Paranaque City

Parañaque, the city of Novena Mecca of Metro Manila, is a small town north of Pasay City, southeast of Muntinlupa, southwest of Las Piñas and the majestic bay of Manila on the west. It’s a highly developed city composed of 16 barangays.

Being a small town by the sea, the district was under the control of “Cabeza de Barangay”. The townspeople lived thru rice planting, salt making, weaving and shoe-making. The place was then called Palanyag, which means my beloved. Then came a miscommunication between a Filipino rig driver and a Spaniard. The latter ordered the driver to stop the carriage “para aqui”, and spoke in Spanish. Another passenger who known that language elaborate it and said “para aniya aaui”. Because the driver did not know any Spanish, he thought that it was name of the town. From then on, the town was known as “Parañaque”.

Parañaque are famous for many things like Caracol, it is a festivity that revolves around boats. There’s a musical band that performs at the end of the procession with a hermano y hermana mayors in one of the boats waiving and smiling. Another is called Sabong, a form of cockfighting constrained in coliseums.

Like other provinces, Parañaque also celebrated Sinakulo a presentation during the Lenten season. They also have Pasko ng Pagkabuhay and Santacruzan.

Today, Parañaque is a blossoming city. The country’s international airport can be found here, the popular Baclaran Church as one of the most active parishes in Manila is also here and the Duty Free, where you can buy imported goods.

It is also one of the centers for trade and business in Metro Manila. Around Baclaran, where dry goods market are known was always visited by many people from all over the country. They believed that you could buy products at a very low price. You can also see small fishing villages called “fisherman’s wharf” alongside Barangay La Huerta where you can purchase fresh seafood.