Dubbed as the "Fishing Capital of the Philippines", Navotas is considered to be a very important fishing community with 70% of its population deriving their livelihood directly or indirectly from fishing and its related industries like fish trading, fish net mending, and fish producing, having marginal percentage of inter-Island fish producers.

Things that Marked the City of Navotas

Being the fish capital of the country, Navotas is also famous for its patis (fish sauce) and bagoong (shrimp paste). It is the city means of livelihood and in fact they have been developed it into a Marine Industrial Estate. This allows local fishermen to make a living by their catch in public markets or to private companies that engage in seafood production and other similar industries.

If you want to enjoy one of the Philippine’s culture, Navotas has its own way of celebrating fiestas and festivals. Their annual celebration of Pangisdaan is the most anticipated and grandest event in the city. Held every 16th of January, the revelry is a tribute to every bountiful catch of fish in the city. People of Navotas express their deep gratitude to their main source of income which is fishing and this thanksgiving is pictured through the Pangisdaan Festival.

Navotas City is surrounded with different attractions that may give pleasure to every visitor. There are various first-class hotels and resorts perfect to spend leisure time. Other attraction is the city’s Agora Market where one can get the freshest and tastiest sea food every day.

San Jose de Navotas Parish Church

San Jose de Navotas was the name given to the locality after its patron saint, Saint Joseph. On June 11, 1859, a "Superior Decreto" established a new parish and municipality under the supervision of Friar Matias Navoa. The populace was divided into two distinct groups, the naturales (locals) and the mestizos. Mariano Estrellas was the gobernadorcillo (petty governor) of the naturales and Mariano Israel, of the mestizos. Today, because records are incomplete, recognition is only given to the gobernadorcillos for the mestizos. A school in honor of San Jose was built and known as "San Jose Academy."

Did you know?

The entire region of Navotas was once part of Malabon. According to one legend, the long and narrow delta extended unbroken from north to south along the seashore. The strip of land between the former district of Tondo, Manila and this town was eaten away by the sea until an opening was made. Water began to flow through the opening. The geographical change prompted the people to refer to the place as "butas", "nayon ng butas", or "nabutas", a Tagalog word that means breached or pierced through. What began is a natural channel developed into a regular waterway, now known as the Navotas River. In later years, the place came to be known as "Nabotas", then "Navotas".

Getting around

The most common means for transportation available in the city are buses, jeepneys, taxis, and tricycles. Small but convenient and very affordable tricycles ply around the city. Just say where you are going and they will bring you as fast as possible. Jeepneys also ply around with their own respective fixed routes.

Take the Roxas Boulevard Extension from Rizal Park. All public transits (bus, jeeps, tricycles and taxis) have routes going to Navotas.