Pulilan, Bulacan

Etymology

San Isidro was the former name of Pulilan and once a part of the ancient province of Pampanga. Long ago, it was called by the locals as "Pulo ng Ilan" because during those days it was inhabited only by few people. Several years later, the town was renamed "Pulilan", which wsa derived from "Pulo ng Ilan".

Pre-Spanish Period

The ancient town of Pulilan was first documented as Puliran in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, a pre-colonial Philippine document written in 900 A.D. The native population at the time of the document were ruled by the sovereign Lord Ka-Sumuran (see Laguna Copperplate Inscription).

Declaration of Independence

An Augustian fray, Fray Vicente Villamanzaro, was made to declare the settlement of a town on January 20, 1796. It was assigned a patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, after whose name he wanted the town identified.

From the time the nation acquired its Independence the inhabitants of Pulilan have committed themselves in a determined effort to improve their lot. The influence of the Spanish, American and Japanese occupations, have in a measure, contributed to the promotion of their welfare, but the Pulileños, as they are known, treasure their great heritage.

The Kneeling Carabao Festival

San Isidro Labrador or Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of the farmers, is the patron saint of the town as well. The traditional date of his liturgical feast, which through not included in the General Roman Calendar has been celebrated for centuries in several countries and diocese is May 15. However, it is in the 14th day of May that Pulileños (people of Pulilan) celebrate the feast in honor of their saint by parading carabaos and making them kneel in front of the church as a sign of respect for their patron saint of farmers. Also included in the parade are cows, horses, street folk dancers, marching bands and floats of commercial establishments of the town.

Topography

Pulilan is one of the 21 towns of Bulacan province, located in about its center—from north to south. It lies 50 kilometres north-west of Manila, the capital city of the country and 20 kilometres away from the Malolos, the capital of the province. It has an area of about 4,073 hectares. It is bounded on the north by Apalit in Pampanga; on the east by Baliuag; on the south by Plaridel; and on the west by Calumpit. The Angat River cutting its way through the eastern edge of Baliuag, and the southern fringes of Pulilan down to the tributary of Manila Bay south-west of Calumpit, serves as the boundary with Plaridel. Its feature is flat and the soil is suited to farming.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification system, the climate in Pulilan is tropical. It said that there is significant rainfall here most of the months. February is the driest month while the rainiest month is July. Dry season covers the months of January to April and wet season covers the months of May to December.

Barangays

Pulilan is politically subdivided into 19 barangay. The biggest barangay in terms of land area is Dulong Malabon while the most populated barangay is Poblacion and the least populated barangay is Sta. Peregrina.

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Pulilan, Bulacan, was 97,323 people, with a density of 2,400 inhabitants per square kilometre or 6,200 inhabitants per square mile.

The continuous increase in the population of Pulilan may not only be cause of the growing population of the natives but also to the influx of migrants from nearby places.

Literacy rate

Based on the Demographic Profile of the Municipality of Pulilan,the total number of households in 2008 are 17,002. Ninety-nine percent of the total number of household members are literate. They are able to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect.

Religion

Like other municipality,most of the inhabitants of Pulilan are Catholic and it is evident by their strong faith and devotion on their patron saint San Isidro Labrador.

Catholic Church and Chapels

20 Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish Penabatan

Government

Just as the national government,the municipal government of Pulilan is divided into three branches which are the executive,legislative and judiciary.

The Local Government Units (LGUs) have control of the executive and legislative branch. While the judicial branch is administrated solely by the Supreme Court (SC).

The executive branch is composed of the mayor and barangay captain for the barangay. The legislative branch is composed of the Sanguniang Bayan (town council) and Sanguniang Barangay (Barangay council). The council is in charge of creating the municipality's policies in the form of ordinance and resolution.

The Mayor is the executive head and leads the municipal department in executing ordinances and improving public services.The Vice Mayor heads a council consisting of 10 members:8 councilors and 2 ex-officio members.

Current officials

Here is the list of the newly elected officials of the Municipality of Pulilan:

Official seal

The official seal of the municipality of Pulilan serves as the towns identity for many years. Each of the symbols incorporated into this emblem represents the glorious past of the town and its culture and traditions. It includes the following:

Economy

The municipality of Pulilan has basically an agri-based economy. Farming, fishing, swine, and poultry raising were the dominant economic industries and livelihood of the natives of the town prior to the influx of industries towards the end of the century.

Major industries

Tourism

Tourism is one of the emerging industry in the municipality of Pulilan. Every year, thousands of tourists visited this magnificent town. Most of the tourists come to witness the Kneeling Carabao Festival wherein the town is prominent. It is a bountiful occasion where different kinds of buffalos such as carabaos led the parade in the streets of the town together with the street dancers, marching bands and colorful floats. When they reach the church, they kneel in front of it as giving respect to their saint. This spectacular yet remarkable festivity is held every 14 May, one day before the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the town's patron saint. This is not only a tribute on their patron saint but also to the carabaos for their hard work during farming season. This festival is also a celebration for a year-long bountiful harvest. Pulilan is not only well known for its festival but also famous because of numerous tourist attractions located in the vicinity of the town.

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church is where the carabaos during the feast are made kneel as tribute to the their patron saint. This is a 19th-century baroque church located at the Kabayanan or the town's administrative center (Poblacion). It is also a famous pilgrimage site in Bulacan during the Holy Week or "Kuaresma". The Museo San Ysidro Labrador is also situated here. (For more information, see San Isidro Labrador Church).

Pulilan Municipal Trial Court

Museo de Pulilan is the new name of Pulilan Municipal Trial Court after it was restored in 2013. It is also known by the locals as the former Gabaldon Building located in Barangay Poblacion near the Municipal Hall Compound. Now, it is one of the famous tourist destinations not only in the municipality but in the whole province of Bulacan because of its cultural and historical features.Inside this museum are different sculptures,paintings and old documents about the history of the town.

Adriano Salvador Heritage House

It is dubbed as the "Malacañang of Pulilan", in 1908 this historical house served as the joint municipal of two ancient towns of Quingua (Plaridel) and San Isidro (Pulilan).

Casanova-Aguirre Ancestral House

This ancestral house is one of the most well-preserved old house in Bulacan. It is situated near the boundaries of barangay Poblacion and Lumbac. This is a famous tourist spot in the entire town because of its preserved beauty and scenic view. It is also known as the site of the 2006 Filipino romantic film, Moments of Love, starring Iza Calzado and Dingdong Dantes.

Aguirre Centennial House

This Centennial House is located inside the Butterfly Haven Resort and one of the main tourist attraction inside the resort because of its unique and distinct architecture. This 100-year-old house is owned by the family of Revenue Deputy Commissioner Lita Aguirre.

Other point of interest

Transportation

Pulilan can be accessed through private vehicles,jeepneys,tricycles and even buses.Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) stationed in Robinsons Townville which have routes passing through Pulilan Regional Road and several barangays to Lumbac,Dampol 2nd-B and to its nearby town of Calumpit.While tricycles serve the interior of barangays and residential areas.

Major roads:

Health

Hospitals:

Clinics:

Rural Health Units:

Education

Pulilan has numerous public and private-owned school where many of the Pulileños went to study. Here are the list of some schools,academies,institutes and colleges that are located in Pulilan.