History
Thirty kilometers north of Manila is the town of Balagtas (formerly Bigaa), which has nine barrios. The town is shaped like a pentagon, bounded by four towns: on the south by Bocaue, on the north by Plaridel, on the east by Pandi, on the west by the towns of Bulacan and Guiguinto. The McArthur Highway bisects the municipality of Balagtas as this national road cuts northward to the Ilocos region. At the southern approach of the town from Manila is a modern, first-class concrete bridge that crosses the Balagtas River. The river, navigable by banca and motor boats, empties into Manila Bay after snaking through the town of Bulacan to the west which provides Balagtas' townsfolk with fish, shrimp, and other fresh water food.