Mendez, officially the Municipality of Mendez-Nuñez (), is a municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
Etymology The municipality of Mendez-Nuñez was originally known as "Gahitan", one of the many barrios of Indang. The name was derived from the word "gahit" meaning "to cut", because the people then had to cut down tall and thick cogon grass that abounded in the place in order to clear areas for agricultural and residential purpose.
History Over time, the number of houses in Gahitan grew, leading the sitio to become a barrio and eventually a full-fledged town on December 1, 1875, thanks to Governor-General Jose Malcampo y Monje (1874-1877). consolidated the three barrios of Gahitan, Palocpoc, and Anuling into an independent municipality named Méndez Núñez, in honor of the Spanish naval officer and close friend, Commodore Casto Méndez Núñez.
In 1856, when they were still Spanish naval officers, Malcampo and Mendez-Nuñez, established the first Masonic lodge in Kawit under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Portugal. The friendship of these two officers had been tested in many a battle against Muslim pirates in Mindanao.
Pedro Aure was the gobernadorcillo of Mendez during its first year as a municipality in 1876. Cayetano Aure, perhaps a relative of Pedro, was the first and only capitan municipal of Mendez during the First Philippine Republic (1899-1901). Pedro's son, Marcelino Aure, became a famous general during the Philippine Revolution. His nom de guerre was Alapaap (Cloud).
Mendez continued to be a municipality from 1875 to October 15, 1903 when, under Act No. 947 of the Philippine Commission, reduced the 23 municipalities of Cavite to eleven. Mendez and Bailen (now General Emilio Aguinaldo) were incorporated into the municipality of Alfonso.
But 12 years later, on January 1, 1915, Mendez regained its independent status as a municipality of Cavite.
Geography The municipality of Mendez is located from Metro Manila and is accessible via Aguinaldo Highway. It is one of the smallest and upland towns of Cavite province. It is bounded to the north and east by Indang, to the south by Tagaytay, and to the west by Alfonso.
Barangays Mendez is politically subdivided into 24 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate While it shares a general climate as the rest of the province Mendez' climate, due to its proximity to Tagaytay, is tropical highland, with low temperatures most especially during the early dry season.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Mendez was 36,518 people, with a density of .
Economy
Government
Elected officials The following are the elected officials of the municipality elected last May 9, 2022 to a term lasting until June 30, 2025: PositionOfficialMayor Francisco T. Mendoza Jr. (NUP)Vice MayorRaygan N. Dimapilis (Aksyon) Sangguniang Bayan MembersPartyJose N. AuditorAksyonRoilan G. OrtizNUPRazel V. EsguerraAksyonPaulino S. Dimaranan Jr.NUPAlexander S. OcampoNUPRomulo L. MartinezNUPRuby Lita A. Bay-RemigioNUPRey RocilloN/A
Education The Mendez Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.
Primary and elementary schools
Amora 828 Christian Academy Anuling Elementary School Asis Elementary School Gahitan Elementary School Galicia Elementary School Green Grove Academy Mary's Greenfield Academy Mendez Central School Palocpoc Elementary School Panungyan Elementary School Saint Augustine School Saint Genevieve Global School of Science San Isidro Montessori St. Agnes Gracious School Tagaytay-Mendez Academy Witty Minds Montessori School Young Kwang Gukje School
Secondary schools
Anuling Integrated High School Constancio E. Aure Sr. National High School Mendez Christian Academy Mendez-Nuñez Montessori Mendez-Nuñez National High School Palocpoc National High School Pedro Alegre Aure Senior High School
Notable people
Gallery
References
External links
Profile: Mendez, Cavite - Official Website of the Province of Cavite Profile: Mendez, Cavite - DILG Calabarzon Region [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information