I didn't, until last week when I began reading an interesting paper on the "History of Malabon-Navotas" by Salvador Sevilla, Santos Tiangco published in 1976.
According to this paper, Malabon and Navotas were part of the settlements or district ruled by Rajah Lakandula. Included in Lakandula's district were Tundo, Caloocan, Longos, Tonsuya, Catmon, Tenejeros, Maysilo, Dampalit, Malabon, Bangkulasi, Bagong Bayan, Navotas, Cotcot, Quebasco, Estanza, Wawa, Baesa and others.
On the other hand, Rajah Matanda's settlements or district were at the mouth of the Pasig River and along its north bank Maalat (now Malate, Paranaque, Pasig, Taguig, Las Pinas, San Felipe Neri and as far as Muntinlupa, and the present area of Intramuros and Parian which was the present China town in Binondo and San Nicolas, Manila).
In 1570, fifty years after Spain conquered the Philippines, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Andres de Urdaneta, an Augustinian father, with the help of Legaspi's grandson Juan de Salcedo, befriended Rajah Lakandula and Rajah Matanda.
The two agreed that their respective districts would be under the authority of Spain.
Tondo, the home settlement of Lakandula, was made into a "parroquia" or parish in 1599. In 1670 these settlements were converted into the town of Tambobong for civil administration under the leadership of the Captain Municipal. At the same time the parish or parroquia de San Bartolome was established in Tambobong.
Malabon and Navotas remained as settlements of the town of Tambobong until 1859 when it was split into two towns - the town of Malabon and the town of Navotas.
Navotas as created included all the land west of the Navotas River and the island barrio Tanza. The rest of Tambobong became the present town of Malabon.
