Tuklas Cavite! - Municipality of Ternate
MUNICIPALITY OF TERNATE
History
The municipality of Ternate was founded in 1663 when the Spanish Garrison of Ternate were forced to defend the the City of Manila from an incoming Chinese invasion to the city. A number of Merdicas volunteered to help and all throughout they resettled near the mouth of the Bahra de Maragondon also known as Maragondon River.
Eventually the name of the Municipality of Ternate is after the name of an island found in Indonesia where the descendants of the Merdicas originates and integrated with the locals during the Spanish colonial period.
Language
When the Merdicas community settled in Ternate, they also brought their language along them. The Merdicas Community spoke a Spanish Creole with Portuguese and Papuan language community in their language which is a dialect of the Chavacano language in our country. The language is called Ternateño Chabacano or locally known as "Bahra" which literaly means river.
Cavite, which is a province that is prodominantly Tagalog. Many Caviteños don't know that there is a language spoken in the Municipality of Ternate that is similar to Spanish.
Here is a video showing how the variant of the Chavacano language is spoken in Ternate:
Today, a lot of Caviteños are fascinated when they found out that native Ternateños spoke Chavacano which they thought that it is only spoken in the city of Zamboanga in Mindanao.
Food
The food here in Ternate is mainly based on seafoods due to their proximity near the sea. It is also important to know that the cuisine here might have influenced from the culture of the Merdicas from Ternate, Indonesia that eventually integrated with the locals when they first settled here during 1663.
Today, their delicacies are Talaba (Oyster), Oyster Chips, and Bagoong Alamang.
Culture
The Merdicas from Indonesia were Catholic natives that also brought their faith. Every 16th of January, Ternateños celebrate the Mardikas Festival with fluvial parades carrying the Municipality's patron, the Santo Niño de Barra.
It is also important to know that the Merdikas brought their language here in the Municipality making their language as one of the highlights of their culture that makes them unique to other municipaties found in Cavite and throughout the country.
The overall culture of Ternateños are mainly seen on their faith, Ternateño language, and their ancestry that can be traced back from their ancestors - The Merdicas.
Tourist Spots
The municipality of Ternate are filled with beautiful beaches, historical sites, and fascinating nature parks which tourists may enjoy throught their visit in the Municipality.
Boracay de Cavite a.k.a Katungkulan Beach
There are numerous beach resorts found in Ternate but Katungkulan Beach is one of the most notable beaches here in Ternate. The beach is located inside the Gregorio Lim Marine Base in Calumpang Ternate. The beach is usually full during weekends, holidays, holy week, and Christmas.
The beach gives a view to the Corregidor Island and the Mariveles mountain range of Bataan. This made this beach a great escape place from the bustling and busy streets of Metro Manila due to its proximity from the Metro.
Mt. Pico de Loro, Ternate, Cavite- Batangas
Mount Pico de Loro also known as Mount Palay-Palay is known because of its pointed summit that resembles a "Parrot's Beak" when seen from afar. This made this mountain hot from mountain climbers because of the monolith. The summit also gives a beautiful 360-degree view to protected landcapes, beaches, and an unobstructed view of Manila Bay, Cavite, and Batangas.
It was build during the American colonization period by the United States in 1909 as a harbor defenses. This island is under the jurisdiction of the City of Cavite but it is commonly mistaken that it is under the jurisdiction of Ternate.
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