Historical Facts

Originally known as village of Camaya, belonging to the corregimiento of Mariveles. Served as checking point for ships entering or leaving Manila Bay. Invaded by the Dutch in 1600 and 1609. Assumed each present name when the province of Bataan was created in 1754. Witnessed the surrender of Major Manuel L. Quezon in 1901, Gen. Artemio Ricarte in 1904 and Major Gen. Edward P. King Jr. in 1942. Starting point of the Death March on April 1942.

Historical accounts referred to Mariveles as the refilling stop for merchant ships before coming into Manila Bay. The Chinese pirate Li Ma Hong was recorded to have briefly stopped in Camaya (former name of Mariveles) for fresh water and supplies before proceeding to attack Manila. Mariveles also figured in the revolt against Spain with a handful of Katipuneros laying siege on a Spanish camp just as the uprising was declared. During the 2nd World War, the municipality served as the temporary camp for the captured Filipino and American soldiers who defended Corregidor and Bataan. Thus, the gruelling "Death March" to Capaz, Tarlac started in Mariveles, and another point in Bagac.

PRESENT

Mariveles is now a first class municipality in terms of its income, accredited mostly to big establishments exiting in the municipality; consequently, they also have a high employment rate. Mostly engineers, skilled and unskilled laborers, technical men from the province and other towns and cities.

Mariveles at present is a far cry from the role it played from the pre-Spanish and pre-war days. It now hosts the country's first economic zone, first petrochemical industrial estate and plastic city (a petrochemical down stream industrial zone specializing in polyethylene sheets), a grain handling terminal (ATI-SMC) and an integrated footwear manufacturing plants based in the zone. The town is now a conurbation of different Filipino and foreign cultures as local migrants flock to the municipality for job and livelihood opportunities. Foreign expatriates associated with export manufacturing firms have also established their residence in Mariveles.