprised what are now Quiapo, San Miguel, Sta. Mesa, Paco, Pandacan, Malate and Sta. Ana in Manila, and Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Pasay, Pateros, Taguig, Parañaque, and portions of Pasig and Quezon City up to Diliman that were then part of Mandaluyong.

Mandaluyong was first known as a barrio of Sta. Ana de Sapa which was part of the District of Paco, Province of Tondo. Named San Felipe Neri by the Spaniards in honor of the Patron Saint of Rome, it was separated civilly from Sta. Ana de Sapa in 1841.

On September 15, 1863 San Felipe Neri established its own parish and under the administration of the Congregation “Dulcisimo Nombre de Jesus”, it constructed its own church, convent and school.

The Parish of San Felipe Neri played a significant role as a relay station for propagating the Katipunan during the 1896-1898 Revolution. It was in Barangay Hagdang Bato on August 28, 1896 where Andres Bonifacion issued a proclamation setting Saturday, August 29, 1896 as the date of the attack on Manila. It was also in this town that the revolutionary paper, “La Republika”, was established on September 15, 1896.

During the American regime, San Felipe Neri was raised to a first class municipality with five (5) barrios, namely: Poblacion, Barangka, Hagdang Bato, Namayan and Hulo. Under Presidential Act No. 942, it was consolidated with the municipality of San Juan del Monte and became the seat of government. For several months in 1904, San Felipe Neri became the capital of the province of Rizal.

San Felipe Neri was separated from San Juan and became an independent municipality on March 27, 1907. It was renamed the Municipality of Mandaluyong by virtue of House Bill No. 3836 which was authored and sponsored by Assemblyman Pedro Magsalin, then the Representative of the District of Rizal.

During World War II, Mandaluyong lost many of her people, among them were Catholic priests and civilians. Destruction was felt all over, but with the timely arrival of the American Liberation Forces on February 9, 1945, the municipality was saved from further damages. That day became a red calendar day for Mandaluyong marking its liberation from the Japanese Imperial forces by the Americans.

In the 60’s, Mandaluyong became a component municipality of Metropolitan Manila. Together with other component cities and municipalities, it has undergone significant physical and economic transformation. From a forestal town to a progressive municipality, Mandaluyong is now a highly urbanized city known to host most of the country’s best companies and corporations, shopping malls and hotels which are certainly world class in status.

Listed in Table 1.04 are persons who have served as mayors of Mandaluyong from the 20th century to the new millennium.

Mandaluyong and the municipality of San Juan used to be represented in congress by a single Congressman. As it entered cityhood in 1994, Mandaluyong became a lone district with its own Representative in Congress.

Mandaluyong at the turn of the century was proclaimed by the city’s grand dads as the Millennium City, having come a long way from being a forested rolling hill to a bustling city of vibrant economic activities. It was recently named the new tiger city of Metro Manila, among other accomplishments.

Mandaluyong today is composed of 27 barangays divided into two political districts mainly by Boni Avenue and G. Aglipay Street (Map 1). As of January 9, 2002, it has 1,238 voting precincts and a total of 166,037 registered voters (Table 1.05).

The transformation of Mandaluyong from a forestal and agricultural town to a highly urbanized city is highlighted by the following key events:

Adoption of RA 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 This revolutionary legislation has given Local Government Units greater authority and flexibility in chartering the development of their communities. Local government units are empowered to be self-reliant, generate their own incomes and allocate their resources according to their own priorities. In addition, LGU’s are given the responsibility of fostering wider participation of people’s, NGO’s, and other private organizations in the pursuit of local development.

On April 10, 1994, following a series of legislative procedures including the signing of Republic Act 7675 by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 9, 1994, a plebiscite confirmed the conversion of Mandaluyong from municipality to a highly urbanized city. This brought additional income to Mandaluyong through an increase in share from the national internal revenue allotments and other development benefits of being a city.

The passing of City Ordinance 164 Series of 1997 paved the way for the development of a formerly industrial area into a full-scale Central Business District also dubbed as the newest emerging golden quadrangle in the metropolis. This area is bounded by EDSA, Shaw Blvd., the Mandaluyong-Pasig boundary, and the Pasig River.

Mandaluyong City is known for being the first among the LGUs in Metro Manila to have a newly approved Comprehensive Development Plan and Zoning Ordinance approved per Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board Resolution No. 693 S-2001. The plan provides more room for commercial expansion, housing development and other environmental projects while the Zoning Ordinance ensures that the carrying capacity of the city within the planning period is not exceeded.

Named as the “New Tiger City of Metro Manila, and the Second Most Vibrant City Economy in the Country” by the Department Of Trade and Industry and the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center (May 2002)

According to the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2002 conducted jointly by the DTI and the AIM Policy Center, Mandaluyong ranked second among 11 metro cities and third among 33 major urban centers nationwide on the local economy factor. The competitiveness ranking gave the city a new moniker - the New Tiger City of Metro Manila, Second Most Vibrant City Economy in the Country, for its unprecedented leap to progress, having become the haven of industrial giants and business conglomerates in a short span of 15 years.

The survey asked the cities” respective business sectors to determine their economic competitiveness and measure their effectiveness in providing an environment conducive for business and industry, and to quantify their ability to promote a better standard of living for its constituents. The award was attributed to the strength of the city administration’s equally active and able leadership, pioneering efforts and outstanding achievements in addressing squarely the city government’s top agenda – employment, health, education, infrastructure, urban planning and renewal, tourism, social welfare and development.

Awarded as the Most Outstanding LGU (City Level) in the 2003 Metro Manila Literacy Awards of the Department of Education (May 2003)

In recognition of the city’s efforts in improving its literacy programs, the city recently bagged the top honors of DepEd’s Literacy Awards. Mandaluyong won the Metro Manila Literacy Awards on the strength of Mayor Abalos” initiatives in support of various educational programs, including enhanced computer literacy skills for high school students and the development of a unique literacy program for children with disabilities.

Barangay Vergara was voted the cleanest barangay in Metro Manila by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), besting 16 other barangays in the MMDA’s search for the Cleanest and Dirtiest Barangay in the area. The evaluation for the cleanest barangay was done for at least two months by the board of judges composed of representatives from the DILG, DOH, DPWH and DENR.

Ranked 2nd in Quality of Life Competitiveness Driver in the 2003 Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking project (PCCRP) of DTI and AIM Policy Center (January 2004)

According to the PCCRP 2003, Mandaluyong come in second to Marikina in the Quality of Life category. Fifty (50) metro cities were judged according to their peace and order situation, their status of residents” well-being and their environmental preservation initiatives. This recognition is a timely affirmation of the city’s unprecedented leap to progress.