Muntinlupa
Highly urbanized city
Filinvest City and Alabang New Bilibid Prison Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Hall of Justice Sucat Thermal Power Plant Sucat People's Park Alabang Public Market
Flag Seal Wordmark
Nickname(s):  Munti, The Emerald City
Motto(s):  Lakas, Talino at Buhay (Strength, Wisdom and Life) Muntinlupa, Nakakaproud! (Muntinlupa, Something to be Proud of!)
Anthem: Martsa ng Muntinlupa (Muntinlupa March)
Map of Metro Manila with Muntinlupa highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Muntinlupa Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°23′N 121°03′E / 14.38°N 121.05°E / 14.38; 121.05
Country	Philippines
Region	National Capital Region
Province	none
District	Lone district
Founded	1601
Annexation to Pateros	October 12, 1903
Annexation to Biñan	November 25, 1903
Annexation to Taguig	March 22, 1905
Chartered	January 1, 1918
Cityhood and HUC	May 8, 1995
Barangays	9 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Rozzano Rufino Biazon (One Muntinlupa)
• Vice Mayor	Artemio Simundac (One Muntinlupa)
• Representative	Jaime Fresnedi (Liberal)
• Councilors	List 1st District Rachel Katriel Ann Arciaga Ivee Rhia Arciaga-Tadefa Paty Katy Boncayao-Barreto Allan Rey Camilon Raul Corro Alexson Diaz Valentino Niefes Jedidiah Presnedi 2nd District Mark Lester Baes Francis Ian Bagatsing Arlene Hilapo Cornelio Martinez Rodolfo Moldez Jr. Marissa Rongavilla Mamerto Sevilla Vacant[a] ABC President Allen Ampaya SK President Jonas Angelo Abadilla
• Electorate	311,750 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	39.75 km2 (15.35 sq mi)
Elevation	26 m (85 ft)
Highest elevation	136 m (446 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	543,445
• Density	13,671.6/km2 (35,409/sq mi)
• Households	138,331
Demonym	Muntinlupeño
Economy
• Income class	1st city income class
• Poverty incidence	1.70 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 5,860 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 12,538 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 4,514 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 3,214 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	1770–1777, 1780, 1799
PSGC	1380800000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)02
Native languages	Tagalog
Website	www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph

Muntinlupa (Tagalog: [mʊntɪnˈlupɐ]), officially the City of Muntinlupa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Muntinlupa), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 543,445 people.^[3]

It is bordered on the north by Taguig, to the northwest by Parañaque, by Bacoor and Las Piñas to the west, to the southwest by Dasmariñas, by San Pedro to the south, and by Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country, to the east. From high above, the city of Muntinlupa has many large, green patches, which is unusual for Metro Manila.^[5] Because of these green patches, Muntinlupa earned the name "Emerald City"^[5] by the tourism establishment^[6] and also known as the "Gateway to Calabarzon" as it is the southernmost city of the National Capital Region.

Muntinlupa is known as the location of the national insular penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, where the country's most dangerous criminals are incarcerated. This was relocated from its old site in Santa Cruz, Manila.^[5] Before the relocation of New Bilibid Prison to Muntinlupa in the 1930s, Muntinlupa was mainly dedicated to fishing and farming.^[5]

Ayala Alabang Village, one of the country's biggest and most expensive residential communities, where many of the wealthy and famous live, is also located in Muntinlupa.

Etymology

There are three plausible origins of the name of the city:

1. Its association with the thin topsoil in the area, known locally as munting lupa, or "little soil" in Tagalog;
2. Residents, purportedly answering a question from Spaniards in the 16th century of what the name of their place was, saying "Monte sa Lupa", apparently mistaking the question for what card game they were playing; and
3. The topographical nature of the area, in which case the Spanish term monte, or "mountain", was expanded to muntinlupa, or "mountain land".^[7]

The 1987 Philippine Constitution spells the city's name as "Muntinglupa" instead of "Muntinlupa".^[8]

History

Spanish colonial era

In 1601, some 88 years after the arrival of Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan in the Visayas islands, the original lands constituting Muntinlupa could be deduced to have been friar lands administered by the Augustinians, then sold and assigned to the Sanctuary of Guadalupe.

In 1869, the lands were transferred to the state and large individual landholders. In an effort by the Spanish Government to bring under closer administrative control the people living in the contiguous sitios, as well as those in Alabang, Tunasan, Sucat, and Cupang, the municipality was created upon the recommendation of Don Eduardo de Canizares.

On August 6, 1898, the town supported the Philippine Revolution against the Spaniards and formally joined the revolutionary government headed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

American occupation era

The Philippine Commission promulgated Rizal Province on June 11, 1901, through Act No. 137. Muntinlupa became part of the new province after being a part of the defunct province of Manila.

On October 12, 1903, Muntinlupa, alongside Taguig, was merged with Pateros by virtue of Act No. 942.^[9] On November 25, 1903, Muntinlupa was incorporated under Act No. 1008 and included within the boundary of the province of La Laguna under the municipality of Biñan.^[10] Muntinlupa residents protested this Executive Act, and through their town head, Marcelo Fresnedi, filed a formal petition to the Governor for the return of the municipality to the province of Rizal. On March 22, 1905, Act No. 1308 paved the way for Muntinlupa's return to the province of Rizal to then become a part of Taguig, along with Pateros.^[11][12]

On December 19, 1917, Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison signed Executive Order 108, which made Muntinlupa an independent municipality, separating it from Taguig. The law took effect on January 1, 1918.^[11] Vidal Joaquin, a native of Alabang, served as the first appointed mayor from 1918 to 1919, followed by Primo Ticman, native of Poblacion, from 1919 to 1922. Melencio Espeleta became the first elected mayor of Muntinlupa in 1922, serving until 1924.

Japanese occupation era

On January 22, 1941, the historic New Bilibid Prison, the national penitentiary, was established in the hills of Muntinlupa. During World War II, the New Bilibid Prison was used to lock up Filipino political prisoners by the Japanese occupation authorities, but they were set free by Hunters ROTC guerrillas.^[5]

Philippine independence

On November 7, 1975, Muntinlupa was transferred from the Province of Rizal to the newly formed Metropolitan Manila by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824 issued by then-President Ferdinand Marcos.^[13]

June 13, 1986, following the EDSA Revolution in February of that year, President Corazón C. Aquino appoints Ignacio R. Bunye as Officer-In-Charge of Muntinlupa as part of a nationwide revamp of local government units. In the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, Muntinlupa together with Las Piñas formed one political district.

On January 31, 1988, protesters of the 1988 Muntinlupa election results who barricaded in front of the Muntinlupa town hall the past two days began storming the premises, with supporters of the two leading mayoral candidates confronting each other and causing injury to former mayor Santiago Carlos Jr. and barangay official Florante Torres among others.^[14][15] By February 17, a grenade that failed to explode was found to have been thrown onto the roof of mayor-elect Bunye's house in Alabang.^[16] On December 6, 1988, President Corazon C. Aquino by Proclamation 351 declares December 19 as "Municipality of Muntinlupa Day".^[17]

Cityhood

On February 16, 1995, House Bill No. 14401, which seeks to convert the municipality of Muntinlupa into a highly urbanized city, was approved by the House of Representatives.

On March 1, 1995, Muntinlupa became the 65th city in the Philippines as signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos, its conversion into a highly urbanized city by virtue of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7926. Per Section 62 of R.A. 7926, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas were to constitute separate congressional districts, with each district electing its separate representative in the 1998 elections.^[18] This separation was additionally confirmed in the city charter of Las Piñas (R.A. 8251) which was approved by plebiscite on March 26, 1997.^[19] Ignacio Bunye, who previously served as mayor of Muntinlupa, was elected in 1998 as the first congressman representing the city.

On March 1, 2001, Republic Act No. 9191 was enacted, declaring March 1 of every year as a Special Non-working Holiday in the City of Muntinlupa to be known as "The Muntinlupa City Charter Day".^[20]

Contemporary

On August 3, 2007, the Muntinlupa City Hall was completely damaged and later abandoned due to a fire. The fire started from a slum area behind the city hall. Almost all files, important documents and other references of Muntinlupa were burned.^[21]

Geography

Topography

It is bordered on the north by Taguig, to the northwest by Parañaque, to the west by Las Piñas, to the southwest by the cities of Bacoor and Dasmariñas in Cavite, to the south by the city of San Pedro in Laguna, and to the east by Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.

Muntinlupa's terrain is relatively flat to sloping towards the east along the lake. Gentle rolling hills occupy the western part of the city, with elevation increasing up to 60 meters (200 ft) and above towards its southwest portion.

While a majority of the land area in the city is highly urbanized, the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in barangay Poblacion is relatively free of urbanization, although there are ongoing discussions to move the national penitentiary to Nueva Ecija and Occidental Mindoro, respectively.^[22][23]

Cityscape

Alabang is the business district of the city where the tallest structures in the city are located. It used to be the location of Alabang Stock Farm.^[24] Land reclamation is also done along the Laguna Lake for further developments in the city. During the dry season, the water level in the lake subsides, exposing the soil that is then used for farming.

Climate

The dry season rungs through the months of November to April, while the wet season starts in May and lasts to November. The wet season reaches its peak in the month of August. Maximum rainfall in Muntinlupa usually occurs from the month of June to September. The average annual of rainfall is 2,014.8 millimeters (79.32 in) with a peak of 420.0 millimeters (16.54 in) in July and a low 26.9 millimeters (1.06 in) in April. The highest temperature occurs during the month of April and May at 34 °C (93 °F), while the lowest occurs during the months of January and February at 24 °C (75 °F).