French
Deutsch Baliwag, sometimes written as Baliuag, is a city and the largest settlement in northern Bulacan. It is home to about 174,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Understand
[edit | edit source]Baliwag was carved out of the municipality of Quingua (present-day Plaridel) in 1733, which used to cover a large area along the Angat River. The town's heritage church was also built in that year. In 1899, Baliwag was the site of the first democratic elections in the Philippines, and in Asia as well.
The town is home to Mariano Ponce, also one of the members of the Propaganda Movement led by Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez-Jaena.
Baliwag is the economic and educational center for northern Bulacan, and it has that status since the Spanish and American colonial periods. Baliwag became a legally-designated city in 2022.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Baliwag lies on the Maharlika Highway, also known as the Cagayan Valley Road and Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT) Highway. The main routes to town are the Santa Rita and Balagtas Exits of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The Santa Rita exit involves passing through the congested settlements of Guiguinto, Plaridel and Pulilan, while the Balagtas Exit is relatively faster, passing through a bypass road and the town of Bustos.
Baliwag is also connected to the province of Pampanga through secondary roads leading northwest towards Candaba and San Luis.
By bus
[edit | edit source]Buses passing through Baliwag on their way to Nueva Ecija traverse Maharlika Highway, which skirts the western edges of downtown.
- Baliwag Transit. This bus company, with buses on a green and white livery and is headquartered in this town, has frequent trips from their terminals in Manila and Cubao (Quezon City). The company has two terminals, one at Sampaloc junction (northeast of downtown), and another at the downtown. Both terminals are shared with a sister bus company, Golden Bee, which has gold colors and the aforementioned bee on its livery. Baliwag-bound buses pass through the Old Cagayan Valley Road from Pulilan and the populated areas of Baliwag, and make a penultimate stop at Plaza Naning, the main center of downtown Baliwag.
By jeep
[edit | edit source]Baliwag is connected by jeepney to the provincial capital, Malolos, to Meycauayan, a suburb of Metro Manila, and to Malinta, a neighborhood of Valenzuela, Metro Manila. The main jeepney terminal is at the public market.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Baliwag Clock Tower, Dr. Gonzales Street, and Senator Ninoy Aquino Avenue. The first and only free-standing clock tower in Bulacan, also a local symbol and landmark. It is constructed in 1999 and inaugurated in 2000, during the 137th birthday anniversary of hero, Mariano Ponce.
- 2 Baliwag Museum and Library (Museo ng Baliwag, Lumang Minisipyo), Calle Rizal. It was the first town hall (munisipyo or municipio) which was built during the American occupation in 1899. It used to house the municipal government until 1971, when a new town hall was inaugurated. Today, it houses a museum dedicated to the town's history. As of 2026, the museum is closed for renovations.
- 3 Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Augustine (Baliwag Church), Glorietta Park, angbatingawonline@gmail.com. Baliwag's main Roman Catholic church, built in the 19th century during the Spanish era.
- 4 NHCP Museo ni Mariano Ponce, Mariano Ponce Street, Barangay Tibag, ☏ +63 905 474 5154, mmp@nhcp.gov.ph. 8AM–4PM; closed Mondays and holidays. A museum dedicated to national hero Mariano Ponce, one of a series of writers who advocated for autonomy and later independence from Spain in the late 19th century. The museum was built on the site of Ponce’s residence, which burned down in 1962. Free. Donation optional.
- 5 Sub-Parish Church of Santo Cristo (Apo Kristo Chapel), J. Buizon Street, Santo Cristo (next to Baliwag Catholic Cemetery). A Spanish-era chapel built in 1881.
Do
[edit | edit source]- Holy Week processions. On Holy Week, particularly Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, Baliwag hosts the longest Lenten procession in the Philippines, featuring up to 120 statues showing the passion of the Christ and related images being transported on floats from the San Isidro Labrador parish church in neighboring Pulilan to San Agustin parish in Baliwag. Many of the images are family heirlooms that are only displayed in public for that occasion.
Buy
[edit | edit source]One of Baliwag's main products are the buntal hats, which is made from woven buri palm fibers.
There is one mall, and numerous supermarkets, mostly located at the highway outside downtown:
- 1 SM City Baliwag, DRT Highway, Pagala, customercare@smsupermalls.com. 10AM–9PM. Has numerous restaurants, a SM Store (department store), and a SM Hypermarket.
- 2 Baliwag Public Market, A. Mabini Street.
- 3 WalterMart Baliwag, DRT Highway, Sabang, ☏ +63 998 530 3937, wms.operations.baliuag@waltermart.com.ph. 9AM–9PM.
- 4 S&R Membership Shopping - Baliwag, Pulilan-Baliwag Bypass Road, Matangtubig. 9AM-9PM. A members-only warehouse grocery.
- 5 Robinsons Easymart Gil Carlos, Gil Carlos corner P. Angeles Streets, San Jose. 7AM-10PM.
- 6 Puregold Baliwag, Benigno S. Aquino Avenue, Santo Cristo (at the back of Jollibee), toll-free: 749 8193Country code missing, 749 8194Country code missing. 9AM–9PM.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 La Familia Sizzlers and Restaurant, DRT Highway, Bagong Nayon, ☏ +63 44 766-2037, lafamilia.baliuag@gmail.com. 9AM–7PM, Mon-Thu, 9AM–8PM, Fri-Sun.
- 2 Bulacan's Prime, DRT Highway, Sabang, ☏ +63 968 888 0612, bulacansprime@gmail.com. A store selling Bulacan longganisa.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- Sunrise Motel, DRT Highway (Near the flyover).
- 1 Hotel Sogo, DRT Highway, Pagala, ☏ +63 968 601 4704, baliwag.cpms@hotelsogo.com. A love motel.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Baliwag |
| Cabanatuan ← San Rafael ← | N  S | → Pulilan → Malolos |