Pateros, Philippines
Region: Metro Manila
Geographic Coordinates: 14.541700, 121.067000
Temperature Range: 25.0°C to 35.0°C (77°F to 95°F)
Climate: Tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Population: 65227
Language: Tagalog
Pateros is a municipality situated in the eastern part of Metro Manila, Philippines. It is renowned for its production of balut, A Filipino delicacy made from fertilized duck eggs that are boiled and eaten with salt or vinegar. Pateros is also famous for its colorful and vibrant fiesta celebration called Binyagan Festival, Which takes place every January. The town’s name comes from the Tagalog word pato, Meaning duck. As such, It has been nicknamed as the Duck-raising Capital of the Philippines. The town’s economy heavily relies on duck farming and egg production, With many households engaged in this industry.
Visitors can visit local farms to witness how ducks are raised and learn about the process of making balut. Apart from being a hub for duck-related products, Pateros also has several historical landmarks worth visiting. One such landmark is Plaza de Borja where one can find an old Spanish-era church called San Roque Parish Church built-in 1620 by Franciscan missionaries featuring Baroque-style architecture and housing valuable religious artifacts.
Another must-visit spot in Pateros is Fort Santiago de Balara built during the Spanish colonial period to protect Manila from invaders later used as a prison camp during World War II by Japanese forces. For nature lovers, There’s an eco-park located within Pateros called Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure (NHCS).
This park serves as both a flood control system and recreational area where visitors can enjoy activities like fishing or boating while taking in scenic views of Laguna Lake. food enthusiasts will delight in exploring Pateros’ food scene beyond balut offering various local dishes like kakanin (rice cakes), Sinigang na ulo ng salmon (salmon head sour soup), Adobong pato (duck adobo), And pansit Pateros (a type of stir-fried noodles). Overall, Although small in size, Pateros has a lot to offer for travelers seeking cultural and historical experiences, Nature adventures or simply a taste of authentic Filipino cuisine.
- Balut Making – Pateros is known for its balut (a fertilized duck egg) production. Tourists can visit the local farms and learn about the process of making balut.
- Plaza de Borja – This is a public park in Pateros that features a statue of Gat Andres Bonifacio, a Filipino revolutionary leader.
- San Roque Parish Church – A Catholic church located in Pateros that was built during the Spanish colonial period.
- Luntiang Pilipinas Park – A nature park located along the Pasig River that features various plants and trees native to the Philippines.
- Pasig River Ferry Service – The ferry service allows tourists to explore Manila’s historic sites along the Pasig River from Pateros to Intramuros.
- Balsa sa Niugan Floating Restaurant – A floating restaurant where visitors can enjoy Filipino cuisine while cruising on Laguna de Bay.
- Kambal Pandesal Bakery – Famous bakery known for its freshly baked pandesal (Filipino bread roll).
- Pasig Rainforest Park – Nature park with several trails through lush greenery.
- Pateros Municipal Hall – Historical building in town center.
- Pasig City Museum – Museum showcasing cultural heritage of Pasig City.
- Duck raising and egg production – Pateros is known for its balut (fertilized duck egg) industry, which is a popular delicacy in the Philippines.
- Handicrafts – The town is also famous for its handicrafts made from bamboo and rattan such as baskets, trays, and furniture.
- Food processing – Pateros has several food processing companies that produce various products like noodles, sauces, and snacks.
- Retail trade – The town has numerous small retail stores selling various products like groceries, clothing, and household items.
- Manufacturing – There are also a few manufacturing companies in Pateros that produce products such as plastics and metal works.
- Services – Some of the services offered in Pateros include health care services through hospitals or clinics; financial services through banks or lending institutions; transportation services through public transport vehicles such as jeepneys or tricycles; educational services offered by schools or universities; among others.
- The Battle of Pateros occurred on August 30, 1896. It was a significant event during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. The Katipunan forces, led by Andres Bonifacio, defeated the Spanish troops stationed in Pateros.
- Jose Rizal, who is considered the national hero of the Philippines, visited Pateros in 1886 and documented his experience in his diary.
- Emilio Jacinto was a revolutionary leader and writer who played an important role in the Battle of Pateros as a close associate of Andres Bonifacio.
- Juan Luna was a renowned Filipino painter who produced some of his famous works while residing in Pateros from 1887 to 1890.
- Florentino Cayco Sr., a prominent educator and public servant, was born and raised in Pateros. He served as the first Filipino president of the University of Philippines.
- Pedro Tunasan is credited with inventing the pukot – a traditional fishing net used by fishermen all over the Philippines – while he worked as a fisherman from Pateros.
- During World War II, Japanese forces occupied Pateros and used it as their base for operations until they were driven out by American forces in February 1945.
- Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) caused severe flooding across Metro Manila including devastating effects on property & infrastructure which resulted in numerous deaths when it hit on September 2009 affecting even areas like Pateros.
- Pateros Museum showcases the history and culture of Pateros, including its famous balut industry.
- St. Martha Parish Church is a beautiful church that dates back to the Spanish colonial era.
- Visitors can observe how balut, a popular Filipino delicacy, is made in Pateros through the Balut Industry.
- Plaza de Borja is a public park that features a statue of Gat Andres Bonifacio, one of the Philippines’ national heroes.
- Pasig River Ferry Station offers visitors the opportunity to take a scenic boat ride along the Pasig River and see various landmarks along the way.
- Fort Bonifacio Global City is a modern commercial district with shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
- Ayala Triangle Gardens is a lush green space in Makati City where visitors can relax and enjoy outdoor activities like picnics or jogging.
- The Philippine Army Museum Library & Archives (PAMLA) showcases the history of Philippine Army from pre-colonial times to present-day operations with exhibits on weapons used by soldiers throughout history as well as photographs documenting important events such as World War II battles fought on Philippine soil against Japanese forces during WWII.
- Pateros Town Fiesta is celebrated annually on January 26th to honor the town’s patron saint, St. Martha.
- The Balut sa Puti Festival takes place every April and celebrates the famous local delicacy, balut (boiled duck embryo), with cooking contests and street dance competitions.
- The Tinawagang Bayan Festival is held in May to mark the town’s independence from Taguig in 1904.
- Every August, Pateros celebrates its thriving duck industry with a Duck Festival that features a parade of decorated ducks and various competitions.
- During the Christmas season, locals showcase traditional Filipino lanterns or parols made by artisans in Pateros at the Parol Festival.
- On August 16th each year, San Roque’s Feast Day honors the patron saint of dogs who protected Pateros from a rabies outbreak in the early 1900s.
- Balut – a fertilized duck egg that is boiled and eaten as a snack or appetizer. It can be found in many street food stalls and markets in Pateros.
- Adobo – a Filipino dish made with chicken or pork cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and other spices. This dish can be found in many local restaurants.
- Lechon Manok – roasted chicken that is marinated with spices and herbs before being cooked over an open flame. There are several lechon manok stalls around Pateros.
- Pancit – stir-fried noodles mixed with vegetables, meat or seafood which can be found at various eateries around the area.
- Kwek-kwek – hard-boiled quail eggs coated with orange batter then deep-fried until crispy which can be bought from street vendors.
- Mang Inasal – a fast-food chain restaurant that serves grilled chicken dishes
- Sisig Hooray – another chain restaurant known for their sizzling sisig dishes
- Crisostomo – offers traditional Filipino cuisine including adobo and sinigang
- Kanto Freestyle Breakfast – serves all-day breakfast meals such as tapsilog (marinated beef with garlic rice)
- Lola Idang’s Original Pancit Malabon – known for their signature pancit Malabon dish
- Pateros Park is a small park situated at the heart of town, ideal for picnics and relaxation.
- The Pateros Sports Complex is a versatile sports facility that offers amenities for basketball, volleyball, and badminton.
- San Roque Park is a community park with playground equipment and picnic areas.
- The Pateros Riverwalk is a picturesque walkway along the Pasig River that provides stunning views of the city skyline.
- Fishing at Laguna de Bay is one of the most popular activities in Pateros since it’s known for its fishing industry; visitors can try their luck at catching fish in Laguna de Bay.
- Bicycle tours around town are an excellent way to explore Pateros’ streets and local attractions by renting bicycles.
- Martial arts training can be found in many martial arts schools that offer classes in traditional Filipino fighting styles like arnis or eskrima.
- Bird watching at Napindan Bird Sanctuary located along the Pasig River near Taguig City; this sanctuary houses several species of migratory birds that visit from September to March each year.
