The Grand Old Cavite

Cavite’s historical beginnings date back to a glorious past. Cavite of the grand old days was paragon of grandeur and power. Cavite proper was originally an island whose deep waters provided favorable and anchorage for ocean going vessels. Even before the coming of the Spaniards, Chinese junks and other foreign ships traded with the 6,000 Malays who landed on Cavite’s shores in 1212 A.D. and formed a community complete with its own religion and customs.

Built in 1571 by the Spaniards, Cavite proper had become a thriving town in the seventeenth century. Initially the puerto was a little Spanish walled community with eight churches, six schoolhouses, centuries-old-tile-roofed stone houses, narrow cobbled streets, a port and shore walls that curtained the Intramuros from Manila Bay. Moreover, there were spacious plazas and a navy yard. The Puerto had become the oriental terminal of the fabled galleon line to Acapulco. Later, hospitals, US submarine base, ship lines, theaters, train line, bus lines and movie houses were added.

In 1602, the Spaniards built Porta Vaga, a 20 foot high fort that guarded the entrance to the Spanish city. Earlier, the massive walls if San Felipe were erected in 1585 to protect the navy yard against incursions by Moro pirates and Dutch invaders. The city was officially baptized Cavite in 1614 when it was established as a politico-military district and capital of Cavite province. The Isthmus del Rosario linked Cavite with the mainland.

Source: Cavite: Culture e Historia

Edited by: Teresita P. Unabia

Victor Immanuel R. Cuarto

 Calle del Arsenal, the main street in Cavite Nuevo, Cavite Province. Photo was taken in 1897.

Credit to : http://www.filipinoamericanwar.com