Balagtas, Bulacan

Balagtas
—  Municipality  —
Seal
Map of Bulacan showing the location of Balagtas
Balagtas Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°49′N 120°52′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Bulacan
District	2nd District
Founded	1621
Barangays	9
Government
• Mayor	Romeo M. Castro
Area
• Total	28.66 km2 (11.1 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	62,684
• Density	2,187.2/km2 (5,664.7/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	3016
Income class	1st

Population Census of Balagtas
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	49,210		—
2000	56,945		3.18%
2007	62,684		1.33%

Balagtas (formerly Bigaa) is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 62,684 inhabitants in 11,834 households.

Formerly known as Bigaa, it was renamed in honor of the great Filipino poet, Francisco Balagtas. The town is shaped like a pentagon, bounded by four towns; on the South by Bocaue, on the North by Plaridel on the East by Pandi, on the West by the towns of Bulacan and Guiguinto. The McArthur Highway bisects the municipality of Balagtas as this national road cuts northward to the Ilocos region. At the southern approach of the town from Manila is a modern, first class concrete bridge that crosses the Balagtas River. The river, navigable by banca and motor boats, empties into Manila bay after snaking through the town of Bulacan to the West which provides Balagtas' townsfolk with fish, shrimp, and other fresh water food.

At the foot of the bridge, along the highway towards the North, is the town hall. In front of the town hall is spacious park where the monument of it hero, Francisco Balagtas is located. The town hall is surrounded by Spanish colonial type houses.

Two hundred meters from the municipal hall is the famous and historical barrio in Panginay, the birthplace of Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar, the town's most prominent son and from whom the town got is name. For whom also "Balagtasan", a form of debate in versified Tagalog, was named. In reverence to the hero's deeds, the official name of Bigaa was changed Balagtas through the legislative act sponsored by the late Congressman, Teodulo Natividad.

In 1946 the Historical Society of the Philippines placed a marker at the birthplace of Balagtas, which reads: "Here in Barrio Panginay, Bigaa, Bulacan, Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas) was born on April 2, 1788. Son of Juan Baltazar and Juana dela Cruz, he is the father of Tagalog dialect and the author of the deathless "Florante at Laura". Jose Burgos, Jose Rizal, Mariano Ponce, Macario Adriatico, Epifanio Delos Santos, Rafael Palma and other illustrious sons of the nation recognize and honor Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar. He died in Udyong, Bataan on February 20, 1862."

Despite its proximity to Manila, Bigaa did not become a town until the later part of the 18th century. During the Philippine revolution, barrio Kakarong, then part of Bigaa (now a part of Pandi), was the scene of many bitter encounter between the "insurrectos" and the "Guardia civiles". Many people died, further decimating the town, which has suffered from a cholera epidemic and nearly wiped out the population 20 years before. When the Americans established civil government in 1902, Bigaa and nearby Bocaue were combined to form a town with the latter as the seat government. In 1911, however, Bigaa was separated from Bocaue, and to it was added the town of Pandi, which became one of Bigaa's barrios. In 1946, shortly after the Philippines gained political freedom from the United States, Pandi by virtue of a legislative fiat was given a municipal charter of its own, distinct and apart from Bigaa.

Built up area

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now included in Manila built up area which reaches San Ildefonso in its Northernmost part.

Barangays

Balagtas is politically subdivided into 9 barangays, all of which are urban.

• Borol 1st
• Borol 2nd
• Dalig
• Longos
• Panginay
• Pulong Gubat
• San Juan
• Santol
• Wawa (Pob.)

Schools

Tertiary

• College of St. Lawrence (formerly St.Lawrence Academy), Borol Ist, Balagtas
• STI College Balagtas, Campus, Borol Ist,Balagtas
• Colegio de Roma, San Juan, Balagtas
• Our Lady of Manaoag Montessori College, (OLMA) San Juan, Balagtas
• A-Z Country Day School
• Bulacan Merchant Marine Academy

Secondary

• La Consolacion, Private, Balagtas
• Garden of Angels School, Borol Ist, Balagtas
• Balagtas Agricultural School, Pulonggubat, Balagtas (main)
• Balagtas Agricultural School, Borol Ist, Balagtas (annex)
• Children's Mindware School, Borol 2nd, Balagtas

Fastfood Chains

• Chowking
• Greenwich Pizza
• 7 Eleven
• Mang Inasal
• Jollibee
• Starbucks Coffee (NLEX)
• Mcdonalds
• Big Mac
• Henlin
• Mackeys
• Dunkin Donuts
• and many more in NLEX Shell and Petron

Supermarkets

• Ultra Mega
• Robinson's Supermarket ( opened last April 28, 2010 )

Commerce and Industry

Major Industries

• Ceramics/Pottery
• Furniture
• Garments
• Gifts/Houseware/Decors
• Metalcraft

Major Products

• Furniture/Agricultural Products
• Balot and Penoy Industry
• Recruitment Agency
• Fruit Dealership
• Tilapia
• Tricycle Parts

Future Developments

• Construction of North Food Exchange (under construction)
• Opening of Balagtas Tollgate (under construction)
• Construction of new Balagtas to Baliwag road connection

Government

Municipal Officials:

• Mayor Rodrigo S. Santos
• Vice Mayor Lito Galvez
• Coun. Alberto Carating Jr.
• Coun. Ian De Guzman
• Coun. Mark Nuguit
• Coun. Ariel H. Puatu
• Coun. Jonathan M. Aruelo
• Coun. Gilbert L. Galvez
• Coun. Romy M. castro
• Coun. Andy De Guzman
• ABC President - Fernando K. Galvez

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• bulacan.gov.ph