The New Balagtas Bulacan Public Market (SOON!)

The New Balagtas Bulacan Public Market SOON!

The History of Balagtas, Bulacan

Originally known as Encomienda Caluya as per as the history records regarding the early years of Bulacan Province, Caluya was mentioned as one of the Six Encomiendas of the Province together with Calumpit 1572, Bulakan 1578, Meycauayan 1578, Malolos 1580 and Binto 1591 (Quingua 1602) later known as Plaridel. It was erected by the Augustinian Missionaries in 1592 under the jurisdiction of the Alcalde Mayor of Bulacan. In 1602, Caluya was formally organized into a town with its own Gobernadorcillo and renamed to Bigaa.

During the Philippine revolution 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.

American infantry firing at Filipino insurgents at Balagtas, Bulacan, 1899.

source

Balagtas: Bayan ng Tula at Makata!

Noong nakaraan linggo, ika-2 ng Setyembre taong 2012 ay na-feature ang bayan ng Balagtas, Bulacan sa programa ng Net 25 na Landmarks. Ang programang ito ay hindi ordinaryo sapagkat inuungkat nito ang kasaysayan ng isang bayan kasabay ng pagpapakita ng mga pagbabago ng mukha ng bayan. Dahil ang Balagtas ay isa sa may pinakamakulay na kasaysayan sa lalawigan ng Bulacan ay napili ng programa na alamin at kilalanin pang mabuti ang bayan ng dakilang manunula na si Francisco Balagtas Baltazar.

Halina at ating panoorin ang bayan ng Balagtas sa Landmarks ng Net 25!

                                      

                                   The trailer of the program featuring the town of Balagtas, Bulacan

                          Part 1 of 4 of the episode of Landmarks featuring the town of Balagtas, Bulacan

                          Part 2 of 4 of the episode of Landmarks featuring the town of Balagtas, Bulacan

                          Part 3 of 4 of the episode of Landmarks featuring the town of Balagtas, Bulacan

                           Part 4 of 4 of the episode of Landmarks featuring the town of Balagtas, Bulacan

The original altar of San Lorenzo Parish in Balagtas, Bulacan

Ang simbahan ng Balagtas ay isa sa pinakaunang simbahan na itinayo sa dakilang lalawigan ng Bulacan, taong 1621 noong itinatag ang simbahang ito bilang pagkilala sa patron nito na si San Lorenzo Martir at Diyakono. Ang bayan ng Balagtas na dating tinawag na Caluya bago naging Bigaa ay itinatag bilang isang pueblo noon 1596. Ang pistang bayan ng Balagtas ay ginaganap tuwing ika-10 ng Agusto bilang pagkilala sa patron ng bayan na si San Lorenzo. Ang simbahang ito ay nasira ng lindol noong 1645 at 1880 at pinagawa ni Fr. Francisco Martin Giron kasabay ng pagpapadagdag ng kampanaryo at kumbento noong 1893-1898.

List of oldest churches in Bulacan:

1) 1572 - Calumpit

2) 1578 - Bulakan

             - Meycauayan

3) 1580 - Malolos

             - Hagonoy

4) 1582 - Bocaue

5) 1602 - Plaridel

6) 1619 - Paombong

7) 1621 - Balagtas (Bigaa)

8) 1641 - Guiguinto

9) 1681 - Polo (Valenzuela)

10) 1682 - Angat

11) 1725 - San Miguel

12) 1749 - Pulilan

13) 1751 - San Jose del Monte

14) 1752 - Baliwag

15) 1754- Obando

16) 1758 - San Rafael

17) 1787 - Norzagaray

18) 1792 - Sta.Maria

19) 1796 - Marilao

20) 1859 - Barasoain, Malolos

               - Sta.Isabel, Malolos

21) 1867 - Bustos

22) 1885 - San Ildefonso

23) 1911 - Pandi

24) 1989 - Doña Remedios Trinidad

source

The original altar of San Lorenzo Parish in Balagtas, Bulacan
photo by bleaks!

The present altar of San Lorenzo Parish in Balagtas, Bulacan
photo by Humble San Josenyo

Bahay Na Tisa - Balagtas, Bulacan

Standing obiquitous along McArthur highway is a historic house known to locals as the “Bahay Na Tisa”. Built in 1800 the house was initially owned by Capt. Valentin and was eventually transferred to Don Nazario then to Don Antonio Constatino.

During Dr. Jose Rizal’s visit to Malolos this Andalucian house served as his temporary home away from his home town.

Decorated with intricate colonial design you can marvel on how exquisite the craftsmanship has been given in building this home. Unfortunately the original roof of the house has been replaced with metal sheets from its original terra cota tiles hence the name “Bahay Na Tisa”.

Bahay Na Tisa - Balagtas, Bulacan

Bahay Na Tisa - Balagtas, Bulacan

Bahay Na Tisa - Balagtas, Bulacan

all credits to the owner

www.brownmantrips.com

Francisco Balagtas: Ama ng Wikang Filipino

Francisco Balagtas 

April 2, 1788 – February 20, 1862

Ipinanganak noong Abril 2, 1788 sa Panginay, Bigaa (ngayon ay Balagtas). Bunsong anak nila  Juan Baltazar at Juana dela Cruz. Siya ang lumikha ng Florante at Laura, at tinaguriang William Shakespeare ng Pilipinas dahil sa kanyang malaking ambag sa literaturang Filipino. Bilang pasasalamat sa kanyang naiambag sa bansa, ang kanyang bayan (Bigaa) ay sinunod sa kanyang pangalan na isa sa pinakamaunlad na bayan sa probinsiya ng Bulacan. Si Francisco Balagtas ay kinikilala bilang isa sa pinakadakilang tao na sinilang sa kanyang bayan.

ang mga sumusunod ay ilan sa kanyang mga nalikha:

• Orosmán at Zafira – a comedy in four parts
• Don Nuño at Selinda – a comedy in three parts
• Auredato at Astrome – a comedy in three parts
• Clara Belmore – a comedy in three parts
• Abdol at Misereanan – a comedy, staged by Abucay in 1857
• Bayaceto at Dorslica – a comedy in three parts, staged at Udyong on September 27, 1857
• Alamansor at Rosalinda – a comedy staged at Udyong during the town's feast
• La India elegante y el negrito amante – a short play in one part
• Nudo gordeano
• Rodolfo at Rosemonda
• Mahomet at Constanza
• Claus (translated into Tagalog from Latin)
• Florante at Laura, Balagtas' masterpiece

Francisco Balagtas

Parish Church of St. Lawrence - Deacon and Martyr (Balagtas, Bulacan)

Dedicated to St.Lawrence - Deacon and Martyr, the Parish of Balagtas, Bulacan was establish as a priory in 1596 which was knows as the town of Caluya and was later named Bigaa. The church of St.Lawrence the Martyr, damaged during the earthquakes of 1645 and 1880, was rebuilt by Fr.Francisco Martin Giron, adding a belfry, and building a convent from 1893 to 1898. The church is located at Baranggay Longos, Balagtas, Bulacan behind the Municipal Hall of the town. The church was built on 1621.

photo credits to Humble San Josenyo