Discover Bulacan: Land of the Heroes

Last Updated on April 22, 2020 by OJ Maño

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Map of Bulacan – Municipalities and Cities

Bulacan is a beautiful province in the Philippines, located in Central Luzon, designated as Region III. It has 21 municipalities and three-component cities (Malolos the provincial capital, Meycauayan, and San Jose del Monte). Bordering it are the provinces of Pampanga to the west, Nueva Ecija to the north, Aurora and Quezon to the east, and Metro Manila and Rizal to the south. Bulacan also lies on the north-eastern shore of Manila Bay.

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Bulacan Bucket List Challenge

The people from this province are called Bulakenyo or Bulakenya. The majority are still Tagalog-speaking folks known for their unique Tagalog accent. Tagalog or formally referred to as Filipino is the national language of the Philippines.

Jeepneys and Tricycles are still common modes of transportation in and around the province. There’s an ongoing construction of the Tutuban-Malolos phase of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) North-South Railway. The project is expected to be completed by the last quarter of 2021 according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Aside from that, the country’s biggest international airport is set to be constructed here in Bulacan. These projects will surely boost local tourism and the economy once done in the near future.

Top Ten Historical Churches in Bulacan

People here are quite religious as evident in several historical churches around. Here are the top ten famous Catholic churches in Bulacan:

  1. Barasoain Church – Malolos
  2. Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception – Malolos (formerly known as the Malolos Cathedral)
  3. St. John the Baptist Church – Calumpit (The oldest church in Bulacan)
  4. Our Lady of the Assumption Church – Bulakan
  5. San Pascual Baylon Church – Obando
  6. Shrine of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon – Bocaue
  7. The National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy – Marilao
  8. Saint John of God Parish Church – San Rafael
  9. St. Augustine Parish Church – Baliuag
  10. San Isidro Labrador Parish Church – Pulilan (Kneeling Carabao Festival)

Aside from these churches, Bulacan is also the home of Ciudad de Victoria, of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) church. This is where you’ll find the world’s largest indoor arena called The Philippine Arena. It is a multipurpose indoor arena with a maximum seating capacity of 55,000. The arena holds not only major church gatherings of the Iglesia ni Cristo but also operates as a multi-use sports and concert venue, capable of holding a range of events from boxing and basketball to live music performances. One of the most notable events that was held here was the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Must Try Dishes

Bulacan is popular with its variety of rice cakes or “kakanin” for dessert. Make sure you try their cassava/rice cakes, puto, kutsinta, kalamay, suman, sapin-sapin and many more. Among the well-known manufactured sweet goods in the province are pastillas de leche, pastillas de yema, pastillas de ube, macapuno/ube balls, minasa, inipit and ensaymada Malolos. Don’t forget Chicharon and Bucheron. As you know it, Chicharon is made from the deep-fried pork belly or pork rinds while bucheron is made from deep-fried chicken craw (butse), a part of the esophagus where freshly swallowed food is temporarily stored for later digestion. It is best paired with sukang Paombong (a vinegar made from nipa palm sap or “sasa”).

Bulacan Landmarks and Favorite Destinations

Bulacan is blessed with nature parks and tourist landmarks where adventure-seekers can explore and take Instagramable pictures. Here are twelve places to visit in Bulacan:

  1. Biak na Bato National Park – San Miguel
  2. Pinagrealan Cave – Norzagaray
  3. Candaba Bird Sanctuary – Boundary of Baliuag
  4. Manalmon (Madlum) Cave – San Miguel
  5. Tila Pilon Hills – Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT)
  6. Talon Pari Falls – Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT)
  7. Malangaan Spring and Cave – San Rafael
  8. Hilltop (Bitbit Bridge) – Norzagaray
  9. Bitbit River – Norzagaray
  10. Mount Maranat – Norzagaray
  11. Angat Dam Viewdeck – Norzagaray
  12. Angat Rainforest and Eco Park (AREP) – Norzagaray

Apart from these great destinations, Bulacan also hosts a lot of private and serene resorts for your relaxation. Read about it in our related article.

Visit Bulacan and immerse yourself with the rich history, culture, the people, and the unique vibe of the province.

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