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OVERVIEW

According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 94,228 people in an area of 8.20 square kilometers, making it one of the most densely populated city/municipality in Cavite. Geographically, Rosario is bounded in the north-northeast by Noveleta, in the South by Tanza and in the west-southwest by Manila Bay. It lies 30 km south of Manila, and 17 km south-southwest of Cavite City. It is accessible by land and water(sea) transportation.

History

On October 22, 1845, Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria promulgated a Decree for the establishment of a new town comprising Salinas Leiton and Tierra Alta of San Francisco de Malabon, what is now the town of Gen. Trias. On October 27, Don Juan Arlegui, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Manila informed the Politico-Military Governor of Cavite Don Miguel Roca, that he was designated by the Governor General to look for a person of unquestionable integrity who will be entrusted with the money for the construction of the church building. On November 3, 1845 presbyter Don Mamerto Ner who was at that time one of the best priests of the Curia of Manila, was appointed parish priest and served until December 1866.

The municipality of Rosario was originally a part of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias, Cavite). It became an independent municipality in 1846, one year after the founding of the Santissimo Rosario Parish. Rosario was formerly called Tejero, which may have originated from the Spanish word “tejer” (to weave) because weaving fish nets was then the main occupation of the women. Rosario was also called Salinas (derived from the Spanish word “sal” or salt) during the Philippine Revolution because salt making was an important industry of the town. The place was likewise called Marcela or marcelles due to its proximity to the sea (“mar” in Spanish). Rosario was, finally, named in honor of their patron saint Nuestra Señora Virgen del Santissimo Rosario de Caracol or (Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary). The second smallest town in Cavite Province, Rosario has now emerged into the “biggest” in terms of its land area nor its per capita income but because of the great transitions that occurred with the town’s political, social, cultural and economic developments since 1845.

There are three religious versions for naming the town “Rosario.” These are:

The first version says, the image of the Madonna and the Child was found one day floating on the water by a group of kids playing along the seashore. They played with the image, using it as a toy and afterwards hid it in the bushes near the sea. Everytime they came back, however, they would see the image already floating leisurely on the water, as if waiting for them. They thought it strange, but could not explain how the image got back to the water.

Not long after their elders learned about the image and took it to an empty nipa shack. Thus began a public adoration of the Madonna and Child. The hut was transformed into a place of worship. News of miraculous happenings attributed to the image spread around. The religious fervor was so great and the people were moved by the image that they decided to adopt it as the patron saint of the town and changed the name Salinas Marcella to Rosario.

To date, the different names given to the town are remembered. Marcella exists as one of the national roads of the town. Salinas is associated with the finest and famous smoked fish (Tinapang Salinas) produced by the townspeople. Rosario as an agro-industrialized fishing village along the coastlines of Manila Bay, occupied by productive, peace-loving and God-fearing people who devotedly venerate the Nuestra Señora Virgen del Santissimo Rosario de Caracol as their patron saint.

Economy

The arrival of more investors Cavite Economic Zone and the existence of the Rosario Fish Port gave rise to young Rosarian entrepreneurs. Rosario is looking forward to economic stability with the coming in of cooperative movements that boost livelihood projects for the economically handicapped and the construction of more banks and other commercial establishments.

Fishing is a major economic activity due to the abundant fishing grounds particularly in Barangays Wawa, Sapa Muzon and Ligtong. Predominant cottage industries related to fishing include smoked fish (tinapa) processing, fish drying (daing), fish paste (bagoong) making, fish sauce (patis) making and canning. Marine species caught within municipal fishing grounds include squid, mackerel, slipmouth, herring, goatfish, tuna, mullet, porgy, shrimp, barracuda, cavalla, snapper, catfish and roundscad.

However, there are still a lot to be done. There are remarkable developments from 1845 which brought about significant economic prosperity, peace, happiness and our human resources are more cultured, socially and politically aware. Only then can we say that the former “small” town of Rosario has transformed into a “big” municipality in Cavite.

Rosario is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

Silangan I — Mark Jay Velarde
Bagbag I – Serafin Cuello
Kanluran – Manuel Caparas
Ligtong I – Raulito Ricasa
Ligtong II – Leonardo Ibiaz, Jr.
Muzon I – Andronico Solis
Poblacion – Rodolfo Esguerra
Sapa I – Benjamin Sarabia
Tejeros Convention – Antonio Luna
Wawa I – Arturo Mercado
Ligtong III – Ronaldo Victor
Bagbag II – Rodolfo Lisama
Ligtong IV – Jonathan Crisostomo
Muzon II – Nomer Morabe
Sapa II – Edgardo Cupino
Sapa III – Nilda Nivera
Sapa IV – Frederick Torres
Silangan II – Romeo Almario
Wawa II – Ferdinand Enriquez
Wawa III – Alex Estores