History of valenzuela

History of valenzuela
Valenzuela was named after Pío Valenzuela, a doctor and a member of Katipunan. The town preceding Valenzuela that was originally called Polo was formed in 1621 due to religious separation movements from parishes of Meycauayan (Catanghalan). Polo has been occupied twice by foreign armies other than colonial powers Spain and United States: first during the Seven Years' War by the British and by the Japanese during the Second World War. In 1960, President Diosdado Macapagal ordered the creation of the municipality of Valenzuela carved from few territories of Polo and is independent from the provincial government of Bulacan. However in 1963, another law was issued ordering the reversal of the previous edict and reunifying the towns of Polo and Valenzuela under the single name of Valenzuela. In 1975, Valenzuela was named as an independent municipality from the government of Bulacan and incorporated under the administration of Metropolitan Manila Authority. On 14 February 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 8526, or the Valenzuela City Charter, which elevated the status of Valenzuela as a highly urbanized, chartered city. In Spanish is a diminutive form of Valencia, Spain which means "Little Valencia". The name Valenzuela is also the surname of Pío Valenzuela, a Tagalog physician who was one of the leaders of Katipunan. He was regarded as a member of the Katipunan triumvirate that started the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial authorities in 1896. He also served as the provisional chairman for the Katipunan.
Originally, Valenzuela was called Polo. The name Polo was derived from the Tagalog term pulô, which means island, even though the area was not an island. The original town of Polo was surrounded by the rivers from the north and Tullahan River on the south. Hence, the enclosed land was thought to be an island and early townsmen regarded the place as Pulô which later evolved into Polo done by hispanicization of the word.
Valenzuela is composed of 33 barangays, the smallest administrative unit in the city. A barangay is equivalent to American village and British ward, and is headed by the barangay captain (punong barangay) and his council (kagawad) duly elected by the residents. In legislative level, Valenzuela is divided into two congressional districts. Legislative district one contains 24 barangays in the northern half of the city, while legislative district two groups the 9 barangays in the southern portion of the city.
In terms of land area, the three largest barangays are Gen. T. de Leon (366.90 km2), Ugong (307.2 km2), and Malanday(295.60 km2), while the smallest barangays are Polo (5.2 km2), Pariancillo Villa (5 km2), and Poblacion (3.40 km2).
Fiesta
A santacruzan is a novena procession commemorating St. Helena's mythical finding of the cross. Every April 26
Mano Po, San Roque Festival
There are countless tales of single girls who danced and prayed in the procession and who claim to have found their husband during the fiesta. The festival is almost similar to Obando Fertility Rites where romantic hopefuls dance to San Roque requesting to find their true love.
May 12 San Diego de Alcala
This is a celebration of the feast of the oldest church in Valenzuela which includes annual boat racing, street dancing and different fabulous activities of the festival. commemorated every November 12 in Poblacion Putong Polo Festival a parade featuring artistic creations from the rice cake which showcases creativity among the residents.

Tourist Atrractions

Arkong Bato

Barangay Arkong Bato is a historical barangay named after the famous stone arc landmark that demarcates the boundary between the barangay and Malabon's Brgy. Santulan. The notable stone arc was built by the Americans in 1910, originally as a boundary between Rizal and Bulacan province. Residents celebrate the Sta. Cruz fiesta every May 1. Some of the barangay's landmarks include the Arkong Bato Chapel and the statue of Delfin Belilia Navarese.

Museo Valenzuela

is Valenzuela city's historical and cultural landmark, named after Dr. Pío Valenzuela in 1963. Museo Valenzuela features collections of artifacts depicting the city's past and continuing development, it also serves as a repository of the city's rich heritage and a beacon of light to its people and guests. It is likewise a venue for historical, cultural, and artistic presentations as well as seminars and symposia on national and local issues. It is located in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Church of San Roque

belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig B. Morcilla St. Poblacion, Pateros, Metro Manila. Date of Erection: 1815 Date of Shrinehood: February 7, 2009 Vicariate: Vicariate of Saint Anne Titular: St. Martha and St. Roch Feast: July 29 (St. Martha), August 16 (St. Roch) 2010 – present Fr. Roy M. Rosales, STL Sta. Martha of Pateros to mark feast day July 29; play on ‘Francisca de Manila’ Sunday, July 17th, 2011 Sta. Martha, special patroness of Pateros, is enshrined inside a “virina” on the altar of San Roque Church, her feast is July 28.
Pateros, Metro Manila. The Municipality of Pateros (Filipino: Bayan ng Pateros) is a first-class municipality in Metro Manila,Philippines.

National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

is a Philippine apostolate of Our Lady of Fatima in Fátima, Portugal which is recognized by the Philippine Roman Catholic Church. The shrine is located inside the Our Lady of Fatima University campus in Marulas, Valenzuela City. The shrine is declared as one of the three major pilgrimage site aside from the National Shrine of St. Anne in Hagonoy and the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Marilao.

San Diego de Alcala Church

The Church of San Diego de Alcala in Brgy. Polo in Valenzuela was completed in 1632. Residents were forced into labor to complete the church after the town gained its independence in 1623 from Catangalan through the efforts of Father Juan Taranco and Don Juan Monsod, the barangay head of Polo. The main structure was destroyed by bombs during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. The belfry and entrance are the only parts of the four-century old edifice that remain today. They have been preserved by the citizens of Polo.