Coordinates 54520N182510N Name Pasay City Official name City of Pasay Native name Lungsod ng Pasay Settlement type Highly-Urbanized City Motto Aim High Pasay! Image seal Ph seal ncr pasay.png Seal size 100px Map caption Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Pasay City. Pushpin map Pushpin label position Subdivision type Country Subdivision name Subdivision type1 Region Subdivision name1 National Capital Region Subdivision type2 Province Subdivision name2 none Subdivision type3 Districts Subdivision name3 Lone District of Pasay City Subdivision type4 Barangays Subdivision name4 201 Leader title Mayor Leader name Antonino G. Calixto (Liberal) Leader title1 Vice Mayor Leader name1 Marlon A. Pesebre (Liberal//PMP) Leader title2 Sangguniang Panlungsod Leader name2 Established title2 Incorporated (town) Established date2 December 2, 1863 Established title3 Incorporated (city) Established date3 June 21, 1947 Unit pref Area total km2 19 Population as of 2007 Population total 403,064 Population density km2 21213 Timezone PST Utc offset +8 Elevation footnotes Postal code type ZIP code Postal code 13001309 Area code 2 Website Official Website of Pasay City Footnotes }}
The City of Pasay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasay) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Paraaque City to the south.
Pasay City was one of the original four cities of Metro Manila. Due to its proximity to Manila, it quickly became an urban town during the American Period.
In one version, the name of the municipality came from the wail of a brokenhearted swain. Jose and Paz were in love with each other and were intent on a life together, but Jose's father was a mere tenant of the hacienda of Paz's father. For this reason, their love was forbidden and Jose was ordered to stay away from Paz. Unable to bear her misfortune, Paz died.
At her funeral, the elite came to mourn and pray as Jose watched from a distance. As soon as everyone left, Jose dug a tunnel into the earth to be with Paz. Once joined, he let out a sharp and anguished cry "Paz-ay!" In sorrow and regret, the parents of Paz named their hacienda Paz-ay. In time, the town came to be known simply as Pasay.
Historians have another explanation for the origin of the name of the city. It is said that back in the day, Pasay was thick with pasaw, a plant with an exotic aroma. It was said that a Spanish botanist, Antonio Pineda, frequented a place called Basal in the vicinity of San Rafael to gather pasaw.
The version deemed to be most credible is that Pasay was named after a princess of the Namayan Kingdom, Dayang-dayang Pasay. The Namayan Kingdom was a confederation of barangays that began to peak in 1175 and extended from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay. Dayang-dayang Pasay inherited the lands now comprising the territories of Culi-culi, Pasay and Baclaran. The royal capital of the kingdom was built in Sapa, known today as Santa Ana.
The natives brought their products to the capital of Namayan. Trading flourished during the 12th to the 14th centuries. Merchants from Japan, China, Moluccas, Java, Borneo, Sumatra, India, Siam, and Cambodia came to trade with the natives.
Pasay's name may also have originated from the Spanish Paso hay meaning there is a pass. This referred to the paths cleared among the grass leading to the southern portions from Manila.
In 1727, the name of the Pasay settlement was changed to Pineda in honor of Don Cornelio Pineda, a Spanish horticulturist who requested for guardias civiles for protection from bandits. The name Pineda, along with Pasay, was used as the name of the place until the early 20th century.