Pasay City Day in the Philippines Date in the current year: December 2, 2024

Pasay is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila (the National Capital Region of the Philippines). It is best known as the main location of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the main airport serving the National Capital Region and the main gateway for international travelers to the Philippines.

Before the beginning of Spanish colonization, Pasay was part of Namayan, an independent polity on the banks of the Pasig River whose territory is believed to have extended from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay (Laguna Lake). In 1571, Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi formally claimed the Rajahnate of Maynila and its surrounding polities, including Namayan, for the Spanish crown.

At first, the territory of present-day Pasay was governed as part of Santa Ana de Sapa, which was controlled by the Franciscans. In 1727, the Augustinians took over Pasay and attached it to Malate (now a district of Manila), placing it under the jurisdiction of the parish of Our Lady of Remedies (Nuestra Señora de los Remedios).

In 1862, a group of prominent residents of Pasay petitioned the colonial government to allow them to manage their religious and political affairs independently. They also proposed that the town be renamed Pineda in honor of Spanish horticulturist Cornelio Pineda, the benefactor of Pasay. The Archbishop of Manila granted Pineda a municipal charter on December 2, 1863. This is considered the founding day of Pasay.

During the Philippine Revolution, Pineda had a chapter of the revolutionary organization Katipunan. It became famous as the birthplace of one of the few female generals who fought in the Philippine Revolution, Marcela Marcelo. She joined the revolutionary forces after her husband, a member of the Katipunan, was arrested by the Spanish. Marcela died in the Battle of Pasong Santol in 1897.

After the defeat of the Philippines in the Philippine-American War, Pineda was incorporated into the province of Rizal and renamed back to Pasay. On January 1, 1942, Pasay and several other towns were merged with Manila and Quezon to form the City of Greater Manila. The next day, Manila was occupied by Japanese forces.

Manila was liberated by the combined Filipino-American forces in March 1945. Five months later, Greater Manila was dissolved and Pasay regained its municipal status. In 1947, it was converted into a city and renamed Rizal City after José Rizal. However, the residents had a hard time getting used to the new name. In 1950, President Elpidio Quirino changed the name of the city back to Pasay.

The founding anniversary of Pasay is celebrated in the city as Pasay City Day. The holiday is marked by various special events and activities. For example, in 2022, the program of the celebration included a job fair, a thanksgiving mass, a musical performance by the city’s symphony band, and the lighting of a giant Christmas tree near the city hall.