Novaliches

Novaliches is a geographic and historical district in the northern part of Metro Manila, Philippines. It encompasses northern areas of Quezon City and the entirety of North Caloocan, reflecting the division of a former municipality between two present-day cities. It is therefore not a commercial brand, company, product line, or corporate entity. The name is associated with Manuel Pavía y Lacy, the Spanish governor-general of the Philippines in 1854, who held the title Marquis of Novaliches. The area developed from haciendas, including Tala, Malinta, and Piedad. Pavía y Lacy reportedly arrived in Manila in February 1854 with the intention of establishing a penal-colony-style settlement in which prisoners could work land and eventually gain freedom. In the same year, the alcalde mayor of Bulacan petitioned the Spanish authorities to combine several haciendas into a new town named Novaliches. Novaliches was formally established as a municipality of Bulacan on September 22, 1855, after being separated from Polo, now Valenzuela. In 1858 it was transferred to the Province of Tondo, which was renamed Manila Province in 1859. During the American colonial period, an administrative reorganization transferred Novaliches to the newly created Rizal Province in 1901. On October 12, 1903, under Act No. 942 of the Philippine Commission, the municipality was absorbed into neighboring Caloocan as a barrio. At that time, it was described as the largest barrio in the Philippines by land area, covering approximately 10,000 hectares. The district's modern political geography emerged after the Second World War. Caloocan was incorporated into the City of Greater Manila from 1942 to 1945. In July 1948, Republic Act No. 333 established Quezon City as the national capital and authorized its expansion northward. This expansion incorporated the southern portion of the former Novaliches area into Quezon City, while the northern portion remained with Caloocan. Caloocan later became a city in 1962, and the separation of the two portions produced the present distinction between Novaliches in Quezon City and North Caloocan. Several efforts since the 1960s have sought to restore Novaliches as a separate municipality or city, but none succeeded. Republic Act No. 8535, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 23, 1998, proposed creating a new Novaliches city from 15 barangays taken from Quezon City. The proposal was rejected in a plebiscite held across Quezon City on October 23, 1999. The Quezon City portion is currently represented through two congressional districts. The broader area is also associated with educational institutions, including the main campus of Quezon City University in San Bartolome and various private schools, while North Caloocan contains campuses of the University of Caloocan City. Novaliches has also appeared in Filipino popular culture. Rocksteddy, a Filipino rock band, recorded a song titled “Super Nova” on its debut album, Tsubtsatagilidakeyn. The song was later re-recorded and retitled “Supernovaliches (Re-Recorded)” for the band's 2017 album Ang Album Na May Pinakamahabang Pamagat.

The historical identity of Novaliches is rooted in the Spanish colonial administration and in the hacienda lands that preceded the formal town. The settlement associated with Hacienda Tala was connected to Manuel Pavía y Lacy, who became governor-general of the Philippines in 1854 and held the aristocratic title Marquis of Novaliches. Local administrative authorities proposed consolidating the haciendas of Malinta, Piedad, and Tala into a new municipality bearing that title. On September 22, 1855, Novaliches was constituted as a municipality of Bulacan after being separated from Polo, the town now known as Valenzuela. Its provincial affiliation changed in 1858, when it was transferred to the Province of Tondo, later called Manila Province. In 1901, during the American period, Novaliches became part of Rizal Province as the colonial government reorganized local administrative units. The municipality ceased to exist as an independent local government unit on October 12, 1903. Act No. 942 of the Philippine Commission absorbed it into Caloocan as a barrio. The former municipality was unusually extensive, with an area reported at about 10,000 hectares. Its incorporation into Caloocan established an administrative relationship that continues to shape the area's geography. During the Second World War, Caloocan formed part of the City of Greater Manila between 1942 and 1945. Postwar changes then divided the former Novaliches area between Quezon City and Caloocan. Republic Act No. 333, signed in July 1948, made Quezon City the capital of the Philippines and enabled its expansion north of the existing urban core. Approximately half of the former Novaliches territory was incorporated into Quezon City, while the other half remained with Caloocan. When Caloocan became a city in 1962, the two portions became commonly identified as Novaliches in Quezon City and North Caloocan. The division has prompted recurring proposals to reestablish Novaliches as a separate local government. The most concrete modern proposal came through Republic Act No. 8535, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 23, 1998. The law proposed creating a city from 15 barangays then within Quezon City. Voters in a citywide plebiscite on October 23, 1999, rejected the proposal, leaving Novaliches divided between the two cities. Today, Novaliches functions as a major geographic and civic area rather than an independent municipality or a brand. The Quezon City section is represented in two congressional districts, and the wider district contains residential communities, educational institutions, and urban infrastructure. The area also has a continuing presence in Filipino popular culture, including Rocksteddy's songs “Super Nova” and “Supernovaliches (Re-Recorded).”

• 2017

  Rocksteddy releases a re-recorded Novaliches-themed song

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  Rocksteddy released “Supernovaliches (Re-Recorded),” a renamed and re-recorded version of its earlier song “Super Nova.”

• 1999

  Cityhood proposal rejected

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed creation of Novaliches City was rejected in a plebiscite held throughout Quezon City on October 23, 1999.

• 1998

  Creation of a proposed Novaliches city authorized

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  Republic Act No. 8535 authorized a proposed city composed of 15 barangays from Quezon City.

• 1948

  Division between Quezon City and Caloocan

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  The expansion of Quezon City under Republic Act No. 333 incorporated the southern portion of the former Novaliches area, while the northern portion remained with Caloocan.

• 1903

  Absorption into Caloocan

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  Act No. 942 absorbed Novaliches into Caloocan as a barrio on October 12, ending its status as an independent municipality.

• 1901

  Transfer to Rizal Province

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  During American administrative reorganization, Novaliches was transferred to the newly created Rizal Province.

• 1858

  Transfer to the Province of Tondo

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  The municipality was transferred from Bulacan to the Province of Tondo, later known as Manila Province.

• 1855

  Novaliches becomes a municipality

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  Novaliches was established as a municipality of Bulacan on September 22, 1855, after being separated from Polo.

• 1854

  Proposal for a new Novaliches settlement

  [1]Novalichesen.wikipedia.org

  The alcalde mayor of Bulacan petitioned the Spanish government to combine the haciendas of Malinta, Piedad, and Tala into a new town named Novaliches.

• 1998

  Legislative proposal to establish Novaliches CityOther

  Background

  Novaliches had been divided between Quezon City and Caloocan for decades, prompting proposals to restore it as an independent local government.

  Action taken

  Republic Act No. 8535 authorized the proposed creation of a new city from 15 barangays in Quezon City.

  Aftermath

  The proposal required approval in a plebiscite and was defeated by voters across Quezon City on October 23, 1999.

  Source

1. 1Novalichesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Vignettes about the former Novaliches townpna.gov.ph