The etymology of Mansalay is thought of to have originated from a conversation between the indigenous
datu of Mansalay at the time, Abucay, and Spanish
conquistadores. When Spanish conquistadors arrived at present-day Mansalay, they inquired the datu of Mansalay, Abucay, about the name of the area. To which, Datu Abucay responded with the phrase:
"Man may malay" in the indigenous language which meant "I don't know." Indicating the failure of Datu Abucay to understand the inquiry of the Spanish conquistadors. Subsequently, they (Spanish conquistadors) thought that Abucay gave the real name of the area in spite of the clear language barrier. Henceforth, Spanish conquistadors recorded the area's name as
Mansalay. Prior to the Spanish arrival, and eventual colonisation in the Philippines, Mansalay was inhabited by migrants from nearby islands in the Philippine archipelago such as
Palawan and
Panay. During the
Spanish colonisation of the Philippines, Mansalay was under the jurisdiction of the government of
Mangarin, Mindoro. (present-day
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.) In the year of 1901, during the
Philippine-American War, Mansalay was occupied by American forces. On 24 July 1929, Mansalay was made its own municipality by a bill authored by Mariano Leuterio, representative at the time for Mindoro. Teotimo P. Cusi became the first Municipal-President. During the later-
Interwar years, Mansalay attracted migrants from provinces in
Central Luzon,
Batangas,
Romblon, and
Capiz. On 16 December 1944, Mansalay was liberated by American troops from the Japanese occupation forces in the
Battle of Mindoro ==Geography==