Baliwag

Coordinates: 14°57′14″N 120°54′04″E / 14.954°N 120.901°E / 14.954; 120.901
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Baliwag
Baliwág
City of Baliwag
(From top, left to right): Baliuag Municipal Hall • Baliuag Museum and Library (Old Town Hall) • Baliwag Transit terminal • Baliuag Clock Tower overviewing the Baliuag Wet and Dry Market • Mariano Ponce house birthplace marker • St. Augustine Parish Church (Baliuag)
Nickname: 
Buntal Hat Capital of the Philippines
Motto: 
Serbisyong May Malasakit
Map of Bulacan with Baliwag highlighted
Map of Bulacan with Baliwag highlighted
Baliwag is located in Philippines
Baliwag
Baliwag
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°57′14″N 120°54′04″E / 14.954°N 120.901°E / 14.954; 120.901
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon
ProvinceBulacan
District2nd District
FoundedMay 15, 1734
Barangays27 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorFerdinand V. Estrella
 • Vice MayorChristopher F. Clemente
 • Electorate107,076 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total45.05 km2 (17.39 sq mi)
Elevation
23 m (75 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total168,470
 • Rank19 out of 1,489 Municipalities
 • Density3,700/km2 (9,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Baliuageño (male)
Baliuageña (femal)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3006
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)44
Income class1st city income class
Poverty ratePositive decrease 5.4%
• Revenue (2017)Increase PHP 491.54 million (14.3%) [4]
• Expenses (2017)Increase PHP 459.84 million (10.5%)
• Total Assets (2017)Increase PHP 613.43 million (6.8%)
ElectricityManila Electric Company
• Consumption66.12 million kWh (2003)
Native languagesTagalog
Kapampangan

Baliwag, officially the City of Baliwag, (Tagalog: Bayan ng Baliwag), is a 1st class component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 168,470 people.[3]

Baliuag was founded in 1732 by Augustinian friars and was incorporated by the Spanish Governor-General on 1733. The town was a part of Quingua (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, piña 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 in 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

Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga, OSA, a friar, in his "1803 Historia de las Islas Filipinas"[5] 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 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.[6] Fr. Diez served as the longest cura parroco of Baliuag 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"[7] 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 pueblo or town was created in the provincial Chapter on May 15, 1734, with the appointment of Fr. Manuel Bazeta/Baseta as first cura parroco.[8]

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.[9][10]

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.[11] 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

Baliuag 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, 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 Baliuag 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.[12] 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.[13]

The first town Gobernadorcillo (1789 title) of Baliuag was Cap. Jose de Guzman.[14] 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 Baliuag'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.

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.[15]

On September 15, 1915, Baliuag municipality bought the heritage mansion and lot of Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez. The Gonzalez old mansion served as Lumang Municipio (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.

Jeorge Allan R. 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.[16]

Don Mariano Ponce

Mariano Ponce was a native of Baliwag. He was a founding member of the Propaganda Movement together with José Rizal and Marcelo del Pilar; a former assemblyman of the second district of Bulacan to the Philippine Assembly; and the co-founder of La Solidaridad with fellow co-founder Graciano López-Jaena. His most common names are Naning (the Plaza Naning in Baliwag being named after his nickname); Kalipulako, named after the Cebuano hero Lapu-Lapu; and Tagibalang or Tigbalang (Tikbalang), a supernatural being in Filipino folklore.[17]

Barangays

Baliwag is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020[3] 2010[18]
031403001 Bagong Nayon 3.3% 5,616 5,994 −0.65%
031403002 Barangca 1.8% 3,051 2,742 1.07%
031403003 Calantipay 1.7% 2,784 2,613 0.64%
031403004 Catulinan 1.1% 1,916 1,769 0.80%
031403005 Concepcion 5.9% 9,933 9,585 0.36%
031403006 Hinukay 1.3% 2,140 1,419 4.19%
031403007 Makinabang 7.0% 11,715 11,196 0.45%
031403008 Matangtubig 1.6% 2,630 2,859 −0.83%
031403010 Pagala 2.3% 3,843 3,139 2.04%
031403011 Paitan 0.9% 1,517 1,440 0.52%
031403012 Piel 1.3% 2,229 1,955 1.32%
031403013 Pinagbarilan 3.2% 5,357 5,178 0.34%
031403014 Poblacion 5.6% 9,448 9,668 −0.23%
031403016 Sabang 6.7% 11,350 11,960 −0.52%
031403017 San Jose 3.9% 6,575 5,346 2.09%
031403018 San Roque 2.1% 3,554 3,402 0.44%
031403019 Santa Barbara 6.9% 11,676 11,568 0.09%
031403020 Santo Cristo 5.2% 8,840 8,650 0.22%
031403021 Santo Niño 2.3% 3,818 3,470 0.96%
031403022 Subic 3.3% 5,506 4,550 1.93%
031403023 Sulivan 3.0% 5,070 4,776 0.60%
031403024 Tangos 3.4% 5,699 5,578 0.21%
031403025 Tarcan 4.4% 7,333 6,892 0.62%
031403026 Tiaong 3.0% 5,006 4,903 0.21%
031403027 Tibag 1.8% 3,014 3,746 −2.15%
031403028 Tilapayong 2.0% 3,389 2,494 3.11%
031403030 Virgen delas Flores 4.1% 6,945 6,673 0.40%
Total 168,470 143,565 1.61%

Demographics

Population census of Baliuag
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 15,936—    
1918 18,254+0.91%
1939 22,972+1.10%
1948 30,670+3.26%
1960 37,409+1.67%
1970 52,133+3.37%
1975 61,624+3.41%
1980 70,555+2.74%
1990 89,719+2.43%
1995 103,054+2.63%
2000 119,675+3.26%
2007 136,982+1.88%
2010 143,565+1.72%
2015 149,954+0.83%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[19][18][20][21]

In the 2020 census, the population of Baliuag, Bulacan, was 168,470 people,[3] with a density of 3,700 inhabitants per square kilometre or 9,600 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Economy of Baliuag, Bulacan
Baliuag Town Proper
2017 Financial Highlights
[22]
Financial Conditions
  • Total Assets:
    IncreasePHP 613.43 million
  • Total Liabilities:
    IncreasePHP 230.64 million
  • Total Equity:
    IncreasePHP 382.78 million
Results of Operations
  • Total Revenues:
    IncreasePHP 491.54 million
  • Total Expenses:
    IncreasePHP 459.84 million
  • Excess Income Over Expenses:
    IncreasePHP 31.70 million
Sources and Application of Funds
  • Appropriation and Allotments:
    IncreasePHP 507.30 million
  • Obligations:
    IncreasePHP 480.09 million
  • Balances:
    IncreasePHP 27.21 million

Major industries

  • Garments
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Food/Food Processing
  • Furniture
  • Swine
  • Chicken Production
  • Automobile Industry

Major products

  • Buntal Hat and Bags
  • Bakeries (Native Pandesal, Ensaymada, Spanish Bread)
  • Native Delicacies (Chicharon, Puto, Pastillas de Leche)
  • Lechon Manok

Malls & supermarkets

  • SM City Baliuag
  • A Square
  • Puregold Baliuag
  • Super8 Grocery Warehouse
  • NE Supermarket
  • Savemore Supermarket
  • Ultra Mega Supermarket

Local government

2016-2019 Baliuag Municipal Officials [23] [24]
Position Name Party
Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella

style="width: 2px; background-color: #4AA02C;" data-sort-value="Nationalist People's Coalition" |

NPC
Vice Mayor Christopher F. Clemente

style="width: 2px; background-color: #f0e68c;" data-sort-value="Liberal Party (Philippines)" |

Liberal
Councilors Marie Claudette S. Quimpo

style="width: 2px; background-color: #f0e68c;" data-sort-value="Liberal Party (Philippines)" |

Liberal
Joel Noel S. Pascual

style="width: 2px; background-color: #f0e68c;" data-sort-value="Liberal Party (Philippines)" |

Liberal
Wilfredo A. Lapira

style="width: 2px; background-color: #f0e68c;" data-sort-value="Liberal Party (Philippines)" |

Liberal
Emmanuel T. Balicanta

style="width: 2px; background-color: #4AA02C;" data-sort-value="Nationalist People's Coalition" |

NPC
Adronicus O. Cruz

style="width: 2px; background-color: #f0e68c;" data-sort-value="Liberal Party (Philippines)" |

Liberal
Lee Edward V. Nicolas

style="width: 2px; background-color: #4AA02C;" data-sort-value="Nationalist People's Coalition" |

NPC
Erlene Luz V. dela Cruz

style="width: 2px; background-color: #4AA02C;" data-sort-value="Nationalist People's Coalition" |

NPC
Generoso S. Ligon

style="width: 2px; background-color: #f0e68c;" data-sort-value="Liberal Party (Philippines)" |

Liberal
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC President Ricky Romulo (Tiaong)

style="width: 2px; background-color: #C0C0C0;" data-sort-value="Nonpartisan" |

Nonpartisan
SK Federation President Jaime Viceo IV (Santa Barbara)

style="width: 2px; background-color: #C0C0C0;" data-sort-value="Nonpartisan" |

Nonpartisan

List of Mayors [25]

No. Presidente Municipal Took office Left office
1 Francisco Guerrero 1899 1899
2 Jose Rustia 1900 1900
3 Ancieto Valencia 1901 1903
4 Dr. Domingo M. Enrile 1904 1905
5 Jose Lajom 1906 1907
6 Fernando Enrile 1908 1909
7 Martin H. Prado 1910 1912
8 Juan Racelis 1913 1918
9 Pablo Camacho 1919 1922
10 Emilio Rustia 1922 1925
11 Pedro R. Mateo 1925 1930
12 Dr. Peregrino E. Sauco 1931 1934
13 Atty. Wenceslao Ortega 1934 1937
No. Alcalde Took office Left office
1 Dr. Guilermo dela Merced 1938 1941
2 Rafael Chico 1942 1945
No. Municipal Mayors Took office Left office
1 Maj. Servando C. Santos 1946 1955
2 Roberto E. Chico 1956 1959
3 Felix Tiongson 1960 1963
4 Roberto E. Chico 1964 1967
5 Florentino Vergel de Dios 1968 1980
6 Dominador Enrile 1980 1981
7 Leonardo C. Mananghaya 1981 1986
8 Atty. Emilio Camacho Santos (OIC) 1986 1988
9 Reynaldo S. del Rosario 1988 1992
10 Cornelio P. Trinidad 1992 1994
11 Edilberto S. Tengco 1994 1998
12 Rolando F. Salvador 1998 2004
13 Romeo M. Estrella 2004 2013
14 Carolina L. Dellosa, M.D 2013 2016
15 Ferdinand V. Estrella 2016 incumbent

Education

Baliuag has several private colleges and universities. Baliuag University is the first school granted full autonomy in Region III by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). St. Mary's College of Baliuag is a Catholic school founded in 1912. Computer Colleges such as STI College and ACLC are also found in the municipality. Baliuag Polytechnic College is a public tertiary and vocational educational institution in Baliuag.

BPC façade

Transportation

BTI main terminal in Plaza Naning, Baliuag

Public transportation in Baliuag is served by provincial buses, jeepneys, UV Express AUVs, and intra-municipal tricycles.

Baliwag Transit, Inc., one of the largest bus transportation system in the Philippines, is headquarted in Brgy. Sabang. It mainly services routes to and from Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

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 (AH26) going to Manila and Nueva Ecija. The town is located 52 kilometers north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Religion

Baliuag at present has five parishes, a sub-parish and a quasi-parish under the administration of Diocese of Malolos.

Attractions

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

Baliuag Clock Tower

Baliuag is the home of the first self-supporting clock tower in Bulacan. It is one of the popular heritage attractions in the town.

Lenten Processions

Baliuag is famous for its Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions, being hailed as the longest Religious Procession in the Philippines. As of 2018, the procession hosts a record 118 carros or carrozas (floats) with life-sized santos (statues) joined in the parade showcasing events from the life and passion of Christ.

Buntal Hat Festival

Buntal Hat Festival is a celebration of culture of Buntal Hat making in the town that is simultaneously celebrated with Mother's Day annually. Colorful and grandiose decorations and street dancing are the highlights of this celebration.

Other attractions

  • 3006 Augustine Square
  • Baliuag Glorietta Park
  • Baliuag Museum and Library (Lumang Municipio)
  • Mariano Ponce Ancestral House Museum
  • The Greenery Events Place
  • The Municipal Government Building
  • The Baliwag Star Arena
  • Jose Rizal Monument at Plaza Naning
  • Baliwag Pasalubong Center
  • Parish Museum of Old Religious Artifacts (Parish of St. Augustine)
  • Carozza Makers
  • Artisan Street (Bone In-Lay Handicrafts)
  • Baliwag Heroes’ Park
  • Baliwag Night Market

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ City of Baliwag | (DILG)
  2. ^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ ""Commission on Audit 2017 Report-Bulacan"". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Audit. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  5. ^ MARTINEZ de ZUÑIGA OSA, Fr Joaquín [in Spanish] (1803). Historia de las Islas Philipinas (2 vols) (in Spanish). Sampaloc: Impreso por Fr. Pedro Argüelles de la Concepción. OCLC 30062450.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2013-03-30. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Apuntes históricos de la provincia augustiniana del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús de Filipinas : a... - National Library of Australia". nla.gov.au. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ "Protected Blog". wordpress.com. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Visita Iglesia: The old churches of Bulacan, Part 1 of 2". Simbahan. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  11. ^ Malacañang Palace#Etymology
  12. ^ Balabo, Dino (2007-05-07). "Baliuag marks 108 years of town elections". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  13. ^ "Baliuag marks 108 years of town elections". philstar.com. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2013-01-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Multiply.com". multiply.com. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Mariano Ponce". Official Website of the Provincial Government of Bulacan. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  18. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  19. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  20. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  22. ^ ""Commission on Audit Financial Report 2016-Baliwag"". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Audit (COA). Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  23. ^ ""Municipal Officials-Baliwag"". City of Malolos,Bulacan: Provincial Government of Bulacan Official Website. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  24. ^ ""Sangguniang Kabataan, Sumasailalim sa Pagsasanay. SK Chair Jaime Viceo IV ng Sta. Barbara nahalal na SK Federation President."". Baliwag,Bulacan: Baliwag City News Online. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Present and Past Government Officials-Baliwag". Baliwag, Bulacan: Municipality of Baliwag Official Website. Retrieved 17 July 2018.

External links