Magallanes (Bendita I) | municipality, third-level administrative division

 municipality, draw only border, third-level administrative division

Municipality: Magallanes
Province: Cavite

Magallanes began its history as a barrio called Panitan, then a part of the municipality of Maragondon. Panitan was derived from the Tagalog word panit (to remove the bark of a tree). Long before the coming of the Spaniards, there grew along the mountainside of this barrio big called Bitangcol which provide a source of income for the people. The barks of the trees are removed (panitan) and used as containers for storing palay or unhusked rice. The fibers of the barks were removed and twined into durable ropes. Because of this unusual occupation of the people the barrio came to be known as Panitan of Banitan.


The first inhabitants of Panitan were Isidro Baltao, Glicerio Manalo, Florentino Mojica, and Ignacio Arat. Time came when the people, tired of travelling the long distance to the poblacion of Maragondon, decided to seek the separation of the barrio and its conversion into an independent municipality. Isidro Balto headed a three-man delegation to Manila to petition the Spanish governor-general for the conversion of Panitan into a town. The governor-general promptly approved the petition. While still in Manila Baltao and his companions were walking along the paved streets of Intramuros when they came upon Magallanes street and, then and there, they decided to recommend that the new municipality be named Magallanes in honor of Ferdinand Magellan.

Geographic Location

The municipality of Alfonso is an upland town situated at the southwestern peripheral boundary of the province, and lies on the coordinates of 14º05 ‘ latitude. The boundary limits are municipality of Indang to the north, Batangas province to the south, Gen. Aguinaldo and Magallanes to the west and Mendez-Nuñez to the east.

Land Area: 7,307 has.

Number of Barangays: 16

Population (NSCB, As of August 1, 2007): 21,217

Income Class: 4th

Major Income Sources: Coffee Production

Seat of Government: De Guia st., Poblacion 4,Magallanes, Cavite

Congressional District: 7Th

Registered Voters (NSCB, 2004): 12,895