Baliwag is a city and the largest settlement in northern Bulacan. It has a population of about 150,000 in 2015.
Understand
[edit]Baliwag was carved out of the municipality of Quingua (present-day Plaridel) in 1733, which used to cover a large area along the Angat River. The town's heritage church is also built in that year. In 1899, Baliwag was the site of the first democratic elections in the Philippines, and in Asia as well.
The town is home to Mariano Ponce, also one of the members of the Propaganda Movement led by Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez-Jaena.
Baliwag is the economic and educational center for northern Bulacan, and it has that status since it the Spanish and American colonial periods.
Get in
[edit]Baliwag lies on the Maharlika Highway, also known as the Cagayan Valley Road. The main routes to town are the Santa Rita and Balagtas Exits of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The Santa Rita exit involves passing through the congested settlements of Guiguinto, Plaridel and Pulilan, while the Balagtas Exit is relatively faster, passing through a bypass road and the town of Bustos.
By bus
[edit]- Baliwag Transit. This bus line headquartered in this town has frequent trips from their terminals in Manila and Cubao (Quezon City). The company has two terminals, one at Sampaloc junction (northeast of downtown), and another at the downtown.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
See
[edit]- 1 Baliwag Clock Tower, Dr. Gonzales Street, and Senator Ninoy Aquino Avenue. The first and only free-standing clock tower in Bulacan, also a local symbol and landmark. It is constructed in 1999 and inaugurated in 2000, during the 137th birthday anniversary of hero, Mariano Ponce.
- 2 Baliwag Museum and Library (Museo ng Baliwag, Lumang Minisipyo), Calle Rizal. It was the first town hall (munisipyo or municipio) which was built during the American occupation in 1899. It used to house the municipal government until 1971, when a new town hall was inaugurated. Today, it houses a museum dedicated to the town's history.
- 3 Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Augustine (Baliwag Church), Glorietta Park. A 19th century church from the Spanish era.
- 4 NHCP Museo ni Mariano Ponce, Mariano Ponce Street, Barangay Tibag, ☏ +63 905 474 5154, [email protected]. 8AM–4PM; closed Mondays and holidays. A museum dedicated to national hero Mariano Ponce, one of a series of writers who advocated for autonomy and later independence from Spain in the late 19th century. Free. Donation optional.
- 5 Sub-Parish Church of Santo Cristo (Apo Kristo Chapel), J. Buizon Street, Santo Cristo (next to Baliwag Catholic Cemetery). A Spanish-era chapel built in 1881.
Do
[edit]- Holy Week processions. On Holy Week, particularly Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, Baliwag hosts the longest Lenten procession in the Philippines, featuring up to 120 statues showing the passion of the Christ and related images being transported on floats from the San Isidro Labrador parish church in neighboring Pulilan to San Agustin parish in Baliwag. Many of the images are family heirlooms that are only displayed in public for that occasion.
Buy
[edit]One of Baliwag's main products are the buntal hats, which is made from woven buri palm fibers.
There is one mall, and numerous supermarkets, mostly located at the highway outside downtown:
- 1 SM City Baliwag, Don Remedios Trinidad Highway. Has numerous restaurants, a SM Store (department store), and a SM Hypermarket.
- 2 Baliwag Public Market, A. Mabini Street.
Eat
[edit]- 1 La Familia Sizzlers and Restaurant, DRT Highway, Bagong Nayon, Baliwag, Bulacan, ☏ +63 44 766-2037, [email protected]. 9 AM–7 PM, M-TH, 9 AM–8 PM, F-Sun.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Sunrise Motel, Doña Remedios Trinidad Highway (Near the flyover).
Stay safe
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Baliwag |
| Cabanatuan ← San Rafael ← | N  S
|
→ Pulilan → Malolos |