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Bulacan - Land of Heroes
When studying Philippine
History, Bulacan is one of the provinces that are usually mentioned.
Many notable heroes and patriots were born in Bulacan. The list
includes brothers Marcelo and Gregorio del Pilar, Francisco
‘Balagtas’ Baltazar, Maximo Viola, and Jose Corazon
de Jesus. These individuals were responsible in the formation
of Philippine democracy to what the Filipinos know now. Also,
the city of Malolos is where the first Constitution in Asia
was drafted.
But Bulacan is not only famous
for its historical value. The province has grown to become one
of the lead suppliers of water and energy for Metro Manila and
nearby provinces, thanks to the Angat, Bustos and Ipo Dam. Also,
several commercial resorts have been built in Bulacan, making
it another popular destination during summer.
Demographics
1. Population – 2,826,926
(as of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area –2,265 sq. km
3. Capital – Malolos City
4. Language/Dialect – Tagalog, Kapampangan, English, and Filipino
5. Divisions
Cities (3)
- Malolos City
- Meycauayan City
- San Jose Del Monte City
Municipalities (21)
- Angat
- Balagtas (Bigaa)
- Baliuag
- Baliuag
- Bulacan or Bulakan
- Bustos
- Calumpit
- Doña Remedios Trinidad
- Guiguinto
- Hagonoy
- Marilao
- Norzagaray
- Obando
- Pandi
- Paombong
- Plaridel
- Pulilan
- San Ildefonso
- San Miguel
- San Rafael
- Santa Maria
Famous For ...
Malolos Congress
at Barasoain Church
After the Declaration of Independence at Kawit, Cavite, the
Malolos Congress, established at the Barasoain Church, drafted
the first constitution of the Philippines. This served as the
next big step that the Filipino freedom fighters took towards
achieving liberty and sovereignty.
Fertility Dance Festival
The municipality of Obando is famed for its fertility dance
festival. Here, couples who have not yet been blessed to have
a child dance on the street, believing that their fertility
will be increased. Other dance here in the hope of finding their
one true love.
Biak-na-Bato
The signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel in 1897
between the Filipinos and the Spaniards happened here.
Places of Interest
Cultural
Barasoain Ecclesiastical
Museum
Location: Barasoain Church, Brgy. San Gabriel, Malolos City,
Bulacan
The museum, managed by the National Historical Institute, houses
religious artifacts from the Spanish era. These artifacts came
from all over the province.
Museo ng Bulakan
/ Bulacan Museum
Location: Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan
It houses a collection of valuable relics and mementos, articles,
documents and handicrafts of the Philippine revolution.
Casa Real Shrine
Location: Brgy. San Agustin, Malolos City, Bulacan
A printing press during the Malolos Republic, the Casa Real
was restored in 1852 and converted into a municipal library.
It is now a museum under the management of the National Historical
Institute and serves as the final repository of still existing
memorabilia.
Historical
Barasoain Church
Location: Brgy. San Gabriel, Malolos City, Bulacan
This was the site of the Constitutional Convention of the first
Philippine Republic, making the Philippines the very first Asian
Government to promulgate a Constitution.
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
Shrine
Location: Bulacan, Bulacan
The shrine is in honor of the great propagandist and editor
of revolutionary paper La Solidaridad. It houses several memorablia
and photos of one of the great sons of Bulacan.
Biak-na-Bato Shrine
and National Park
Location: San Miguel, Bulacan
This huge split boulder served as the hideout of revolutionary
forces during the Philippine-Spanish Revolution. The shrine
commemorates the Pact of Biak-na-Bato led to the end of the
Philippine-Spanish Revolution and the exile of President General
Emilio Aguinaldo to Hong Kong.
Bagbag Bridge
Location: Calumpit, Bulacan
The bridge serves as a silent storyteller of the long battle
between the American forces and the Filipino revolutionary forces
led by General Gregorio del Pilar.
Estacion de Guiguinto
(Guiguinto Train Station)
Location: Guiguinto, Bulacan
An inspiration of Severino Reyes to author the novel “Opera
Walang Sugat”, the train station was the site of a gruesome
massacre conducted by the Katipuneros. These freedom fighters
ambushed a train from Dagupan, Pangasinan, killing six friars,
a parish priest of Guiguinto and a Spanish doctor.
Battle of Quingua
Monument
Location: Brgy. Agnaya, Plaridel, Bulacan
The marker commemorates the historic Battle of Quingua (Plaridel
at present) where the Filipinos triumphed over the American
forces. It also commemorates the death of Col. John Stotsenberg,
a prominent figure of the Philippine-American war.
Kakarong de Sili
Shrine
Location: Pandi, Bulacan
The shrine was built in memory of the more than 3,000 Katipuneros
who died here in the hands of Spanish soldiers.
Pinagrealan Cave
Location: Brgy. Minuyan, Norzagaray, Bulacan
The cave saw the three chapters of the Philippines’ quest
for freedom and sovereignty. The Katipuneros used this as a
camp during the war against Spain, a hideout for General Aguinaldo
during the Philippine-American War, and a garrison of the Japanese
Imperial Army during the Liberation.
Man-made
Angat Hydroelectric
Dam
Location: Barrio Hilltop, Angat, Bulacan
This is the biggest dam in the country. It supplies water and
energy for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Bustos Dam
Location: Bustos, Bulacan
One of the longest “sector gates” in the world,
this huge reservoir of the Angat Hydroelectric plant serves
as the source of electric power in the province and Metro Manila.
Natural
Baras Bakal
Location: Matictic, Norzagaray, Bulacan
According to legend, the depressions found here are the footprint
of mythical character Bernardo Carpio and his pets. The area
is surrounded by lush greenery.
Pulilan Butterfly
Haven and Resort
Location: Brgy. San Francisco, Pulilan, Bulacan
This butterfly haven houses a collection of different species
of orchids and butterflies. It also has a garden, antique museum,
and swimming pools
Bahay Paniqui
Location: San Miguel, Bulacan
This part of Biak-na-Bato serves as the home of myriads of fruit
bats. At night, these creatures nearly darken the sky as they
go out of the cave to look for food.
Garden City
Location: Brgy. Santa Cruz, Guiguinto, Bulacan
Found just outside the Tabang Exit, it exemplifies the Guiguinteños
ingenuity on gardening, landscaping, and hardscaping.
Ipo Dam
Location: Norzagaray, Bulacan
It is used as a reservoir for the La Mesa Dam which distributes
water to Metro Manila residents. The dam is surrounded by lush
green forest which makes it ideal for nature appreciation and
other ecological activities.
Religious
San Agustin Parish
Church
Location: Baliuag, Bulacan
This Baroque style church was constructed from 1769 to 1774.
Dramatic tension is created by the interplay of volumes and
openings.
Meyto Shrine
Location: Calumpit, Bulacan
This is where the first Catholic Mass was held by the Augustinian
friars in 1572.
St. John the Baptist
Church
Location: Calumpit, Bulacan
Built in 1572, the St. John the Baptist Church is the oldest
church in Bulacan. Inside the church is a tunnel that, according
to history, was used by priests during the Spanish regime to
keep gold, religious statues, and ornate jewelry hidden from
the sight of treasure hunters.
National Shrine of
Saint Anne
Location: Hagonoy, Bulacan
Originally a chapel under the parish of Calumpit, it became
a church in 1731. It is the only church in the Philippines where
the relics of Saints Anne and Joaquim, parents of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, are adored.
Basilica Minore de
Immaculada Concepcion
Location: Malolos City, Bulacan
It is the tenth Basilica in the Philippines and serves as the
seat of the Diocese of Malolos.
San Pascual Baylon
Church
Location: Brgy. Pag-asa, Obando, Bulacan
The church is the site of the Fertility Dance Festival in honor
of San Pascual Baylon, Sta. Clara de Asis and La Concepcion
de Nuestra, popularly known as Virgen de Salambao.
Grotto of Our Lady
of Lourdes
Location: Graceville, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan
A replica of the Lourdes Grotto in France, the site is a popular
destination of Catholics during the Lenten Season. It has a
mock hill Calvary where life-sized statues depict the passion
and death of Jesus Christ.
Sta. Monica Church
Location: Angat, Bulacan
Estimated to be 400 years old, it displays a baroque architecture
with its interior similar to the famous Sistine Chapel.
Festivals
Singkaban Festival
Place: Bulacan Province
Date: September 8 – 15
Singkaban is abbreviation for Sining at Kalinangan ng Bulacan.
This festival is in honor of the Malolos City’s patron
saint, Our Lady of Victory. It is also held in conjunction with
the Linggo ng Bulacan (Bulacan week). Highlights of this festival
include the traditional Balagtasan (poetic debate), Kundiman,
(folk songs on love), folk dances, and other cultural presentation.
Pagoda sa Wawa /
Pagoda Festival
Place: Bocaue, Bulacan
Date: First Sunday of July
This fluvial parade is in honor of the Krus sa Wawa (Cross of
Wawa) found at the Bocaue River. This cross is believed to have
saved an old woman from drowning. The highlight of the festival
is the procession of the cross via pagoda at the Bocaue River.
Kasilonawan sa Obando
Place: Obando, Bulacan
Date: May 17-19
Devotees flock the streets of Obando and dances their way to
finding a lover or bearing a child. Farmers also join in the
dancing as a way of thanking the Virgin de Salambao for a bountiful
harvest.
Carabao Festival
Place: Pulilan, Bulacan
Date: May 15
The festival is in honor of the Pulilan’s patron saint,
San Isidro Labrador. During this event, working animals, usually
carabaos, decorated with garlands, parade the street towards
the church. Here, these animals are made to kneel in front of
the church as the priest blesses them. |
