Bacoor
Also known as: First Capital of the Philippine Republic · Salt Center of Cavite (historical) · Oyster Capital (talaba heritage) · Gateway to the Province of Cavite
Definition
Bacoor, officially the City of Bacoor, is a highly urbanized city in Cavite province on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, lying immediately south of Metro Manila across the Zapote River. The “first capital” of the revolutionary Philippine government in 1898, it has become a densely settled urban extension of the metropolis, known historically for salt-making, oyster beds, and fishing. The dominant language is Tagalog, with a historic Chavacano-speaking community.
Identities
| Source | Identifier |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Bacoor |
| Wikidata | Q63129 |
| DBpedia | Bacoor |
Also Known As
- First Capital of the Philippine Republic
- Salt Center of Cavite (historical)
- Oyster Capital (talaba heritage)
- Gateway to the Province of Cavite
Examples and Analogies
Bacoor functions as a transitional city bridging the national capital and the Cavite urban belt, comparable to inner-ring suburbs absorbed into a growing metropolis.
Usage Scenarios
Bacoor is cited in revolutionary history for its role in the 1898 government and the Battle of Zapote Bridge, in urban-fringe studies of Metro Manila’s southward expansion, in aquaculture heritage (oysters and salt), and in commuter-corridor transportation planning along the Manila-Cavite coastal road.
Strategies
Local strategy centers on managing dense urban growth, improving road and mass-transit links to Manila, reviving coastal aquaculture and fishing livelihoods, supporting small enterprise and housing, and developing heritage tourism tied to its revolutionary and salt-making past.
Security and Safety Measures
The Bacoor police coordinate with barangay peacekeepers and patrol the busy Zapote commercial district and coastal barangays. Coastal areas face typhoon and tidal-flooding exposure, addressed through seawall and drainage works and an active disaster-risk-reduction office.
Historical Context
Bacoor was a parish town in the Spanish period and a center of salt (asin) production. In June 1898, after the declaration of independence, it briefly served as the seat of Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary government before the capital moved to Malolos. The Battle of Zapote Bridge, fought here, was among the fiercest engagements of the Philippine-American War. Bacoor became a city in 2012.
Challenges and Controversies
Contentious issues include heavy traffic on the coastal road corridor, the decline and pollution of coastal oyster beds, flooding in low-lying barangays, rapid conversion of fish ponds into reclamation and housing.
Related Topic
Luzon