Incoming Rizal 4th district Representative Fidel Nograles said on June 29 that the  reversion of the Municipality of Rodriguez to its former name, Montalban, is “an expression of the people’s will and an end to confusion.” 

The measure to revert to Montalban’s name, House Bill 889, lapsed into law early June after a month of being transmitted to the Office of the President. 

“Republic Act No. 11812 now puts a stamp of authority on the widely-accepted practice of calling our town Montalban, and ourselves, Montalbeños,” Nograles said in a statement. 

The municipality garnered its name from its Spanish roots “Monte” meaning “mountain, to refer to the hills within and around the area.

The town’s name, changed in 1982, was in honor of the late Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, a native of Montalban. 

“Ipinangako natin sa mga kababayan nating nakiusap na ilalaban natin ang pagbalik ng Montalban, kaya nagagalak akong ibalita na natupad ito [We promised (this to) our townspeople who asked that we push for the reversion to Montalban, so I am glad to report that this has been accomplished,” Nograles said.

He also said that legislating customs are tricky, and that people cannot be forced to simply accept a preferred town’s name because it is a topic of history, norms, and customs. 

He also emphasized the importance of building consensus among the stakeholders for similar endeavors. 

Photo Credit: Official Website of the Rizal Provincial Government