San Miguel, Bulacan


San Miguel, officially the Municipality of San Miguel, is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.

Etymology

There are two accounts on the origin of the town's name:
  • According to the 1953 journal History of Bulacan, the town was originally named Mayumo from the Kapampangan term for "sweets". The name San Miguel was added by the Augustinian missionaries who selected Michael the Archangel as the patron saint of the town.
  • An account tells that the two leaders decided to form a town named Miguel De Mayumo after the name of Miguel Pineda and Mayumo, from the Kapampangan term and for the goodwill and generosity of Mariano Puno.

History

Spanish colonial era

The municipality of San Miguel de Mayumo was established in 1763 by Carlos Agustin Maniquiz, Maria Juana Puno - wife of Carlos Agustin Maniquiz and Miguel Pineda, with Pineda as the first town mayor of San Miguel. Miguel Pineda was a native of Angat, Bulacan who decided to settle permanently in the barrio of San Bartolome. He found the place ideal for hunting and was later chosen as the leader of other settlers. He formed an alliance with Mariano Puno, the recognized leader of the adjacent prosperous village called Santo Rosario.
The town was previously part of Pampanga, hence San Miguel's culture having Kapampangan influence; it was separated from Candaba. In 1848, the town and the neighbouring barrios, which were then part of Pampanga, were added to the territory of the Province of Bulacan.

The Pact of Biak-Na-Bato

During the Philippine Revolution in 1897, newly appointed Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera decided to crush Emilio Aguinaldo and his troops in Cavite, but Aguinaldo fled to Batangas and joined forces with Gen. Miguel Malvar. The Spaniards continue their pursuit but the troops outwitted them by going to the district of Morong and finally to Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel, Bulacan. Aguinaldo made the mountain caves into his headquarters.
Biak-na-Bato served as one of the camps of the revolutionary Katipunan forces during the Philippine Revolution. It was declared a national park by Manuel L. Quezon on November 16, 1937, through Proclamation No. 223.

American occupation era

Between 1903 and 1906, the adjacent town of San Ildefonso was consolidated with San Miguel due to the former's low income and inability to finance its expenditures in operating the local government. It was later separated from the town to become an independent town of its own when it became capable of meeting its expenses.

Japanese occupation era

During World War II, Japanese Imperial ground troops entered and occupied the town municipality of San Miguel on 1942. Local Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units retreated into the nearby mountains to become the Bulakeño guerrilla resistance against the Japanese occupation forces until the province's liberation.

Philippine independence era

San Miguel was the largest town in the province of Bulacan until September 13, 1977, when Doña Remedios Trinidad, currently the largest municipality of Bulacan, was established under Presidential Decree No. 1196 during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos. Barangays Camachin, Kalawakan, and Talbac were ceded to the new municipality.

Contemporary

On August 26, 2007, residents at the foot of the Biak-na-Bato mountains petitioned president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to declare the mountains protected areas to stop marble quarrying and mining in the area.
In August 2014 during a fieldtrip to the Madlum Cave, seven students of Bulacan State University were swept after heavy rains which triggered a flash flood while crossing the Madlum river.

Geography

The town of San Miguel is bounded by Nueva Ecija Province to the north area and Pampanga Province to the west. The town of San Ildefonso, Bulacan lies next to San Miguel to the south; and, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, and Angat to the east.
San Miguel then was the biggest municipality in the province of Bulacan before some areas were taken and annexed to Doña Remedios Trinidad during the term of Ferdinand Marcos. The geographic nature of the town is diversified and multi-faceted, rich in nature's beauty like waterfall, rivers, caves, few mountains, hilly areas and springs. The mainland are plain agricultural lands, some part of which was substantially eroded due to commercialization and urbanization.
San Miguel is the third largest municipality by area in the province after Doña Remedios Trinidad and Norzagaray. It is from Malolos and from Manila.

Climate

The prevailing climatic conditions in the municipality is categorized into two types: Wet season and dry season.
  • Wet Season -
  • Dry Season -

Barangays

San Miguel is politically subdivided into 49 barangays, as shown in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios
There are 11 urban and the rest rural barangays in the town.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of San Miguel, Bulacan, was 172,073 people, with a density of.

Languages

The municipality, along with two other municipalities and one city of Bulacan, is the homeland of the Alta Kabulowan, the first inhabitants of Bulacan, whose language is also called Alta Kabulowan. Their language is currently endangered and is in dire need of local government intervention. The majority of residents in the town are native speakers of the Tagalog language. Due to its proximity with Pampanga towns and it was part of Pampanga, some residents also speak the Kapampangan language.

Religion and Traditions

Currently, San Miguel is divided into four parishes and a large number of visitas, all of which are under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Malolos. These are Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Miguel Arcangel located in Brgy. Poblacion; San Jose Esposo de Maria Parish located in Brgy. San Jose; Nuestra Señora delos Remedios Parish located in Brgy. Sibul Springs; and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish located in Brgy. Salacot.
The traditions are very alive and well-preserved in San Miguel, as shown by the Holy Week processions in the mother church, which include about 60 carrozas. Numerous images of our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and saints, visited this church, such as the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo and La Purisima Concepcion de Santa Maria. Every May 8, San Miguel holds its town fiesta, and every September 29, it celebrates its Pistang Patron celebration.
The tradition of Los Desposorios or the Bethrotal of Mary and Joseph is very alive at San Jose Esposo de Maria Parish in Brgy. San Jose. The said parish celebrates its fiesta every 26 November, the traditional date which the Augustinians celebrates the feast of the Bethrotal. It will start with Procesion de los Desposorios and after that, the antique image of Saint Joseph and Our Lady meets at the patio of the parish and the rite of the Renewal of Vows will be conducted.

Government

Incoming Officials

  • Municipal Mayor: John "Bong" A. Alvarez
  • Municipal Vice Mayor: Gerome "Jhong" D. Reyes
  • Sangguniang Bayan Members:
  1. Christopher Tolentino Beltran
  2. Pol David Roura Buencamino
  3. Sarah Jane Dela Cruz Gatchalian
  4. Joseph Noel Perez De Guzman
  5. Mary Joy Ann Salimbao Chico
  6. Emmanuel Dela Cruz Magtalas
  7. Romeo Catiis Magat
  8. Wilfredo De Leon Dela Cruz

Education

The Municipality of San Miguel, Bulacan is served by an extensive network of educational institutions at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The municipality is home to numerous public and private schools, along with institutions for technical and higher education.
There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are San Miguel North District Office, and San Miguel South District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Bagong Pag-Asa Elementary School
  • Bagong Silang Elementary School
  • Balaong Elementary School
  • Balite Elementary School
  • Bantog Elementary School
  • Bardias Elementary School
  • Batasan Elementary School
  • Biak Na Bato Elementary School
  • Biclat Elementary School
  • Buga Elementary School
  • Buliran Elementary School
  • Bulualto Elementary School
  • Calumpang Elementary School
  • D. C. Nicolas Sr. School
  • Don Felix De Leon Memorial School
  • Doña Narcisa B. Vda. De Leon Elementary School
  • Dr. Juan F. Pascual Memorial School
  • God's Love Children's Advancement Center
  • Ilog Bulo Primary School
  • Kng. Kabayo Elementary School
  • Labne Elementary School
  • Lambakin Elementary School
  • Magmarale Elementary School
  • Malibay Elementary School
  • Maligaya Elementary School
  • Malinao Elementary School
  • Mandile Elementary School
  • Masalipit Elementary School
  • Pacalag Elementary School
  • Paliwasan Elementary School
  • Pangarayuman Elementary School
  • Park Ridge School of Montesori
  • Partida Elementary School
  • Pinambaran Elementary School
  • Pulong Bayabas Elementary School
  • Pulong Duhat Primary School
  • Sacdalan Elementary School
  • Salacot Elementary School
  • San Jose Elementary School
  • San Juan Elementary School
  • San Miguel Elementary School
  • San Miguel North Central School
  • San Vicente Elementary School
  • Sapang Elementary School
  • School of Mount St. Mary
  • Sibul Elementary School
  • Sta. Ines Elementary School
  • Sta. Lucia Elementary School
  • Sta. Rita Elementary School
  • Tartaro Elementary School
  • Tibagan Elementary School
  • VOJ Eastgate Christian Academy of Bulacan
  • Waminal Achievers Academy

Secondary schools

Higher educational institutions

Notable personalities