Balagtas, Bulacan

Infobox Philippine municipality
infoboxtitle = Municipality of Balagtas, Bulacan
sealfile = Ph seal bulacan balagtas.png locatormapfile = Ph_locator_bulacan_balagtas.png caption = Map of Bulacan showing the location of Balagtas
region = Central Luzon (Region III)
province = Bulacan
district = 2
barangays = 9
class = 1st
mayor = Romeo M. Castro
cityhood =
founded =
areakm2 = 32.05
pop2007 = 62,684
popden2007 = 1956
metro area = Manilla
coordinates =

Balagtas ("formerly Bigaa") is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Formerly known as Bigaa, it was renamed in honor of the great Filipino poet, Francisco Balagtas. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 62,684 inhabitants ("56,945 people in 11,834 households in census 2000").

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.

At the foot of the bridge, along the highway towards the North, is the town hall. In front of the town hall is spacious park where the monument of it hero, Francisco Balagtas is located. The town hall is surrouned by Spanish colonial type houses.

Two hundred meters from the municipal hall is the famous and historical barrio in Panginay, the birthplace of Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar, the town's most prominent son and from whom the town got is name. For whom also "Balagtasan", a form of debate in versified Tagalog, was named. In reverence to the hero's deeds, the official name of Bigaa was changed Balagtas through the legislative act sponsored by the late Congressman, Teodulo Natividad.

In 1946 the Historical Society of the Philippines placed a marker at the birthplace of Balagtas, which reads: "Here in Barrio Panginay, Bigaa, Bulacan, Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas) was born on April 2, 1788. Son of Juan Baltazar and Juana dela Cruz, he is the father of Tagalog dialect and the author of the deathless "Florante at Laura". Jose Burgos, Jose Rizal, Mariano Ponce, Macario Adriatico, Epifanio Delos Santos, Rafael Palma and other illustrious sons of the nation recognize and honor Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar. He died in Udyong, Bataan on February 20, 1862."

Despites its proximity to Manila, Bigaa did not become a town until the later part of the 18th century. During the Philippine revolution, barrio Kakarong, then part of Bigaa (now apart of Pandi), was the scene of many bitter encounter between the "insurrectos" and the "Guardia civiles". Many people died, further decimating the town, which has suffered from a cholera epidemic and nearly wiped out the population 20 years before. When the Americans established civil government in 1902, Bigaa and nearby Bocaue were combined to form a town with the latter as the seat government. In 1911, however, Bigaa was separated from Bocaue, and to it was added the town of Pandi, which became one of Bigaa's barrios. In 1946, shortly after the Philippines gained political freedom from the United States, Pandi by virtue of a legislative fiat was given a municipal charter of its own, distinct and apart from Bigaa.

Built up area

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manilla, the city is now included in Manilla built up area which reaches San Ildefonso in its Northernmost part.

Barangays

Balagtas is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.

* Borol 1st
* Borol 2nd
* Dalig
* Longos
* Panginay
* Pulong Gubat
* San Juan
* Santol
* Wawa (Pob.)

Commerce and Industry

"'
*Major Industries:"'Ceramics/Pottery, Furniture, Garments, Gifts/Houseware/Decors, Metalcraft
*Major Products:Furniture/Agricultural Products

Government

"'Municipal Officials:"'
*Mayor Romeo M. Castro
*Vice Mayor Jessie "Tate" G. Santiago
*Coun. Ian S. de Guzman
*Coun. Joselito F. Polintan
*Coun. Mark Anthony M. Nuguit
*Coun. Ariel H. Puatu
*Coun. Ernesto L. Ventura
*Coun. Jonathan M. Aruelo
*Coun. Gilbert L. Galvez
*Coun. Elpidio G. Alcaraz

External links

* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]
* [http://www.bulacan.gov.ph bulacan.gov.ph]