Hagonoy, Bulacan

Infobox Philippine municipality
infoboxtitle = Municipality of Hagonoy
Bayan ng Hagonoy
sealfile =
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_bulacan_hagonoy.png caption = Map of Bulacan showing the location of Hagonoy
region = Central Luzon (Region III)
province = Bulacan
districts = First Congressional District of Bulacan
barangays = 26
class = 1st Class municipality
mayor = Angel L. Cruz, Jr
cityhood =
founded =
areakm2 =
pop2000 = 111,425
popden2000 =
coordinates =

Hagonoy is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 126,329 inhabitants ("111,425 people in 22,174 households in census 2000"), in a total land area of 90.38 square kilometres.

The town's patron saint is St. Anne ("the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary") or fondly called Apo Ana in the vernacular by the natives. She is enshrined at the church eponymously named after her in the poblacion. This church was elevated into the status of a minor basilica when it was consecrated as the National Shrine of St. Anne.

History

The town was named after the "hagunoy"(SPILATRES ACMELLA,L,scientific name) a medicinal plant that used to be abundant by its river banks. The original populace used its leaves as their herbal remedy of choice for common illnesses.

Hagonoy is a long ridge with a lake in its edge by the Manila Bay called "Wawa", which is now part of Barangays San Sebastian & San Nicolas. This was where the first cross in this town was erected by the Spaniards. According to the town's legend, the cross was buried in the heart of this municipality; and every year the cross becomes bigger because of the Catholic faith of the Hagoeños.

The legend originated from the hagonoy plant. In the 15th century, some friars took a boat from Manila to the province of Bulacan and reached what was then called Quinabalon (from the Kapampangan word "balu" which meant "well known" ~ which was then a part of the pueblo of Calumpit). This is now the Barangays of Sta. Monica & San Jose).

At that time, a very charming lass was so popular among the young men of the locality. She had many suitors and admirers. One day, she fell ill. She needed someone to get leaves of the hagonoy plant by the river(which is now called Sapang Pari---because the friars and priests used this river to commute).

A man offered to promptly get some leaves of the plant and in deep gratitude, she promised to marry him. As he was gathering the leaves of the hagonoy plant for his dearly beloved, the group of friars in a passing boat stopped to ask him, "Quien vive?" (where are we?). The man did not understand Spanish and was extremely intimidated by the guardia civil (Spanish civil guard)that escorted the friars. Thinking that they were asking what he was grasping in his hands, he quickly retorted "hagonoy po!" (hagonoy sir!) and scampered away.

These were the first Agustinian friars that got into town and they noted the place's name as "Hagonoy". Hence, the origin of the illustrious town's name.

Historically though, Hagonoy first appeared in Philippine history when they formed part of Rajah Suliman's of Macabebe Fleet that met Martin de Goiti at the Battle of Bankusay in the initial defense of the Lusong Empire against the Spaniards in 1571. [Gaspar de San Agustin, Conquistas de las Islas Philipinas 1565-1615, Translated by Luis Antonio Mañeru, 1st bilingual ed [Spanish and English] , published by Pedro Galende, OSA: Intramuros, Manila, 1998.]

Barangays

Hagonoy is politically subdivided into 26 barangays (7 urban, 19 rural).

* Abulalas * Carillo * Iba * Mercado * Palapat * Pugad * Sagrada Familia * San Agustin * San Isidro * San Jose * San Juan * San Miguel * San Nicolas

* San Pablo * San Pascual * San Pedro * San Roque * San Sebastian * Santa Cruz * Santa Elena * Santa Monica * Santo Niño (Pob.) * Santo Rosario * Tampok * Tibaguin * Iba-Ibayo

Points of Interest

*National Shrine of St. Anne in the Philippines -the 16th century church that established by the Augustinian in Hagonoy and the only "National Shrine" built for the Mother of Our Virgin Mary here in the Philippines (with the relics of Sts. Anne and Joachim came from the International Shrine of St. Anne in Quebec, Canada.)

*Municipal Hall of Hagonoy -it is the most proud of hall of the hagonoy's official.

*Bulacan Garden -the plants that grow in the land of Hagonoy. Located in San. Agustin Hagonoy, Bulacan

*Aroma Beach -A sandy beach with aromatic plants, it is frequented by local picnickers during summer months.

References

External Links

[http://hagonoy.site50.net/ Hagonoy Bulacan Website]