Bulakan, officially known as the Municipality of Bulakan (Tagalog: Bayan ng

Bulakan), is a first-class municipality located in the province of Bulacan, Philippines.

Based on the 2020 census, its population is 81,232 people. It is situated 35 kilometers
(22 miles) north of Manila. Bulakan is among the oldest towns in the Philippines and
was designated as the encomienda or capital of the Provincia de la Pampanga. Later
on, it became the initial capital of the Province of Bulacan before being transferred to
Malolos shortly after the American occupation. The New Provincial Administrative Code
of Bulacan (Ordinance no. C-004) of 2007 clarifies that the term "Bulakan" pertains to
the municipality and its first capital, while "Bulacan" refers to the province itself. It also
specifies that either "c" or "k" may be used to denote the municipality of Bulakan. The
term "Bulakan" was derived from the Tagalog word "bulak" which refers to cotton. Upon
the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, they discovered that cotton, among other crops,
grew abundantly in several areas of Luzon, particularly in Bulakan. Before the arrival of
the Spanish, Bulakan and the other towns in Bulacan province were made up of small,
dispersed settlements of villages known as "barangays". This term is derived from the
name of the boats used by early Malay seafarers who sailed to various islands in the
Philippines. These ancestors of our forefathers settled in different parts of the
archipelago, and their villages and barangays were each governed by a petty chieftain
who held the title "Gat", such as Gat-Maytan, Gat-Salian, and "Gat-Dula", and "Lakan"
as in Lakandula. These early settlers lived near the seashore and rivers, and were
referred to as "taga-ilog", which means people who reside near rivers or other bodies of
water. From this term "taga-ilog" came the word "Tagalog". The early Tagalog people
were peaceful, honest, diligent, and hardworking, and were involved in agriculture,
fishing, and crafts, particularly weaving. The Augustinians founded most of the towns in
the province of Bulacan, including the town of Bulakan, which was established in 1572
and was one of the 385 towns founded by the Augustinians throughout the Philippines.
Another account of the founding of Bulakan town credits Father Agustin de
Alburquerque, O.S.A., as the first minister and founder of Bulakan. By 1591, the town of
Bulacan had 1,000 tributes or 4,800 people; one Augustinian convent and one "alcalde
mayor" who had jurisdiction over the towns of Malolos (which became independent in
1673), Caluya-now Balagtas and formerly Bigaa (separated in 1596), Guiguinto (which
became a separate town in 1841), and Meycauayan. The parish priest was under the
jurisdiction of the diocese of Manila. As the first capital of the province, the town of
Bulacan was the center of economic activities, and its residents enjoyed excellent trade
with Manila, primarily due to its proximity to the city and accessibility through.
The Augustinians established Bulakan as one of the outstations of Convento de Tondo
in 1575 under the supervision of Fray Alonzo Alvarado, OSA. In 1578, it was declared a
town Parish and Convent with Nuestra Señora de la Asunción as its patron, along with
Caluya (now Balagtas, became a town in 1599) and Guiguinto (became a town in 1641)
as its substations. As per local archives, Father Agustin del Alburqueque, OSA was the
first Prior of the Town. According to the census of June 1591, the Province of
Bulacan had 1,200 tributes or 4,800 individuals, one Augustinian convent,
one Gobernadorcillo and one alcalde mayor (present day governor) who had jurisdiction
over the towns of Bulakan (then capital) Malolos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Caluya,
and Meycauayan. The centuries-old adobe church of Our Lady of the
Assumption (Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) stands in the heart of the town. In front of
the church is the municipal hall and a park named "Plaza del Pilar", which is dedicated
to Revolutionary General Gregorio del Pilar who hailed from Barangay San Jose,
Bulakan. The Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is the second oldest Roman
Catholic church in the province and the longest and widest in terms of aisle length and
span respectively. It has a record of baptismal entry as early as 1578. The first page of
the book lists the names of the barrios of the town of Bulacan, Bagio, Bulacan (Camino
Real), Daan Estacion, Matungao, Cupang, Banban, Dapdap, Parian, Balubad, Pitpitan,
Maysantor, Acsajo, Paniqui, San Nicolas, Nagdasig, Calungusan, Taliktik, and Sta Ana.
After a span of 400 years, modifications have been implemented to the former barrios
comprising the town. Bagio was assimilated into Bagumbayan in 1731, Tibig was
established in 1735, Dapdap was rebranded as Sta. Ana in 1741, Nagdasig was
incorporated into Tab-Ang in 1744 and is now known as San Francisco. Parian was
renamed Sta. Inez in 1765, while Bulakan (Camino Real), Daan Estacion, Paniqui, and
Calungusan were merged into one barrio and christened San Jose. Barrio Pitpitan took
over Acsajo, Cupang was combined with Maysantor, now known as Maysantol, Banban
transformed into Bangbang, and is now Bambang. Perez subsisted as an independent
Barrio of Taliktik, now Taliptip, along with the unaltered names of the Barrio's San
Nicolas, Matungao, and Balubad.

The early inhabitants of Bulakan were occupied with agriculture, fishing, and
handicrafts, particularly weaving. As customary in other provinces of early Philippines
like Cavite, Tayabas (now Quezon Province), and Batangas, the town of Bulakan, being
the first capital of the province, gave its name to the province. It was the center of
economic activities and its residents enjoyed excellent trade with Manila due to its
proximity and accessibility through its wide and navigable river. Bulakan was also the
site of a battle between the British, led by Captain Slay, and the Spaniards, led by
Simón de Anda y Salazar, during the short British occupation of Manila. The British
dispatched an expedition of 400 British, 300 Malabar Negroes, and 2,000 Chinese
allies. The Spaniards, together with the natives of Bulacan, fought valiantly but were
defeated. Captain Slay took over the town, but his control did not last long. A large
group of approximately 8,000 Filipino guerillas, led by Spanish Jose Pedro de Busto,
engaged in a nine-day battle in front of the church up to the footbridge against Captain
Slay. They forced Captain Slay to retreat to Manila. During this fight, Bulaqueños
displayed extraordinary martyrdom for the first time. The British attempt to conquer the
rest of the country was unsuccessful because of the remarkable fight put up by the
Bulakeños. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion is the birthplace of Flores de
Mayo, a feast for the Virgin Mary, celebrated throughout the Philippines in May. It is also
the birthplace of the traditional song Dalit, a poetic chant for the patrons of a certain
barrio or town. For centuries, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption served as the
stronghold of the Catholic faith all over the province. It was the central church, a
cathedral-like structure serving as a primus inter pares among the Poblacion churches
of Bulakan. After the establishment of the Diocese of Malolos, its former glory slowly
faded as the focus shifted to the cathedral of the neighboring town Malolos, a church
built two years later in 1580.
Bulakan is politically subdivided into the following 14 barangays:
1. Bagumbayan
 Bagumbayan is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of
Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 4,297. This represented
5.29% of the total population of Bulakan
In this place, there are so many places to visit and many people from Bulacan
would not expect that such a place exists at the farthest part of the area. You can find
many attractions there that are always crowded because the locals enjoy going to the
park, church, and even the local vendors. It's enjoyable to visit that place because it's
peaceful, and I also noticed that there are old houses standing in that area, which may
have many stories and history left behind.

2. Balubad

Balubad is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of Bulacan.

Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 3,738. This represented 4.60% of
the total population of Bulakan.
This place is peaceful and clean. You will see many trees, making the climate
here cool and refreshing.

3. Bambang
 Bambang is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of
Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 14,257. This
represented 17.55% of the total population of Bulakan.
There's not much difference compared to other places that you can see there
because you'll only find simple houses. However, what we noticed here is that there are
many mischievous individuals who park their vehicles anywhere, so clearing operations
are common in this area.
4. Matungao

Matungao is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of

Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 12,950. This
represented 15.94% of the total population of Bulakan.

We noticed that many of the houses there are old-fashioned, resembling the
houses from the ancient times in the movies we've watched about our nation's history.
We also observed that it is gradually undergoing changes as more businesses are
starting to emerge in the area.

5. Maysantol

Maysantol is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of

Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 2,955. This represented
3.64% of the total population of Bulakan.
In this area, we can say that it is developing because there are establishments
that have been built there, which we can clearly see are not common compared to other
barangays in the area. There are sizzling places that have been established and even
large grocery stores like Alphamart.

6. Perez

Perez is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of Bulacan. Its

population as determined by the 2020 Census was 2,047. This represented 2.52% of
the total population of Bulakan.
The way of life here is simple. Most people earn a living through fishing since
they have fish ponds where the residents primarily engage in fishing activities.

7. Pitpitan

Pitpitan is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of Bulacan.

Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 5,077. This represented 6.25% of
the total population of Bulakan.
This barangay is also progressing, but one can notice that there are still many
plots of land being sold at affordable prices because it is still relatively remote.
8. San Francisco

San Francisco is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of

Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 7,486. This represented
9.22% of the total population of Bulakan.
People frequently visit this location since it has dining places. Since there is a
nearby resort, swimming is a preferred pastime if not for dining.

9. San Jose (formerly Poblacion)

San Jose, formerly Poblacion, is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the

province of Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 3,570. This
represented 4.39% of the total population of Bulakan.
This place has gained notoriety because when you pass through here, it feels
like a neglected area. You can sense that the management has not been proper, or it
could also be because of the people who have neglected this place.
10. San Nicolas

San Nicolas is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of

Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 6,279. This represented
7.73% of the total population of Bulakan.
This place is peaceful and clean, attracting visitors because of the presence of a
memorial park. The memorial park there is beautiful because it has been allocated with
a generous budget for its development.
11. Santa Ana

Santa Ana is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of

Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 7,998. This represented
9.85% of the total population of Bulakan
The main source of livelihood for the people here is selling fruits and other items
along the roadside. However, this area is also often visited by officials because there
are vendors who are causing disruptions in the traffic flow. Aside from the vendors,
there are also establishments that have been built here, such as shoe stores and mini
fast food places like a noodle shop.
12. Santa Ines
 Santa Ines is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of
Bulacan. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 2,399. This represented
2.95% of the total population of Bulakan.
This place is named after Saint Ines. Saint Ines was a beautiful woman who
wholeheartedly embraced Christianity at a young age. During the feast of Saint Ines,
they hold a procession wherein she is adorned in elegant garments similar to Reyna
Elena.
13. Taliptip

Taliptip is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of Bulacan.

Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 5,005. This represented 6.16% of
the total population of Bulakan
This place is abundant in fish, and the primary livelihood of the people here is
farming and fishing.

14. Tibig
 Tibig is a barangay in the municipality of Bulakan, in the province of Bulacan. Its
population as determined by the 2020 Census was 3,174. This represented 3.91% of
the total population of Bulakan.
This place is often visited by people because of its tourist attractions. You can
visit various resorts here as there are many affordable resorts that anyone can go to.

The parish and first church were founded in 1575 by Father Augustine and others as the
bishopric of Tondo. In 1578 the city of Bulacan was declared a separate parish from
Tondo. According to historical records, Bulacan Church was destroyed in a fire during
the British invasion in 1762. Construction of the current church and convent was started
in 1812 by Father Gaspar Folger OSA. The church has been damaged by various
natural disasters.
Earthquake of June 3, 1863. October 1, 1869. The 1880 Luzon earthquake caused
serious damage not only to Bulacan City but also to most of Luzon Island. The church
has since been restored after damage.
In 1877, a major restoration of the earthquake-damaged bell tower was carried out by
OSA's Fr. A commemorative plaque can be seen) on the facade of the tower); and in
1884, OSA's Father Francisco Valdes rebuilt the church after the 1880 earthquake. The
current style of the church is due to his restoration. Finally, Father Patricio Martin of
OSA completed the restoration of the church in 1885, and Father Domingo de la Prieta
completed the restoration of the bell tower in 1889.
Plaque commemorating the rebuilding of the bell tower in 1877
At the church, Filipino general Gregorio del Pilar secretly distributed pamphlets for his
uncle Marcelo H. del Pilar, a prominent member of the propaganda movement of the
late 19th century.
The following list summarizes the priests who managed the parish and made significant
changes to the church structure during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines:
Fr. Gaspar Folgar - He rebuilt the church and convent in 1812.
Fr. Marcos Hernandez - During his term the construction of a new bell tower started in
1877. The previous tower tilted after the earthquake of 1869. The new tower was
designed by Ramon Hermosa and constructed by Jose Maria Fuentes, both from the
Civil Engineers Corps (Cuerpo de ingenieros civiles).
Fr. Francisco Valdes - He rebuilt the church in a Neo-Byzantine Romanesque style
starting in 1884 after it was damaged by the earthquake of 1880.
Fr. Patricio Martin - He finished the restoration work in 1885.
Fr. Domingo de la Prieta - The bell tower was completed in 1889 during his term.