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Cainta, officially the Municipality of Cainta ( fil, Bayan ng Cainta, ), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 376,933 people. It is one of the oldest municipalities in Luzon (founded on August 15, 1571) and has a land area of . Cainta serves as the secondary gateway to the rest of Rizal province from Metro Manila. With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Cainta is now part of Manila's
conurbation A conurbation is a region comprising a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most cas ...
, which reaches Cardona in its easternmost part and is therefore one of the most urbanized towns. As the country's 2nd most populous municipality after
Rodriguez, Rizal Rodriguez, officially the Municipality of Rodriguez ( tgl, Bayan ng Rodriguez), formerly known and still commonly known as Montalban, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popu ...
, efforts are underway to convert it into a city. Its total assets amounting to (as per 2017 Commission on Audit summary) makes it the richest municipality in the country in terms of income. However, Cainta faces different challenges especially with its boundary disputes with
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, i ...
(Greenpark Village, Karangalan Village, St. Joseph Subdivision, Villarica Subdivision, Riverside and Midtown Village), Taytay (Greenland and eastern part of Cainta) and
Antipolo Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mos ...
(Valley Golf and Country Club, Valley View and Palmera Heights), thus hindering cityhood efforts.


Etymology

One legend has it that there was an old woman called "Jacinta" who was well known not only in her own native town but also in the neighboring towns. In her youth, she was very popular because of her great beauty, kindness, and wealth. Although she was a member of a very rich clan, she showed generosity of heart to the poor. Hence, she became very much loved and respected. Jacinta grew to be an old maid because after her sweetheart got sick and died, she never fell in love with anyone else. When her parents died and she was left alone in the house, she continued her charity work. She gave alms to the long line of beggars who came to her, and housed and took care of the orphans and children in the streets. In her old age, she was still very popular and was fondly called "''Ka Inta''" ("''Ka''" referring to a term of respect for the elderly, as well as a term for the feeling of comradery or "kapwa" feeling for someone). One
Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, ...
, however, when the old and the young called on her to give their greetings, she was not by the window to welcome them. People wondered at her absence and shouted her name to call her attention but no one came to answer. Concerned, they went up the house and discovered the dead body of "Ka Inta" lying on the floor. Beside her were the piles of Christmas gifts she was preparing to give to her well-wishers that day. People far and wide grieved over her death. In memory of her goodness and her generosity, her native town was named after her and was called "Cainta". However, Cainta was already named Cainta when the Spanish first arrived in the 1520s, so the Spanish name "Jacinta" is unlikely to be the origin of Cainta's name.


History


The Battle of Cainta

After the death of
Rajah Matanda Rajah Ache ( Abecedario: ''Rája Aché'' pronounced ''Aki''), better known by his title Rajah Matanda (1480–1572), was one of the rulers of Maynila, a pre-colonial Indianized and Islamized Tagalog polity along the Pasig River in what is now ...
, Adelantado Miguel de Legaspi received word that two ships, San Juan and Espiritu Santo, had just arrived in Panay Island in the central Philippines from Mexico. One ship was under the command of Don Diego de Legaspi, his nephew, and the other of Juan Chacon. The two ships were in such disrepair when they arrived in Panay that one of them was not allowed to return to Mexico. Legaspi ordered that it be docked on the river of Manila. The Maestro de Campo was sent to Panay to oversee its transfer to Manila, with Juan de la Torre as captain. To help spread the faith, several Augustinian friars were commissioned by Spain and were among the ship's passengers. One of them was Father Alonso de Alvarado, who had been in the ''armada'' of Villalobos. Another was Father Agustin de Albuquerque, who became the first parish priest of Taal town, south of Manila. Some of the missionaries were sent to Cebu province in the central Philippines to accompany Father Martin de Rada the Prior. Four stayed to work in Pampanga province and the environs north and south of Manila, which included the then-village of Cainta. Meanwhile, Legaspi was determined to subjugate the people of Cainta and Taytay, a neighboring town. He sent his nephew Juan de Salcedo with a galleon (a small ship propelled by oars and sails) and 16 small boats accompanied by a hundred Spanish soldiers and many Visayas natives allied with them. Salcedo sailed on August 15, 1571, arriving in Cainta on the 20th. He sought peace from the villagers but the village chief, Gat-Maitan, responded arrogantly, told him the people of Cainta, unlike those of Manila, were not cowards, and would defend their village to the death. Confident in the defenses offered by their fort and the security of the site, they were joined by people from Taytay. These two villages are on a plain on the shores of a river that flows from La Laguna and before arriving there divides in two large arms, both with abundant water. On its banks are found the two villages, half a league from each other, with the river passing through both before finally becoming one in a part of the terrain encircled by thick bamboo groves. These bamboos were tied together with ''liana'', turning them into a thick wall where the people had constructed two ramparts with their moats full of water. By the river, they had built strong bulwarks with wooden towers and good artillery, guarded by a large number of warriors armed with arrows, swords and other projectile-type arms. Deciding to attack, Salcedo first sent Second Lieutenant Antonio de Carvajal with some escorts to reconnoiter the town and determine the weakest point where they could enter. Carvajal, wounded by an arrow in his arm, returned with the information that the weakest spot, the least fortified and with the easiest access was the other part of an arroyo on the side of La Laguna where many boats could be seen entering the river. Salcedo ordered installed in the prow of the galley a stone-throwing mortar. He and his men then spent the night on shore, while 20 soldiers and numerous allies from Manila remained with Carvajal on the galley with orders that when they heard firing, they should proceed with the attack on the bulwarks and the houses in the town, while Salcedo and his men tried to enter through the wall by the arroyo. When they heard the sound of the bugle, the signal that they had taken the town, they were to stop firing. After giving these instructions, Salcedo began his march and turned toward the river where the attack was to take place. He arrived in the arroyo and found it defended by a fistful of valiant Cainta men who started to fire arrows and hurl lances. Taken by surprise, the soldiers without waiting for Salcedo's order attacked the rampart and were overwhelmed by a rain of arrows. Finding such tenacious resistance, they began to retreat and flee in disarray. Salcedo berated his men harshly for having attacked without his orders. Observing that in the other part of the arroyo the rampart was lower, he ordered a skiff brought there and after beaching it, he ordered some of his soldiers to use it as passage to the other side and take a more elevated point from where they could fire at the defenders of the town. With the defenders retreating, Salcedo and his men were able to approach the wall and breach it. The intrepid Gat-Maitan with his Cainta men came to close the breach, forcing Saavedra to back off. In the meantime, the cannons of the galley destroyed the bulwarks and the houses in the town in a manner the people had not seen before. And the shouts of the 600 Visayans allied with the Spanish made the natives believe that the Spaniards were already inside the ''poblacion'' own proper Because of this, the valiant defenders of the breach abandoned it and retreated to the center of the town. Salcedo observed this from a distance and ordered the breach attacked again. This time, the Spaniards encountered little resistance. Led by Salcedo and with Saavedra carrying the Spanish banner, they succeeded in entering the town. Together with their soldiers, they advanced rapidly and shortly scaled the wall where a bloody battle was fought. The Cainta men, encouraged by their chief Gat-Maitan, preferred to die rather than surrender. Having taken over the walls, the Spaniards climbed the towers and hoisted the Spanish banner. At the blare of the bugle, the cannons stopped firing from the galley.


Spanish rule

Founded on November 30, 1571, Cainta was a fiercely independent village that fought valiantly against the Spaniards but was later defeated and became a ''visita'' (annex) of Taytay in 1571 under the Jesuits. Changes in ecclesiastical administration made Cainta a part of Pasig under the Augustinians but it was deeded back to the Jesuits by the King of Spain in 1696. Cainta became a separate township in 1760.


Conversion to Catholicism

The chief religion is Roman Catholicism. When the Spaniards came they celebrated the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle and a mass was held in a chapel made of nipa palm branches and wood. Many people came to attend and consequently were baptized into the faith. The Church of Cainta was completed in 1715. It was gutted during World War II. Only the outer walls and the facade remained which was repaired with a coat of Portland cement. In 1727, an image depicting Our Lady of Light was brought to Cainta from Sicily, Italy, and was among the structures destroyed by Japanese and the joint American and Filipino bombs. Except for the outer walls, now greatly renovated, hardly anything remains of the old church. Extensive damage was also caused by recurrent earthquakes and typhoons that plagued the Philippines. The natives helped in its restoration and the new building was completed on February 25, 1968, and blessed by Manila Cardinal Archbishop
Rufino Jiao Santos Rufino Jiao Santos (August 26, 1908 – September 3, 1973) was the 29th Archbishop of Manila from February 10, 1953, until his death on September 3, 1973, and was the first Filipino elevated to the rank of cardinal. Biography Born in Barangay S ...
. Cainta became an independent town in 1760. During the brief British occupation of Luzon (1762–1763), part of its
British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
troops known as Sepoys lived and intermarried with the natives in one of the town's barrios. The Indian left a culinary legacy in the spicy and highly seasoned dishes that are now part of mainstream Cainta cuisine. Cainta became part of Tondo (starting 1763) but separated in 1883 and incorporated with the district of Morong.


American colonial era


March 16, 1899

Exequiel Ampil was assigned by Emilio Aguinaldo to liberate Cainta. Maj. William P. Rogers, CO of the 3rd Battalion, 20th US Infantry Regiment, came upon the Filipinos in Cainta, about 1,000 strong, and forced them to retreat. He burned the town. Two Americans were killed and 14 wounded, while the Filipinos suffered about 100 killed and wounded. Upon the approach of the Americans, Exequiel Ampil y Dela Cruz, the Presidente Municipal of Cainta and a former Agente Especial of the Katipunan who had become a pronounced Americanista, strongly advised the Filipino soldiers to surrender. Instead, they shot him. Although wounded, Ampil managed to escape. On March 3, 1902, major American newspapers, including the New York Times reported: “…Felizardo, at the head of twenty-five men armed with rifles, entered the town of Cainta and captured the Presidente of Cainta, Señor Ampil, and a majority of the police of the town. Señor Ampil has long been known as an enthusiastic American sympathizer, and it is feared that he may be killed by the enraged ladrones (thieves & land grabbers). A strong force of constabulary has been sent to try to effect his release.” imoteo Pasay was the actual leader of the guerilla band that kidnapped Ampil on Feb. 28, 1902 On March 4, 1902, near the hills of Morong town, Ampil found an opportunity to escape. A detachment of constabulary was taken from the garrison at Pasig and stationed at Cainta for his protection, he survived the war. And upon retiring from his military and political career, Don Exequiel Ampil together with his wife Doña Priscila Monzon, applied and managed their vast estate from Tramo (Rosario, Pasig) to Cainta River (San Jose, Cainta) up to the Valley Golf Club (Mayamot, Antipolo) down to Ortigas Extension (San Isidro, Taytay). The lots were the old and the new Municipal Halls stands, were also part of his estate. Their son Dr. Jesus Ampil also became a Mayor (grandfather of the Ampil Brothers); whose siblings where Lumen, Atty. Vicente (of Pasay), Rosario & Jose.


Inclusion in Rizal province

In 1913, under the American rule, Cainta and
Angono Angono ( or ), officially the Municipality of Angono ( tgl, Bayan ng Angono), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 130,494 people. It is best known as the "Art ...
were consolidated with Taytay as one government entity. On January 1, 1914, it once again became an independent municipality and remained so to this day. Cainta is one of fourteen (14) municipalities of Rizal province after the inclusion of other towns of what are now referred to as
Antipolo Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mos ...
,
Angono Angono ( or ), officially the Municipality of Angono ( tgl, Bayan ng Angono), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 130,494 people. It is best known as the "Art ...
,
Binangonan Binangonan, officially the Municipality of Binangonan ( tgl, Bayan ng Binangonan) is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 313,631 people. A thriving fish port and fi ...
and Taytay.


World War II

In 1942, Japanese Occupation troops entered Cainta. In 1942 to 1944, local guerrilla groups of the
Hunters ROTC The Hunters ROTC was a Filipino guerrilla unit active during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, and was the main anti-Japanese guerrilla group active in the area near the Philippine capital of Manila.Keats, J., 1963, They Fought Alone, ...
was the four-year main invasions in Cainta against the Japanese, when the guerrillas were retreating by the Japanese before the liberation. In 1945, local Filipino troops of the 4th, 42nd, 45th, 46th, 47th and 53rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and 4th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary started the liberation and captured Cainta and helped the guerrilla resistance fighters of the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas to fight against the Japanese and ended World War II.


Liberation of Cainta

During World War II under the Allied Liberation, the some of all stronghold of local Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 4th, 42nd, 45th, 46th, 47th and 53rd Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 4th Constabulary Regiment was sending the local military operations and liberated in all municipal town of Cainta and aided the local guerrilla groups of the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas against the Japanese Imperial armed forces and begins the Liberation of Cainta on 1945 and arrival by the American liberation forces enters the town. The General Headquarters, Camp Bases and Garrisons of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in Cainta and inside of all Japanese soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army was invaded the battles and captured of all the local Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary and the local guerrillas of the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas after the fighting. After the war, the local casualties was over 3,810 Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary killed in action and 12,400 wounded in action, the local guerrillas of the Hunters ROTC was over 200 killed in action and 700 wounded in action and over 15,000 Japanese troops of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces was killed in action, 36,000 wounded in action and over 3,400 captured in action.


Post-war

On May 9, 1992, a fire broke out at the town's municipal hall two days before the 1992 local elections. The Rizal Provincial Police Command concluded that the fire was accidental, having been caused by a negligent janitor, although the PNP Criminal Investigation Service Command (CISC) refuted this, citing eyewitness accounts to the contrary.


Conversion to cityhood

Cainta has qualified for cityhood, due to its high population and high income. However, boundary disputes with neighboring cities and municipalities prevents the municipality from being a city. There was an attempt to convert Cainta into a city in 2003. In late 2003, Mayor Nicanor Felix with the rest of its
Sangguniang Bayan The Sangguniang Bayan () is the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines. It is responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions for the administration of a municipality. Its powers are defined by the Local Gov ...
members, unanimously approved a resolution for Cainta's cityhood bid. That same year, on its annual fiesta, the municipality had its theme "Cainta: Lungsod 2004", promoting its bid for cityhood. But the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (abbreviated as SP; ), commonly known as the Provincial Board, are the legislatures in Philippine provinces. They are the legislative branches of the provinces, and their powers and responsibilities are defined by the Loca ...
of Rizal denied the resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan, stating that ''"it must resolve first its boundary disputes with
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, i ...
,
Antipolo Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mos ...
and Taytay"''. However, in January 2010, Rizal Governor Casimiro "Jun" Ynares III pushed the cityhood of Cainta and Taytay, due to the overabundance of jobs, amenities, and its people. In turn, Representative Joel Duavit of Rizal's 1st district filed and passed a bill effectively creating a district composed of Cainta and Taytay. The Bill is now up at the committee level in the Senate. The idea of converting Cainta into a city and constituting into a lone legislative district was again proposed for the second time in 2018 after its failure in 2004.


Geography

Cainta is bounded on the north by
Marikina Marikina (), officially the City of Marikina ( fil, Lungsod ng Marikina), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 456,159 people. It is locat ...
and
Antipolo Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mos ...
but not bounded San Mateo, on the west by
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, i ...
, and on the east and south by Taytay. It lies in the Marikina Valley, is 10% rolling hills and 90% residential-industrial. It has the province's highest number of rivers and streams. Historians claim that Cainta's old geographical boundaries encompassed the mountain slopes of Montalban. Cainta is from Manila and from
Antipolo Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mos ...
.


Barangays

Cainta is politically subdivided into seven
barangay A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolitan ...
s. In the mid 1990s, Cainta submitted a petition to the Rizal provincial government to consider a proposal for 18 additional barangays, to make a total of 25 barangays. The proposal is still pending.


Climate


Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Cainta, was 376,933 people, with a density of . In the 2007 census, it had a population of 304,478. Its population consists of 70% Roman Catholic Christians, 15% Non-Catholic
Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
(including Baptists,
Evangelicals Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "born again", in which an individual experi ...
, Iglesia ni Cristo,
Ang Dating Daan ''Ang Dating Daan'' (English: The Old Path, Portuguese: ''O Caminho Antigo'', Spanish: ''El Camino Antiguo'') is a religious radio and television program produced by the Members Church of God International. It is primarily hosted by Brother ...
,
Aglipayan , native_name_lang = fil , icon = Logo of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).svg , icon_width = 80px , icon_alt = Coat of arms of the Philippine Independent Church , image ...
,
Jesus is Lord "Jesus is Lord" (Greek: κύριος Ἰησοῦς, ''kyrios Iesous'') is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament, one of several slightly more elaborate variations. It serves as a statement of faith for the majority of Chri ...
, and others), 10% Muslims, 3% Chinese
Buddhists Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gr ...
, and 2% Sikhs. The people of Cainta are mostly
Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...
-speaking Filipinos. A considerable number of the population are descended from Indian soldiers who mutinied against the British Army when the British briefly occupied the Philippines in 1762 to 1763. These Indian soldiers called Sepoy were
Tamil people The Tamil people, also known as Tamilar ( ta, தமிழர், Tamiḻar, translit-std=ISO, in the singular or ta, தமிழர்கள், Tamiḻarkaḷ, translit-std=ISO, label=none, in the plural), or simply Tamils (), are a Drav ...
from
Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Tamil Nadu, the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and territories of India, Indian state. The largest city ...
and settled in town and intermarried with native women. The Sepoy ancestry of Cainta is still very visible to this day, particularly in Barrio Dayap near Barangay Sto. Niño.


Economy

Cainta is a highly urbanized town, which has an abundant mix of commercial, industrial and real estate businesses. As of 2018's Commission on Audit report, the town is the richest municipality in the country in terms of total assets. Cainta continues to attract businesses due to its proximity to Manila and the town's burgeoning population.


Native delicacies

Cainta is known for its native delicacies, a tradition inherited from nearby Antipolo, which is largely a cottage industry. Dating back to the 15th century, it became the town's principal source of income for more than four centuries. ''Suman'' (rice cake wrapped in banana leaf), ''latik'' (boiled down coconut milk used for glazing),
coconut jam The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the f ...
and the famous ''bibingka'', are but a few of the sweet delights that lure many visitors to this town. During the 20th century, Cainta dazzled the whole country when it baked the biggest rice cake ever and the town became known as the "Bibingka Capital of the Philippines". ''Bibingka'' is believed to have been adapted from the Indian cuisine, an influence from its Sepoy population. It comes from the Indian word
bebinca ''Bebinca'' or ''bebinka'', (Konkani; ''bibik'') is a layer cake of Indo-Portuguese cuisine in Goa, India. In traditional baking, Bebinka has between 7 and 16 layers, but bakeries can modify the cake recipe as per convenience and taste. It is ...
also known as ''bibik'', a dessert made of flour, coconut milk, and egg. The Philippine version is made of rice flour, coconut milk and salted duck eggs. Butter and sugar are used for glazing after cooking and before serving.


Government


Elected officials

The following are the elected officials during the 2022 elections:


Mayors

*''Benjamin Felix was deposed after''
People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
; ''replaced by OIC Mayor Dr. Renato Estanislao''


Vice mayors


Municipal seal

The logo of Cainta – the emblem inside the double circle represents the flag of the Philippines in red, white and blue color. The three stars represent Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The eight sun rays represent the eight provinces that started the revolt against the Spaniards. The buildings represent the different business establishments operating in the municipality. The ''suman sa ibus'', ''suman sa lihiya'' and ''suman antala'' represent the livelihood of its people; the same with bottled sweets made out of coconut milk called '' matamis na bao'', ''
nata de coco ''Nata de coco'', also marketed as coconut gel, is a chewy, translucent, jelly-like food produced by the fermentation of coconut water, which gels through the production of microbial cellulose by ''Komagataeibacter xylinus''. Originating in ...
'', ''caong'', beans and many others. The piglets represent the backyard hog raising, a small-scale industry.


Landmarks

* Cainta Heritage Monument - located at the Junction, which adjoins Felix Avenue to the North, A. Bonifacio Avenue to the South, and
Ortigas Avenue Ortigas Avenue is a highway running from eastern Metro Manila to western Rizal in the Philippines. It is one of the busiest highways in Metro Manila, serving as the main thoroughfare of the metro's east–west corridor, catering m ...
Extension on its east and west bounds. * Cainta Municipal Hall - built in 1995 to replace the old building which was destroyed in the fire. The old site was converted to a town plaza. * Hunters ROTC Monument - a memorial for the Hunters ROTC guerrillas of World War II, located in Barangay San Juan. * Valley Golf and Country Club * Liwasang Bayan (Town Plaza) - located at the Poblacion town proper. It was the former place of the old Municipal Hall destroyed in 1995; now used to host convocations, assemblies, and events. *
Our Lady of Light Parish Church The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, popularly known as Cainta Church (Spanish: Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Lumen), is a Roman Catholic parish church located along Andres Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal ...
- one of the oldest in the province, this church was erected by Fr. Joaquin Sanchez in 1715. Upon its elevation into a Parish in 1760, it was renovated many times because of heavy rains and earthquakes. In 1899, this church was destroyed during the Filipino-American war, leaving only the adobe wall surviving. The church features a mural depicting the patroness of the town, painted by national artist Fernando Amorsolo on the left side portion of the Church's main altar. Reconstruction of the church emerged was finished on February 25, 1968. On December 1, 2007, it was declared as a historical landmark by the National Historical Institute, coinciding with the celebration of the third centenary of the church construction. It was also declared as a Diocesan Shrine On December 1, 2018. * Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall - a large shopping named and owned by Sta. Lucia Realty & Development, and is one of the largest shopping to the east of Metro Manila. The mall is a complex of 4 buildings connected by elevated foot bridges. * Robinsons Place Cainta - located near the Junction, it houses a number of micro retail outlets and a BPO complex. *
APT Studios APT Entertainment, Inc. is a television and film production company in the Philippines. History APT Entertainment, Inc. is a subsidiary of TAPE Inc., and the producer of the longest-running noontime variety show, ''Eat Bulaga!''. APT stands ...
- Owned by
APT Entertainment APT Entertainment, Inc. is a television and film production company in the Philippines. History APT Entertainment, Inc. is a subsidiary of TAPE Inc., and the producer of the longest-running noontime variety show, ''Eat Bulaga!''. APT stands ...
(a subsidiary of
TAPE Inc. Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.) is a Philippine television production company established in 1978 and is a partner of GMA Network Inc. (after Radio Philippines Network and ABS-CBN Corporation). It was founded by former ABS ...
), the studio became the new home of longtime noontime variety show ''
Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the List of longest-running Philippine television series, longest running variety show in ...
''. It was formerly known as the KB Studios under the late Kitchie Benedicto.


Culture

During Cainta's modernization period, traditions became more glamorous, most especially during the Lenten season. The most noteworthy rituals are the ''Cenakulo'' (a stage play of the passion and death of Christ) and the ''Ang Pagpapapako'' or ''Penetencia'' (a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ).


The Cenakulo

The ''Senakulo'' in Cainta dates back to 1904. It originated from Barrio Dayap (the entire area now includes Barangays Santa Rosa, Sto Niño and Santo Domingo). At that time the population consisted of a small group of residents who were mostly related to each other. Since most of the people believed that calamities were brought in by evil spirits, they decided to put up cross on a vacant lot to counter them. The barrio people paid homage to the cross by lighting it every night. One memorable incident happened during the Lenten season when a strange fragrance supposedly emanated from the cross. The news spread out not only in the barrio but also in the entire town of Cainta. Believing in the mystery of the cross, many people in Barrio Dayap and the whole town of Cainta have since then vowed to read the ''Pasyon'' (Seven Last Words of Christ) every Lenten season. This has been enriched by an actual portrayal of the Passion of Christ on the streets which was formerly called "Officio". Many problems have been allegedly solved and illnesses cured through the cross as many people continuously believed. Over the years the followers of the cross have multiplied rapidly. To give deeper meaning to their devotion and showcase their religiosity, they broached the idea of staging the ''Pasyon''. The first stage play was held a few years later, although initially it was limited in scope. It became so popular that the presentation was expanded to include stories from the Old Testament and other stages in the life of Christ and has become known as the ''Cenakulo''. The venue was transferred to an open field in 1966 to accommodate a larger audience. Krus Sa Nayon, Inc. (KSNI) was established as early as 1900 during and after Spanish era. The group was also known for its extravagant preparation and passion play every night of the Holy Week period. The KSNI cenakulo play was previously held at the Jaika Compound beside the municipal building and Francisco P. Felix Memorial National High School. To date, the play is held at the stage beside the municipal ground, alongside the One Cainta Police Headquarters and One Cainta Fire Department. Samahang Nazareno Inc. was organized in 1960, developed and enhanced the various aspects of ''cenakulo''. The local Roman Catholic parishioner gave the association its moral and financial support for it believed that it was an effective means of imparting its Christian message to the public.


Cainta Day

Every 1 December, the town celebrates its foundation and feast of Our Lady of Light (Ina ng Kaliwanagan). It is celebrated with its own festival, SumBingTik ( portmanteau of suman,
bibingka ''Bibingka'' (; ) commonly refers to a type of baked rice cake from the Philippines that is traditionally cooked in a terracotta oven lined with banana leaves and is usually eaten for breakfast or as merienda (mid-afternoon snack) especially d ...
, and
latik ''Latík'' () refers to two different coconut-based ingredients in Filipino cuisine. In the Visayan region it refers to a syrupy caramelized coconut cream (coconut caramel) used as a dessert sauce. In the northern Philippines, it refers to ...
), which started around 2014. The week long celebration consists of various activities such as paint ball tournament, battle of the bands, Miss Cainta
beauty pageant A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...
, and Caindakan sa Kalsada, a street dance parade joined by local schools and organizations.


Infrastructure


Transportation

The main road of Cainta is
Ortigas Avenue Ortigas Avenue is a highway running from eastern Metro Manila to western Rizal in the Philippines. It is one of the busiest highways in Metro Manila, serving as the main thoroughfare of the metro's east–west corridor, catering m ...
Extension, a heavily congested corridor that passes through the business district of Ortigas Center and leads to Mandaluyong and
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to: Places Argentina * San Juan Province, Argentina * San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province * San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province * San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
in the west and the town of Taytay and
Antipolo Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mos ...
in the east. The other major road is Felix Avenue which runs across Ortigas Avenue Extension and connects the town to Marikina to the north. Passing through Cainta Junction, it becomes A. Bonifacio Avenue, a part of
Manila East Road The Manila East Road, also known as National Road and National Highway, is a two-to-four lane primary and secondary highway connecting Metro Manila to the provinces of Rizal and Laguna in the Philippines. Since 2014, the entire road is a p ...
, and connects the town further into Taytay. Public transportation is abundant, as jeepneys and
UV Express UV Express (formerly known as FX, Metered Taxi, and GT Express) is a license to operate utility vehicles, particularly vans, as an alternative mode of public transportation in the Philippines. The term also refers to the vehicles themselves. This ...
from surrounding cities in the west like Pasig, Mandaluyong and Quezon City, pass through the town going to other Rizal towns such as Antipolo, Taytay, to as far as Tanay. Buses are also traversing almost the same routes as jeepneys, with a premium point-to-point bus service introduced in 2019, linking Cainta to Makati CBD. The extended Manila Line 2 includes a train station at the northern tip of the town called Emerald station is set to open in the last quarter of 2020. This is located beside Santa Lucia East Grand Mall and connects to the second floor of Robinsons Metro East in Barangay San Isidro. Emerald station formerly opened on July 5, 2021. The newly approved Manila Line 4 is also set to start construction in 2021. This includes 2 train stations to be built at Cainta Junction and St. Joseph Village.


Utilities

;Water: The town is supplied 24 hours a day with potable water from
Manila Water Manila Water Company, Inc. has the exclusive right to provide water and used water (wastewater) services to over six million people in the East Zone of Metro Manila. It is a subsidiary of the country's oldest conglomerate, Ayala Corporation. In ...
, the MWSS concessionaire for the East Zone, along with several towns in Rizal Province. ;Telecommunications: Globe and
PLDT PLDT, Inc., formerly known as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company ( fil, Kompanya ng Teleponong Pangmalayuan ng Pilipinas), is a Philippine telecommunications, internet and digital service holdings company. It is one of the country ...
, primarily provide landline and mobile voice, SMS and data services throughout the town. Others provide alternative data solutions like Converge and
Sky Broadband Sky Broadband is a broadband service offered by Sky (United Kingdom), Sky UK in the United Kingdom. With the introduction of Sky Fibre, Sky Broadband now refers to ADSL broadband products. History In October 2005, Sky UK agreed to purchase th ...
.


Education


Basic education

Private schools: * Life Touchers Community School * Cainta Wesleyan Academy * Light Bearer Christian Academy * Divine Angels Montessori Of Cainta * Academy of Christian Excellence Montessori * Dayspring Academy Greenland Academy Cainta * College of San Benildo-Rizal * Faith Christian School * Greenland Academy * Greenland Academy Cainta * Greenpark High School * Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila School * Roosevelt College, Inc. (RCI), Caintawww.rooseveltcollege.edu.ph
/ref> * Roots of Learning Center (now called Colegio Sto. Domingo) * Saint Francis of Assisi Montessori School of Cainta * Scholastica De San Alfonso Inc. * Valley View Academy * Agapeland Christian Academy * St. Therese of Lisieux School of Cainta * Berea Arts and Sciences High School * APEC Schools Ortigas Extension Public schools: * Cainta Elementary School * Arinda Elementary School * Exodus Elementary School * Felix Main Elementary School * Felix Unit 1 Elementary School * Kabisig Elementary School * Planters Elementary School * San Francisco Elementary School * Francisco P. Felix Memorial National High School - Main, JICA, Karangalan * Governor Isidro Rodriguez Memorial National High School * San Juan National High School * Karangalan Elementary School * Balanti Elementary School * St. Gregory Elementary School * Marick Elementary School


Tertiary

* ABE - Felix Avenue * Cainta Catholic College * College of Saint John Paul II Arts and Sciences (Formerly SJB IAS Cainta) * Informatics - Cainta Brickroad Campus * Roosevelt College, Inc. (RCI), Cainta * St. John Bosco Institute of Arts and Sciences * STI - Academic Center - Ortigas Avenue Extension * University of Rizal Systemhttp://www.urs.edu.ph/about.ph - Cainta Campus (Public) * One Cainta College


Notable people

*
Rocco Nacino Enrico Raphael Quiogue Nacino (born March 21, 1987 in Baguio, Benguet, Philippines), known professionally as Rocco Nacino, is a Filipino actor. He won the title of Second Prince in the fifth season of '' StarStruck''. He is currently an exclusi ...
- Actor *
Bearwin Meily Bearwin Meily (born April 4, 1976) is a Filipino comedian actor, TV host and a recent vlogger. Early career He started his career as an extra ''Palibhasa Lalake'' in ABS-CBN and eventually became regular. Current career But later on he moved ...
- Actor *
Ai-Ai delas Alas Martina Eileen Hernandez delas Alas-Sibayan (born November 11, 1964), known professionally as Ai-Ai delas Alas, is a Filipino actress and comedian. She is widely regarded as the country's "Queen of Comedy" for her comedic talent and best know ...
- Actress/Comedienne * Tin Patrimonio - Athlete (tennis), Model, Actress and a former reality show contestant *
Camille Prats Sheena Patricia Camille Quiambao Prats–Yambao (born June 20, 1985) is a Filipino actress, TV host, comedienne, and businesswoman. She starred in a series of successful films and television shows, since gaining media attention when she played ...
- Actress, Model * Aster Amoyo - television host, talent manager, columnist *
Lourence Ilagan Lourence Gregorio Ilagan (born 11 February 1978) is a Filipino professional soft-tip and steel-tip darts player who plays currently in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and international soft-tip events. His biggest achievement to date was ad ...
- PDC Darts player *
Mon Ilagan Ramon Abulon Ilagan is a Filipino broadcaster, politician who served as the municipal mayor of Cainta from 2004 to 2013. He was once the overall spokesperson for United Nationalist Alliance, for the party itself and for former Vice President Je ...
- Broadcaster, former mayor of Cainta who served in 2004 - 2013


References


Bibliography

*


External links

*
Cainta Profile at PhilAtlas.com
*
Philippine Standard Geographic Code The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

Philippine Census Information

Local Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control Hinduism in the Philippines Municipalities of Rizal Populated places established in 1571 1571 establishments in the Philippines