MARIVELES, BATAAN

The name Mariveles is said to come from "maraming dilis" which pertains to the abundant anchovies caught on the sea surrounding the municipality. "Maraming dilis" was shortened to "mara-dilis" and eventually Mariveles through the passage of time. Another legend talked about a forbidden love story between a beautiful lass named Maria Velez and a priest from nearby Manila. The two eloped that took them to a lush forest at the tip of a peninsula across the Manila Bay corridor. Authorities from Manila caught up and separated the lovers. Maria Velez carried on to be a monk and the priest was banished to a far flung village in Mexico. Immortalizing this legend, the lush forest was named Mariveles, after the lady monk.

Ships arriving from foreign or Philippine infected ports were quarantined off Mariveles, under Spanish regulations. During the great cholera epidemic of 1882, a Lazaretto was established here. The first Spanish missionary who attempted to domesticate the natives of the Mariveles coast was stoned by them, and died in Manila as a consequence. An insubordinate Archbishop was once banished to Mariveles. Through the narrow channel between this port and Corregidor Island, known as Boca Chica, came swarms of Asiatic trading junks, every spring for over two centuries. Forming the extreme point of Manila Bay, here was naturally the watch guard for the safety of the capital. It was the point whence could be decried the movements of foreign enemies - Dutch, British, Mahometan, chinese, etc.; it was the last refuge for ships about to venture from the Islands to foreign parts.

Much historical interest is attached to this place. Its ancient name was Camaya. It was the chief port of the Jurisdiction of Mariveles under the old territorial division which the island now called Corregidor. Mariveles was originally known as village of Camaya, belonging to the "corregimiento" of Mariveles.

Mariveles assumed each present name when the province of Bataan was created in 1754. Bataan peninsula is located southwards from the western shores of central Luzon, forming the enclosed and well-sheltered Manila Bay to the east that is nearly cut off from the open China Sea in the west. The narrow outlet separates the peninsula from Corregidor Island and Cavite to the south. The provinces of Zambales and Pampanga form common boundaries to the north. About 80% of Bataan is mountainous or hilly with Mount Mariveles and Mount Natib dominating the interior.

During World War II it was the scene of heavy fighting between Allied and Japanese forces from January 6, 1942, to April 9, 1942. Bataan fell to Japan on April 9 and was retaken by an American force on February 17, 1945.

When the Pacific War broke out in 1941, the selection of the peninsula as the locale of the last defensive stand by the USAFFE against the invading Japanese forces brought fame and infamy to Bataan. The loss of life and property cannot be estimated. Bataan then became the symbol of valor and tenacity in its hopeless stand against the much superior invading Japanese Imperial Forces. Today, a national landmark called the Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan) stands majestically on top of the Mt. Samat in Pilar as testimony to the gallantry and sacrifices of the men and women who with their blood, tears, and sweat made the grounds of Bataan hallow.Historical accounts referred to Mariveles as the refilling stop for merchant ships before coming into Manila Bay. The Chinese pirate Li Ma Hong was recorded to have briefly stopped in Camaya (former name of Mariveles) for fresh water and supplies before proceeding to attack Manila.

Ships arriving from foreign or Philippine infected ports were quarantined off Mariveles, under Spanish regulations. During the great cholera epidemic of 1882, a Lazaretto was established here. The first Spanish missionary who attempted to domesticate the natives of the Mariveles coast was stoned by them, and died in Manila as a consequence. An insubordinate Archbishop was once banished to Mariveles. Through the narrow channel between this port and Corregidor Island, known as Boca Chica, came swarms of Asiatic trading junks, every spring for over two centuries. Forming the extreme point of Manila Bay, here was naturally the watch guard for the safety of the capital. It was the point whence could be decried the movements of foreign enemies - Dutch, British, Mahometan, chinese, etc.; it was the last refuge for ships about to venture from the Islands to foreign parts.

Mariveles was invaded by the Dutch in 1600 and 1609. Witnessed the surrender of Major Manuel L. Quezon in 1901, Gen. Artemio Ricarte in 1904 and Major Gen. Edward P. King Jr. in 1942. Starting point of the Death March on April 1942.

Present

Mariveles is now a first class municipality in terms of its income, accredited mostly to big establishments exiting in the municipality; consequently, they also have a high employment rate. Mostly engineers, skilled and unskilled laborers, technical men from the province and other towns and cities.

Mariveles at present is a far cry from the role it played from the pre-Spanish and pre-war days. It now hosts the country's first economic zone, first petrochemical industrial estate and plastic city (a petrochemical down stream industrial zone specializing in polyethylene sheets), a grain handling terminal (ATI-SMC) and an integrated footwear manufacturing plants based in the zone. The town is now a conurbation of different Filipino and foreign cultures as local migrants flock to the municipality for job and livelihood opportunities. Foreign expatriates associated with export manufacturing firms have also established their residence in Mariveles.