Meycauayan is a city in Bulacan, outside the limits of Metro Manila.
Understand
[edit]Meycauayan is an industrialized city to the north of Metro Manila, directly north of Valenzuela. It was founded in 1578, hence one of the oldest towns established in the province. Its name translates to "[a place] with lots of bamboo", which can still be seen in the partly-rural northeastern barangays.
Meycauayan is increasingly becoming urbanized, and in 2015 it had nearly 210,000 residents.
Get in
[edit]The city lies along the North Luzon Expressway and the older MacArthur Highway running north from Manila.
- 1 Meycauayan City Common Terminal (Common), Iba Road, Malhacan. A multi-purpose transport hub with tricycles serving the city's barangays, a stopover for the Meycauayan-Santo Niño jeepney service, and vans and minibuses heading to Metro Manila, Malolos and San Fernando in Pampanga.
Public transportation
[edit]Buses terminate at Malanday in Valenzuela, and transfers to jeepneys are available. There are many jeepneys between Malinta in Valenzuela and other towns in Bulacan. Jeepneys traveling from Monumento in Caloocan to Bulacan also pass through Meycauayan.
Minibuses heading to Meycauayan from Trinoma in Quezon City terminate at Sto. Niño, in the eastern part of Meycauayan, rather than the old town center, but pass through Common Terminal, where a transfer to downtown Meycauayan can be made through the Meycauayan-Sto. Niño jeepney. A one-way minibus fare costs PHP50. Be prepared to wait for up to an hour before the vehicle fills up.
Meycauayan itself is also a hub for other jeepneys heading to different towns and cities of Bulacan such as Angat, Baliwag, Santa Maria, Malolos and Calumpit.
Taxis and Grab can also be used to access barangays of Meycauayan directly bordering Metro Manila.
By car
[edit]North Luzon Expressway (NLEX, or E1), passes east of the city's downtown, with one exit at the residential and industrial barangay of Malhacan, officially listed as Meycauayan Exit. Traffic congestion has become common in the area during rush hour. A toll-free alternative is the slower and heavily trafficked MacArthur Highway (Route 1), which passes near Meycauayan's city center.
Get around
[edit]Jeepneys connect Meycauayan city proper with the neighborhood of Santo Niño to the east, passing through the overpass at NLEX Meycauayan Exit and making a stop at Meycauayan City Common Terminal.
See
[edit]- 1 Old Meycauayan Station, MacArthur Highway, Malhacan (southeast of St. Mary's College). One of the stations of the old Manila-Dagupan railway, it also witnessed one of the battles of the Philippine-American War. The station building stands until today, but is slowly crumbling and the station interior is closed to the public. A new station for the future Manila-Clark Railway is to be constructed near this station, alongside the restoration of the older structure.
- 2 Meycauayan Church (San Francisco de Assisi Church). This church was built in 1578, originally in barangay Bahay Pare, but was moved to its present location due to attacks from the indigenous Aeta (Negritos). The church survived the Philippine Revolution and World War II, but was destroyed by a fire in 1949 and rebuilt in 1953. It has managed to retain its Baroque facade and belltower, which is connected to the building through an elevated walkway. In front of the church is the Meycauayan Tree, a century-old acacia tree that is also a landmark of the city. Parking fees of PHP30 for cars and PHP20 for motorcycles.
Do
[edit]Events
[edit]- Kawayanan Festival. This annual festival is being hosted by the City Government of Meycauayan. The festivities include street dancing using bamboos as major props and ornamentals. It depicts the city's local culture and historical outlook.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Aliw Shopping Complex, MacArthur Highway. 9AM–9PM. It's a small mall but packed with a lot of different shops like Jollibee, a noodle house, some food stalls, Pandayan Bookstore, Puregold, donut shops, and a lot of tiangge and gadget stores at the second floor. They even have the Pound for Pound gym inside and some beauty shops.
- 2 SPC Starshop Plaza, Manila North Road. 8AM–9PM. Department store.
- 3 Meycauayan People's Market, Hulo-Banga Road.
- 4 Robinsons Townville Meycauayan, Ema Town Center, El Camino Real, Camalig.
Eat
[edit]- 1 8 Kings Buffet, MacArthur Highway (near St. Mary's College). 11AM–9PM. Mostly Filipino dishes.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Cafe Beato, Rooftop, Le Beato Hotel, Malhacan Rd, ☏ +63 44 323 0137. 1-10PM.
- 2 Fika Kafi, 26 Peso Corner Dollar Street, St. Michael Homes, ☏ +63 936 517 1030. Daily noon-1AM.
- 3 Ko’Cha Café, 5 Genesis Sreet Sto. Niño, ☏ +63 9196510260. 1-11:30PM.
- 4 Café Nenzo, G/F Esperanza Mall, McArthur Highway, ☏ +63 906 233 2233, [email protected]. 11AM-8PM.
- 5 Fsb Cafe, 85 Requino Saluysoy Road, [email protected]. 10AM-10PM.
- 6 Cofi Co., Capricorn Street, Corner Pisces, Phase 3B, ☏ +63 9289424641. Daily noon-10PM.
- 7 012 Café, 0009 Unit C, El Camino St, Sto. Niño, Phase III-C Perez, [email protected]. 10AM-midnight.
- 8 Cafe Romeo, 4 Guilder Street St. Michael Subd., ☏ +63 44 323 0067, [email protected]. Daily 10AM-midnight.
- 9 Best Brew Cafe, 100 Daungan Rd, ☏ +63 997 641 7935. Daily 7AM-9PM.
- 10 Captain's Cup, Goldmines Bldg, 67, [email protected]. Daily 10AM-10PM.
- 11 Bigbrew Iba Meycauayan, 128 M. Quezon St. Ana Maria Village Iba, ☏ +63 969 481 9439. Daily 10AM-10PM.
- 12 Black Bubble Cafe, Unit 3, Health Beauty and Wellness Center, Ema Town Centre, Nu Centro Drive. Daily 11AM-9PM.
- 13 Milk Tea Dose Meycauayan, 27 Albatross st corner Peacock st St Francis Subdivision, ☏ +63 923 688 9877, [email protected]. 11AM-9PM.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Lo Beato, 10 Sitio Bisita, Malhacan (near San Isidro-San Roque Parish). Apartment-style rooms. Has a coffee shop on top, but items at inflated prices. From ₱1130.
Stay safe
[edit]A low-lying area, Meycauayan frequently gets flooded during the rainy season, which can be exacerbated during typhoons and high tide from Manila Bay.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Meycauayan |
| San Fernando ← Marilao ← | N  S
|
→ Valenzuela → Balintawak |