Amadeo, Cavite

Amadeo, officially the Municipality of Amadeo, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 41,901 people.

Etymology
The town got its name after King Amadeo I of Spain (the only Spanish monarch from the Italian House of Savoy). The town was previously known as Masilao (from Tagalog masilaw, "dazzling"), named after the glaring red flowers of the dapdap plant (Erythrina variegata) common in the area.

History
Amadeo traces its origin to a barangay of Silang named Masilaw. It was separated to become an independent town named Amadeo on July 15, 1872, care of Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutiérrez. It initially consisted of eight barangays, all formerly of Silang town: Halang, Pangil, Banaybanay, Bukal, Maitim, Minantok, Salaban, and Talon. During its first 21 years, revolutionists gave it the Tagalog name of Maypag-ibig (With Love), in line with the revolutionary policy of giving native names to towns with foreign names to eliminate signs of the country's colonial past.

On October 15, 1903, it was returned to Silang by virtue of Act No. 947, as the Provincial Executive was displeased of how Amadeo was governed. It regained its independent status on January 1915 under Cavite Governor Antero Soriano. Previously composed of 13 barrios, 12 additional barangays, all in the poblacion, were established in 1972 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 86. In 1985, Minatok was divided into two barangays, Minatok Silangan and Minatok Kanluran, following a plebiscite.

On February 15, 1989, Mayor Jeremias Villanueva and his security man Virgilio Lascano were assassinated by three gunmen riding a vehicle in front of his rented townhouse in Las Piñas, Metro Manila. Four suspects, including a Manila policeman from Amadeo, were later captured in Parañaque a month later on March 16, and by next day, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that the assassination was ordered by Villanueva's political rival, former Mayor Reynaldo Bayot.

Barangays
Amadeo is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Currently, there are 12 barangays which are classified as urban.

Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Amadeo, was 41,901 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Culture
Amadeo is best known for its Pahimis Festival, which showcases the town's coffee industry. It is usually held on the last weekend of February and its town fiesta is held on the last Sunday of April.