Silang, Province of Cavite, Calabarzon, Philippines

🇵🇭 Silang, officially the Municipality of Silang (Bayan ng Silang), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines.

Silang is located in the eastern section of Cavite. It is home to the Philippine National Police Academy, PDEA Academy, and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction head office.

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of the Manila's conurbation which spans southward toward Lipa City.

History The traditional origins of the town are attributed to ten Bornean datus who sailed northward on board balangays and ended in Silang through Taal Lake. Its first settlers were Gat Hingiw, his wife Gat Kaliwanag, and their seven children, who later moved to different parts of the town and established their respective barangays. Gat Pandan stayed in the original community and developed the area.

Spanish colonial era During the start of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, tracts of land were given by the King of Spain to the conquistadores and their descendants, who collected tributes from the people residing in their acquired lands. Silang originally belonged to the encomienda (land grant) of Diego Jorge de Villalobos; his claim extended to what is today the towns of Carmona, Amadeo, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, and Tanza. For many years, Silang was one of the biggest towns, by the 20th century its land area was reduced to its current size, as some of its former villages later became independent towns. Indang was the first to be granted town status in 1655. By the 19th century, the town lost land to the towns of Carmona and Amadeo, and by 1938, the town's southern lands were ceded to become part of the city of Tagaytay.

The Silang encomienda was later purchased from King Ferdinand VI of Spain for 2,000 pesetas on March 9, 1746, to prevent it from becoming a "friar land" like the other towns of Cavite, executed through the representation of Bernabe Javier Manahan and Gervacio dela Cruz.

Contemporary history On January 22, 2023, the municipality was certified by Guinness World Records as volunteers from the municipal government and the Catholic parish church successfully lit 621 candles in a world record attempt for longest line of candles lit in relay, surpassing 366 set in India in 2016. The attempt was held to commemorate the feast of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.

Geography The municipality of Silang is 23 km (14 mi) from Imus and 43 km (27 mi) south of Manila. It is bounded by General Trias, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, and Carmona to the north, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba to the east, Tagaytay to the south, and Amadeo to the west.

Barangays Silang is politically subdivided into 64 barangays, 10 of them being disputed with Gen. Mariano Alvarez. • Acacia • Adlas • Anahaw 1 (disputed with GMA) • Anahaw 2 (disputed with GMA) • Balite 1 • Balite 2 • Balubad • Banaba (disputed with GMA) • Batas ◦ Sitio Ilang-Ilang ◦ Sitio Kasuyan • Biga 1 • Biga 2 • Biluso • Bucal • Buho • Bulihan (disputed with GMA) • Cabangaan • Carmen • Hoyo • Hukay • Iba • Inchican • Ipil 1 (disputed with GMA) • Ipil 2 (disputed with GMA) • Kalubkob • Kaong • Lalaan I • Lalaan II ◦ Sitio Lingat ◦ Sitio Balayunan • Litlit ◦ Sitio Maynilaan • Lucsuhin • Lumil • Maguyam • Malabag • Mataas na Burol • Malaking Tatiao • Munting Ilog • Narra 1 (disputed with GMA) • Narra 2 (disputed with GMA) • Narra 3 (disputed with GMA) • Paligawan • Pasong Langka • Poblacion Barangay 1 • Poblacion Barangay 2 • Poblacion Barangay 3 • Poblacion Barangay 4 • Poblacion Barangay 5 • Pooc 1 • Pooc 2 • Pulong Bunga • Pulong Saging • Puting Kahoy • Sabutan • San Miguel 1 • San Miguel 2 • San Vicente 1 • San Vicente 2 • Santol • Tartaria • Tibig • Toledo • Tubuan 1 • Tubuan 2 • Tubuan 3 • Ulat • Yakal (disputed with GMA).

Economy Silang, like most of the towns in the province of Cavite, depends on a mainly agricultural economy. The primary crops grown in the area are coconut, coffee, corn, banana, pineapple, and tree crops like mango, lansones, caimito, santol, jackfruit, guava, and avocado. Fertile soils and abundant water sources make Silang suitable not only for common commercial crops but also for high value and exotic crops production. Most of the local farmers practice intercropping to increase land productivity and lessen soil erosion. Fruit production exceeds the demand of the municipality's population, thus, supply excesses are marketed to Metro Manila and neighboring urban centers. A number of poultry and swine farms are also located in some rural barangays.

Manufacturing and trade are Silang's other major sources of income. Trade and investments grew tremendously with the influx of both Manila-based and foreign investors. Total investments were estimated at P2.5 billion between 1996 and 2004, which helped bring about the employment of 3,000 people. Despite the slow down of progress in 2004, Land Value still soared, allowing investors to infiltrate and start business. The investment trend resulted in the increase in the price of prime realty from P3,000 to P15,000 per square meter and from P150 to P500 per square meter for raw lots in interior barangays. Trade establishments in Silang include gasoline stations, convenience stores, lumber/hardware traders, groceries, resorts, and hotels.

The dry goods section of the Silang Public Market can now accommodate 228 stalls.

Silang houses the Maguyam Industrial Complex and the Daichi Industrial Complex in addition to a total of ten factories operating outside the export processing zone.

Health • Estrella Hospital • Velazco Hospital • Silang Specialist Medical Center.

Colleges, state colleges and universities: • Sisters of Mary Technical Education Institute Cavite Inc. • Adventist University of the Philippines • Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies • Imus Computer College (ICC) – Silang Branch • Cavite State University (Silang satellite campus) • Far Eastern University (Silang satellite campus) • Philippine Missionary Institute • Unida Biblical Seminary • Rogationist College • PNPA (Public Safety College) • St. Benilde Montessori College • Saint Paul Seminary • Our Lady of La Salette Seminary.

Transport Silang can be reached by bus, or by jeepney. Coming from Manila, it will take 2 hours to reach the town proper. Silang is accessible by land transportation. Major road networks to and from Laguna and Batangas traverse it making the town a potential trading centre for agricultural products while enjoying an environment that is free of traffic and pollution problems. Commuters are assured of smooth travel within the borders of the municipality with of its good road networks of approximately 187.83 km. Six major road projects were completed in 1996, being the Bulihan Resettlement Area Road, the 8-km Kaong-Maguyam Road, the Caramanzana Drive connecting the Silang Public Market with Aguinaldo Highway, the 2-km Sabutan-Iba Road, the DPWH funded Santa Rosa-Silang-Tagaytay Road, and the Malabag Road.

Landmarks • Lucsuhin Natural Bridge or Cabag Caves • Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church of Silang