Baliwag

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"Baliwag" redirects here. For the bus transportation company, see Baliwag Transit.
Baliuag
Municipality
Glorietta Plaza
Glorietta Plaza
Official seal of Baliuag
Seal
Map of Bulacan showing the location of Baliuag
Map of Bulacan showing the location of Baliuag
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon (Region III)
ProvinceBulacan
District2nd District
Founded1752
Barangays27
Government
 • MayorRomeo Estrella
Area
 • Total45.05 km2 (17.39 sq mi)
Elevation
23 m (75 ft)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total143,565
 • Density3,200/km2 (8,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3006
Dialing code(+63) 44
Income class1st
Websitehttp://www.baliuag.bulacan.ph/
Population Census of Baliuag
YearPop.±% p.a.
1995 103,054—    
2000 119,675+3.26%
2007 136,982+1.88%
2010 143,565+1.72%

Baliuag (or Baliwag in Filipino) is a first class highly urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 143,565 inhabitants in 25,050 households.[2]

Baliuag was founded on 1732 by Augustinian friars and was incorporated by the Spanish Governor-General on 1733.The town was a part of Quingwa (now Plaridel) before.

Through the years of Spanish domination, Baliuag was predominantly agricultural. People had to depend on rice farming for main source of livelihood. Orchards and tumanas yielded fruits and vegetables, which were sold in the public market. Commerce and industry also played important contributions to the economy of the people. Buntal hat weaving in Baliuag together with silk weaving popularly known in the world as Thai silk; the manufacturer of cigar cases, pina fibers, petates (mats) and Sillas de Bejucos (cane chairs) all of fine quality became known in many parts of the world. The local market also grew. During the early part of the 19th century Baliuag was already considered one of the most progressive and richest town of Bulacan. The growth of the public market has significantly changed the mode of economy of the town.

Baliuag is the major commerce, transportation, entertainment and educational center of Northern Bulacan. With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of Manila's built up area which reaches San Ildefonso in its northernmost part.

History

Five days before May 6, 1899, Henry Ware Lawton's troops marched to Baliuag, after the fateful and bloody encounter at the "Sabang, Baliuag Battle". Baliuag was the first Municipio ever created during the American regime in the Philippines, on May 6, 1899, five days before the fateful "Sabang Battle".

Augustinian friar, Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga, OSA, in his "1903 Historia de las Islas Filipinas", es:Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga y Díaz de Ilarraza wrote that the Convent or Parochial house of San Agustin, in Baliuag, is the best in the whole Archipelago and that no edifice in Manila can be compared to it in symmetry and beauty amid its towering belfry, having been a viewing point of the town's panorama. The frayle further stated that the Convent was a repository of priceless parish records which dated to the founding of Baliuag as a "pueblo" or "parrochia" by the OSA or Augustinians in 1733. But it the first convent was erected at Barangay Sta. Barbara, Baliuag before the Parokya was formally established at the now Plaza Naning, Poblacion.

"Lumang Municipio" (Baliuag Museum and Library).

Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga arrived in the Philippines on August 3, 1786 and visited Baliuag on February 17, 1802 with Ignacio Maria de Álava y Sáenz de Navarrete. Their host was Baliuag's Parish Priest, Fray Esteban Diez Hidalgo.[3] Fr. Diez served as the longest cura parroco of Baliwag from 1789, having built the church and convent from 1790 to 1801.

Spanish records ("Apuntes históricos de la provincia augustiniana del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús de Filipinas", año 1909: Filipinas, by P. Bernardo Martinez)[4] reveal that Fr. Juan de Albarran, OSA was assigned Parish Priest of Baliuag in 1733. The first baptism in Baliuag Church was ordered by Fr. Lector and Fr. Feliz Trillo, Provincial of the Province on June 7, 1933 while Baliuag was founded and began its de jure existence on May 26, 1733. The town or pueblo was created in the provincial Chapter on May 15, 1734, with the appointment of Fr. Manuel Bazeta or Baseta as first Kura Paroko.[5]

In 1769-1774, the Church of Baliuag was built by Father Gregorio Giner. The present structure (the third church to be rebuilt, due to considerable damage during the 1880 Luzon earthquakes) was later rebuilt by Father Esteban Diaz using mortar and stone. The 1866 Belfry was also completed by Father Matias Novoa but the July 19, 1880 quake damaged the same which was later repaired by Father Thomas Gresa.[6][7]

The earthquake of June 3, 1863, one of the strongest to ever hit Manila, destroyed the Governor's Palace in Intramuros. Malacañang then, became the permanent residence of the head of the country. The massive quake also damaged the Baliuag Church.[1] In 1870, the reconstruction began when a temporary house of worship, the “Provincial”, along Año 1733 street, emerged as a narrow, and simple edifice which later used by the RVM Sisters of the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia (now St. Mary's College of Baliuag) as classroom. Antonio de Mesa, “Maestrong Tonio" fabricated the parts to have finished the Spanish-era Baliuag Church.

First Municipio

Baliwag had 30 curates (1733-1898): Fr. Esteban Diez Hidalgo and Fr. Fausto Lopez served 40 and 24 years, respectively. Fr. Lopez had 6 children with a beautiful native, Mariquita: Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez (politician), Francisco, the former Assemblyman Ricardo Lloret Gonzales (Legislative districts of Bulacan, 5th Philippine Legislature, and Jose the eldest who was widely known as “Pepeng Mariquita", inter alia. Spanish cura parroco, Fr. Ysidoro Prada served in Baliwag during the last decade of Spaniard regime.

The Philippine-American civil and military authorities supervised the first municipal elections, having chosen Baliuag as the site of the first Philippine elections of May 7, 1899.[2] The Filipinos gathered at the plaza of the St. Augustine church after the Holy Mass, and thereafter the officials were selected based on the qualifications for voters set by the Americans.[8]

The first town Gobernadorcillo (1789 title) of Baliuag was Capitan Jose de Guzman.[9] He was assisted by the Tribunal's teniente mayor (chief lieutenant), juez de ganadas (judge of the cattle), juez de sementeras (judge of the field) and juez de policia (judge of the police). In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the 1893 Maura Law, the title of Gobernadorcillo became "capitan municipal" and that of each juez to teniente. From Baliwag's independence from Quingua, now Plaridel, Bulacan to 1898, 49 served as capitan, 13 alcalde and 92 as Gobernadorcillo. Felix de Lara (1782) and Agustin de Castro (1789) were the 1st alcalde and Gobernadorcillo, respectively. Municipal President Fernando Enrile, in 1908 honored some of these officials, even naming some of Baliuag calles in their honor, later. But all these political officials remained under the thumbs and the habito, of the autocratic Augustinian friars, the Baliuag Kura Parokos.

Principalias or town castles, in the Hispanization of Baliwag, became the home of the rich and famous, who sported the titles of Don or Capitan (shrewd, hard-bargaining businessman, the highly successful professionals and even the parvenus, nouveaux riche).

The local government of Baliuag used as first Municipio under the American regime (History of the Philippines (1898–1946)) the Mariano Yoyongko (Gobernadorcillo in 1885) Principalia in Poblacion (now a part of the market site), which it bought from Yoyongko.[10]

On September 15, 1915, Baliuag municipality bought the heritage mansion and lot of Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez (politician). The Gonzalez old mansion served as Lumang Munisipyo (the Old Municipio or Town Hall Building, as seat of the local government) for 65 years. It is now the Baliuag Museum and Library .

Baliuag produced not less than 30 priests, including 3 during the Spanish-Dominican, and 2 Jesuits during the American regimes.

George Allan Tengco and Amy R. Tengco (wife of Lito S. Tengco), philanthropists, owners of Baliwag Transit and other chains of business establishments had been conferred the Papal Orders of Chivalry October 3, 2000 Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice and the 2012 Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great awards.[11]

Municipal government and politics

Office of the Municipal Mayor (Romy Estrella, incumbent)

The political government's seat (executive, legislative and judicial) is located at the Baliuag Town Hall's Mayor's Office and Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall. The elected municipal officials are: Hon. Romy Estrella (Municipal Mayor), Hon. Ferdinand T. Cruz (Municipal Vice-Mayor); the Councilors: Hon. Christopher F. Clemente, Hon. Generoso S. Ligon, Hon. Roberto E. Santos, Hon. Enrique V. dela Cruz, Jr., Hon. Luciano B. Robes, Hon. Antonio S. Patawaran, Hon. Reynaldo M. Trinidad, Hon. and Romeo P. Tame.[12]

The judicial department is vested in the Municipal Trial Court (MTC Judge Salvador Santos), located at 2nd floor of the Town Hall.

Barangays

Baliwag is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.

  • Bagong Nayon - highly urban
  • Barangka
  • Calantipay
  • Catulinan
  • Concepcion - urban
  • Makinabang - urban
  • Matangtubig
  • Pagala - urban
  • Paitan
  • Piel
  • Pinagbarilan
  • Poblacion - highly urban
  • Hinukay
  • Sabang - highly urban
  • San Jose - highly urban
  • San Roque
  • Santa Barbara - highly urban
  • Santo Cristo - highly urban
  • Santo Niño
  • Subic - highly urban
  • Sulivan - urban
  • Tangos - urban
  • Tarcan - urban
  • Tiaong - urban
  • Tibag - highly urban
  • Tilapayong
  • Virgen delas Flores - urban

The Historic Town of Baliuag

Baliuag has a bustling economy, with many shopping centers. Several of the major banks have branches on the town.

The town offers the best private education in its area, where its famous and established academic institutions cater to students from as far as Pampanga (to the West), Norzagaray (to the East), Gapan (to the North) and Calumpit (to the South).

Baliuag University (B.U) - founded in 1925 and is the first school granted full autonomy in Region 3 by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

It offers graduate programs in education, business, library science and nursing. Its undergraduate programs in business administration and accountancy, liberal arts and education are Level 3 accredited. Other offerings which are equally highly accredited by the PACU COA are engineering, nursing, library science, computer studies and hospitality management. It also offers 2-year Voc-Tech, Associate in Health Science as well as kinder, grade school and high school programs, LET review classes, call center training and college evening programs.

It is also one of the four IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) training school in the Philippines, together with University of the Philippines, University of Sto.Tomas, and St.Paul College Ilo-ilo.

St. Mary's College of Baliuag - (St. Mary’s College, St. Mary’s, SMA) is a Catholic school for both boys and girls. It is administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary, the first pontifically approved congregation for women in the Philippines. It was formerly called Escuela Catolica de Baliuag, and was founded in 1912. It is located along Benigno Aquino Avenue and Racelis Street, Poblacion, Baliuag, Bulacan. It provides Preparatory, Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary education.

A buntal hat (buri palm extracted from Polyandrococos).[1].

Baliuag is also a transportation hub. Public transportation to Pampanga to the west, and Nueva Ecija to the north, is easily accessible. The Head Office of Baliwag Transit, one of the largest bus company in the Philippines is located in Baliuag, along Cagayan Valley Road, Brgy. Sabang.

There are three (3) major transport lines in the municipality: The Baliuag-Candaba (Benigno S. Aquino Avenue) road going to Pampanga (from the Downtown Baliuag to Candaba Town Proper), the Old Cagayan Valley road (Calle Rizal) and the Dona Remedios Trinidad Highway (Daang Maharlika) going to Manila and Nueva Ecija. The town is 52 kilometers north of Manila. Which takes usually one (1) hour in term of travel time.

Baliuag is also the home of the only self-supporting clock tower in Bulacan.

Baliuag is the place where the first elections in the Far East were held (1899).

Baliuag is famous for its Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions. As of 2012, Boasting 95 carros or carrozas (floats) with life-size Santos (statues) showcasing events from the life and passion of Christ.

Another famous in Baliuag is its Buntal Hat Festival that is simultaneously celebrated with Mother's Day annually. Colorful and grandiose decorations and street dancing are the highlights of this celebration.

In the 2013 Good Friday processions in Baliuag, 102 floats participated amid its claim as the longest procession in the Philippines.

On December 12, 2008, SM City Baliwag opened. It is situated at DRT Highway (beside Prominenza), Brgy. Pagala.

On July 30, 2010, Wilcon Depot located at DRT Highway opened its first store in Bulacan.

Unknown to many, Bustos, the neighboring town of Baliuag was once a part of Baliuag.

Vision

A peaceful and self-reliant community with an efficient and sufficient infrastructure facilities on a globally competitive and progressive economy, that gives efficient delivery of basic services and socio-economic development and is geared towards the promotion of sustainable economic growth in an ecologically balanced city-like environment, guided and administered by a just, democratic, decisive and God-fearing leadership.

Mission

With this vision, the municipal governance is committed to achieve a community that is safe to live with in an environment that is complete with basic facilities and economy with sustainable growth on a city-like balance habitat.

Parish churches

Façade of the St. Augustine Parish Church of Baliuag.

Baliuag at present has five parishes, one quasi-parish and a sub-parish :

Economic activity

Major Industries
  • Garments
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Food/Food Processing
  • Furniture
  • Swine
  • Chicken Production
Major Products
  • Bakeries
  • Native Delicacies

Average Crime Rate: 9.72%

Crime Solution Efficiency: 98.45%

  • Municipality of Baliuag, Bulacan
    Municipality of Baliuag, Bulacan
  • Baliuag Old Municipal Hall
    Baliuag Old Municipal Hall
  • The century-old Sentro ng Kalinangan at Kasaysayan, the town's museum, was once the town's municipal hall.
    The century-old Sentro ng Kalinangan at Kasaysayan, the town's museum, was once the town's municipal hall.
  • Savemore Supermarket at D&E Tolentino Bldg. which also houses ACSAT, Goldilocks and Frappino
    Savemore Supermarket at D&E Tolentino Bldg. which also houses ACSAT, Goldilocks and Frappino
  • Giant Buntal Hat at SM Baliuag, for 2012 Buntal Hat Festival
    Giant Buntal Hat at SM Baliuag, for 2012 Buntal Hat Festival

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See also

References

  1. ^ Malacañang Palace#Etymology
  2. ^ Balabo, Dino (2007-05-07). "Baliuag marks 108 years of town elections". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2012-12-31.

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Baliuag".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baliwag.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baliwag&oldid=547774927"