MALOLOS

HISTORY

The name of Malolos was presumably derived from the Tagalog word "Paluslos", meaning "
downwards". The name resulted from a misunderstanding among the first Spanish missionaries who
reached the place. Searching for inhabited places along the Calumpit River, these priests came upon
some natives of a riverside barrio (now Kanalate). They asked for the name of the place. The natives, not
knowing the Spanish tongue, answered that the flow of the river in that part was downstream -
"paluslos"-, which the Spaniards pronounced "Malolos". Corruption of the word through the years led to
present "Malolos".

Singkaban Festival (Sining at Kalinangan ng Bulacan), a festival of arts and culture in honor of Capitol's
patron saint, "Our Lady of Victory", showcasing the traditional arts of "Balagtasan," "Kundiman" and folk
dances amidst of the "Singkaban" arches. The festival is celebrated in every second week of September
which is in conjunction with the "Linggo ng Bulacan". Linggo ng Bulacan (Held during September 8–15),
A province-wide, week-long celebration consisting of various colourful cultural presentations, art and
culinary exhibits, arts and skills contests, and the prestigious annual Dangal ng Lipi Awards Night. Yearly,
its activities vary depending upon the chosen theme for the year.This festival is named after the special
"BAMBOO ART" abundantly known to the Bulacan province especially in Malolos and Hagonoy where
Singkaban Art originated.

Sto Niño de Malolos Festival – This is held during the last Sunday of January, The biggest and largest
expression of devotion to the Holy Child Jesus in the Luzon island, celebrated every last Sunday of
January. The festivities begin with an exhibit of "Santo Niño" (Holy Child) and culminate in a grand
procession of hundreds of folk, antique and new statues of the Holy Child in different depictions.The
highlight of this festival is the hundred year-old antique miraculous image of Senor Sto Nino de Malolos.

Pista ng Barihan – held annually on Trinity Sunday, it is commonly called Pista ng Santisima Trinidad
because the barangays of Santisima Trinidad and Pinagbakahan were once annexed to Barangay
Barihan.This fiesta started since 19th century,where thousands of people attending this fiesta to pray
for petition and wishes also to view the procession of three,miraculous and highly-venerated antique
icons of the Holy Trinity, together with other holy images from across the province.

Pabukang Puso – held every 19 March in Panasahan, commemorates the death of St. Joseph the
Worker, Foster-father of Jesus. It is annually held at the front house of Roxas clan in Panasahan, whose
patriach, Valentin Roxas, started it in 1975. This tradition still continue until present day where the
younger generations of the clan organising it.

The Philippine Independence Day, a national holiday observed every June 12 commemorates the
declaration of independence of the Philippines from Spain in the year 1898. It was also on that same
year that the Constitutional Convention or Malolos Convention was signed and entered into the
Philippine history. The Malolos Convention was instrumental in the establishment of the First Philippine
Republic- a historical event that symbolizes the foundation of the Philippine government.
The Inaugural Feast: a Malolos Heritage Cuisine

Malolos, Bulacan is not just home to rich traditions and historical landmarks. It has a wealth of culinary
heritage that is worth a special tribute. If one ever wondered what could have been served on the
festive and abundant dinner tables during the inaugural of the first republic, let Ilustrado give you a
likely answer and even a taste of that. For an entire month, starting June 2012, Ilustrado will showcase a
special menu highlighting the well-preserved and traditionally-rich Spanish-Filipino dishes that delighted
the palates of the very Filipinos that established and celebrated the Philippines’ first republic.

Malolos-based artist, historian and food expert, Dez Bautista partnered with Ilustrado Restaurant to give
special in-depth training, knowledge and guidance in putting together the Inaugural Feast menu. Dez
Bautista is a kin of the well-respected Bautista clan, owners of the famous historical landmark, Bautista
ancestral house in Malolos, built in 1855 and reconstructed 1877 and deemed to be a present time
neoclassical masterpiece.

Ilustrado Restaurant is a staunch supporter of preserving our Filipino-Spanish past not just through its
excellence in providing culture-rich fine dining experience but through its continued efforts to discover
and bridge links in the arts, history and tradition of the past to the discerning taste of Filipinos today.

Basilica
Minore de
Immaculada
Concepcion
(Historical,
Religious, Santa Cruzan Bulacan
Heritage) (Festival) Museum
(Historical,
Heritage)

DJ Paradise Sto. Niño Barasoain

Resort Festival Ecclesiastical
(Swimming) (Festival) Museum
(Historical,
Religious,
Heritage)
 Bautista Linggo ng Casa Real
Mansion Bulakan Shrine
(Heritage) (Festival) (Historical,
Heritage)

Malolos Resort Barasoain

Club Royale Church
(Swimming) (Historical,
Religious,
Heritage)

GUIGUINTO

HISTORY

Guiguinto began as a barrio of Bulacan town, the former provincial capital of Bulacan. It is said that
Spaniards set up an army post in the barrio to serve as a resting place for forces gong to Northern Luzon.
In those days, travel throughout Guiguinto was difficult and slow down to cross single file over a narrow
bamboo bridge. Their Filipino guides would cry out, "Hinto" (stop). The Spaniards thought this was the
name "Hihinto". The Spaniards substituted "Gui" (with hard "g") for the Tagalog "Hi". The place has since
been called Guiguinto. On the other hand, old timers say that on moonlight nights, a golden bull
emerges from the church and goes down to the nearby river to quench his thirst. It then returns to the
church, ascends at the altar and disappears. The elders' aid that there are buried jars of gold in town, as
indicated by the bull, and that is why the town was called Guiguinto.

In 1800, a Spanish priest erected a small chapel in what is now barrio Sta. Rita. In 1873, roads were
constructed in barrio Malis. The people barrios of Pritil, Tabe, and Kutkut even those days were mostly
farmers. During Holy Week, villagers of barrio Tuktukan held contest for the hardest egg shells (chicken,
duck or goose by knocking eggs together (Tuktukan)). The women tried to help each other in singing the
"Panica".
Just before the outbreak of he revolution of 1896, the town people of Guiguinto were ordered to sleep
in the town at night and to work in their fields only in the day. This was said to have been suggested by
the town priest to the authorities because of rumors that many of the town people were joining the
secret revolutionary society, the Katipunan. Guiguinto eventually contributed many soldiers to the 1890
revolution.

Guiguinto became a municipality in 1915, with Antonio Figueroa as its first "municipal president". The
town's population was then about 4,000. The 1960 census placed Guiguinto's population at 10,629.
Guiguinto is bounded on the East by the town of Balagtas, on the west by Malolos, on the North by
Plaridel, and on the South by Bulacan.

Known by its ancient name "Ma-Yi" the province of Bulacan is believed to have been settled for a long
time before the Spanish Explorer came to the Philippines. These settlements were organized by the
Spaniards by the early towns called "Pueblos" which include the town of Guiguinto. Guiguinto was
founded in 1641.

GARDEN CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

From a predominantly agricultural Municipality, Guiguinto has gradually urbanized and developed into a
third class municipality based on income classification. This is due to the growth in light industries and
commercial establishments as a result of the overspill of the urbanization in Malolos and Metro-Manila.
Guiguinto is also known for its small-scale garden that is now gradually expanding.

GARDEN CITY

The Garden City at the Guiguinto Cloverleaf just outside the Tabang Exit is the municipality’s main
tourist attraction. Visitors are welcomed by a serene...

ensaymada

ENSAYMADA

A Filipino sweet bread, large snail-like coil dusted in sugar. They are soft, buttery, milky and rich, and
with the added slather of butter, sugar, and cheese.

oldtrain

OLD TRAIN STATION

Built in 1896, the Estacion de Guiguinto (Guiguinto Train Station) is the towns most acclaimed historical
landmark and heritage site. It was upon this site that...
INIPIT- Literally means pressed, or the custard-filled sandwich, that has earned Bulacan a name for itself.
Ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar and butter make up...

PLARIDEL

HISTORY

The historical past of the town of Plaridel can be traced from some records way back in 1595, in the
early years of the Spanish colonization, when the place was a vast undeveloped plain covered with thick
forest and cogon grass, with the rivers Angat and Tabang running through it. The Angat River flowed
directly in a snakelike wave to Calumpit meeting the Pampanga River, while the Tabang river which was
a mere branch with adjoining intersections dividing the middle of the present Poblacion, flowed to
Manila Bay passing Guiguinto and Bulacan towns. The water of this river was called "Tabang" or fresh
water.

Very few people lived here, and closely related with each other. Each group had a leader called "tandis".
Different groups spoke different dialects, Pampango, Pangasinan, Ilocano and Tagalog. From Calumpit,
Spanish priest and missionaries of the Augustinian Order led by the Rev. Fr. Bernardino de Leon
frequently visited the place, preaching the Catholic faith … using the "balsa" or bamboo raft as their
means of transportation. These missionaries thought of clearing the land and established settlements
and convened the people to unity. The thought of a plan to give favored the ideas so that everyone set
to work. Each "Tandis" drew a plan to pursue. For seven years, the groups of people labored so much
that when the priest returned, they found the place to have been cleared. They inquired from the
natives who should be credited, and the Pampangos exclaimed, "Quing wawa Ding tagalog po" or the
Tagalogs got it. So every now and then, to every question of the friars, the people would reply. "Buti
Quing Wawa Tagalog, Quing wa". The riest believed that the Tagalogs should be credited and should
receive the gold medal and from thereafter the place was called Quingua.

Like any other community, Quingua grew and prospered. The life of the people flourished and intelligent
sons were born. One of them, Jose J. Mariano, who was then the "Alcalde" or town mayor, had the
initiative of renaming the town. Congressman Pedro Magsalin, a friend of the alcalde sponsored a bill
changing the name of the town from Quingwa to Plaridel. The bill was passed by the Philippine Congress
and was approved by President Manuel L. Quezon. On December 29, 1936, amidst elaborate
celebrations, the town was renamed PLARIDEL in honor of the great hero of Bulacan_ Marcelo H. del
Pilar; in the presence of political luminaries that included Speaker Gil Montilla, Congressman Pedro
Magsalin, Honorable Nicolas Buendia, Honorable Eulogio Rodriguez, Honorable Elpidio Quirino and
Governor Jose Padilla, Sr.
  Simborio Chapel(Religious, Heritage)
 Plaridel Catholic Church (Religious, Heritage)
 Battle of Quingua Monument(Historical, Heritage)
 Plaridel Horse Festival (Festival)

LOCAL PRODUCTS

 Chocolate Coated Polvoron

 Special Cassava cake

PULILAN

Pulilan is one of the 24 towns of Bulacan province, located in about its center—from north to South—
with an area of about 3,000 hectares. It is bounded on the North by Apalit in Pampanga; on the East by
Baliuag; on the South by Plaridel; and on the West by Calumpit. The Angat River cutting its way through
the Eastern edge of Baliuag, and the Southern fringes of Pulilan down to the tributary of Manila Bay
Southwest of Calumpit, serves as the boundary with Plaridel. Its feature is flat and the soil is suited to
farming.

The first time Pulilan was settled was unknown but if existing records of the towns of Calumpit and
Baliuag, between which the town lies, be made a basis, it could be deduced that in the early part of the
17th century it could have had a sprinkling of settlers. (Calumpit was declared s town in 1575, and
Baliuag recently celebrated her 300th anniversary). It is presumed that the settlers spread themselves in
far-apart groups along the riverbanks for two reasons: first, water facility secondly, the profound
attraction of water to them. The word "Tagalog" in a contraction of "taga-ilog" a name ascribed to this
ethnic group of Malays who had the reputation for cleanliness through their profuse use of water.

After long period of severe inculcation of foreign powers' lustful and licentious personal policies I politics
and, perhaps, from an assumed contention that the inhabitants were thoroughly insured to their power,
an Augustinian friar, Fray Vicente Villamanzo, was made to declare the settlement a town in January 20,
1796. It was assigned a patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, after whose name he wanted the town
identified. The name however, did not prevail over the popularity known epitaph "Pulo ng Ilan" which
later gained favor in its contracted from "Pulilan".

From the Spanish time to American occupation and lately the Japanese era, many sons of the town of
Pulilan shed their blood. After long march to freedom, Pulilenos started to build from its small
beginnings and from then on made a great stride in politics, economy, social standing and in other fields.

From the time the nation acquired its Independence, the inhabitants of Pulilan have committed
themselves in a determined effort to improve their lot. The regimentation of Spanish colonialism, the
benevolence of American tutelage, the tough experience they gained from the ruthless Japanese, have
in a measure, contributed to the promotion of their welfare. But the Pulilenos, as they are known,
treasure their great heritage.
TOURISM

 San Isidro Labrador Church(Religious)

 Pulilan Butterfly Haven and Resort(Ecological, Swimming)
 Pulilan Carabao Festival (Festival)
 Museo San Ysidro de Pulilan(Religious, Heritage)

LOCAL PRODUCT

Tinapang
Tilapia

BALIUAG

Before the coming of the Spaniards in 1521, Baliuag was just a wilderness inhabited mostly by animals
and wild birds. There were no good and passable roads but only meandering pathways that invariable
led to isolate huts. Some of these narrow pathways called "paraan", were fringed on both sides along
with trees and other greenery's. Work animals and sleds that were then the only means of land
transportation commonly passed the place.

The handful of people who occupied the isolated and lonely huts was paganistic people who worship
spirits called "Bathala". They believed the spirits dwell in caves so in these caves they held rituals and
made offerings of foods, perfumes and fruits to pay homage to them. These ancient Filipinos were so
steeped in superstition that they religiously believed in divination, auguries and magic harms. Thus they
always attached significance to such natural activities as the howling of dogs, the kissing of lizards or the
mere sight of a black cat darting across their path to mean bad things and death omen. These
superstitious beliefs were handed down from one generation to another and, are, in truth, still practiced
in many parts of Baliuag today.

The natives, of course, had their own language and social customs. Not unlike their contemporaries in
other towns, they conducted their own commercial activities through the so-called barter system.

With the Christianization of the Philippines, the Spaniairds built many Catholic churches. One of these
churches was established in Quingwa (now Plaridel), of which Baliuag was still a "cabecerria" or
barangay with no definite name. (Cabecerria or barangay is the modern-day barrio).
Because they had no other decent means transportation, the people either had to walk or had to ride a
banca all the way to Quinwa, a distance of nine kilometers to hear masses on Sundays and feast days. As
a consequence, the churchgoers from Baliuag often came late for mass. This habitual tardiness
eventually became the butt of jokes among the people of Quinwa, so much so that whenever they saw a
group of Baliuag folk coming, they would mockingly say; "Eto na ang maliliwag". (Here come the slow-
folks). Or, if the later comer was all alone, "Eto na si Ba Liwag". ("Ba" is a provincial title of respect for a
man).

Unfortunately, for the local folk, the uncomplimentary term "maliwag" (or Baliwag) stuck like glue. Even
the Spanish "cura" was announcing it from the pulpit in reference to them. Through the years the name
Baliuag evolved from it and by this name or appellation the town became known.

Baliuag was the 10th town founded by the Augustinians in the province of Bulacan.

TOURISM

 Baliuag Clock Tower(Heritage)

 San Agustin Parish Church(Religious, Heritage)
 Baliuag Museum(Historical, Heritage)
 Baliuag Lenten Procession(Festival)

LOCAL PRODUCTS

 Burong Isda
 Ortega’s Best
 Pandesal de Baliuag
 Buntal Hat