Morong, Rizal - History

History

In the early years before Spaniards came, Morong was predominantly a Muslim area; that is why it is called Morong, because it was coined from the word moro.

During the Spanish Era, Morong played a big part in Philippine history. Before it became a small town of Rizal, Morong was considered the province before it was called Rizal, Its original name was Politico Militar Distrito de Morong, which included Manila, Makati, Cainta, Taytay, Pasig, Angono etc.. Morong is even included in the eight rays of the sun of the Philippine flag which represents the eight provinces that fought for freedom, listed are: Morong (now Manila), Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas.

World War I- Tomas M. Claudio a Morong native is listed as a hero in the Philippines; The first Filipino to die in World War I was Private Tomas Mateo Claudio who served with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in the Battle of Château Thierry in France on June 29, 1918. The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor. The main street of the town was also named in his honor.

During the Japanese occupation of World War II, the Mateo compound, now the Cesar S.D. Mateo clinic was used as a Japanese base. During the Liberation, Filipino troops of the 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary including the recognized guerrillas of the Col. Markings Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC guerrillas liberated and captured the towns in Morong and defeated Japanese forces and forced them to surrender at the end of World War II.