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

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.

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.

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.