Alfonso, Cavite

History

Spanish era

Alfonso was totally forested until the 17th century when a few pocket settlements sprouted. The town was originally part of Barrio Lumampong in the town of Indang. In the course of time, the pocket settlements grew into sitios and later on into barrios, becoming its own barrio called Alas-as. The town became a separate district municipality from Indang on 16 May 1859 through the efforts of the community leaders Bonifacio Aveo and Felix del Mundo. The new town was called Alas-as for until 1876.

The name refers to the pandan tree used for the construction of houses and bears sweet fruit. It was, eventually, named after King Alfonso XII of Spain. Alfonso was initially composed of the barrios of Taywanak, Pajo, Esperanza, Marahan, Matagbak, Sinaliw and Kaytitinga.

Revolutionary era

Don Narciso Mojica was the capitan municipal of Alfonso at the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. A few days after the Cry of Balintawak, on 31 August 1896, General Mariano Trías ordered the liquidation of all Spaniards in the municipality. In the bloody battle that followed, the leaders of the revolutionists were General Hipolito Rint, Captain Eriberto Cetro (Kapitan Berto) and Predencio Rolle (Tandang Doro).

American era

On 15 October 1903, the adjacent towns of Bailen and Mendez-Nuñez merged with Alfonso by virtue of Act No. 947 enacted by the Philippine Commission. Both towns were later separated in 1915 to become independent once again.

World War II

On 1 February 1945,The document mentions 1944, however this is contradictory as the runner mentioned in the document stated that the Americans had already landed at Nasugbu, which occurred on 31 January 1945. Therefore it is only right to assume that the document meant 1 February 1945. the townspeople of Alfonso were at panic due to the coming of Japanese forces and fled to their hiding places. Only the guerrillas remained in the town to defend. A long battle ensued at night, in which were able to hold off the Japanese, causing their retreat from the town. None of the guerrillas were wounded.

The next day, 2 February, another battle began by afternoon. However, the guerrillas were still able to hold off in their trenches, causing the Japanese to retreat. Along the way, they burned several houses in Alas-as. Eventually, a runner came and informed the townsfolk that the Americans had landed at Nasugbu.

Geography

Alfonso is an upland town situated at the south-western portion of the Cavite province. It is 74 km from Manila via Tagaytay. Magallanes bounds it on the west, Batangas province on the south, Mendez and Tagaytay on the east, General Aguinaldo on the north-west and Maragondon and Indang on the north-east.

Barangays

Alfonso is politically subdivided into 32 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

| access-date = 12 May 2020 }}

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Alfonso was 60,583 people, with a density of {{sigfig|60,583/66.58|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

The following are the duly elected officials of Alfonso, Cavite for the term 2022–2025.

Education

The Alfonso Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

• Alfonso Central School
• Amuyong Elementary School
• Biblica La Delle Academy
• Bilog Elementary School
• Blessed Ville Special School Foundation
• Buck Estate Elementary School
• Esperanza Elementary School
• Gracious Gift School of Cavite
• Kaytitinga Elementary School
• Mangas Elementary School
• Marahan Elementary School
• Maranatha Living Hope Academy
• Matagbak Elementary School
• Pajo Elementary School
• Palumlum Elementary School
• Pansin Elementary School
• Parokya ni San Jose Educational Foundation
• Rosa G. Acuña Memorial Elementary School
• Sacred Heart School of Cavite
• Sicat Elementary School
• Sinaliw Elementary School
• Sulsugin Elementary School
• Taywanak Elementary School
• Upli Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Alfonso Integrated High School
• Buck Estate National High School
• Kaysuyo National High School
• Kaytitinga Integrated School
• Lucsuhin Integrated School
• Taywanak National High School

Higher educational institution

• Victorious Christian Montessori College Alfonso

Notes

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. "NLP Digital Collection".
3. ''The Philippine Index'', Millennium Edition, Vol. 1 No. 1
4. (2018). "Vergleichende Kolonialtoponomastik Strukturen und Funktionen kolonialer Ortsbenennung". De Gruyter.
5. (October 15, 1903). "An Act Reducing the Twenty-Three Municipalities of the Province of Cavite to Eleven".
6. The Philippine Index, Millennium Edition Vol. 1 No. 1
7. "Municipality of Alfonso".
8. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".