It was Las Estancias during the Spanish time. In 1914, the town adopted the name of its patron saint, Francis of Assissi, and became known as San Francisco de Malabon. In 1920, the town was named to honor its most famous son, General Mariano Trias.

General Mariano Trias was the de facto first Vice President of the Philippines when, in the Tejeros Convention presided by Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo was elected President. A marker is found in  the house where Andres Bonifacio stayed in General Trias. This same house has hosted Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, and Elpidio Quirino.

house where Andres Bonifacio stayed while in town

The Tejeros Convention is also said to be where  the Armed Forces of the Philippines was founded. Several signages around town proclaim that, although there are no indications of such at the Tejeros Convention hall itself. I can only conclude that indeed it was, because the Tejeros Convention was a meeting of the generals.

site of the Tejeros Convention, rebuilt from the ashes of the revolution

remains of the old hall

tunnel connects to the river

Another famous son of this town is Diego Mojica who, together with Mariano Trias and Nocolas Portilla, led the “First Cry of Cavite”.

The town hall is huge and impressive. It was built only recently, with the old town hall building now the headquarters of the Police Department.

The St Francis of Assissi church sits next to the beautiful town hall, sharing the well maintained plaza. It was at this church where the Philippine National Anthem was ever played by a marching band, played by the Banda Malabon, now known as the Banda Matanda.

Another famous church is Our Lady of Guadalupe, patterned after the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe on the hills of Tepeyac in Mexico City, the most famous pilgrimage site in the western hemisphere

Indeed, history is written all over this town. The sight of charming old homes makes one re-live those old glorious days.

Today the town is a first class municipality, the third largest town in the province of Cavite. It is host to a modern Lyceum of the Philippines campus, and to several industrial estates :  Gateway Business Park in Javalera, the New Cavite Industrial Estate in Manggahan, and the Cavite Export Zone which is so huge that the whole complex extends all the way to the next town of Rosario. Manufacturing facilities of big brands have also set up, even outside of these zones. Purefoods Hormel. Magnolia. Royal Tern Ceramics Philippines.

the Lyceum of the Philippines with its sleek, ultra modern 21st century design

Gateway Business Park : Intel (was) inside !

All the symbols of modern life can be seen as well. McDonald’s, Jollibee, KFC, Mercury Drug, HBC, plus a host of local restaurants. The Manggahan end of General Trias has developed so much one would think it is the center of town. As a testament to this development, the muncipal government built a Town Hall Annex in the area.

so does the mayor also hold office here every so often?

Hotels and resorts have also set up. La Traviesa in Barangay Buenavista is a Balinese-themed resort hotel with a function room that accommodates as much as 300 guests. Microtel Inn & Suites along Javalera is at the gates of a golf course, Eagle Ridge.

LA TRAVIESA

the function room of La Traviesa sits 300 guests

the spa, with a sauna in the premises

La Traviesa is at No. 73, Buenavista II, General trias. Room rates start at p2,200 for 2 persons. The attic can accommodate 10 persons for P10,000.00. Rates inclusive of breakfast and use of pool. The resort also allows visitors to use the pool with charges. Contact La Traviesa at (046) 4893450 or mobile 09228649512, 09993667404. Email latraviesaresort@yahoo.com.

MICROTEL INN

the lobby

The Suite

Double

Eagle Ridge Golf Club

Microtel Inn is at the Eagle Ridge Golf & Residential Estate, Amadeo Road, General Trias, Cavite. Room rates start at P2,600++ for single occupancy, and P3,200++ for double. A suite is at p4,000++. Contact Microtel Inn at (046) 5093333 or book thru their Manila office at 6717171, or mobile 09178881800

HOW TO GO TO GENERAL TRIAS

Remember that some people still call it Malabon, in case you have to ask. But its most popular name now is simply GenTri.

One can go to GenTri via the towns of  Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario (known to others as Salinas). GenTri is right after Rosario. On public transportation, jeepneys and mini buses can be hailed in Baclaran to go to Rosario, usually with the EPZA sign.If no Rosario-bound transportation is within sight, transportation to Cavite City will do, getting off at Noveleta. Tricycles can be arranged to take passengers to Gentri poblacion passing thru Bacao Road.

GenTri can also be accessed from the Aguinaldo Hi-way from Dasmarinas, at the junction called Governor’s Drive. It is an easier drive from SLEX to Dasmarinas via Carmona, crossing Aguinaldo Hi-way until you reach Manggahan in GenTri. Public transportation is also available in the jeepney terminal across from Robinson’s in Dasmarinas.

TRIVIA: Jasmine Trias of the American idol fame is a descendant of General Mariano Trias.