MARVELOUS MARIVELES Marvelous Mariveles | Page 3

BY: VERNON LUIS REAL Originally known as the "Village of Kamaya" it was founded as a pueblo by a Franciscan Friar in 1578 and was made part of the Corregimiento of Mariveles which includes the towns of Bagac and Morong, the island of Corregidor, and the town of Maragondon in Cavite. When Bataan was declered as another province separate from pampanga pursuant to superior decree on July 1754, Mariveles became a part of the new province. It served as the checking point for ships entering or leaving Manila Bay. When the Philippines fell to the Americans at the turn of the 19th century, Mariveles was placed under American rule. They established the country’s first quarantine station in the old Spanish Leprosarium Hospital to check all incoming and outgoing shipments from any communicable and deadly diseases from spreading. LEGEND LEGEND BY:JOANNA MARIE REYES There are many theories and myths about the origin of the name “Mariveles”, to wit: According to the geographical history, the word Mariveles is a collaboration of the Tagalog words “Maraming Dilis” which refers to the abundant anchovies caught on the seas surrounding the town. “Maraming Dilis” was shortened to Mara-dilis and eventually to “Mariveles” through the passage of time. Another popular myth is about the romantic story of a nun named Maria Veles who had fallen in love with a man and chose her love instead of her vocation to God. She and her lover eloped and hid in the mountain who, according to legend, live happily till she met her death. In her memory, her lover named the mountain where she was buried as Mt. Maria Veles, which later was shortened to Mariveles. HISTORY HISTORY