Baliuag, Bulacan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search
For the bus transportation company, see Baliwag Transit.

Baliuag

Baliwág

Municipality

Municipality of Baliuag
(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)

Seal

Nickname(s):

Buntal Hat Capital of the Philippines

Motto(s):

Dugong Baliuag, Pusong Baliuag

 Map of Bulacan with Baliuag highlighted

Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

Baliuag

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°57′N 120°54′ECoordinates: 14°57′N 120°54′E

Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Province Bulacan
District 2nd District

Founded May 26, 1733 [1]

Barangays 27 (see Barangays)

Government
 [2]
• Type Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella (PDP-Laban)
• Vice Mayor Christopher F. Clemente (NUP)
• Congressman Gavini C. Pancho
• Electorate 101,946 voters (2019)

Area
 [3]
• Total 45.05 km2 (17.39 sq mi)

Elevation 23 m (75 ft)

Population
(2015 census)[4]
• Total 149,954
• Rank 19 out of 1,489 Municipalities
• Density 3,300/km2 (8,600/sq mi)

Demonyms Baliuageño (male)

Baliuageña (female)

Economy
• Income class 1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence 5.37% (2015)[5]
• Revenue PHP 491.54 million (2017) [6]

• Assets PHP 613.43 million (2017)

• Expenditure PHP 459.84 million (2017)

Utilities
• Electricity MERALCO

Time zone UTC+8 (PST)

ZIP code 3006

PSGC 031403000

IDD : area code  +63 (0)44

Climate type tropical monsoon climate

Native languages Tagalog
Kapampangan
Baliuag, officially the Municipality of Baliuag, (Tagalog: Bayan ng Baliuag), is a highly-urbanized
1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 149,954 people.[4]
Baliuag was founded in 1732 by Augustinian friars and was incorporated by the Spanish Governor-
General on May 26, 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.

Contents

 1History
o 1.1First Municipio
o 1.2Don Mariano Ponce
 2Barangays
 3Demographics
 4Economy
o 4.1Major industries
o 4.2Major products
o 4.3Malls & supermarkets
 5Local government
o 5.1List of Mayors
 6Education
 7Transportation
 8Religion
 9Attractions
o 9.1Baliuag Clock Tower
o 9.2Lenten Processions
o 9.3Buntal Hat Festival
o 9.4Other attractions
 10Gallery
 11See also
 12References
 13External links

History[edit]
Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga, OSA, a friar, in his "1803 Historia de las Islas Filipinas"[7] 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 Santa 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.[8] 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"[9] 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.[10]
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.[11][12]
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.[13] 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.