Bocaue, Bulacan
| Municipality of Bocaue Bayan ng Bokawe |
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| Municipality | ||
Bocaue Municipal Hall
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| Nickname(s): Fireworks Capital of the Philippines | ||
| {{#property:P242}} Map of Bulacan showing the location of Bocaue |
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 Municipality of Bocaue
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
| Country |  Philippines |
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| Region | Central Luzon (Region III) | |
| Province | [[{{#property:P131}}]] | |
| District | 2nd District | |
| Founded | 1582 (as a barrio of Meycauayan) |
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| Incorporated | April 11, 1606 (as an independent town) |
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| Barangays | 19 | |
| Government[1] | ||
| • Mayor | Eduardo "Jon-Jon" Villanueva, Jr. (Liberal) |
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| Area[2] | ||
| • Total | 31.87 km2 (12.31 sq mi) | |
| Population (2010)[3] | ||
| • Total | 106,407 | |
| • Density | 3,300/km2 (8,600/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | |
| ZIP code | {{#property:P281}} | |
| Dialing code | {{#property:P473}} | |
| Income class | 1st class, urban municipality | |
| Website | www.bulacan.gov.ph/bocaue | |
Bocaue (Filipino: Bukawe, Tagalog pronunciation: [boˈkawe]) is a first class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines.
According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 106,407 people.[3] With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the town is now part of the metropolis' built-up area, which reaches San Ildefonso at Bulacan province's northernmost part and continues into Nueva Ecija.
There are three road crossings in the town that are heavily congested during the rush hours: Lolomboy, Wakas and Bocaue road crossings. The Bocaue River runs through most of the town.
A town museum is located near the municipality's center, and the town's river festival is celebrated on the first Sunday of every July in commemoration of the Holy Cross of Wawa. The Holy Cross of Wawa is believed to be miraculous by the town's predominating Roman Catholic populace.
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Geography
The municipality of Bocaue would be 24.5 kilometres (15.2 mi) northeast of Manila if reached via the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Highway. 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 the bangus and tilapia.
Barangays
Bocaue is politically subdivided into 19 barangays.
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Etymology
The town's name comes from the old Tagalog word "Bokawe" (Schyzostachyum lima), which refers to a type of long bamboo.
History
Bocaue was first established by Franciscan missionaries as a barrio and visita of Meycauayan in 1582 and as a town in April 11, 1606 under the advocacy of San Martin de Tours. It was the first town to be granted independence from the Old Meycauayan, which was then a very large town comprising the present Meycauayan, Marilao, Sta Maria, San Jose del Monte, Obando, and Valenzuela municipalities.
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 was reduced from having 26 to 19 towns. The town of Balagtas was annexed to Bocaue, which 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.
Then, 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.
Demographics
| Population census of Bocaue | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 67,243 | — |
| 1995 | 69,718 | +0.68% |
| 2000 | 86,994 | +4.86% |
| 2007 | 105,817 | +2.74% |
| 2010 | 106,407 | +0.20% |
| Source: National Statistics Office[3] | ||
Economy
Bocaue's town center is about 27 kilometers north of Manila if reached via the North Luzon Expressway and the Bocaue Exit (in Barangay Turo). The town is the middle route for this highway that provides fast transport to Metro Manila from where it begins at Mabalacat, Pampanga.
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 Rommel Eustaquio, named after the longest-running noontime variety program in the country.[4]
Culture and Arts
A small art gallery beside the town poblacion's McDonald's restaurant, called Twenty-Twenty and owned by the town's ophthalmologist and her art photographer husband, sells works by a number of Bulacan painters. Nationally-known Bocaueños in the arts include choreographer Francisca Reyes Aquino, TV actress Jewel Mische, and diskurso.com art magazine editor Jojo Soria de Veyra. 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, 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 Philippines' National Historical Institute, is a shrine erected 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. The shrine was erected on the compound of Lolomboy Elementary School in Barangay Lolomboy.
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 from the Members Church of God International, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witness, Methodist, Aglipayan, Adventist, Baptist, and Mormons Christian sects. There are also a number of Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Charismatic churches, ministries, fellowships and groups. The practice of Islam could also be found in the municipality.
Sports
The Philippine Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena at Ciudad de Victoria, a 75-hectare tourism enterprise zone located in the town and Santa Maria, Bulacan. With a capacity of up to 55,000, it became the largest domed indoor arena in the world upon its completion. It was the centerpiece of the Iglesia Ni Cristo's (INC) centennial, which was celebrated on July 27, 2014.
Professional-basketball player Billy Mamaril and Jonas Villanueva also come from Bocaue.
Education
Bocaue is also an education center for the Marilao, Sta. Maria, and Balagtas municipalities area. Secondary and higher education is accommodated by the following educational institutes:
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Municipal Government
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Mayors of Bocaue
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Vice Mayors of Bocaue
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Gallery
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The Bocaue Toll Barrier (NLEX).
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bocaue, Bulacan. |
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Santa Maria | |
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| Balagtas |  |
Santa Maria | ||
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| Bulakan | Meycauayan / Marilao |
 Province of Bulacan |
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Malolos (capital)
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| Municipalities | |
| Component cities | |
| Misc. | |
