Plaridel, Bulacan

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Plaridel Quingua
Municipality
Municipality of Plaridel
Municipal Hall
Seal
Motto(s):  Plaridel, Diretso sa Progreso
Map of Bulacan with Plaridel highlighted
show OpenStreetMap Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Plaridel Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°53′13″N 120°51′25″E / 14.8869°N 120.8569°E / 14.8869; 120.8569Coordinates: 14°53′13″N 120°51′25″E / 14.8869°N 120.8569°E / 14.8869; 120.8569
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Bulacan
District	2nd district
Founded	September 27, 1602
Named for	Pen name of Marcelo H. del Pilar
Barangays	19 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Anastacia "Tessie" R. Vistan
• Vice Mayor	Imelda "Mhel" G. de Leon
• Representative	Gavini C. Pancho
• Municipal Council	show Members Sheila Ann Enrina R. Enriquez Lorie V. Surio Maria Isabel V. Liwanag Reginald V. Javier Ryan Christian S. Sagala Gerald S. Constantino Rhandy G. Marcelo Virgilio D. Alejo
• Electorate	66,381 voters (2019)
Area [2]
• Total	32.44 km2 (12.53 sq mi)
Elevation	11 m (36 ft)
Highest elevation	42 m (138 ft)
Lowest elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	114,432
• Density	3,500/km2 (9,100/sq mi)
• Households	24,206
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	6.02% (2015)[4]
• Revenue	PHP 313.34 million (2017) [5]
• Assets	PHP 708.62 million (2017)
• Expenditure	PHP 225.30 million (2017)
Utilities
• Electricity	Meralco
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3004
PSGC	031417000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)44
Climate type	tropical monsoon climate
Native languages	Tagalog Kapampangan
Website	www.plaridel.gov.ph

Plaridel, officially the Municipality of Plaridel (Tagalog: Bayan ng Plaridel), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 114,432 people. ^[3]

With the expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of Manila's built-up area which reaches as far north as San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

History[]

Like many towns in Bulacan, Plaridel has its niche in Philippine history as the site of the Battle of Quingua during the Philippine–American War as part of the defense of the First Philippine Republic against the Northern Campaign of the American Army. The battle, manned by Pablo Tecson—Lt. Colonel Pablo Ocampo Tecson of San Miguel, Bulacan—under Gregorio del Pilar on the side of the First Philippine Republic, led to the death of Col. John Stotsenberg of the American Army on April 23, 1899. A marker now stands at the site of the battle in Barangay Agnaya.

Plaridel's history can be traced through records back to 1581 in the early years of the Spanish colonization. The Augustinian friars from Malolos Convent discovered a vast forest in 1581 then named as Binto; this would later be known as Quingua. As per the history of the Parish of St. James the Apostle, 2001 issue, Quingua was established by the Augustinian Friars of Malolos who initially named it "Encomienda Binto" (Barangay Bintog got its name from this settlement). They built a visita (chapel of ease) and placed it under the jurisdiction of Fray Mateo Mendoza, the prior of Malolos.

The visita of Binto was elevated to an independent parish named Parroquia de Santiago Apostol, and the whole of Quingua was separated from Malolos and was created as a new pueblo on September 27, 1602.

Plaridel is surrounded with the rivers of Angat, Bulacan and , both of which run through the town. The Angat River, otherwise known as Bulacan River, flows directly to Calumpit, Bulacan, meeting the Pampanga River. The Tabang River, a tributary with adjoining intersections dividing the middle of the present poblacion of Plaridel, flows to the Manila Bay after passing through the towns of Guiguinto and Bulakan. The water of this river was called "tabáng" to refer to its fresh water.

Initially very few people lived in the town, and most were closely related. Each group had a leader called "tandis". Different groups spoke different languages; Pampango, Pangasinan, Ilocano and Tagalog. From Malolos, the friar curate frequently visited the place, preaching the Catholic faith, using the "balsa" or bamboo raft as his means of transportation. The missionaries decided to clear the land and establish settlements, from which they could work to bring unity to the people. They needed ideas to bring this about, so each "tandis" drew up a plan to pursue. The groups of people labored, so much so that when the priest returned seven years later, he found the area completely cleared. The priests's party inquired among the natives as to whom the credit should go, and the Pampangos exclaimed, "Quing wawa". Thereafter, every now and then, to every question of the friars the people would reply "Quing wa". As a consequence, the place had come to be referred to as Quingua.

During the presidency of Manuel L. Quezon, the then "Alcalde", or Town Mayor, of Quinga, Jose J. Mariano, took the initiative of renaming the town. Representative Pedro Magsalin, a friend of the Alcalde, sponsored the bill changing the name of the town from Quingua to Plaridel. The bill was passed by the Philippine Congress and was approved by the President, and on December 29, 1936, the town was renamed as 'Plaridel', in honor of the great hero of Bulacan, Marcelo H. del Pilar. The celebrations that followed were attended by political luminaries of the time, including Speaker Gil Montilla, Congressman Magsalin, Nicolas Buendia, Eulogio Rodriguez, Elpidio Quirino and Governor José Padilla, Sr.

Notable families from Plaridel include the Vergel de Dios family (originally from Baliuag and that donated the public market of the town), the Castros, Vistans, Sayos, Garcías, and San Diegos.

Barangays[]

Plaridel is divided into 19 barangays. In 1954, sitio Mayamot in Barrio Banga was changed to Bagong Silang^[6] while a sitio in the eastern part of barrio Tabang, called Bagong Silang, was created.^[7]

Climate[]

Demographics[]

In the 2020 census, the population of Plaridel, Bulacan, was 114,432 people, ^[3] with a density of 3,500 inhabitants per square kilometre or 9,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy[]

Local Government[]

Attractions[]

Quingua Church built in 1602 is dedicated to the apostle James the Greater, and named after Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Parish Church of Santiago Apostol[]

The Plaridel Church was initially a mission chapel built by the Augustinians in Malolos made of light materials. The chapel was located near River at Lumang Bayan and transferred to present site. It is clearly evident why the said Barrio named Lumang Bayan means-Old Poblacion. From 1590 to 1602, Quingua was administered by Friar Curate from Malolos Church which close at hand.

The present church was built in 1602 and established as the town church of the newly created Pueblo de Quingua.

Plaridel is one of the earliest settlement to be established at around 1590 as Encomienda. Its Parish Church of Santiago Apostol has one of the unique Moorish architectural style among the Augustinian Churches in the province. It was here that the money and jewels of san Agustin in Intramuros, Manila were kept during British Occupation in 1762–63.^{[citation needed]}

The church is small and its two level facade is bare. However, the crowning pediment is elaborate consisting of a pair of volutes with the inner space filled with triangular patterns and floral embellishments that first glance can be mistaken as having a Moorish influence because of the minaret like dome formed. In between the volutes are a series of spaced relieves of cherubs, ramilletes, two saints including that of St. Agustin and the pierced heart which is the symbol of the Agustinia Order. The octagonal and tapering belltower on the other hand sits on a quadrilateral base and rises 4 levels.[1]

The Parish Church of Santiago Apostol is the location of GMA Network's Fantaserye Darna (2009), Zaido (2007), Iglot (2011) and afternoon drama series, Nita Negrita (2011), Broken Vow (2012). And the Judy Ann Santos-Sarah Geronimo Movie Hating Kapatid in July 2010.

And recently, ABS-CBN's drama anthology Maalaala mo kaya: Toga, starring Albie Casiño and Erich Gonzales and the episode of Police Uniform" starring Empress and Joseph Marco.

Salubong Festival or Horse Festival[]

Salubong Festival celebrated annually every December 29. It's called salubong or welcome because they welcome the St. James the Greater's equestrian replica from Sipat. It's also called Horse festival because they paraded , tiburins (non-roofed calesa) and an only riding on the horse (equestrian) and holding a horse racing in the afternoon.

Other Attractions[]

• Battle Of Quingua Monument
• Walter Mart Plaridel
• Puregold Plaridel
• Primark Town Center Plaridel
• Plaridel Airport
• Grass Garden Resort and Villas
• Villa Emmanuela Wavepool & Resort
• Eugenio's Garden Resort
• Sir Nico Guesthouse and Resort
• Samarah private Resort Bintog Plaridel

Gallery[]

• 

  Downtown Plaridel

• 

  Don Jose J. Mariano Park

• 

  Marcelo H. Del Pilar Statue in front of the Municipal Hall

• 

  Don Jose J. Mariano Statue

• 

  World War II Veterans Memorial Statue

• 

  Don Cesario Muti-purpose Gymnasium

• 

  Control tower of Plaridel Airport, parked planes and aviation schools

• 

  Overview of the interior of Parish of St. James the Apostle

• 

  Plaridel Wet and Dry Public Market

• 

  La Consolacion University General Hospital (formerly University of Regina Carmeli)

• 

  Battle of Quingua Memorial

• 

  Walter Mart Plaridel

• 

  Plaridel Terminal Mall

• 

  Novo Department Store Plaridel

• 

  Plaridel Municipal Slaughter house

• 

  San Miguel Arkanghel Parish Church

• 

  San Nicolas de Tolentino Chapel

• 

  Nuestra Señora del Rosario Chapel

• 

  Chapel of the Holy Cross

• 

  Saint Anthony of Padua Chapel

• 

  Holy Angels Quasi-parish Church

• 

  Lumina Homes Plaridel

See also[]

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plaridel, Bulacan.

• Plaridel Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Plaridel Bulacan