Bountiful Bulacan

A place not for the fainthearted, where heroes were born, the birthplace of the country’s famous poet who penned the sweet and nostalgic love story of Florante at Laura. A place rich with culture, heritage, and history. Bulacan unveils the many colorful stories, traditions, and heritage of many centuries.
Our group’s trip to Bulacan depicts the yearning for the nearest escape from the busy life of the city. With its strategic location, and a mere two-hour drive from Manila, it is dubbed the "Northern Gateway (of) Manila." With this exuberant and nostalgic imagery in our mind, we were all set to seek the many splendid things in Bulacan.
he first itinerary led our steps to retracing the past as we entered the ancestral houses that abound in the province. These depict the rich cultural heritage of the country; one of them is the Bautista mansion in Malolos, Bulacan, located along Kamistisuhan Street. This mansion was visited by national hero Dr. Jose Rizal to convince Triumvirate of the Ten Gentlemen of Malolos to join the La Liga Filipina. The stairway of the mansion boasts a painting that depicts the hero during the visit. Moreover, the mansion was the office of the Secretary of Welfare (an office which encompassed Public Instruction, Communications, Public Works, Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce).

Other ancestral homes include the stone house of Ignacio Adriano. The current site of Meralco, it was once the office of the military administrator. Another, the mansion of the Santoses, is a historical site that enables one to take a peek at the early hospitals in the province during the early 19th century.

In San Agustin, Malolos, stood the Casa Real Shrine, which served as a printing press during the Malolos Republic. It was restored in 1852 then converted into a municipal library. At present, it is under the management of the National Historical Institute and serves as the archive area of the extant memorabilia that shaped the rich and vibrant history of our country.

At midday, while sailing on the waters of the Angga River in Hagonoy, Bulacan, our group was serenaded with various kundiman by Pining R. Santiago Productions that touched our hearts and whetted our appetite for the sumptuous meal that only a cozy home can provide.

Bulacan is a province that is filled with history and majestic traditions that are immortalized in poems, lovely kundiman songs, impressive debates like the balagtasan, a term coined from the name of the famous poet Balagtas, to the many other figures that add vibrant hues to the already colorful place. In Bulacan, we can also trace

the history of some women who makes up the impressive array of people who shaped history--the 21 Women of Malolos who sought equal opportunity to study. Truly, a woman touches not only the heart of every member of the family but the lives of other people as well.

Another famous Bulacan native is Teresita "Mama Sita" Reyes, who is legendary for her distinct and rich recipes. Our group was lucky enough to indulge in the many recipes that Mama Sita lovingly prepared not only for her own children but for all Filipinos.

Authentic recipes like Sinigang na Ulang with Mama Sita’s trademark Tamarind Seasoning Mix, to the sour and yet with a hint of spiciness Suaheng Halabos with its Annatto powder dipped in an original Sinamak and Sukang Tuba powder, are but some of the recipes that were painstakingly prepared and well loved by the people around "Mama Sita." These are things that only a mother could concoct with such altruism, undivided attention, and love.

Bulacan is not only a place of historical landmarks like the historic Barasoain Church in San Gabriel, Malolos (which became the birthplace of the First Constitutional Democracy in Asia); it is also the site of the Constitutional Convention of the first Philippine Republic, marking the Philippines as the first Asian government to promulgate a Constitution.

Bulacan is really a place not for the fainthearted with its array of brave, freedom-loving, dedicated heroes and artistic poets and singers. Yet it is also a place for the significant people who made a difference in everyone’s lives, oftentimes brave and yet inherently soft coupled with tenacity, filled with endless love, concern for others, and a comfort zone that we all run to in times of greatest joy and deepest sorrow – mothers.

There’s more to Bulacan than what we commonly perceive of as a box of sweet delicacies like pastillas and a popular destination for fireworks.

Surely, Bulacan has more to offer than what we actually bargained for. Tagged the cradle of the nation’s noble heroes, such as General Gregorio del Pilar ("Hero of Tirad Pass") and Marcelo H. del Pilar ("The Great Propagandist"), it can also be dubbed a province with a wide spectrum of personas befitting a reflection of the sweet melodies of music, lyrical poems, and enchanting words that depict the many personalities of a woman, and the greatness of someone we always hold dear in our hearts – our mothers.

[ Barasoain Church Wiki | Casa Real Shrine Wiki ]