HISTORY

The province's name is derived from the Tagalog word 'bulak' meaning cotton, which was its
former principal product. Bulacan started with small fishing settlements along the coast of
Manila Bulacan is also noted as the land of heroes, beautiful women, progressive cooperatives,
small and medium-scale industries. It is also known for excellent craftsmanship in making
jewelries, leather crafts, buntal hats, pyrotechnics, bone in-laid furnitures and garments. Bay
and expanded into the interior with the arrival of the Spaniards. With the arrival of the
Spaniards, Bulacan, which had begun as little fishing towns along the shore of Manila Bay,
began to develop into the interior. These towns served as the starting point for towns
established between 1572 (Bulacan and Calumpit) and 1750 (San Rafael).

1848
The town of San Miguel was taken over from Pampanga and added to Bulacan. Among the first
eight provinces to rebel against Spanish control was Bulacan.

December 15, 1897

The signing of the Biak-na-Bato Pact at San Miguel between the Filipinos and the Spaniards,
Aguinaldo was expelled to Hong Kong and the first phase of the Philippine Revolution came to
an end.

September 15, 1898

In the next phase, the Malolos Congress met at Barasoain Church to draft the first Philippine
Republic's constitution.

January 22, 1899

The subsequently established republic had its capital at Malolos until President Emilio
Aguinaldo transferred it to San Isidro, Nueva Ecija when the Filipino-American War broke out.

May 6, 1899
In the next phase, the Malolos Congress met at Barasoain Church to draft the first Philippine
Republic's constitution. When the Americans established a civil government in the Philippines,
they held the first election in the country in the town of Baliuag.

GATEWAY TO THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

Bulacan is sometimes called the "Gateway to the Northern Philippines". Because it is the home
province of heroes such as Gregorio del Pilar, also known as "The Hero of Tirad Pass," Marcelo
H. Del Pilar, well known as "The Great Propagandist," and Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas), "The
Prince of Filipino Poets.”

LANGUAGE / DIALECT
Predominantly Tagalog others was Waray, Ilocano, Bicolano and Kapampangan.

MAPS OF BULACAN

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11546 [May 26, 2021 ]

- An act reapportioning the province of bulacan into six (6) legislative districts

DISTRICT 1:
MALOLOS
- The provincial Capital of Bulacan. The site of the 1898 constitutional convention and the
first Philippine Republic was established in Malolos, at the sanctuary of the Barasoain
Church.
CALUMPIT
- Calumpit is known for its famous Longganisa variant called the "Longganisang Bawang"
which is made of lean pork, pork fat, garlic, bay leaves, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar,
salt, black pepper, paprika, and chili

HAGONOΥ
- A Fishing town with the Manila bay areas as its fishing ground, which extends up to the
provinces of Cavite, Pampanga and Bataan. Two fish ports, one in barrio San Pascual
and the other at the Poblacion, are the busiest spots in the town.

PAOMBONG
- Dubbed as the "Vinegar Capital of the Philippines", Paombong is famous for its vinegar
extracted from the sap of sasa (nipa), thus the term "Sukang Paombong" (Paombong
vinegar) became known in Luzon and other parts of the Philippines.

PULILAN
- The town is famous for its Carabao Festival where carabaos are paraded and kneel as
they pass through San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, in honor to the town's patron
saint, San Isidro Labrador.

BULAKAN
- The name "Bulakan" was derived from the Tagalog word "bulak" which is cotton in
English. When the Spaniards first came to the country's shore, they found cotton, among
others, growing abundantly in many places in Luzon, particularly in Bulakan.

DISTRICT II
BALIUAG
- It is considered a first-class urban municipality in Bulacan and is famously known as the
Buntal Hat Capital of the province.

PLARIDEL
- The site of the Battle of Quingua during the Philippine- American War as part of the
defense of the First Philippine Republic against the Northern Campaign of the American
Army.

BUSTOS
- Bustos has its own trademark product, the finger food 'minasa'. Minasa refers to
"cassava cookies", made from cassava flour, egg yolk, yeast, butter, and coco milk. It is
often compared to the uraro, another local delicacy.

DISTRICT III
DON REMEDIOS TRINIDAD (DRT)
- The municipality of Dona Remedios Trinidad, province of Bulacan was created on
September 13, 1977 under Presidential Decree 1196, in honor of the late mother of then
First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who was a pure Bulakeña.

SAN ILDEFONSO
- Once referred to as "Bulak" because of its abundance of large kapok trees-a tropical tree
that produces a pod containing Java cotton as it's fruit or 'fruit. Nowadays, San Ildefonso
is an emerging destination for all travelers in the Philippines.

SAN MIGUEL
- The most famous Bulacan park, Biak-na-Bato National Park is a protected area located
in San Miguel. The 2,117-hectare park is known for its historical significance, as it served
as the mountain hideout of Filipino revolutionaries as they fought the Spanish forces
established in Malolos, at the sanctuary of the Barasoain Church.
SAN RAFAEL
- When they learned that the place is noted because of the medicine man, they named the
place in honor of St. Rafael, who is a medical practitioner and whose feast day is
October 24. Since then the town has been called San Rafael. San Rafael was created
as PUEBLO in 1750.

DISTRICT IV
MEYCAUAYAN
- Recognized for its industrial zones and historical significance, Meycauayan is known for
its jewelry and metalcraft industries. It also has a rich colonial past.

MARILAO
- Marilao was part of Meycauayan and its biggest barrio. The name is from a yellow plant
which means luyang dilaw (turmeric) growing abundantly in the place.

OBANDO
- Famous for the Obando Fertility Dance, a traditional celebration held in honor of Saints
Isidiro, Maria Clara, and San Pascual. It's a unique folk festival associated with prayers
for fertility.

DISTRICT V

BALAGTAS
- Named after Francisco Balagtas, a renowned Filipino poet, this municipality is proud of
its cultural heritage. It hosts events and festivals to honor its literary hero.

BOCAUE
- Is known for Bocaue River Festival, an annual event featuring a fluvial parade. It also
gained attention for the Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy in 1993, a boat mishap during a similar
festival.

GUIGUINTO
- is also known for its small-scale garden industry that is now gradually expanding. The
appellation Guiguinto literally translates to Goldfor the early conquistadors came and
saw this town on a harvest season when it lushes in golden rice stalks against the sun.

PANDI
- is the youngest town in Bulacan. During the Spanish days it formed part of the vast
Santa Maria de Pandi Estate, which included the towns of Santa Maria and Balagtas and
parts of Angat and Bustos.

DISTRICT VI
ANGAT
- is a town located in the eastern part of Bulacan. The best iron mines in the Philippines
are found here. The small amounts of irons are made into plow points and plowshares
and bolos. These products made Angat known and proud.

NORZAGARAY
- It is located in Angat Dam which sits on the lower realms of the Sierra Madre mountain
range, the Dam is notable for being a major water and power supply for the National
Capital Region.

SANTA MARIA
- Sta. Maria in Bulacan is regarded as the chicharon capital of the Philippines, so much so
that a chicharon festival is held every February. Chicharon-making started in the 1920s
as a backyard industry using native black pigs or baboy Tagalog.
LONE DISTRICT

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE

- Also known as the "Balcony of the Metropolis", it is the first City in the province of
Bulacan and recorded as the 86th City of the Philippines.

RELIGION
- Roman Catholic (89.44%) is the predominant religion in the province. The Minor Basilica
and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception serve as the mother churches of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos, which has its headquarters in Malolos City.

- There are also a few other Christian and non- Christian groups in minor numbers. These
include the Iglesia ni Cristo (3.29%), Evangelicals (1.53%), Jehovah's Witnesses
(0.37%), Bible Baptist Church (0.30%), Muslims (0.21%), Seventh-day Adventists
(0.21%), and Aglipayans (0.17%).

LIVELIHOOD
- Bulacan is well-known for the following industries: Marble and Marbleized Limestone,
Jewelry, Pyrotechnics, Leather, Aquaculture, Meat and Meat Products, Garments,
Furniture, High-Value Crops, and Sweets and Native Delicacies, and a wide variety of
high-quality native products.

FOODS, DELICACIES

ENSAYMADA MALOLOS
- This is one of the two most popular products of Eurobake, a well-known bakeshop
located at MacArthur highway near the boundary arch of Malolos- Guiguinto towns.

JENNIE'S PORK CHICHARON

- Jennifer Torres, producer of “Jenny's Chicharon,” said she and her husband started the
business in 1986 and had made a killing selling microwavable chicharon packs.

PASTILLAS
- San Miguel town at north of Bulacan is known for their pastillas made from carabao's
milk.

MINASA
- Minasa cookies are popular Bulacan sweets made from arrow root ("sago") cassava
flour, fresh coconut milk, sugar and egg. Minasa refers to the kneading. motion used to
create the dough.

BARQUILLOS
- The Municipality of Bustos is famous for its local delicacies "Barquillos" (dry-like wafer
crisp)

SUKANG PAOMBONG
- "Suka" is a tagalog term for vinegar and "Paombong" is a term used to call a place in
Bulacan where earlier Spaniards named their town because of its huge area planted with
bamboo. Actually the Paumbong word was derived from bumbong (a container made of
bamboo). The old way of fermenting the vinegar (suka) was through this container.
TOURIST SPOT'S

BARASOAIN CHURCH
- The Barasoain Church in Bulacan, also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish,
was the location of the first Philippine Congress and the inauguration of the First
Philippine Republic. It also created the draft of the Malolos Constitution. It features
well-preserved Baroque architecture and was featured in the 10 pesos bill.

BIAK-NA-BATO NATIONAL PARK

- It is located in San Miguel, Bulacan. It is a 2,117 hectare protected area, primarily known
for its historical significance as it was used as a mountain hideout by Filipino
revolutionaries who fought against the Spanish forces. General Emilio Aguinaldo also
established the Republic of Biak-na-Bato. Today, Biak-na-Bato has become a favorite
among hiking enthusiasts who are looking for a quick nature getaway.

THE GROTTO OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

- The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is visited by millions of Catholic devotees to meditate,
pray, and leave offerings. This grotto is located in San Jose del Monte just right by the
Metro Manila boundary making it very accessible to those who are traveling from
neighboring cities.

NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY

- Located in Marilao, Bulacan, the Philippines, the National Shrine and Parish of the
Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic church devoted to the Divine Mercy. Archbishop
Orlando Quevedo of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines gave it the title
of National Shrine. February 2, 1992, the Feast of the Presentation, saw the location
host its first Mass.

PHILIPPINE ARENA
- The largest indoor arena in the world is the Philippine Arena. Located at Ciudad de
Victoria, a 140-hectare tourist economic zone in Bocaue and Santa Maria, Bulacan,
Philippines, around 30 kilometers north of Manila, is a multipurpose indoor arena with a
maximum seating capacity of 55,000. It is one of the focal points of the Iglesia ni Cristo's
(INC) several centennial initiatives for their July 27, 2014, centennial celebration. New
Era University, the INC's educational establishment, is the arena's legitimate owner.

CULTURE / BELIEFS

OBANDO FERTILITY DANCE

- The Obando Fertility Rites is a festival wherein devotees and tourists dance in the
streetsin the form of a religious procession with the intent of bearing a child. Most
participants of the fertitity rites ask and pray to the patron saints for a child, a partner in
life or good fortune. The festival is celebrated yearly during the 17th, 18th and 19th of
May

PALM SUNDAY
- The start of the Holy week, also called Passion Sunday and the Gospel for this Sunday
gives us the account of Jesus passion, crucifixion and death

TRADITION

PASKONG BUKID
- The residents of barangay in Marilao namely Patubig. Sta. Rosa, Prenza and Loma de
Gato including some people living in the town of Sta. Maria in Barangay Camangyanan
and in the town of Meycauayan Barangay Pantok considers the Feast of the Three Kings
also known as Feast of Epiphany as their Christmas Day. This is dubbed as the
"Paskong Bukid" which is celebrated from January 6 to 8.
FESTIVAL / SPECIAL EVENTS

SINGKABAN FESTIVAL
- Singkaban Festival, known as the "mother of all festivals" in Bulacan, begins its
one-week celebration on September 8-15 each year. This event honors Our Lady of
Victory in Malolos and the arts and culture of Bulacan.

MINASA FESTIVAL
- The Minasa Festival coincides with the celebration of their patron saint, the Holy Child
Jesus. This festive occasion features a vibrant street dancing parade in colorful
costumes and an array of temporary stalls within the municipal compound, offering local
cuisine and merchandise

INDAKAN FESTIVAL
- a feast celebrated yearly in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, honoring the city's
history and solid foundation. celebrated in September, showcasing the town's greatest
VALENCIANA (chicken and rice sauté in azuete sauce) and KAKANIN (rice puddings)
dishes.

KNEELING CARABAO FESTIVAL

- In order to show gratitude and respect to the farmers' patron for a bountiful crop, these
owners force the carabaos to kneel in front of the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church.
Marching bands and majorettes from throughout the community participate in the
parade, dressed in elaborate costumes and protective gear despite the intense heat.

PAGODA FESTIVAL
- It is an annual celebration held at Bocaue, Bulacan. The municipality holds it in honor of
the Holy Cross of Wawa discovered in the Bocaue River. The float procession consisting
of a pagoda or otherwise decked-out barge and other brightly colored rowboats serves
as the event's highlight