The Chinese traders who eventually settled
in the town introduced the most famous balut industry and
alfombra-slipper making. The name PATEROS came from the Tagalog
words “pato” – the duck that lays the eggs
for balut making, and “sapatero” – the word
for shoemakers.
The sound and stable income of Pateros led
to issuance by the Spanish Governor General of a decree in
1700 creating it as a Municipality. In 1896, when the Philippine
Revolution broke out, many Pateros inhabitants joined the
Katipunan in the struggle for freedom from Spanish rule. These
patriots attacked the Spanish soldiers fortified at the Pasig
Church. The following year, the Spaniards retaliated, and
after burning Pasig, swooped down on Pateros, Malapad na Bato
and Taguig. On August 06, 1898, Pateros joined the revolutionary
government of Emilio Aguinaldo.
On March 29, 1900, Pateros was made a Municipality
by virtue of General Order No. 40. Act. No. 137 of the Philippine
Commission promulgated on June 11, 1901 incorporated Pateros
with newly created province of Rizal. Two years later (October
12, 1903), Act. No. 942 consolidated Pateros, Tagig and Muntinlupa
for purposes of economy and centralization, with Pateros as
the seat of Municipal government. On March 22, 1905, the "Municipality
of Pateros" was changed to "Municipality of Tagig".
Later, Executive Order No. 20 dated February 29, 1908 separated
Pateros from Tagig. Pateros regained its independent status
as a Municipality on January 1, 1909 by virtue of Executive
Order No. 36. On November 7, 1975, Pateros became part of
the Metropolitan Manila through Presidential Decree No. 924.
