Pateros - The Philippines
'
Duck Egg Capital
Pateros - The Philippines' Duck Egg Capital
BRIEF HISTORY
South of Manila is Pateros, the smallest of the seventeen cities and municipalities
comprising the Metropolitan Manila. Pateros before 1700 was only a barrio of
Pasig called Aguho or Embarcadero. Aguho was derived from the name of
numerous shady trees planted along the Pateros River, while Embarcadero
means a small port. As a port, Pateros was the focal point of trade and
commerce not only for the entire Municipality of Pasig but also for
the neighboring towns. It also served as harbor for the Malay,
Chinese, Swedish and Indian vessels that periodically called to disembark
merchandise and to engage in commerce. These were the reasons why Pateros,
as the most progressive barrio of Pasig was given the name Aguho or Embarcadero.
The name of the town itself symbolizes trade and industry
because Pateros got its name from the word PATO,
the duck that lays the eggs for balut making. Pateros
meaning duck-raisers and from early shoemakers
SAPATERO. Balut-making and shoe-making were
introduced to the town by Chinese settlers.
The sound and stable income of Pateros led to
issuance by the Spanish Governor General of a
decree in 1700 creating it as a Municipality. In 1896,
when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many Pateros
inhabitants joined the Katipunan in the struggle of
freedom from Spanish rule. These patriots attacked
the Spanish soldiers fortified at the Pasig Church.
The following year, the Spaniards retaliated, and after
burning Pasig, swooped down on Pateros,
Malapad na Bato and Taguig. On August 6, 1898,
Pateros joined the revolutionary government of Emilio Aguinaldo.