Mendez, Cavite

Etymology

The municipality of Mendez-Nuñez was originally known as "Gahitan", one of the many barrios of Indang. The name was derived from the word "gahit" meaning "to cut", because the people then had to cut down tall and thick cogon grass that abounded in the place in order to clear areas for agricultural and residential purpose.

History

As time went on, the number of houses in Gahitan increased so that the sitio eventually became a barrio and finally a full-fledged town on 1 December 1875, thanks to Governor-General Jose Malcampo y Monje (1874-1877). Malcampo incorporated the three barrios of Gahitan, Palocpoc and Anuling into one independent municipality called Méndez Núñez, after a Spanish naval officer and close friend, Commodore Casto Méndez Núñez.

In 1856, when they were still Spanish naval officers, Malcampo and Mendez-Nuñez, established the first Masonic lodge in Kawit under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Portugal. The friendship of these two officers had been tested in many a battle against Muslim pirates in Mindanao.

Pedro Aure was the gobernadorcillo of Mendez during its first year as a municipality in 1876. Cayetano Aure, perhaps a relative of Pedro, was the first and only capitan municipal of Mendez during the First Philippine Republic (1899-1901). Pedro's son, Marcelino Aure, became a famous general during the Philippine Revolution. His nom de guerre was Alapaap (Cloud).

Mendez continued to be a municipality from 1875 to October 15, 1903 when, under Act No. 947 of the Philippine Commission, reduced the 23 municipalities of Cavite to eleven. Mendez and Bailen (now General Emilio Aguinaldo) were incorporated into the municipality of Alfonso.

But 12 years later, on January 1, 1915, Mendez regained its independent status as a municipality of Cavite.

Geography

The municipality of Mendez is located 66 km from Metro Manila and is accessible via Aguinaldo Highway. It is one of the smallest and upland towns of Cavite province. It is bounded to the north and east by Indang, to the south by Tagaytay, and to the west by Alfonso.

Barangays

Mendez is politically subdivided into 24 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

While it shares a general climate as the rest of the province Mendez' climate, due to its proximity to Tagaytay, is tropical highland, with low temperatures most especially during the early dry season.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Mendez was 36,518 people, with a density of {{sigfig|36,518/43.27|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Elected officials

The following are the elected officials of the municipality elected last May 9, 2022 to a term lasting until June 30, 2025:

Education

The Mendez 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

• Amora 828 Christian Academy
• Anuling Elementary School
• Asis Elementary School
• Gahitan Elementary School
• Galicia Elementary School
• Green Grove Academy
• Mary's Greenfield Academy
• Mendez Central School
• Palocpoc Elementary School
• Panungyan Elementary School
• Saint Augustine School
• Saint Genevieve Global School of Science
• San Isidro Montessori
• St. Agnes Gracious School
• Tagaytay-Mendez Academy
• Witty Minds Montessori School
• Young Kwang Gukje School

Secondary schools

• Anuling Integrated High School
• Constancio E. Aure Sr. National High School
• Mendez Christian Academy
• Mendez-Nuñez Montessori
• Mendez-Nuñez National High School
• Palocpoc National High School
• Pedro Alegre Aure Senior High School

Notable people

• Josh Mojica - Entrepreneur and content creator

Gallery

Mendez-Tagaytay Road in Mendez Town Proper, July 2025 (1).jpg|Mendez-Tagaytay Road in Mendez Town Proper Mendez Church Interior, Cavite, Jul 2025.jpg|Interior of Saint Augustine Parish Church Mendez Central School, Cavite, Jul 2025 (1).jpg|Mendez Central School Paraiso ng Batang Mendez, Cavite, Jul 2025.jpg|Paraiso ng Batang Mendez

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. (October 15, 1903). "An Act Reducing the Twenty-Three Municipalities of the Province of Cavite to Eleven".
3. (May 28, 2008). "Kasaysayan at Kultura ng Cavite: HISTORY OF MENDEZ".
4. "Archived copy".
5. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".
6. "Josh Mojica, 17, kumikita ng PHP150K kada buwan dahil sa kangkong chips". Philippine Entertainment Portal.