Amadeo, Cavite

Etymology

The town got its name after King Amadeo I of Spain, the only Spanish king from the Italian House of Savoy. The town was previously known as Masilao (from Tagalog masilaw, "dazzling"), referenced to the glaring red flowers of the dapdap plant (Erythrina variegata) common in the area.

History

Amadeo traces its origin to a barangay of Silang named Masilaw. It was separated to become an independent town named Amadeo on July 15, 1872, care of Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutiérrez. It initially consisted of eight barangays, all formerly of Silang town: Halang, Pangil, Banaybanay, Bukal, Maitim, Minantok, Salaban, and Talon. During its first 21 years, revolutionists gave it the Tagalog name of Maypag-ibig (), in line with the revolutionary policy of giving native names to towns with foreign names to eliminate signs of the country's colonial past.

On October 15, 1903, it was returned to Silang by virtue of Act No. 947, as the Provincial Executive was displeased of how Amadeo was governed. It regained its independent status in January 1915 under Cavite Governor Antero Soriano. Previously composed of 13 barrios, 12 additional barangays, all in the poblacion, were established in 1972 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 86. In 1985, Minantok was divided into two barangays, Minantok Silangan and Minantok Kanluran, following a plebiscite.

On February 15, 1989, Mayor Jeremias Villanueva and his security man Virgilio Lascano were assassinated by three gunmen riding a vehicle in front of his rented townhouse in Las Piñas, Metro Manila. Four suspects, including a Manila policeman from Amadeo, were later captured in Parañaque a month later on March 16, and by the next day, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that the assassination was ordered by Villanueva's political rival, former Mayor Reynaldo Bayot.

Geography

Barangays

Amadeo is politically subdivided into 26 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Currently, there are 12 barangays which are classified as urban.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Amadeo was 44,190 people, with a density of {{sigfig|44,190/36.92|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Amadeo is renowned as the "Coffee Capital of the Philippines." Agriculture, especially coffee cultivation that started in the 1880s, plays a pivotal role in the town's economy. In 2022, Amadeo reported a revenue of .

Culture

Amadeo is best known for its Pahimis Festival, which showcases the town's coffee industry. It is usually held on the last weekend of February and its town fiesta is held on the last Sunday of April.

Primary and elementary schools

• Amadeo Elementary School
• Amadeo Weste Cavite Instituto de le Mar
• Brightways Academy
• Dagatan Elementary School
• Dorcas Samaritan Academe
• Escuela De Louis Alhanro
• Fr. Luigi Caburlotto School
• Halang Banaybanay Elementary School
• Loma Elementary School
• Maitim Elementary School
• Mariano C. Anacay Elementary School
• OBB Institute of Learning
• Pangil Elementary School
• Salaban Elementary School
• Scuola Maria Santissima
• St. Mary Magdalene Parochial School
• Sunstar Academy
• Talon Elementary School
• Tamakan Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Amadeo National High School
• Halang Banaybanay Integrated School
• Istituto Maria Immacolata
• Pangil National High School
• Talon Integrated School

Higher educational institutions

• Jesus Reigns Christian College

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. (2018). "Vergleichende Kolonialtoponomastik Strukturen und Funktionen kolonialer Ortsbenennung". De Gruyter.
3. (October 15, 1903). "An Act Reducing the Twenty-Three Municipalities of the Province of Cavite to Eleven".
4. "Municipality of Amadeo".
5. (December 21, 1972). "Creating Barangays (Citizens Assemblies)".
6. "History".
7. Fernando, Jean. (February 16, 1989). "Cavite town mayor slain in Las Piñas". Kagitingan Publications, Inc..
8. Ignacio, Bert. (March 17, 1989). "4 guns-for-hire behind Cavite mayor's slay fall". Kagitingan Publications, Inc..
9. Ignacio, Bert. (March 18, 1989). "Vendetta". Kagitingan Publications, Inc..
10. (February 16, 2018). "Amadeo".