Imus Foundation Day in the Philippines Date in the current year: October 3, 2024

Imus is a first-class component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. While it has been the official provincial capital since 1977, many government offices and national agencies still operate from Trece Martires, the former capital.

The city’s name comes from the Tagalog word imos, meaning “cape” or “headland”. In the early Spanish colonial period, Imus was administered as part of Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit), a settlement founded by the Jesuits in 1587 and formally recognized in 1600. Imus, however, was located too far from the main town, making it difficult for residents to attend church services or conduct official business.

In 1762, the Augustinian Recollects established a parish in Imus, granting it religious independence from Cavite el Viejo, though Imus remained administratively and politically subordinate to Cavite el Viejo until 1795, when it became an independent municipality. Imus was officially established as a municipality on October 3, 1795.

Imus played a significant role in the Philippine Revolution, being the site of two key battles, both of which ended in a victory for the Philippine revolutionaries. The Battle of Imus in September 1896 was the first major victory for the Katipunan, and the Battle of Alapan in May 1898 saw another Katipunan win, where the Philippine national flag was flown for the first time.

After the defeat of the Philippines in the Philippine-American War, the adjacent towns of Bacoor and Perez-Dasmariñas were merged with Imus in 1903, but both regained their independence in subsequent years—Bacoor in 1906 and Perez-Dasmariñas in 1917.

Since the independence of the Philippines, Imus has grown into a bustling commercial and residential hub. However, despite President Ferdinand Marcos designating Imus as the provincial capital of Cavite in 1977, the city of Trece Martires continues to function as the province’s de facto capital.

A cityhood bill for Imus, along with similar bills for Bacoor and Dasmariñas, was first proposed in the mid-1990s, but it failed to pass the Congress. The bill to elevate Imus to city status was eventually approved in August 2010. However, the conversion from a municipality to a city required ratification through a plebiscite, which took place on June 30, 2012. Nearly 90% of voters favored the move, officially confirming the cityhood of Imus.

Today, Imus stands as one of the most economically vibrant cities in the Philippines and serves as the financial hub of Cavite. The city boasts a well-established banking infrastructure and is home to numerous financial institutions. It attracts large corporations while also fostering the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises.

The anniversary of Imus’s foundation as a municipality is celebrated as Imus Foundation Day on October 3. It should not be confused with Imus Cityhood Day, observed annually on June 30.