Except for a short time , Malate was always administered by the Augustinians . The priest of Malate also administered the town of Ermita from 1591 to 1610 , since the two barrios had been united by Governor-General Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas with the approval of Bishop Domingo de Salazar , O.P. Pasay separated from Malate under the name of Pineda on 17 May 1863 . Malate was also a place of recreation for the residents of the Walled City , a meeting place for noblemen , Tagalogs and their kings like Rajah Matanda and Rajah Soliman . It easily became " the most aristocratic barrio of Manila where Spaniards and mestizos dwelt . " In 1591 , Malate had only one church and one convent . The church and convent dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady ( Conception ) were damaged by the 1645 Luzon earthquake . San Agustin describes the latter as " a magnificent work of arches and stone . " Church and convent suffered heavily during the earthquake of 1645 . Then in 1667 , both structures were destroyed on orders of Gov. Sabiniano Manrique de Lara due to the threat posed by the pirate Koxinga
1645 Luzon earthquake
1645 Luzon earthquake
Malate Church