History of Bulacan

Before the Spaniards came, a small settlement of fishermen lived along the coast of Manila Bay. Later, these settlers moved inland and became farmers after discovering fertile land drained by a network of rivers and streams. These settlers grew and flourished into the large and prosperous settlement now known as the province of Bulacan.

It is believed that flowers bloomed in the region when the Spaniards came. Because of sprawling green orchards, vegetables and profusely flowering plants, as well as beautiful women, this lovely land came to be called Bulacan as a shortened term for "bulak-lakan" and/or a derivative of the word "bulak" (kapok) which abounded in the province even before the Spaniards came.

As early as the coming of Legaspi to conquer Manila with two of his subordinate officers, Martin de Goiti and Juan Salcedo, the Bulakenyos through their seafaring brothers from Hagonoy showed their instinctive love of country by helping Raja Soliman, King of Manila, fight the Battle of the Bangkusay Channel.

The signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in 1897 was a brilliant chapter in the history of Bulacan. However, the crowning glory among the series of historical events in the province was the establishment of the capital of the First Philippine Republic in Malolos. The Malolos Church and the Barasoain Church will both be remembered as the executive headquarters of President Aguinaldo and as the legislative seat, from September 10, 1898 to March 29, 1899. It was also in Malolos that the famous and historical document, the Malolos Constitution, was drafted and ratified.

Bulacan was one of the eight provinces which rallied behind the Katipunan's call for an all-out insurrection against Spanish tyranny in the late 19th century.

Bulacan is the cradle of noble heroes, of great men and women. The early people of Bulacan, being descendants of a freedom-loving race, also rose in revolt like their brothers in other parts of the country.

It produced the Great Propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar, the youthful General Gregorio del Pilar, the Propagandist Mariano Ponce, the Tecson, Valenzuela, Torres, Estrella, Viola, Sandico families, the famous "Women of Malolos," and Maestro Eusebio Roque (Maestrong Sebio), among many others. The Bulakenyos take fierce pride in their history and tradition and they live by these glories. By these glories, they are quick to display leadership and seek fullest commitment to national goals.

Bulacan is also home to many of the country's greatest artists, with a good number elevated as National Artists:

• Legendary poets Francisco "Baltazar" Balagtas and Jose Corazon de Jesus, also known as "Huseng Batute"
• Musicians Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago, Francisco Buencamino, Col. Antonio Buenaventura (National Artist in Music, 1988), Ernani Cuenco (National Artist in Music, 2000) and Alfredo Buenaventura
• Queen of Zarsuela, Atang dela Rama (National Artist in Theater and Music, 1987)
• Internationally acclaimed pianist Cecil Buencamino Licad
• Nationalist sculptor Guillermo Tolentino (National Artist in Sculpture, 1976)
• Foremost exponent of Philippine folk dance Francisca Aquino (National Artist in Dance, 1973)
• Philippine film greats: LVN matriarch Dona Sisang de Leon, movie director Gerardo de Leon (National Artist in Film, 1982), and movie actor Danilo Montes, among many others.