Bocaue

Bocaue, officially the Municipality of Bocaue (Tagalog: Bayan ng Bocaue), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 119,675 people. [7]

Bocaue

Bokawe
Municipality
Municipality of Bocaue
Bocaue Municipal Hall
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Fireworks Capital of the Philippines','Gaming Capital of the Philippines
Map of Bulacan with Bocaue highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Bocaue
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°48′N 120°56′E
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon (Region III)
ProvinceBulacan
District2nd District
Founded1582
(as a barrio of Meycauayan)
CharteredApril 11, 1606
(as an independent town) [1][2]
Founded by
  • Dayang Panginuan
  • Fray Juan de Plasencia, OFM
Barangays19 (see Barangays)
Government
 [3]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorJose C. Santiago, Jr.[4][5]
 • Vice MayorAlvin Paul S.P. Cotaco
 • RepresentativeGavini C. Pancho
Area
 [6]
 • Total31.87 km2 (12.31 sq mi)
Elevation
9.0 m (29.5 ft)
Highest elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2015 census) [7]
 • Total119,675
 • Density3,800/km2 (9,700/sq mi)
 • Households
26,062
Demonym(s)
  • Bocaueño (male)
  • Bocaueña (female)
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence7.69% (2015)[8]
 • Revenue PHP 336.32 million (2017) [9]
 • Assets PHP 386.21 million (2017)
 • Expenditure PHP 300.85 million (2017)
Utilities
 • ElectricityMERALCO
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3018
PSGC
031404000
IDD : area code +63 (0)44
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesTagalog
Websitewww.bocaue.gov.ph

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. The Bocaue River runs through most of the town.

Among its tourist attractions are a town museum located near the municipality's center and the town's river festival celebrated on the first Sunday of every July. The river festival is in commemoration of the Holy Cross of Wawa, believed to be miraculous by the town's predominating Roman Catholic populace.

Etymology

The town's name comes from the Old Tagalog word "Bukawe", which refers to a type of long bamboo (Schyzostachyum lima).

History

Bocaue was first established by Franciscan missionaries as a barrio and visita of Meycauayan in 1582 and as a town on April 11, 1606 under the advocacy of San Martin de Tours. It was the first town to be granted independence from the old Meycauayan that was then a very large town comprising the present territories of Meycauayan City, Marilao, Santa Maria, San Jose del Monte City, Obando, and Valenzuela City.

After the Philippine–American War, the Philippine Commission was established, part of whose functions was the reorganization of Philippine municipalities and provinces. In 1903, Bulacan province reduced the number of towns from 26 to 19. The town of Balagtas was annexed to Bocaue, which later regained its independence and was reestablished as a town in 1911.

During the Bocaue River Festival of July 2, 1993, around 500 people rode the "floating pagoda" for the Holy Cross of Wawa way beyond the boat's capacity and caused the boat to sink, killing more than two hundred people. Despite the lives lost, no one has been made accountable for the tragedy. This incident became known as the Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy.

On the morning of 31 December 2007, ten fireworks stores burned in Barangay Turo, causing a series of explosions within the area and injuring 7 persons.

Geography

Bocaue is 27 kilometres (17 mi) north-east of Manila if reached via the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Highway and is 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Malolos City. It is at the mid-southwestern portion of Bulacan.

The town is bounded on the north by the municipality of Balagtas and a portion of the municipality of Santa Maria; by the municipalities of Marilao and Obando on the south; a larger portion of Santa Maria on the east; a portion of the municipality of Bulakan on the extreme southwestern side; and a portion of Balagtas on the western side.

Bocaue is traversed by the Bocaue River, a tributary of the Santa Maria River that is in turn a tributary of Angat River. The main source of Angat River and its tributaries is the Sierra Madre mountain range. Along these rivers are many man-made fish ponds used for raising and farming fish like bangus and tilapia.

Barangays

Bocaue is politically subdivided into 19 barangays.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015 [7] 2010 [10]
031404001 Antipona 1.9% 2,289 2,298 ▾ −0.07%
031404002 Bagumbayan 3.0% 3,573 2,187 ▴ 9.80%
031404003 Bambang 6.5% 7,830 9,072 ▾ −2.76%
031404004 Batia 26.5% 31,663 19,561 ▴ 9.60%
031404005 Biñang 1st 2.9% 3,496 3,465 ▴ 0.17%
031404006 Biñang 2nd 1.7% 2,072 2,421 ▾ −2.92%
031404007 Bolacan 1.0% 1,199 1,106 ▴ 1.55%
031404008 Bundukan 5.7% 6,796 6,668 ▴ 0.36%
031404009 Bunlo 3.9% 4,686 4,942 ▾ −1.01%
031404010 Caingin 4.6% 5,551 5,253 ▴ 1.06%
031404011 Duhat 6.2% 7,444 7,094 ▴ 0.92%
031404012 Igulot 1.2% 1,408 1,468 ▾ −0.79%
031404013 Lolomboy 13.8% 16,507 16,421 ▴ 0.10%
031404014 Poblacion 0.3% 405 786 ▾ −11.86%
031404015 Sulucan 2.1% 2,572 2,715 ▾ −1.02%
031404016 Taal 7.3% 8,681 8,520 ▴ 0.36%
031404017 Tambobong 4.6% 5,558 4,549 ▴ 3.89%
031404018 Turo 5.1% 6,058 6,000 ▴ 0.18%
031404019 Wakas 1.6% 1,887 1,881 ▴ 0.06%
Total 119,675 106,407 ▴ 2.26%

Climate
Climate data for Bocaue, Bulacan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 32
(90)		 34
(93)		 33
(91)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 31
(87)
Average low °C (°F) 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7
(0.3)		 7
(0.3)		 9
(0.4)		 21
(0.8)		 101
(4.0)		 152
(6.0)		 188
(7.4)		 170
(6.7)		 159
(6.3)		 115
(4.5)		 47
(1.9)		 29
(1.1)		 1,005
(39.7)
Average rainy days 3.3 3.5 11.1 8.1 18.9 23.5 26.4 25.5 24.5 19.6 10.4 6.4 181.2
Source: Meteoblue [11]

Demographics
Population census of Bocaue
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 8,438—    
1918 8,749+0.24%
1939 12,345+1.65%
1948 16,537+3.30%
1960 22,417+2.57%
1970 33,953+4.23%
1975 40,577+3.64%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 49,693+4.14%
1990 67,243+3.07%
1995 69,718+0.68%
2000 86,994+4.86%
2007 105,817+2.74%
2010 106,407+0.20%
2015 119,675+2.26%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [7] [10] [12][13]

In the 2015 census, the population of Bocaue, Bulacan, was 119,675 people, [7] with a density of 3,800 inhabitants per square kilometre or 9,800 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

The St. Martin of Tours Church of Bocaue, otherwise known as The Diocesan Shrine of Bocaue, is one of the oldest churches in the province of Bulacan. The reputed Mahal na Krus ng Wawa (Beloved Holy Cross of Wawa) is kept here.

The Feast of the Holy Cross of Wawa is a festival held on the first Sunday of July, observed in honor of the Holy Cross of Wawa (Mahal na Krus sa Wawa), a relic believed to have saved the life of an old woman drowning in the Bocaue River. The main feature of this fiesta is what is called The Pagoda, a gaily-decorated structure riding on a huge bangka, which glides along the town river carrying people from all walks of life who would enjoy the ride while religious music is played and while feasting on sumptuous food.

Other religious populations in the town include those belonging to the Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witness, Methodist, Aglipayan, Adventist, Baptist, and Mormons Christian sects. There are also a number of Evangelical, Pentecostal, Members Church of God International and Charismatic churches, ministries, fellowships, and groups in the municipality. The practice of Islam could also be found in the municipality.

Economy
The Bocaue Public Market

Bocaue's town center is 27 kilometers north of Manila if reached via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Bocaue Exit (in Barangay Turo). NLEX provides fast transport to Metro Manila from where it begins at Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Bocaue is the highway's middle route.

The town's major industry is fireworks-making, which has earned it the tag "Fireworks Capital of the Philippines". Among the prominent firecracker stores located in Bocaue is Eat Bulaga Fireworks, owned by fireworks maker Rommel Eustaquio and named after the longest-running noontime variety program in the country.[14]

Culture and arts
Locally-made food products in a Bocaue store

Nationally known Bocaueños in the arts include choreographer Francisca Reyes Aquino, TV actress Jewel Mische, and contemporary painter Noli Principe Manalang. Lauro Delgado, a former veteran character actor of Premiere Productions from the early 1950s to the late 1970s, is also a Bocaue native born in Barangay Bunducan.

Bocaue is also famous for its Bocaue liempo, crispy pata, sinuso (pork breast), chicharon (deep fried pork chips), rellenong bangus (stuffed milkfish) and various sorts of rice cakes, as well as embroidered barong Tagalog and Filipiniana outfits.

The Francisca Reyes Aquino Shrine, under the management of the National Historical Institute, is a shrine erected on the compound of Lolomboy Elementary School in Barangay Lolomboy in honor of Francisca Reyes Aquino. Aquino was a recipient of a National Artist Award for her significant contributions to the development of Philippine dance.

Sports and recreation

The Philippine Stadium, also known as the New Era University Stadium, is a sports stadium located inside the Ciudad de Victoria, a 75-hectare tourism enterprise zone located in the towns of Bocaue and Santa Maria, Bulacan. With a capacity of up to 25,000, it became the biggest stadium in the Philippines upon its completion.

The Philippine Arena, an indoor multi-purpose arena and the centerpiece of Ciudad de Victoria, is located just adjacent to the Philippine Stadium. With a seating capacity of 55,000 it became the largest indoor arena in the world upon its completion in 2014.

Education
The Bocaue Extension building of the St. Paul University of Quezon City

Bocaue is also an education center for the Meycauayan, Marilao, Santa Maria, and Balagtas municipalities area. The state-owned Bulacan Polytechnic College has a campus in Bocaue. Private colleges and universities include the Dr. Yanga's Colleges and Jesus Is Lord Colleges Foundation Inc. New Era University and St. Paul University Quezon City also established branch campuses in the municipality. The municipality also has several elementary and secondary schools, both public and private.

Municipal government
Bocaue Municipal Hall

Sangguniang Bayan (2019–present)[15][16][17][18][19]

Mayor: Jose C. Santiago, Jr. (National Unity Party)
Vice Mayor: Alvin Paul S.P. Cotaco (PDP–Laban)

Municipal Councilors:

Mayors of Bocaue

  • Mariano Ramirez (1900)
  • Gregorio de la Cruz (1901-1902)
  • Vicente L. Enriquez (1902-1904)
  • Victor Pascual (1904-1905)
  • Lorenzo Galvez (1905-1907)
  • Mariano Reyes (1908-1909)
  • Dionisio Morales (1910-1912)
  • Victor Pascual (1913-1916)
  • Honorato Ramirez (1916-1919)
  • Emiliano Eusebio (1919-1922)
  • Guillermo Mendoza (1922-1928)
  • Dominador L. Santos (1928-1933)
  • Gregorio de Guzman (1934-1935)
  • Emiliano Eusebio (1935-1937)
  • Dominador L. Santos (1938-1940)
  • Dioscoro M. Juan, Sr. (1940-1941)
  • Manolito Vistan (1942-1944)
  • Joaquin San Juan (1944)
  • Dioscoro M. Juan, Sr. (1945-1948)
  • Moises E. Nicolas (1948-1952)
  • Evangelino Mendoza (1952-1956)
  • Dioscoro M. Juan, Sr. (1956-1960)
  • Moises E. Nicolas (1960-1965)
  • Simeon Mauricio (1965-1972)
  • Matias B. Ramirez (1972-1979)
  • Zacarias G. del Rosario (1979-1986)
  • Ranulfo David (1986)
  • Cesar N. Nicolas (1987-1988)
  • Lorenzo P. Gonzales (1988-1992)
  • Serafin M. de la Cruz (1992-1999)
  • Jose D.G. Santiago, Sr. (1999-2001)
  • Eduardo J. Villanueva, Jr. (2001-2004)
  • Serafin M. de la Cruz (2004-2007)
  • Eduardo J. Villanueva, Jr. (2007-2016)
  • Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna (June 30, 2016 – May 28, 2020)[20][21]
  • Jose C. Santiago, Jr. (Acting mayor May 28, 2020-June 01, 2020, June 1, 2020–present)[22][23]

Vice Mayors of Bocaue

  • Moises E. Nicolas (1956–1958)
  • Cesar N. Nicolas (1986–1988)
  • Serafin M. de la Cruz (unknown years)
  • Mario Mendoza (unknown years)
  • Antonio Mendoza (1995–1998)
  • Rogelio Ramos (1998–2001)
  • Peter Christopher Gonzales (2001–2004)
  • Kennedy Valdez (2004–2007)
  • Jose C. Santiago, Jr. (2007–2013)
  • Dioscoro Juan, Jr. (2013–2016)
  • Aldrin B. Sta. Ana (2016–2019)
  • Jose C. Santiago, Jr. (2019–2020)
  • Alvin Paul S.P. Cotaco (2020–present)

Notable people

References
  1. "Proclamation No. 1268, s. 2007". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  2. "Bocaue plans theme park, pyro village". The Philippine Star.
  3.  Municipality of Bocaue | (DILG)
  4. "Happening today is the oath taking of Jose C. Santiago, Jr. as the new Municipal Mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. This is to fill-up the vacancy left by the late Mayor Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna. | DILG-Bulacan". Facebook. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  5. "Happening today is the oath taking of Jose C. Santiago, Jr. as the new Municipal Mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. This is to fill-up the vacancy left by the late Mayor Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna". Facebook.
  6. "Province: Bulacan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  9. ""Commission on Audit 2017 Report-Bulacan"". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Audit. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  10. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. "Bocaue: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  13. "Province of Bulacan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  14. "Aldub helps sales of firecrackers sour". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  15. "Halalan 2019 BOCAUE, BULACAN". ABS-CBN. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  16. "Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Joni Villanueva dies". GMA News. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  17. "Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Joni Villanueva dies". GMA News.
  18. "Happening today is the oath taking of Jose C. Santiago, Jr. as the new Municipal Mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. This is to fill-up the vacancy left by the late Mayor Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna. | DILG-Bulacan". facebook.com. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  19. "Happening today is the oath taking of Jose C. Santiago, Jr. as the new Municipal Mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. This is to fill-up the vacancy left by the late Mayor Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna". facebook.com.
  20. "Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Joni Villanueva dies". GMA News. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  21. "Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Joni Villanueva dies". GMA News.
  22. "Happening today is the oath taking of Jose C. Santiago, Jr. as the new Municipal Mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. This is to fill-up the vacancy left by the late Mayor Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna. | DILG-Bulacan". facebook.com. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  23. "Happening today is the oath taking of Jose C. Santiago, Jr. as the new Municipal Mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. This is to fill-up the vacancy left by the late Mayor Eleanor J. Villanueva-Tugna". facebook.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.