The Neolithic stone engravings of the
Angono Petroglyphs archaeological site represent the earliest evidence of human settlement in the region. The site contains earthenware fragments and remains of animals such as turtles and
Elephas sp. The area was inhabited by both
Tagalog and
Aeta peoples before the arrival of the Spanish.
Spanish colonial era Binangonan was initially a visita of the pueblo (town) of
Moron, until it was separated and became an independent parish in 1621 through the initiatives of
Franciscan missionaries. The town was established in 1737 and conquered by the Spaniards in 1763. Originally, it was organized under the province of
La Laguna, until it was transferred to the newly established
Distrito de Morong on February 23, 1853. On October 12, 1903, by virtue of Act No. 942, it was annexed to the town
Morong alongside
Baras and
Cardona. However, the act was amended by virtue of Act No. 984 on November 6, 1903, wherein Binangonan regained its independent status by separating from Morong and gaining
Angono from
Taytay.
Japanese occupation During World War II, Binangonan was one of the evacuation centers for the residents of Manila and neighboring suburbs. People hid in the mountains and in Talim Island. The war brought untold difficulties and sufferings. Schools were temporarily closed; professionals turned to fishing, buy and sell for living. Many died of starvation, malnutrition and diseases while others survived by eating camote tops, papaya, corn, coconut and vegetables. Months after the Japanese occupied the town, Faustino Antiporda organized Bantay Sunog, a brigade tasked in maintaining peace and order by providing volunteer males as nightly guards against looters and trouble makers. In April 1942, Marcos Villa Agustin founded Marking's Guerrillas, and recruited heavily in Binangonan area. During the summer of 1942, the Rizal Cement Factory employees took action against the Japanese in the area. Led by Trinidad Diaz, the factory cashier and Home Guard lieutenant, they killed five Japanese, including a naval architect, and turned their launch over to Marking's Guerrillas. The Japanese took revenge, killing known resisters in the area, and torturing Diaz for 32 days, but she did not divulge the guerrilla's locations. Major Teofilo Cenido was appointed mayor of the provost marshal of military police. Weapons available then were one Springfield Rifle and five Granadora from five USAFFE soldiers who escaped from Bataan. Talim Island was also subjected to Japanese sona. On August 7, 1942, bombs were dropped in the neighboring towns killing four in Janosa and claiming a number of casualties in Cardona. Suspected guerillas were brought to
Santa Cruz, Laguna. Even the parish priest at that time, a Columbian Fr. Martin Strong, was held in Los Baños concentration camp. Late in 1944, the Makapilis, a group of pro-Japanese Filipinos, occupied the convent and served as Japanese interpreters. They were instruments in the cruelties suffered by the Filipinos. In January 1945, the Japanese took the convent from the Makapilis and put up their headquarters. But they only stayed there for one week, scared of the nightly apparitions of a white lady believed to be the ghost haunting the convent. Mayor Emerenciano Unida was killed by the Japanese when he refused to reveal the guerrilla organization.
Philippine independence Binangonan was liberated from the Japanese forces on February 25, 1945, the feast day of the patroness of the town, Santa Ursula. The Japanese' plan to burn the town was prevented by the timely arrival of American forces on the eve of the feast day. The local guerillas, with Major Ceñido deploying his men in Bunot Mountain, prevented the escape of Japanese forces. The Japanese peacefully retreated and pulled their forces out. After celebrations by residents, the American and Filipino military commander instructed the guerillas led by Major Ceñido to set up temporary headquarters in poblacion and to do surveillance work. When the combined Filipino and American troops proceeded to Angono, they left the command under the local Military Police, composed of all units in Binangonan. Napoleon Antazo, the town commander of the
Hunters ROTC guerillas, was appointed mayor through the orders of the 43rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. Next to be appointed town mayor from 1945 to 1946 was Casimiro Ynares Sr., son of Don Jose Ynares. When the Philippines became a Republic in 1946, the municipal government was allowed greater autonomy.
Post-war accomplishments The first mayor after
World War II was Jose Pacis from 1946 to 1951. Among his accomplishments were as follows: • Construction of wharf linking the Muella de Santa Ursula to Pritil. • Construction of a modern public market, a self-liquidating project funded by the Rehabilitation Finance Corporation. • Construction of combined basketball courts and tennis courts in the town's plaza. • Beautification of the Kalbaryo. • Additional artesian wells. • Construction of a new street extending from Munting Bundok to M. H. del Pilar Street, the only one in eastern Rizal at that time, which was completed with P25,000 donated by ex-Senator
Vicente Madrigal to Mayor Jose Pacis. == Geography ==