Tondo is a district located in

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. It is the largest, in terms of area and population, of Manila's sixteen districts, with a census-estimated 654,220 people in 2020. It consists of two congressional districts. It is also the second most densely populated district in the city.

Etymology

The name Tondo can be derived from its

Old Tagalog Old Tagalog (; Baybayin: pre-virama: , post-virama rus kudlit ; post-virama amudpod ᜎᜓᜋᜅ᜕ ᜆᜄᜎᜓᜄ᜕), also known as Old Filipino, is the earliest form of the Tagalog language during the Classical period. It is the primary l ...

name, Tundun as inscribed in the

Laguna Copperplate Inscription The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is an official acquittance ( debt relief) certificate inscribed onto a copper plate in the Shaka year 822 ( Gregorian A.D. 900). It is the earliest-known, extant, calendar-dated document found within the Phil ...

of 900 AD, the earliest native document found within the Philippines. Dutch anthropologist Antoon Postma, the first to translate the copperplate, believes the term ''tundun'' originated from

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

, which was used alongside Malay as a language of politics and religion in the area at the time. Before this landmark discovery, several theories (however incorrect now) existed. Philippine National Artist

Nick Joaquin Nicomedes "Nick" Marquez Joaquin (; May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004) was a Filipino writer and journalist best known for his short story, short stories and novels in the English language. He also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila. Joaq ...

once suggested that it might be a reference to a high ground ("tundok"). On the other hand, French linguist Jean-Paul Potet, supposed that the

Aegiceras corniculatum ''Aegiceras corniculatum'', commonly known as black mangrove, river mangrove, goat's horn mangrove, or khalsi, is a species of shrub or tree mangrove in the primrose family (biology), family, Primulaceae, with a distribution in coastal and estua ...

, which at the time was called "tundok" ("tinduk-tindukan" today), was the most likely origin of the name.

History

Early Philippine history

The region of Tondo has been settled by humans for over 1,100 years. Historically, Tondo already existed in the year 900 AD according to the

, a legal document that is the earliest document in the Philippines, written in

Kawi script The Kawi script or the Old Javanese script (, ) is a Brahmic script found primarily in Java and used across much of Maritime Southeast Asia between the 8th century and the 16th century.Aditya Bayu Perdana and Ilham Nurwansah 2020Proposal to en ...

now housed in the National Museum of Anthropology. According to this document, Tondo was ruled by an unnamed person who held the

title of

senapati Senapati ( , ''sena'' meaning "army", ''Pati (title), pati'' meaning "lord") is a title in ancient India denoting the rank of general (military), General. It was a hereditary title of nobility used in the Maratha Empire. During wartime, a ''Sar ...

or the equivalent of an admiral. Tondo was ruled by a

lakan In History of the Philippines (900–1521), early Philippine history, the Filipino styles and honorifics, rank of ''lakan'' denoted a "paramount ruler" (or more specifically, "''paramount datu''") of one of the large coastal barangays (known as ...

until the Spanish conquest.

Colonial period

After the Spaniards conquered Tondo in June 1571 they established the Province of Tondo which covered many territories in Northern Luzon particularly Pampanga, Bulacan and Rizal (formerly called Morong), with the city of Manila as its center. In a census conducted by Miguel de Loarca in 1583, Tondo was reported to have spoken the same language as the natives of the province of Pampanga.Miguel de Loarca's Census of 1583. Institute of National Language commissioner Jose Villa Panganiban also wrote that the dividing line between

Kapampangan Kapampangan, Capampañgan or Pampangan may refer to: *Kapampangan people, of the Philippines *Kapampangan language Kapampangan, Capampáñgan, or Pampangan, is an Austronesian language, and one of the eight major languages of the Philippines. ...

and Tagalog was the Pasig River, and that Tondo therefore originally spoke

.Panganiban However, Fray Isacio Rodriquez's ''Historia dela Provincia del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus de Filipinas'' stated that Provincia de Tagalos which is Tondo covers all the territories of the future

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila The Archdiocese of Manila (; ; ) is the archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Metro Manila, Philippines, encompassing the cities of Manila, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasay, and portions of Taguig City (the Embo ba ...

. Prior to the establishment of

Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan (; ; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on ...

in 1578,

Malolos Malolos , officially the City of Malolos (), is a component city and capital of the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 261,189 people. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the ...

and Calumpit were also included in the territory of Tondo as its ''visitas''. By the end of the 1700s, Tondo was a populous province of 14,437 native families and 3,528 Spanish Filipino families.ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO PRIMERO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish)
/ref>ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO SEGUNDO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish)
/ref> In 1800, the Province of Tondo was renamed to Province of Manila. Tondo was one of the first provinces to declare rebellion against Spain in the year 1896. In 1901, under the American colonial regime, there was a major reorganization of political divisions, and the province of Tondo was dissolved, with its towns given to the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan. Today, Tondo just exists as a district in the City of Manila.

Contemporary Period

Philippine Island - Manila - NARA - 68156689

Slums developed in Tondo along the

Pasig River The Pasig River (; ) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and southern halves. Its m ...

. Authorities sought to improve housing conditions on these areas without condoning the

squatting Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building (usually residential) that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there wer ...

committed by the slums' residents. In the 1970s, the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...

provided funds to improve conditions in Tondo which led the increase of rent prices and a property boom in the area. This led to

gentrification Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a neighborhood changes through the influx of more Wealth, affluent residents (the "gentry") and investment. There is no agreed-upon definition of gentrification. In public discourse, it has ...

. The slums that were upgraded were legalized but these areas remain vastly different from other parts of Manila with higher population density, more irregular road and plot patterns, and uncontrolled housing. In the 1987 constitution, Tondo was split into two congressional districts of Manila making the first district to the west while the second district in the east.

Economy

Tondo hosts the Manila North Harbor Port, the northern half of the Port of Manila, the primary seaport serving Metro Manila and surrounding areas. The area also hosted

Smokey Mountain Smokey Mountain was a large landfill once located in Tondo, Manila. History Smokey Mountain operated for at least 50 years, consisting of over two million metric tons of waste. The flammable substances in decomposing waste led to fires that r ...

, a landfill which served Metro Manila and employed thousands of people from around the 1960s until its closure in the late 1990s. The dumpsite served as a symbol of poverty even at least two decades after its closure.

Demographics

Urbanization as well as the Lina Law which favors

over land owners has resulted in Tondo being one of the most densely populated areas in the world at .

Crime

Tondo has developed a reputation for criminality and poverty. In 2010,

records state that Tondo has the highest criminal rate in the whole city with the most common crime being

pickpocketing Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim's pocket without them noticing the theft at the time. It may involve considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection. A th ...

Culture

The district celebrates the feast of the

Tondo Church The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño, also known as Santo Niño de Tondo Parish or Tondo Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Tondo, Manila established by the Augustinians. It is the home of the second oldest Sto. Niño in the Philippines, n ...

annually in January, which is dedicated to the image of the Santo Niño housed within the 16th-century Augustinian

. The Lakbayaw Street Dance Festival, a competition among Ati-Atihan groups and school, local and religious groups, served as the climax of the feast.

Education

The

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

– Schools Division Office of Manila lists 26 public elementary schools and 11 public high schools in Tondo. The Tondo Campus is a P400-million extension with 48 classrooms, 15 multifunction rooms and a gymnasium. In October 2024, Mayor

Honey Lacuna Maria Sheilah "Honey" Honrado Lacuna-Pangan (born May 6, 1965) is a Filipina physician and politician who has served as the 24th and current mayor of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, since 2022. The first woman to serve as the city ...

and Felma Carlos-Tria led the

time capsule A time capsule is a historic treasure trove, cache of goods or information, usually intended as a deliberate method of communication with future people, and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians. The preservation of holy ...

lowering and

groundbreaking Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod, turf-cutting, or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such cer ...

Universidad de Manila Universidad de Manila, also referred to by its acronym UdM, is a public coeducational city government funded higher education institution in Manila, Philippines. It was founded in April 26, 1995 with the approval by Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila ...

s's 10-storey school building in a 1,500-square-meter lot at Vitas Skate Park.

Barangays

Zones

;First District *Zone 1: Barangays 1 to 9 *Zone 2: Barangays 11 to 20, 25, 26, and 28 to 32 *Zone 3: Barangays 33 to 39 and 41 to 47 *Zone 4: Barangays 48 to 55 *Zone 5: Barangays 56 to 61 *Zone 6: Barangays 62 to 75 *Zone 7: Barangays 76 to 90 *Zone 8: Barangays 91 to 106 *Zone 9: Barangays 107 to 112 and 116 to 123 *Zone 10: Barangays 124 to 128 *Zone 11: Barangays 129 to 134 *Zone 12: Barangays 135 to 146 ;Second District *Zone 13: Barangays 147 to 151 *Zone 14: Barangays 152 to 165 *Zone 15: Barangays 166 to 176 *Zone 16: Barangays 177 to 186 *Zone 17: Barangays 187 to 197 *Zone 18: Barangays 198 to 205 *Zone 19: Barangays 206 to 212 *Zone 20: Barangays 213 to 220 *Zone 21: Barangays 221 to 233 *Zone 22: Barangays 234 to 248 *Zone 23: Barangays 249 to 259 *Zone 24: Barangays 260 to 267

List of barangays

Notable people

Andrés Bonifacio Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro (, ; November 30, 1863May 10, 1897) was a Filipino people, Filipino revolutionary leader. He is often called "The Father of the Philippines, Philippine Philippine Revolution, Revolution", and considered a nationa ...

, Filipino revolutionary leader *

Lakandula Lakandula (Baybayin: , Filipino orthography, Spanish orthography: ''Lacandola'') was the title of the last ''lakan'' or paramount ruler of History of the Philippines (900–1521), pre-colonial Tondo (historical polity), Tondo when the Spain, Sp ...

or Lakan Dula (1503–1575), the last ruler of pre-colonial Tondo when the

Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...

first conquered the lands of the

delta in the

in the 1570s *

Antonio Villegas Antonio de Jesus Villegas (January 9, 1928 – November 16, 1984) was a Philippines, Filipino politician who served as the 16th Mayor of Manila from 1962 to 1971. His term was after the term of Arsenio Lacson as mayor of Manila, and before the ...

, 18th Mayor of Manila City *

Amy Austria Esmeralda Dizon Tuazon-Ventura (born December 13, 1961), known professionally as Amy Austria (), is a Filipino film and television actress. She is a recipient of a FAMAS Award, 2 Gawad Urian Awards, 3 FAP Awards and 4 MMFF Awards (including ...

, famous actress * Arturo M. Tolentino, lawyer, statesman *

Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...

, 19th Mayor of Manila * Rudy Fernandez, actor, movie producer * Carmen Planas, lawyer, politician * Tito Arevalo, actor *

Emilio Jacinto Emilio Jacinto y Dizon (; December 15, 1875 – April 16, 1899) was a Filipinos, Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution. He was one of the highest-ranking officers in the Philippine Revolution and was one of the highest-ranking office ...

, Filipino general * Mila del Sol, actress * Esang de Torres, singer, stage actress *

Mona Lisa The ''Mona Lisa'' is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, ...

, actress * Chichay, comedian * Dely Atay-Atayan, comedian and singer * Amado V. Hernandez, labour leader, awarded order national artist of the Philippines *

Charito Solis Rosario Violeta Hernández Solís (October 6, 1935 – January 9, 1998), professionally known as Charito Solís, was a Filipino film actress. She was considered among the major dramatic film actresses in the Philippines, with a career spannin ...

, actress *

José Palma José Palma y Velásquez (: June 3, 1876 February 12, 1903) was a Filipino poet and soldier. He was on the staff of ''La independencia'' at the time he wrote "Filipinas", a patriotic poem in Spanish. It was published for the first time in th ...

, soldier, writer * Lualhati Bautista, novelist *

Gina Alajar Regina Liguid Alatiit (born June 28, 1959), professionally known as Gina Alajar (), is a Filipino film and television actress and director. One of the most awarded actresses in Philippine cinema, she has won the Philippine movie grand slam, r ...

, actress and tv director * Wendell Ramos, actor and

firefighter A firefighter (or fire fighter or fireman) is a first responder trained in specific emergency response such as firefighting, primarily to control and extinguish fires and respond to emergencies such as hazardous material incidents, medical in ...

* Florin Hilbay, attorney * Levi Celerio, national artist of the Philippines * Isko Moreno, actor, TV personality and former

mayor of Manila The City Mayor of Manila (, sometimes referred to as, ''Alkalde ng Maynila'') is the head of the executive branch of Manila's city government. The mayor holds office at Manila City Hall. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the m ...

* Ricky Belmonte, actor * Ramon Ang, businessman, vice-chairman of

San Miguel Corporation San Miguel Corporation (), abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally fo ...

Arnold Clavio Arnold Clavio (; born November 2, 1965), also known as Igan, is a Filipino radio and television newscaster, journalist, and television host. He currently co-anchors GMA Network's morning show ''Unang Hirit'', and DZBB-AM, DZBB's morning radio ...

, newscaster and journalist * Rene Requiestas (1957–1993), actor-comedian *

Dolphy Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. (July 25, 1928 – July 10, 2012), known professionally as Dolphy, was a Filipino comedian and actor. He is widely regarded as the country's "King of Comedy" for his comedic talent embodied by his long roster of works ...

, actor-comedian * Carlos Badion, basketball player * Ernest Obiena, pole vaulter * RK Bagatsing, actor-model *

Vice Ganda Jose Marie Borja Viceral (born March 31, 1976), known professionally as Vice Ganda (), is a Filipino comedian, actor, host, singer and television personality. He is considered one of the most successful entertainers in Philippine show business ...

, actor-comedian * Raymond Bagatsing, dramatic actor and model * Jerald Napoles, actor * Joyce Pring, actress * Arnel Pineda, singer and the current vocalist of Journey * Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, singer and songwriter composer *

Ramon Bagatsing Ramon Delaraga Bagatsing Sr. (August 19, 1916 – February 14, 2006) was a Filipino politician. He was the only Filipino of Indian ancestry and person with disability (an amputee) who served as 17th Mayor of Manila from 1971 to 1986. Bagatsi ...

, politician and the former mayor of Manila * Willie Ong, cardiologist * Geneva Cruz, actress, singer, and composer *

Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...

, former actor and President * Valerie Concepcion, actress and television host * Asiong Salonga, gangster also known as the "King of Tondo" * McCoy de Leon, actor and dancer *

Francine Diaz Francine Carrel Saenz Diaz ( born January 27, 2004) is a Filipino actress and singer. She began her career at age 10, playing minor and supporting roles in a number of television programs as young versions of the lead characters. She rose to p ...

, actress and model * Jose Manalo, comedian, actor * Sonia Roco, educator * Ate Gay, comedian * Irma Adlawan, actress, queen of local indie film

References

External links

*
After Fishing in Tondo, Manila
'' oil on canvas by

Fernando Amorsolo Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. Nicknamed the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art," he was the first-ever to be recognized as a National Artist of the Philip ...

, 1927. 58.4 x 96.5 cm. *
Casas de Pescadores en Tondo ("Fishermen's Houses, Tondo")
'' oil on canvas by Fabian de la Rosa, 1928. 50 x 70 cm. * {{Coord, 14.617, N, 120.967, E, type:city_region:PH_source:GNS-enwiki, display=title Districts of Manila Squatting in the Philippines