This article is about the province. For the municipality, see Bulacan, Bulacan. For the river, see Bulacan River. For the barangay, see Hindang, Leyte; Looc, Occidental Mindoro; Mabini, Batangas; Malalag, Davao del Sur; Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay; or Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte

Province of Bulacan Lalawigan ng Bulacan
Provincial seal of Bulacan Lalawigan ng Bulacan
Map of the Philippines with Bulacan Lalawigan ng Bulacan highlighted
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Capital	City of Malolos
Divisions
- Highly urbanized cities	0
- Component cities	3
- Municipalities	21
- Barangays	569
- Congressional districts	5†
Population	2nd largest
- Total (2007)	2,826,926
- Density	1,076/km² (?? highest)
Area	29th smallest
- Total	2,637.67 km²
Founded	{{{founded}}}
Spoken languages	Tagalog, Kapampangan, English
Governor	Joselito R. Mendoza (2007-2010); Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado (Vice Governor) (2007-2010)
† This includes the lone district of San Jose del Monte City.

The flag of Bulacan.

Bulacan (PSGC: 031400000; ISO: PH-BUL), officially called the Province of Bulacan (or Lalawigan ng Bulacan in Filipino) or simply Bulacan Province, is a province of the Republic of the  Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region (Region 3) in the island of Luzon, north of Manila (the nation's capital), and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region. Bulacan was established on the 15th day of August 1578.

It has 569 barangays from twenty-one (21) municipalities and three (3) component cities (Malolos, the capital city; Meycauayan; and San Jose del Monte). Bulacan is located immediately north of Metropolitan Manila. Bordering Bulacan are the provinces of Pampanga to the west, Nueva Ecija to the north, Aurora and Quezon to the east, & Metro Manila and Rizal to the south. Bulacan also lies on the north-eastern shore of Manila Bay.

Bulacan prides itself for its rich historical heritage. The province figures prominently in Philippine History. Many national heroes and political figures were born in Bulacan. The province was also one of the first to revolt against Spain (The province is honored as one of the 8 rays of the sun in the national flag). In 1899, the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos City (capital city) is the birthplace of the First Constitutional Democracy in Asia. It is also the cradle of the nation's noble heroes, of great men and women; also home to many of the country's greatest artists, with a good number elevated as National Artists.

Today, Bulacan is among the most progressive provinces in the Philippines. Its people—the Bulakeño (or Bulakenyo in Filipino)—are highly educated, enterprising and industrious. It 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.

Dubbed as the "Northern Gateway from Manila," Bulacan is indeed an ideal investment destination owing largely to the following factors: Strategic Location; Highly Productive Human Resources; Abundant Natural Resources; Well-Developed Infrastructure Support; Reasonable Cost for Doing Business; Effective Government and Private Sector Partnership for Investments; Favorable Peace and Order Situation; and Attractive Investments Incentives.

Bulacan has fast become an ideal tourist destination, owing to its vital role in Philippine history, and its rich heritage in culture and the arts. The province is popularly known for its historical sites; nostalgic old houses and churches; idyllic ecological attractions; religious attractions; colorful and enchanting festivals; swimming and various themed attractions; and a wide selection of elegant native crafts and sumptuous delicacies. It is also home to numerous resorts, hotels, restaurants, and other recreational facilities.

Geography

Bulacan is bounded by Nueva Ecija on the north, Aurora (Dingalan) on the northeast, Quezon (General Nakar) on the east, Rizal (Rodriguez) on the southeast, Metro Manila (Valenzuela City, Caloocan City and Quezon City) on the south, Manila Bay on the southwest, and Pampanga on the west,

Several rivers irrigate the province of Bulacan; the largest one is that of Angat. Angat River passes through the towns of Angat, San Rafael, Baliuag, Plaridel (Quingua), and Calumpit. It flow thence into the Pampanga River, goes out again, washes Hagonoy and loses itself in the mangroves. The banks of these rivers are very fertile and are covered with trees.

Political

Bulacan is subdivided into 21 municipalities and 3 cities.

1. ^ Converted into a city under Republic Act No. 8754; ratified on October 8, 2002.

2. ^ Converted into a city under Republic Act No. 9356; ratified on December 10, 2006. .

3. ^ Converted into a city under Republic Act No. 8797; ratified on September 10, 2000..

Physical

The Aerial view of the Province.

Terrain. Bulacan lies in the southern portion of the fertile plains of Central Luzon. The area is drained by the Angat and Pampanga rivers. The Sierra Madre mountain range forms the highlands of Bulacan in the east. Angat Lake, which was formed by the Angat Dam is located in that area. The highest point in the province at 1170 meters is Mount Oriol, part of the Sierra Madre.

On January 19, 2008, an 18-hectare dumpsite, a new landfill that would also be a tourist attraction opened in Norzagaray, Bulacan province. Ramon Angelo Jr., president Waste Custodian Management Corp. stated: "I want them to see our system in our place which should not be abhorred because we are using the new state-of-the-art technology."^[1]

Climate. November to April is generally dry while wet for the rest of the year. The northeast monsoon (amihan) prevails from October to January bringing in moderated and light rains. From February to April, the east trade winds predominate but the Sierra Madre (Philippines) mountain range to the east disrupts the winds resulting to a dry period. From May to September, the southwest monsoon (habagat) prevails and the period is characterized by numerous storms and typhoons.

The hottest month is May having an average temperature of 29.7°C while the coldest is February with an average temperature of 25.1°C.

Demographics

Languages and Ethnicity. As it is part of the Tagalog cultural sphere (Katagalugan), Tagalog is the predominant language of Bulacan. Inhabitants also speak Kapampangan, which is the language of neighboring Pampanga.

Population. According to the 2007 census (as of August 1 of the same year), there are a total of 2,826,926 Bulaqueños (or Bulakenyos or Bulaqueños) with annual population growth rate of 3.30 from the year 2000 to 2007,^[2] making Bulacan the second most populous province in the country.^[3] It is also the ?? most densely populated province at 1076 people per square kilometer. There are ?? households in the province with an average size of ?? persons, significantly lower than the national average of ??. Bulacan had a median age of 23 years in 2000.^[4]

Total Population by Region, Province and Municipality: Based on 1995, 2000 and 2007^[5]

1. ^ Source: National Statistics Office

2. ^ Details may not add up to totals due to rounding.

3. ^ Figures are from NSO census and considered correct and exact.

Economy

Industries. The province of Bulacan is steadily becoming industrialized due to its proximity to Metro Manila. Many corporations put up industrial plants and site in Bulacan. Some of the businesses and industries include Agribusiness; Aquaculture; Banking; Cement Bag Making Ceramics; Construction; Courier; Education; Food/Food Processing; Furniture; Garments; Gifts, Houseware & Decors; Hospitals; Hotels, Resorts & Restaurants; Information and Communications Technology; Insurance; Jewelry; leather & leather tanning; Manpower; Manufacturing; Marble; Printing Press; Pyrotechnics & Fireworks Manufacturing; Realty/Real Property Development; Shoe Manufacturing; Textile; Trade; Transport Services; Travel & Tours; Other Services

Agribusiness & Aquaculture. The rural areas still mostly depend on agriculture (in the plains) and fisheries (in the coastal areas) as a source of income. Some of the major crops are rice, corn, vegetables, and fruits such as mangoes; and various kinds of fishes and seafoods.

Banking and Finance. Bulacan ia served by all major banks with more than 200 banks doing business in the province.The entrepreneureal culture is supported by the strong cooperative movement with total assest of over PhP 2 Billion.

Transportation and Road Networks. Bulacan is dubbed as "The Gateway to the Northern Philippines". The province is linked with Metro Manila primarily through the North Luzon Expressway and Manila North Road (well known as the MacArthur Highway) which crosses the province into Pampanga and western part of Northern Luzon (western Central Luzon, Ilocos and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)). While taking the Cagayan Valley Road in Guiguinto, it leads you to Nueva Ecija and to the eastern part of Northern Luzon (eastern Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley Region).

The MacArthur Highway traverses the province from north to south. Most major towns can be reached through the North Luzon Expressway. A good number of motor vehicles owned largely by private individuals provide mobility to Bulacan’s populace. Aside from five main highways that traverse the province, all roads are widely dispersed throughout Bulacan.

Bus terminals of Baliuag Transit, California Bus Line, Sampaguita Liner and Royal Eagle are in Baliuag, Balagtas and Hagonoy. The main bus lines of Philippine Rabbit, Victory Liner, Aladdin Transit that originate from their main terminals in Manila, Pasay and Quezon City and travel northward to cities and towns in Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, pass through Bulacan via the Tabang exit.

Public transportation within the province, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys and buses. Tricycles are used for short distances.

Industrial Estate and Parks. This is a partial list of Industrial sites in the Province.

• First Bulacan Industrial City - Malolos City
• Intercity Industrial Estate - Wakas, Bocaue
• Bulacan Agro-Industrial Subdivision - Calumpit
• Bulacan Metro Warehouse (BMW) Center - Guiguinto
• Meycauayan Industrial Subd. I, II, III & IV - Meycauayan
• Meridian Industrial Compound - Meycauayan
• Muralla Industrial Project - Meycauayan
• First Velenzuela Industrial Compound - Meycauayan
• Sterling Industrial Park Phase I, II, III & IV - Meycauayan
• Grand Industrial Estate - Plaridel
• Sapang Palay Industrial Estates - San Jose del Monte City
• Agus Development Corporation - Sta. Maria
• Bulacan ICT Park - Marilao^[6]

Provincial Capitol of Bulacan.

"Fast Facts"

• BULACAN got the top place for LGU's with Highest Gross Income (PhP 1,717,600,000.00) and Top Spender by LGU's (PhP 1,349,420,000.00), and third (3rd) among the Top Provinces with Generated Biggest Net Income (PhP 368,180,000.00) according to the 2006 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT - LOCAL GOVERNMENTS of the Commission of Audit.^[7]

Recent events

Bulacan P 11-billion bulk water supply project

On December 12, 2007, Bulacan and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) signed an agreement for the development of an P11-billion bulk water supply project. Ayala-owned Manila Water Co. Inc. will implement the project. MWSS and Manila Water will provide a financial package of an infrastructure grant, a P10-million development assistance and a P10-million royalty fee to the towns of Norzagaray and Doña Remedios Trinidad, which will host the water supply project.^[8]

ICT Park jobs allotment

Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza announced before thousands of students who graduated from the College of Information and Communication Technology of the Bulacan State University that 3,000 jobs will be allotted for the Business Processing Outsourcing and call center company (PLDT) that will be built in the Marilao, Bulacan ICT Park, a special economic zone. Mendoza said 300 Information Technology graduates will be employed by Bulacan government for the general revision of the Capitolyo computerization, particularly the Bulacan Satellite-Based Geographic Information System (SBGIS) Project. (PIA-Bulacan).^[9]

WDACL ABK2 - TEACh

A 4-year school project for child workers highlighted the Philippines' observance of 2008 World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL). Accordingly, representatives of the DOLE, WDF, CCF, and other social partners in the national drive against child labor gathered at the Bulacan State University (BSU) to mark WDACL, on June 13, 2008. ABK2 (Pag-aaral ng mga Bata Para sa Kinabukasan) or TEACh (Take Every Action for Children) project will be implemented with grants from the United States Department.^[10]

History

Pre-Historic Era

The story of Bulacan really begins with cataclysmic changes in the earth’s crust which, started during the late Crustacean age, about 60 million years ago and eventually led to the formation of the Philippine Archipelago and the China Sea out of the vast expanse of the Pacific.

In this group of islands gradually isolated at the end of the last glacial period from the Asian underbelly on the largest island of Luzon, three mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre, the Zambales and the highlands of Laguna and Batangas conspired with the great Central Valley to produce tectonic stages and the patient gathering of effluvia more than one million years ago, the Bulacan River and its delta on which, Bulacan is now built.

Pre-Hispanic Period

The earliest Bulacan men came on the scene towards the end of the Paleolithic age about 250,000 years ago and was preceded by elephants and rhinoceros whose fossils have been found in what are now parts of the Province of Bulacan. He was like the rest of the human family of his time, a caveman, feeding on small animals like bats which he trapped and on the snails, crabs and shellfish which he found in the mud of the deltaic swamp of his still nameless home. In time he developed flake tools, adzes and chisels and drills and small stone knives and suddenly mobile one day he began to move up and down the Bulacan River in crude boats.

And thus he learned to communicate and to trade. After many more years he began to mine metal, to plant, to weave and to make glass and jade ornaments for the women. The large Manila Bay, the Binoangan, the Maycapiz and the Wawang Dapdap Rivers joined with the mighty Pampanga River and the Bulacan River attracted a new population, the slim, brown, lank haired Malays from the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia.

They came in ships called balangay, the name they gave their first social unit, the clan village. During the reign of the Tang emperors in the 10th century, Arab and Chinese traders began to come to Bulacan, with both Indian and Chinese influences intensifying in the 11th and 12th centuries. Bulacan had by this time became an entreport and the Bulakeños expert seafarers.

They built and sailed ships of many kinds, river canoes as well as larger vessels to carry merchandise and as many as a hundred rowers and 30 fighting men. Inevitably they came to be called Taga-ilog, Tagalog or Riverman. They lived in comfortable houses made of wood, bamboo and palm leaf thatch, had a syllabary written on bark and bamboo, played music, wore silk doublets and loin clothes or flowing skirts and flimsy blouses and a great deal of jewelry.

They had devised a complicated social scheme of nobles, freemen and serfs and buried their dead in formal graveyard (with grave furniture consisting of imported Chinese pottery) at least one example of which can still be seen in Bulacan today.

The history began when a small settlement of fishermen lived along the coast of Manila Bay before the coming of the Spaniards. Later on, these settlers became farmers after moving inwards as they discovered that the land in the interior part was fertile and very much drained by the network of rivers and streams. These settlers grew and flourished into large and prosperous settlement now known as the province of Bulacan.^[11]

Quite interesting more on the country's prehispanic highlights was the discovery of the Laguna Copperplate Inscription or the LCI at the Lumbang River in Laguna in 1991 (and deciphered by Antoon Postma of Mangyan Heritage Center in Mindoro). Historians such as Zeus Salazar of the University of the Philippines considered the date of the LCI AD 900 as the start of the recorded Philippine history, not of 1521. This copperplate was written in Kavi, an ancient script related to baybayin, and contains the placename Binoangan (now a barangay of Obando), Pailah (now Sitio Paila, San Lorenzo, Norzagaray), and Puliran (first to be said somewhere in Laguna, but Postma announced that it was much near to be Pulilan of Bulacan), and a native chieftain named Bukah in to which Gatbuka in Calumpit probably derived. All of these were now part of Bulacan.

Etymology

It is believed that flowers bloomed in the region when the Spaniards came. Because of these sprawling green orchards, vegetables and profusely flowering plants, as well as the beautiful women, this lovely land had come to be called Bulacan as sort of shortened term for "bulak-lakan" and/or a derivative of the word "bulak" (kapok or cotton) which abound in the province even before the Spaniards came.^[12]

But many historians disagree on where the name Bulacan came from: some say from the Kapampangan word burak, because the place was swampy and muddy, while others say from the word bulak, since the road to the capital town was once upon a time lined with rows of cotton trees. According to Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan (Center for Bulacan Studies), this assumption was derived on the controversial Will Of Pansonum (Christened as Fernando Malang Balagtas, descendant of the Kapampangans who came from Kingdom of Achem in Sumatra, somewhere in 1380's - 1400's, and born at Tambugao [a topoplace between Calumpit and Apalit] in Calumpit).

Another point of disagreement is the year it became a province: one document says 1578, but most other documents say Pampanga covered practically everything between Manila and Ilocos; even Tondo inhabitants spoke Kapampangan.^[13]. With the research conducted by the Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan in 2005, then its director Prof. Reynaldo S. Naguit and Dr. Jaime B. Veneracion agreed that it was founded in August 15, 1578. But researcher Ian Christopher Alfonso (also from Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan) reviewed their references, more particularly the report of the encomiendas of the Governor-general Gomez Perez Dasmariñas to King Philip II and found something interesting:

According to the Relación de encomiendas en las Islas Filipinas, which may be considered as the first census report of the Philippines prepared by Governor Gómez Pérez de Dasmariñas in 1591, there were 75,000 "souls"in "Pampanga, which included Bataán and Bulacán."^[14]

Under the Provincia de Pampanga, its encomiendas was divided into 4 alcaldias,

• The Alcaldia de Bitis y Lubao (encompasses the today's towns of Lubao, Guagua, Floridablanca, Sasmuan, and Sta. Rita, and its capital was the Betis y Lubao [Betis is now part of Guagua]),

• Alcaldia de Candava (encompasses the today's towns of Northern Apalit, San Simon, San Luis, and Candaba as its capital),

• Alcaldia de Calonpite (more likely the Alcaldia de Calumpit and encompasses the today's towns of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, part of Apalit, Hagonoy, Paombong, and Calumpit as its capital), and

• The Alcaldia de Bulacan (where its capital was at the today's town of Bulakan and encompasses he today's entire Bulacan, except those towns that were part of Alcaldia de Calonpite and the Northern Bulacan [because the northern part of Bulacan and Pampanga were then at the progress of Spanish exploration.

All of these alcaldias under Provincia de Pampanga, with one corrigmiento, and that was the Corigimiento de Batan (the today's Province of Bataan) were all became alcaldias during the time of Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa somewhere in 1580 according to Gov. Gen. Dasmariñas' report. Even though there were created as alcaldias, still there were part of Provincia de Pampanga, and the more exciting fact here was that Dasmariñas' report tells us that the town of Bulakan was recognized as "the capital-town and encomienda of Provincia de Pampanga" and it only means that the seat of Pampanga's capital was then at Bulakan, Bulacan before it became a separate province in Pampanga somewhere in 1680 (according to Dr. Jaime B. Veneracion's book 'Kasaysayan ng Bulakan') or in 1755 (according to the Erreciones that can be found at the Pampanga documents in the National Archives and also appeared at Fr. Pedro A. Gallende's Angles in Stone: Augustinian Churches in the Philippines).

In fact, many places in Bulacan bear Kapampangan names: Barangay King Kabayo in San Miguel (king is a preposition that means "in" or "at"); Quingua (now Plaridel) (quingua or kingwa is a verb that means acquired); Similarly, some folks believe that barrio Batasan (also in San Miguel) on the border with Candaba came from Batasan Pambansa, but it's actually the Kapampangan word for "shortcut"; Other places in Bulacan with Kapampangan names include barrios Kapitangan, Longos, Calumpang and Iba in Hagonoy; Pinaod and Makapilapil in San Ildefonso; Mayumu,Ilug Bulo,Biclat and Cabio in San Miguel; Masukol and Binakod in Paombong; Dalig, Batin and Balagtas in Balagtas town; Penabatan and Inaon in Pulilan; Taliptip and Bambang in Bulacan town; and Talaksan in San Rafael.^[15]

Jean Baptiste Mallat described Bulacan in his accounts, "The Philippines"(published in 1846), as "one of the richest, best cultivated , happiest and cleanest [province] in the whole archipelago." According to him, Bulacan's major products were as follows: rice; corn; coconut, the oil of which is used for lighting and fuel; nipa; sugarcane; indigo which is made into liquid paste; a little cacao; coffee which is as good as that from Moka and of the same quality as that from Indan and Silang in the province of Cavite.^[16]

Mallat further described Bulacan's economic life during the 1840s:

Trade is very abundant in this province: its connections with Manila, by sea as well as by land, facilitate development of trade. Inhabitants of the coasts engage in fishing; in the province are counted about 15 hundred looms of which are manufactured stripped cloths of silk and cotton, tapis, cambayas, sinamay. Shops are primarily kept by women. Moreover, Bulacan has a great number of beggars; it is not that they would lack work if they looked for it, but it seems that in the lower class, there are many lazy and indolent people.^[17]

Spanish Period

The history of the province from the Spanish occupation has been replete with events worthy of recollection. As early as the time of the coming of Legaspi to conquer Manila with two of his subordinate officers, Martin de Goiti and Juan Salcedo, the 1000 Moro Bulakenyos thru their seafaring brothers from Hagonoy showed their instinctive love of country by helping Bambalito, a brave datu of Macabebe, a quite near town to Bulacan in Pampanga (which according to Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas of Fray Gaspar de San Agustin in 1590's he was a brave youth from Macabebe), and another 1000 Kapampangan Moros of Macabebe, Lubao, Betis, and some records tells also Calumpit fought at the naval Battle of the Bangkusay Channel on June 3, 1571. For Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan, as Bokal Ernesto Sulit of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan on May 2008 recognized it as part of Bulacan's celebration to the month-long National Flag and Anthem Month (May 15-June 30, 2008), as the first recorded heroic deed of the Bulakenyos in history. Here also in this battle, Spanish friars and chroniclers recorded that Bulakenyos and Kapampangan Moro warlords sent 40 caracoas (an ancient warboat and trading boat of the Austrsnesians)to Tondo with lantakas (a native cañon believed to be made in Capalangan, Apalit, Pampangan by Panday Pira) and during that time a barangay having this caracoa means royalty, prosperity, and power in the seas and rivers. This is also recognized by Dr. Sonia M. Zaide as the first ever naval battle in the country.

By the time of Governor-General and adelantado Miguel Legazpi in 1571, Bulacan was reported to be well populated. The Spaniards organized the then existing barangays in Bulacan into pueblos (towns). The first pueblo established in Bulacan is the town of Calumpit. Calumpit was also the birthplace of Christianity in the province.^[18]

”The recorded history of Bulakan might as well start in 1572, when Fray Francisco Vivar of Guadalajara, an Augustinian, opened missions in Bulakan, Malolos and Hagonoy. He was the first to plant the Cross on Bulakan soil with the help of the Sword. He arrived in the Philippines from Mexico in 1570 and died in Pampanga in 1603. Three years later, in 1575, Calumpit was founded as a town. In 1578, Bulakan, Bulakan was established as the capital town of the province. With Bulakan as the center, the missionaries and the military might of Spain worked hand in hand to subjugate the pagan population to accepth the Christian faith. Fray Agustin Albuquerque established a mission in this town, then with 4,000 inhabitants. According to Fray Juan de Medina, O.S.A. “All the Manila religious extol the “Indians” of this town as the most tractable and most attached to the church.”

It was in 1580 that the town of Malolos founded. According to Blair and Robertson, the name “Li-han” was the ancient Chinese name for Malolos, whose princess bore the title of “Gat-Salihan” or Gatchalian. The western town of Hagonoy became an independent town from Calumpit in 1581. The first Bulakeño uprising against Spanish rule occurred in 1587. The Chief of Bulakan, Esteban Tasi was executed with other Bulakeño chieftains in the same year. Felipe Salonga who started the revolt was exiled from Polo, Bulakan to New Spain, Mexico.

A Royal Decree in 1595 created the Archbishop of Manila, which has jurisdiction of all the parishes in the province of Bulakan. The power of the church bells was now encompassing more and more pueblos under its sway. The Cross and Sword worked marvels in the organization of the pueblos during the 17th century: the town of Bocaue was founded by the Franciscans in 1606, followed by the town of Polo in 1623 by the Franciscans and in 1628 Captain Fernando de Perona was appointed Alcalde Mayor of the Province of Bulakan and also as military commander.

A three-year war occurred in Bulakan province (1638-1640) where Chinese in many parts of Luzon revolted against Spain. There were more than 300 Chinese rebels killed in Bulakan by the Spaniards and the Bulakeños. Three years later (1643) another revolt took place led by Don Pedro Ladia, a native of Borneo. Ladia claimed that he was a descendant of Rajah Matanda, the petty King of Maynila in 1571. Ladia styled himself King of the Tagalog. This rebellion was checked by Fray Cristobal Enriquez. Ladia was arrested and sent to Manila where he was executed.^[19]

The last town in the 17th century succumb to the power of the bells was Paombong which became a town in 1650. The 18th century found Baliuag a separate pueblo from Quingua in the year 1733. In 1750 the Augustinians had 12 parishes in Bulakan, namely; Angat, Baliuag, Bigaa, Bulakan, Dapdap (now the barrio of Sta. Ana), San Miguel de Mayumo, Guiguinto, Malolos, Quingua, Hagonoy, Paombong and Calumpit while the Franciscans had three parishes: Polo, Bocaue and Meycauayan. October 4, 1762 marked the Fall of Manila from the British invaders.

That same night Simon de Anda y Salazar left Manila aboard a small banca for Bulakan, Bulakan. Early in the morning of October 5, 1762 Simon de Anda landed on the Bulakan, Bulakan pier. Incidentally, the exact location of this wharf is the site of this writer’s residence. On the same day Anda issued his first proclamation naming himself Captain General and the Supreme Governor of the Philippines and President of the Real Audiencia on account of the Fall of Manila to the British.

During the years 1745 and 1746 there were agrarian revolts in several provinces near Manila, which included Bulacan, on account of occupations of Filipino lands by religious orders.^[20] In a royal decree of November 7, 1751, it noted that in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Morong (Rizal) (especially in the towns of Hagonoy, Taguig, Parañaque, San Mateo, Bacoor, Cavite Viejo (Kawit), Silang, Imus, and Biñan the people revolted because the religious orders had usurped "the lands of the Indians, without leaving them the freedom of the rivers for their fishing, or allowing them to cut wood for their necessary use, or even to collect the wild fruits; nor did they allow the natives to pasture on the hills near their villages the carabaos which they used for agriculture.^[21]"

On January 18, 1763, Capt. Slay left Manila for Bulakan with a force of 400 British soldiers, 300 Malabar Negroes and 2,000 Chinese allies. The Alcalde Mayor and Fr. Agustin de San Antonio, the Recollect Curate of Bulakan, fought them courageously but in vain. Fr. San Antonio died heroically in defending this town against the British invaders. But his death paved the way for unifying force among the Spaniards and Bulakeños.

It was in this first battle of Bulakan that the Catholic Church was burned. The British did not stay long in Bulakan, Bulakan. By June 1763, a strong force of Filipinos and Spaniards estimated at around 8,000 stormed the town under the command of Jose Pedro Busto. With heavy casualties the British were forced to retreat to Manila. For the first time the valor of the Bulakeño soldier was recorded in our history.

In an article by Isidro C. Gregorio of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija published in The Philippines Free Press on September 29, 1962, the following portion appears: “The British issued a proclamation declaring Anda a bandit and promising a reward of P5,000 for his capture, dead or alive. Anda countered with an edict awarding 10 million pesos to anyone who could kill or capture a British officer. While the fighting raged in the Philippines, the Seven Years War came to an end, resulting in the signing of a peace treaty on February 10, 1763. Called the Treaty of Paris, it gave the Philippines back to Spain.

Accordingly, on May 31, 1764, Anda and his men entered Manila to receive the city form the enemy. The turnover rites took place on that same day in the patio of the Sta. Cruz Church. The British sailed away after having occupied Manila for a year and a half.” The story of the British occupation cannot be told without mention of the courage and fighting spirit displayed by the Filipino warriors. In this connection, General Draper wrote in his journal: “Had their skill or weapons been equal to their strength and ferocity, it might have cost us dear.

Although armed chiefly bows, arrows and lances, they advanced up to the very muzzles of our guns, and kept repeating their assaults…” The Fall of British in Bulakan marked a new epoch. It was a period of reconstruction: the government buildings were reconstructed but the church had to wait for another 50 years before it could be reconstructed from the ruins of war.

The Fall ushered in an era of peace that would last for more than a century. The Spanish colonizers also envisioned the use of the Cross and the Plow in giving the people of the pueblos under the bells an era of peace, progress and prosperity. In 1763 San Miguel was founded as a town by Miguel Pineda who became the first capitan municipal of the town. Vast tracts of land were cultivated and planted to the golden grain which brought bountiful harvest of the basic food. In 1782 Angat became a separate town from Bocaue.

The missionaries encourage the people of Angat to develop the iron mines for the production of harrows and plows for the peasants. The plows and harrows and other agricultural implements helped accelerate the agricultural development of the province. In 1792 the town of Sta. Maria was founded followed by Marilao in 1796. In that same year Pulilan was founded by Augustinian friars. The symbol of this town up to the present is the carabao, the peasants’ beast of burden.

In 1848, the towns of San Miguel, Baliuag (including Bustos), Pulilan, and Quingua (now Plaridel) was annexed to Bulacan from Pampanga.

First Philippine Republic

A session of the Malolos Congress at Barasoain Church.

At the height of the Filipino-Spanish conflict in 1890s, Bulacan was one of the first eight provinces to take up arms against the Spaniards in 1896. However the first phase of the revolution ceased in 1897 with the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel. Under it terms the leaders were to go to Hong Kong and reside there. Under the illusory peace created by the Pact, the end of 1897 saw greater determination pm the part of the Filipinos to carry on the revolution. In early 1898, the provinces of Zambales, Ilocos, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac. and Camarines rose again. In Central Luzon, a revolutionary government was organized under General Francisco Makabulos, a Kapampangan revolutionary leader of La Paz, Tarlac.

By the middle of 1898, the second phase of the revolution broke out and culminated with the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. Reynaldo Naguit's Hinubog sa Batong Buhay: Mga Dakilang Bulakenyo sa Kasaysayan (published by the Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan in 2004) noted that on June 1, 1898, Gregorio del Pilar attacked at the midnight the cazadores of the Spaniards in Bulakan, Bulacan. After the ranging smokes of the revolutionaries of del Pilar, at the break of the morning, Spaniards hided inside the Paroquia of the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion and later surrendered with them. Also on this day, San Miguel de Mayumo was also liberated. June 10, 1898 San Ildefonso was next to be liberated. Following Biak-na-Bato on June 21, 1898, and finally on June 24, 1898 in Bulakan, Bulacan, the Spaniards finally liberated the Province and a treaty of surrendering was signed between the Spanish governor of the Province and del Pilar, the first Filipino governor of Bulacan appointed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on June 19, 1898 to be the military dictator of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. For the first time, the Philippine flag was hoisted and the national anthem was played by a band for he first time while the Spanish flag was strikes down on the pole, with a feast celebrated for the whole day.

August 22, 1898 Gen. Aguinaldo announced that Malolos will be the next capital of the Philippines, as it was formally became the seat on September 9, 1898 upon the revolutionary government arrival at Malolos. The Malolos Cathedral and the Barasoain Church became the executive headquarter of President Aguinaldo and the legislative headquarter of the Malolos Congress, respectively.

American Period

The Americans established a local Philippine government in the Philippines when they held the first election in the country in the town of Baliuag, Bulacan on May 6, 1899.

In book, The Philippines and Round About (published in 1899), George John Younghusband described the town of Malolos during the height of the Philippine-American War:

In Malolos, we saw considerable numbers of Spanish prisoners, bare-headed, bare-footed, and in rags, performing all the most menial offices as domestic servants to individual natives or as public scavengers. Every railway station was guarded by insurgent troops, and every train at each station was carefully examined by them. Not even an American can travel without a passport, and the only safe and convenient nationality to assume is that of a British subject.^[22]

Japanese Occupation and World War II

in 1942, entering the Japanese forces in Bulacan.

in 1945, Filipino and American forces and local guerrillas attack from the Japanese Imperial forces liberated in Bulacan.

Education

Bulacan is noted for its advanced methods in both secondary and tertiary education. The Bulakeño students excel in different academic disciplines that made the province of Bulacan among one of the best areas of teaching in the Philippines aside from Metro Manila. The province is home to several nationally recognized public and private educational institutions such as the Bulacan State University (Main, Satellite & International Campuses), University of Regina Carmeli (the "only Catholic University in the province"), and Centro Escolar University (Malolos Campus).

Primary and Intermediate Education Bulacan has a total of 473 public Elementary schools, 435 public schools under the Department of Education (DEPED) Division of Bulacan and 38 public schools under the Division of City Schools of Malolos.

Private Schools There are many privately-owned (by individual or group) and church-operated schools established in the city. Private Schools in the province are member of Bulacan Private Schools Association (BULPRISA) While in Malolos, private schools are organized as Malolos City Private Schools Association (MACIPRISA)

Secondary Education

Bulacan has a total of 68 public high schools, national and provincial. Sixty-five (65) under the Department of Education (DEPED) Division of Bulacan and three (3) public high schools under the Division of City Schools of Malolos.

The following are the top public secondary schools in Bulacan based on students' performance and teaching effectiveness.

1. Bulacan State University Laboratory High School, Malolos City
2. Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School, Malolos City
3. Sapang Palay National High School, San Jose del Monte City
4. San Miguel National High School, San Miguel
5. Mariano Ponce National High School, Baliuag
6. Pulong Buhangin National High School, Santa Maria
7. Meycauayan National High School, Meycauayan
8. Prenza National High School, Marilao
9. Calumpit National High School (formerly San Marcos High School), Calumpit
10. Obando National High School, Obando
11. Mayor Ramona Trillana Memorial High School, Hagonoy
12. Parada High School, Santa Maria
13. Dampol 1st High School, Plaridel

Tertiary Education

The following are the top colleges and universities in Bulacan: (In alphabetical order)

1. AMA Computer College (AMACC), City of Malolos
2. AMA Computer Learning Center (AMACLC); Baliuag, Cities of Malolos, Meycauayan & SJDM
3. ABE International College of Business & Accountancy, City of Malolos
4. Baliuag University, Baliuag (the best university in Bulacan, esp. in Nursing)
5. Bulacan Merchant Marine Academy, Balagtas
6. Bulacan Polytechnic College , City of Malolos (Main), Obando, San Miguel, City of San Jose Del Monte
7. Bulacan State University - Main Campus, City of Malolos
8. Bulacan State University - Satellite Campuses, Bustos; Bulakan, Bulacan; City of San Jose Del Monte
9. Centro Escolar University (Malolos), City of Malolos
10. College of Saint Anthony, City of San Jose Del Monte
11. Immaculate Conception International College of Arts and Technology, Santa Maria
12. Meycauayan College, Meycauayan
13. Norzagaray College, Norzagaray
14. Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Santa Maria Extension, Santa Maria
15. Saint Mary's College of Meycauayan, Meycauayan
16. University of Regina Carmeli, City of Malolos
17. Saint Mary's College of Baliuag, Baliuag
18. St. Augustine College of Nursing, City of Malolos
19. STI College campuses
20. TESDA Korea-Philippines Information Technology Training Center, Guiguinto

Government

Provincial Capitol of Bulacan.

Facade of the Provincial Capitol

Gregorio del Pilar Monument

Current Government Officials (2007-2010)

• Governor: Jonjon Mendoza
• Vice Governor: Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado

Provincial Board Members:

First District:

• Christian D. Natividad,
• Vicente C. Cruz Sr.
• Patrocino F. Laderas

Second District:

• Atty. Ramon Posadas
• Ariel S. Arceo

Third District:

• Ernesto S. Sulit
• Enrique V. Viudez II

Fourth District:

• Glenn B. Santos
• Enrique A. delos Santos
• Eulogio C. Sarmiento III

Congressional Representatives:

• First District: Ma. Victoria R. Sy Alvarado
• Second District: Pedro M. Pancho
• Third District: Lorna C. Silverio
• Fourth District: Reylina G. Nicolas
• Lone District of San Jose del Monte: Arthur B. Robes

Previous governors

Notable Bulaqueños

The province of Bulacan is known as the "cradle of noble heroes and, of great men and women"

National Heroes and Patriots

The early people of Bulacan, being descendants of a freedom-loving race, had also risen in revolt like their brothers in other parts of the country. Bulacan was one of the eight provinces, which rallied behind the Katipunan's call for an all-out insurrection against the Spanish tyranny in the late 19th century. The Bulakeños take fierce pride in their history and tradition and they live by these glories. By these glories, they are quick to display leadership and seek fullest commitment to national goals.

• Marcelo H. del Pilar (Kupang, San Nicolas, Bulakan), the Great Propagandist
• General Gregorio del Pilar (San Jose, Bulakan), youngest general in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War
• Francisco Balagtas (Panginay, Bigaa), author of the "Florante and Laura"
• General Isidoro D. Torres (Matimbo, Malolos), He established Katipunan chapters in Bulacan. He was among the revolutionaries who left their homes in Bulacan and brought their respective families to the forest when the revolution began. He headed the 6,000-strong Filipino army that marched in the parade at the inauguration of the Philippine Republic on January 23, 1899. He was also one of the revolutionary leaders who fought the Americans.
• Mariano Ponce (Baliwag), a physician who was a leader of the Propaganda Movement
• Pio Valenzuela (Polo), a physician and patriot who was among the leaders of the Katipunan. He secretly established Katipunan branches in many areas in Morong and Bulacan. He helped Emilio Jacinto establish the Katipunan paper, Kalayaan, using stolen types from the Diario de Manila. He was chosen to see Jose Rizal in Dapitan to Convince the latter to support the revolution. To fool authorities, he was accomplished by a blind man who pretended to be a patient of Dr. Rizal
• Maximo Viola (San Miguel de Mayumo),helped Jose Rizal and other propagandas work for justice and changes in the government of the Philippines.
• Eusebio Roque (Maestrong Sebio)
• Jose Corazon de Jesus (Santa Maria, his father's hometown), also known as "Huseng Batute"
• Trinidad Tecson (San Miguel de Mayumo), she was given the title "Mother of Biak-na-Bato" by Gen. Aguinaldo. Along with three other companions, she went to the courthouse in Kalookan to seize firearms. They overpowered the Guardia Civil and carried away their guns. She with the revolutionaries in 12 battles under five Filipino generals and organized groups of women to nurse wounded Filipino soldiers.
• 21 Women of Malolos Malolos,
• Felipe Buencamino Sr. (San Miguel de Mayumo), he joined the revolutionary movement and fought in the battles of Kamansi and Mount Arayat. He helped write the Constitution of the Philippine Republic at Malolos. He was named to the Aguinaldo cabinet as "secretario de fomento" or secretary of development.
• Nicolas Capistrano (Angat), He was a general of the Cagayan de Oro revolutionaries in a guerilla war against the Americans from 1899 to 1901. He served both civil and military chief of the revolutionary government in Misamis. After the war, he was elected member of the Philippine Assembly of 1909.
• Felipe Salvador (Baliwag), He joined the Katipunan when the revolutionaries from Balintawak arrived in his hometown in Bulacan in 1896. When Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans in 1900, he fled to the mountains and founded the Santa Iglesia, a messianic society that aimed to overthrow the American colonial government.
• Sancho Valenzuela, He owned a wrope-making business along the banks of Pasig River in Bacood, Sta. Mesa. There, after work, he and his workers secretly made bolos, iron-typed spears, and sharpened bamboo lances in preparation for the revolution. They also gathered stones at the riverbank to use later as "missiles." He led 100 men in attacking the police barracks at Sampaloc, But they met a bigger Spanish force in Sta. Mesa and in the unsuing battle, he lost many of his men and was wounded. Despite the situation, he managed to help carry the dead and wounded back to his home.

National Artists

Bulacan is also home to many of the country's greatest artists, with a good number elevated as National Artists.

• Francisco Balagtas (Panginay, Bigaa), (also known as Francisco Baltazar)
• Jose Corazon de Jesus (Santa Maria, his father's hometown), also known as "Huseng Batute"
• Nicanor Abelardo (San Miguel), composer of over a hundred of Kundiman songs.
• Francisco Santiago (Santa Maria), Father of Kundiman
• Francisco Buencamino, a musician
• Col. Antonio Buenaventura (Baliuag), National Artist in Music-1988
• Alfredo Buenaventura, a musiian
• Ernani Cuenco, National Artist in Music-2000
• Honorata Atang dela Rama, Queen of Zarsuela; National Artist in Theater and Music-1987
• Cecil Buencamino-Licad, Internationally-acclaimed pianist
• Guillermo Tolentino (Malolos), National Artist in Sculpture-1976, One of his masterpiece was the "Monumento" of Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City.
• Francisca Reyes Aquino (Lolomboy, Bocaue), the foremost exponent of Philippine Folk Dance; National Artist in Dance-1973
• Gerardo de Leon, movie director; National Artist in Film-1982
• Narcisa Doña Sisang de Leon (San Miguel), film producer; LVN matriarch
• Amado V. Hernández (Hagonoy), Filipino writer and labor leader who was known for his criticism of social injustices.

Religious figures

• Blessed Dionisia De Santa Maria Mitas Talangpaz (Calumpit), Roman Catholic Servant of God, native of Calumpit with a Kapampangan blood from Macabebe (read more about them in Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan)and a candidate for sainthood.
• Blessed Cecilia Rosa De Jesus Talangpaz (Calumpit), Roman Catholic Servant of God, native of Calumpit with a Kapampangan blood from Macabebe (read more about them in Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan)and a candidate for sainthood, and the sister of Bl. Dionisia.

Scientist and Inventor

• Agapito Flores (Guiguinto), has the French patent for a fluorescent bulb and that the General Electric Company bought Flores' patent rights.
• Bonifacio Isidro (San Rafael) is one of the Philippines' famed inventors and pioneer in the marble industry, he founded the C & B Marble company in January 1988.

Politicians and Military Men

• Gen. Alejo Santos (Bustos), former Governor of Bulacan and Secretary of National Defense during the Garcia Administration.
• Blas Ople (Hagonoy), journalist and politician who held several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branches of the government.
• Roberto Pagdanganan (Calumpit), former Governor of the Province of Bulacan (1989-1998); National President, League Of Provinces of the Philippines (1990-1998); National President, Boy Scouts of the Philippines (1995-1997); Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform (January 20, 2003-January 20, 2004); Secretary, Department of Tourism (February 2004-September 2004); Chairman and President, Philippine International Trading Corporation (September 2004 - March 2007); Chairman, Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PhilSOC) (2004 - 2005).
• Herbert Constantine M. Bautista, MPA, MNSA (Malolos), now Quezon City Vice Mayor (on his fourth term, 1st in 1995, then in 2001 to present). He is also the President of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL)
• Crispin Beltran (San Jose del Monte), politician and a labor leader; former Representative of "Anak Pawis" partylist.
• Daniel Fernando (Guiguinto), also known as "Ka Puroy"; former Board member of "Sanguniang Panlalawigan."
• Teodulo Natividad (Malolos), former Representative of first district of Bulacan
• Lt. Gen. Cardozo M. Luna (San Ildefonso), current Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, former commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command and Central Command, and a graduating member of the PMA "Makabayan" Class of 1975.

Other Popular Figures

Popular Celebrities, Film and Television Artist, Brodcasters, Journalists, etc.

• Regine Velasquez (Balagtas and Guiguinto), popularly known as the "Asia's Songbird", a very popular singer, actress, record producer, and TV host. Other says, she is the "Icon" for the gays in the Philippines.
• Bert Marcelo (