Mariveles, officially the Municipality of Mariveles (), is a municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people, making it the most populous in the province.
History
Colonial era history Incorporated to the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies by a Franciscan friar in 1578, Mariveles was called the town of Camaya and was part of the Corregimiento of Mariveles, including Bagac and Morong, Corregidor and Maragondon, Cavite. The name Mariveles comes from "Maria Velez", a Mexican nun who eloped with a monk back in the 1600s. With its natural cove, the port was used by ships from China and Spain to resupply.
The Superior Decree of July 1754 declared Mariveles' independence from Pampanga.
In the 19th century, the Americans established the first quarantine station in the old Spanish Leprosarium Hospital (now known as the Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital). The 1818 Spanish census showed there to be 1,522 native families and 3 Spanish-Filipino families.Diccionario Geográfico, Estadístico, Histórico, de las Islas Filipinas By Fr. Manuel Buzeta and Fr. Felipe Bravo, Volume 1, Published Madrid :(Impr. de J.C. de la Peña) 1850-1851.
A two-room school building made of wood and nipa was constructed beside the municipal hall on Zamora Street during the 1908–1909 administration of Mayor Esteban Gonzales. The school initially accommodated pupils in the first and second grades.
World War II Mariveles Bay was the site of Mariveles Naval Section Base, completed for the United States Asiatic Fleet on 22 July 1941, and was surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army on 9 April 1942. The Mariveles Airfield, a dirt runway at the Section Base, was the starting point of the Bataan Death March.
During the Marcos dictatorship Just as the Philippines faced economic and political instability during the runup to the 1969 Philippine presidential election and the subsequent second term of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, it was revealed that two communities - Barrio NASSCO and Barrio Camaya - where the workers of the National Shipyard and Steel Corporation lived would be torn down for conversion into the new Mariveles Free Trade Zone in 1969 (also establishing the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), compelling the relocation of the residents who in turn launched protests until the MFTZ became BEPZ in 1972. BEPZ has made the port a trading zone, and brought industry to the municipality. Agriculture is a large part of the port export.
With only a year left in his last constitutionally allowed term as president, Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law in September 1972 and thus retained the position for fourteen more years. This martial law era became known for human rights abuses, particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. This included activists who fought the relocation of the communities in Barrio NASSCO and Barrio Camaya. One of the most prominent of these activists was Evelyn Pacheco-Mangulabnan, a Mariveles native who would later be honored at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani for her role in resisting Marcos' authoritarian regime.
Contemporary history In July 2010, the Freeport Area of Bataan Act (Republic Act 9728, approved on October 23, 2009) became effective, turning the Bataan Export Processing Zone or Bataan Economic Zone (BEPZ/BEZ) under PEZA into Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) of Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB).
During the first term of Mayor Ace Jello Concepcion in 2017, the municipality's coat of arms was updated to the current one featuring a Philippine flag star and sun, fish, grain, Bataan Death March marker, mountain, and gear, and with the founding year 1757. It changed its color from green to pink as the second version from 2019 to 2022 under Jo Castañeda. With Concepcion's start of second term as mayor on June 30, 2022, the seal reverted to its original green color.
On February 12, 2024, with the approval of the Office of the President of the Philippines through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the current third version of the 2017 seal began to be used where the seal now resembles the Great Seal of the Philippines and dropped the establishment year. However, the first version still continued to be used nowadays.
Geography Mariveles is located around the Mariveles Bay, a large cove at the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula. It is adjacent to Manila Bay to the east, and the South China Sea to the west.
Mariveles is from Balanga and from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Jose Abad Santos Avenue, and Roman Highway. It borders Bagac to the west and northwest, Limay to the north and northeast, and Manila Bay to the east.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Bataan. Of this, about 69% consist of the pastureland, 19% of forestland, 6% agricultural lands and the remaining 6% for residential and industrial use.
Climate
Barangays Mariveles is politically subdivided into 18 barangays, with two are located within the jurisdiction of Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Mariveles had a population of 156,200 people. The population density was .
Mariveles is home to an Aeta community speaking a Sambalic language called Mariveleño.
Economy
The Freeport Area of Bataan (formerly known as Mariveles Free Trade Zone from June 21, 1969, to November 20, 1972, and Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) and Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) from November 20, 1972, to July 2010 under Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)) is a industrial complex in Mariveles town that enjoys business advantages, including tax incentives, natural endowments, and leadership under Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Chairman and Administrator Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman. It is the only freeport in the country with a 10.9 million cubic meter-capacity dam that delivers 14 million gallons of water every day. It is complemented by water treatment and sewerage treatment plants which employ a sustainable waste water solution.
Government Local government
Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines", the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo is the Chief Executive who held office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones held office at the Municipal Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the second floor of the Town Hall and in the adjacent building.
The Municipal Mayor as of the 2022 national and local elections, serving his second term in office, is Ace Jello "AJ" C. Concepcion.
Elected officials Members of the Mariveles Municipal Council (2022–2025): Municipal Mayor: Ace Jello Concepcion Municipal Vice Mayor: Angelito S. Rubia Municipal Councilors: Ronald R. Arcenal Susan M. Murillo Jester Ivan O. Ricafrente Jose M. Carandang Danilo T. Banal Omar B. Cornejo Vonnel A. Isip Jeff B. Peñaloza Municipal ABC President: Marcialito L. Balan
District Representative (3rd Legislative District, Bataan): Maria Angela Garcia
Former mayors and local chief executives
The following is a historical list of the municipal mayors and earlier local chief executives of Mariveles. The title and organization of the municipal office changed during the Spanish colonial period, the Philippine Revolution, American administration, Japanese occupation, and postwar period.
Officeholder Term of office Notes Atty. Jo P. Castañeda 2019–2022 Ace Jello Concepcion 2016–2019, 2022–present Incumbent Jesse I. Concepcion 2007–2016 Angel V. Peliglorio Jr. 1998–2007 Oscar Delos Reyes 1988–1998 Melba O. Buenaventura December 1982–December 1987 Cristina S. Sarreal 2 February 1980–November 1980;1982 Served during two separate periods. Dioscoro Manrique April–December 1979 Carlos L. Sarreal March–April 1979 Carlos L. Sarreal 1968–1971 Benito Reyes 1960–1967 Jose Advincula 1956–1959 Silvestre Yraola 1946–1955 Francisco Octavio 1945 Designated military mayor on 16 February 1945. Civil government was restored and reorganized under Mayor Silvestre Yraola on 22 March 1945. No civil municipal government 1943 Municipal civil government ceased during the Japanese occupation. Silvestre Yraola 1941–1942 Civil government was suspended on 9 April 1942. Jose Sarreal 1935–1940 Sebastian Rodriguez and Jose Sarreal 1934 Joint officeholders. Sebastian Rodriguez 1932–1933 Ciriaco Maglaya and Sebastian Rodriguez 1931 Joint officeholders. Ciriaco Maglaya 1929–1930 Jose Sarreal and Ciriaco Maglaya 1928 Joint officeholders. Jose Sarreal 1926–1927 Claro Paguio and Jose Sarreal 1925 Joint officeholders. Claro Paguio 1920 Jose Sarreal and Claro Paguio 1919–16 October 1919 Joint officeholders. Jose Sarreal 1913–1918 Valentin Semilla and Jose Sarreal 1912–16 October 1912 Joint officeholders. Valentin Semilla 1910–1911 Esteban Gonzales 1909 Pedro Yaneza and Esteban Gonzales 1908 Joint officeholders. Pedro Yaneza 1907 Crisanto Rodriguez and Pedro Yaneza 1906–1 August 1906 Joint officeholders. Crisanto Rodriguez 1905 Crisanto Rodriguez 4 January 1904–1904 Francisco Mendoza 1903 Francisco Mendoza 1901–18 April 1901;27 May 1901–1902 His administration was suspended from 18 April to 27 May 1901. He later served as interim presidente local. Juan Rodriguez 7 January 1899–1899 Served as presidente local-alcalde. Cipriano Diaz 1898–7 May 1898 Identified in the source as the Copo de Mariveles. Served with Antonio Mendoza, Julian, and Toribio Advincula. Cipriano Diaz 1896–1897 Juan Rodriguez and Cipriano Diaz 1895 Joint officeholders. Juan Rodriguez 1894 Hermogenes Bautista and Juan Rodriguez 1892 Joint officeholders. Hermogenes Bautista and Antonino Mendoza 1891 Joint officeholders. Hermogenes Bautista 1889–1890 Hermogenes Bautista 1888 Fausto Diaz 1887 Fausto Diaz 1886 Antonino Mendoza and Fausto Diaz 1885 Joint officeholders. Antonino Mendoza 1884 Mateo Noriega and Antonino Mendoza 1883 Joint officeholders. Mateo Noriega 1882 Juan Enriquez and Mateo Noriega 1881 Joint officeholders. Juan Enriquez 1880 Miguel Rodriguez and Juan Enriquez 1879 Joint officeholders. Miguel Rodriguez 1877–1878 Antonio Zoilan 1876 Antonio Zoilan 1875 Miguel Rodriguez 1874 Mateo Noriega and Miguel Rodriguez 1873 Joint officeholders. Fausto Diaz and Mateo Noriega 1869–1872 Joint officeholders. Unknown 1868 Gabriel Mendoza 1865–1867 Fausto Diaz 1863–1864 Unknown 1862 Jose Rodriguez 1861 Casimiro Rubia 1860 Unknown 1857–1859 Casimiro Rubia 1857 Justo Bartolome Llagas 1856 Cipriano Advincula and Fidelis Mendoza 1855 Joint officeholders. Cipriano Advincula 1854 Francisco de Guzman 1853 Justo Bartolome and Francisco de Guzman 1852 Joint officeholders. Cipriano Advincula and Justo Bartolome Llagas 1851 Joint officeholders. Nicolas Advincula 21 January 1850–1850 Bernardo Zoilan and Nicolas Jose 15 March 1849–1849 Joint officeholders. Bernardo Zoilan 1848 Unknown 1845–1847 Bernardo Zoilan 1844 Francisco de Guzman 1843 Bernabe Enriquez 1842 Bernardo Mendoza 1841 Justo Bartolome and Bernardo Mendoza 1840 Joint officeholders. Justo Bartolome 1839 Locadio Gallardo 1838 Bernardo Zoilan 1837 Francisco de Guzman 1836 Tomas Calimbas 23 February 1835–1835 Unknown 1830–1834 Bernardo de Orquiza 1829 Unknown 1815–1828 Julian de Guzman 1814 Evaristo Alvares 1813 Unknown 1812 Domingo Zoilan 7 July 1811–1811
Tourism
Mariveles' attractions, events and historical landmarks include: