Balagtas, Bulacan
Encyclopedia
Balagtas 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.
, the municipality is now included in Manila built up area which reaches San Ildefonso in its Northernmost part.
s, all of which are urban.
Secondary
Major Products
Future Developments
Municipal Officials:
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. 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
Francisco Balagtas
Francisco Baltazar y dela Cruz , known much more widely through his nom-de-plume Francisco Balagtas, was a prominent Filipino poet, and is widely considered as the Tagalog equivalent of William Shakespeare for his impact on Filipino literature...
. 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
Francisco Balagtas
Francisco Baltazar y dela Cruz , known much more widely through his nom-de-plume Francisco Balagtas, was a prominent Filipino poet, and is widely considered as the Tagalog equivalent of William Shakespeare for his impact on Filipino literature...
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 ManilaMetro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, 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 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s, 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
- ChowkingChowkingChowking is a Philippine-based chain that pioneered the Asian quick-service restaurant concept in the Philippines. The concept combines a Western fast-food service style with Chinese food. Chowking predominantly sells noodle soups, dim sum, and rice toppings...
- Greenwich PizzaGreenwich PizzaGreenwich Pizza is the largest pizza and pasta chain in the Philippines.Greenwich started as an over-the-counter pizza store in the Greenhills Commercial Center in Metro Manila in 1971. In 1994, Jollibee Foods Corporation obtained a deal acquiring 80% of Greenwich shareholding. Then in 2006...
- 7 Eleven
- Mang InasalMang InasalMang Inasal is a common fast food chain in the Philippines.-History:Edgar Sia II engaged in business at twenty years of age. He opened the first branch at the Robinson's Mall Carpark-Iloilo....
- JollibeeJollibeeJollibee Foods Corporation is the parent company of Jollibee, a fast-food restaurant chain based in the Philippines. Among JFC's popular brands are Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Caffe Ti-amo, Mang Inasal and Burger King...
- Starbucks Coffee (NLEX)
- Mcdonalds
- Big Mac
- Henlin
- Mackeys
- Dunkin Donuts
- and many more in NLEX Shell and Petron
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