The Baliwag Municipal Library and Museum (also referred to as the Tahanan ng Kasaysayan at Kalinangan ng Baliwag) which is currently housed at the Lumang Munisipyo (Old Municipal Town Hall) is the town's center for historical and cultural heritage.[1]
Theis landmark is owned and administered by the City of Baliwag. The heritage-historic Filipino-colonial mansion Bahay na Bato the official repository (established in 1998 as a natural history and ethnography museum) of Baliwag and Bulacan province.
The century-old Museo ng Baliwag is administered by Jesusa Garcia Villanueva who serves as the curator for the Museum and officer-in-charge for the Library since July 2017, succeeding librarian Resurrection U. Gaspar.[4]
History
Baliwag, Bulacan was the first Municipio ever created during the American regime in the Philippines, on May 6, 1899, five days before the fateful "Sabang Battle".
Mariquita's family owned the biggest house in Baliwag which occupied a big block. Her son, Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez practiced medicine. In his lucrative profession, he treated patients in his clinic located inside their big ancestral mansion across the old Municipal Building traversing the National Highway. This landmark house was later used and became the Old Municipal Building (now the Museo ng Baliwag).
The Philippine-American civil and military authorities supervised the first municipal elections, having chosen Baliwag as the site of the first Philippine elections of May 7, 1899.[6] The Filipinos gathered at the plaza of the St. Augustine Parish Church of Baliuag after the Holy Mass, and thereafter the officials were selected based on the qualifications for voters set by the Americans.[7]
The first town Gobernadorcillo (1789 title) of Baliwag was Capitan Jose de Guzman.[8] He was assisted by the Tribunal's teniente mayor (chief lieutenant), juez de ganadas (judge of the cattle), juez de sementeras (judge of the field) and juez de policia (judge of the police).
In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the 1893 Maura Law, the title of Gobernadorcillo became "capitan municipal" and that of each juez to teniente. From Baliwag's independence from Quingua, now Plaridel, Bulacan to 1898, 49 served as capitan, 13 alcalde and 92 as Gobernadorcillo. Felix de Lara (1782) and Agustin de Castro (1789) were the 1st alcalde and Gobernadorcillo, respectively. Municipal President Fernando Enrile, in 1908 honored some of these officials, even naming some of Baliwag calles in their honor, later. But all these political officials remained under the thumbs and the habito, of the autocratic Augustinian friars, the Baliuag Kura Parokos.
Principalias or town castles, in the Hispanization of Baliwag, became the home of the rich and famous, who sported the titles of Don or Capitan (shrewd, hard-bargaining businessman, the highly successful professionals and even the parvenus, nouveaux riche).
The local government of Baliwag used as first Municipio under the American regime (History of the Philippines (1898–1946)) the Mariano Yoyongko (Gobernadorcillo in 1885) Principalia in Poblacion (now a part of the market site), which it bought from Yoyongko.[5]
On September 15, 1915, Baliwag municipality bought the heritage mansion and lot of Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez (politician). The Gonzalez old mansion served as Lumang Munisipyo (the Old Municipio or Town Hall Building, as seat of the local government) for 65years.
In 1971, Baliwag Mayor Florentino Vergel de Dios constructed a new municipal building. Accordingly, the Baliwag Tourism Council and Baliwag Historical Society's Mr. Rolando E. Villacorta suggested the conversion of the historic house into a Library-Museum.[9]
In 1993, Baliwag Alkalde Carling Trinidad, Cong. Pedro Pancho with the assistance of Guillermina T. Gabor started the reconstruction of the Gonzalez mansion.
Mayor Rolando Salvador, on August 9, 1998, accepted the renovate Building as part of municipal government property. Baliwag Tourism Council, Gemma Cruz-Araneta (Secretary of Department of Tourism (Philippines)) and Bulacan Governor Josefina M. dela Cruz were present at the formal inauguration of the Library-Museum turnover to the LGU of Baliwag.[10]
The historic turnover was highlighted by a "Buntal Hat Dance" (by Rene Plamenco, Soledad Cruz, Eliseo Gonzalez and Brgy. Captain Elizabeth Agtarap) and "Sayaw sa Nayon". The momentous event was witnessed by Rustan's Justa Tantoco, Bulacan former Vice Governor Willie Villarama and Tesie Villarama, under the watch of Mayor Rolando Salvador and Evelyn C. Salvador. Antonio Cabangon Chua, Baliwag business mogul also graced the turnover.
Description
The contemporary Baliwag's Museo houses on its ground floor the Baliwag community affairs and tourism office of incumbent Ms. Rosie Q. Bautista, Balibuntal Enterprises Officer. Incidentally, Baliwag's Buntal Hat Festival of 2012 was held with its 279th founding anniversary on May 26, 2012.[11]
On the second floor of the Museo is the Silid-Aklatang Francisco Guerrero Library-Museum which has several Bulwagan. The First local election in the Philippines took place on May 6, 1899, with the election of Francisco Guerrero, the first Baliwag municipal president who held office in the house of Dr. Joaquin Gonzales, the Old Municipio, now the Museo ng Baliwag.[12]
Aside from the Bulwagang Guerrero are: Mariano Ponce, Bert Marcelo, Alfonso Enrile (father of Juan Ponce Enrile), Roman C. Carreon, sculptor and artist and "Pepita" - Josefa Tiongson y Lara Bulwagan (JOCELYNANG BALIUAG, Kundiman). The slain Mayor Servando "Bandong" Santos' gun, memorabilia is at the side of the dining and reception halls.
Image gallery
Exterior
The century-old Sentro ng Kalinangan at Kasaysayan, Baliwag, Bulacan Museum (Old Municipio)
Main door ("Sentro ng Kasaysayan at Kalinangan ng Baliwag")
Facade
Right facade
The majestic stairs of the main door
Rear facade
Side facade
Side view of the terrace
Facade of the Baliwag Museum (Old Presidencia or Municipio)
"Catalogo Bio-Bibliographico de los Religiosos Agustinos de la Provincia del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus de las Islas Filipinas Desde su Fundacion hasta Nuestros Dias" by Elviro Jorde Perez. 1901, Manila. Estab. Tipo. De Colegio de Santo Tomas.
"Apuntes históricos de la provincia augustiniana del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús de Filipinas", año 1909: Filipinas, by P. Bernardo Martinez.[13]
Baliuag: Then and Now, by Rolando E. Villacorte, Philippine Graphic Arts, Inc., Caloocan, 1970, 1985 * 2001 editions. pp.5–111, 353-360 (2001 edition); and pp.274–6; 392-396 (1985 edition).
"Baliuag! then and now", by Rolando E. Villacorte, Published 1970 by Printed by Philippine Graphic Arts in Caloocan, Library of Congress DS689.B23 V55 409 pages Open Library OL5327794M
"Baliuwag, Lunduyan ng mga Bayani", Baliuag Tourism Council, 2008, Municipality of Baliuag, 2008 Edition, pp.10–120.
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan, is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region.
Malolos, officially the City of Malolos, is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 261,189 people. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the seat of the provincial government.
Baliwag, officially the City of Baliwag, is a component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 168,470 people.
Balagtas, officially the Municipality of Balagtas, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,018 people. The municipality is 30 kilometers (19 mi) from Manila and is 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from Malolos City.
Bustos, officially the Municipality of Bustos, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,199 people.
Pulilan, officially the Municipality of Pulilan, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 108,836 people.
San Rafael, officially the Municipality of San Rafael, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 103,097 people.
Guillermo Estrella Tolentino was a Filipino sculptor and professor of the University of the Philippines. He was designated as a National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture in 1973, three years before his death.
Deodato Arellano y de la Cruz was a Filipino propagandist and the first president of the Katipunan, which was founded at his home in Azcarraga Street, Manila. He was first to be given the title Supremo by the Katipunan. After studying bookkeeping in Ateneo de Municipal de Manila, he became an assistant clerk for the Spanish military. He was a member of the Freemasonry in the Philippines and became involved in the Propaganda Movement.
Mariano Ponce y Collantes commonly known as just Mariano Ponce was a Filipino physician, writer, statesman, and active member of the Propaganda Movement. In Spain, he was among the founders of La Solidaridad and Asociación Hispano-Filipino. Among his significant works was Efemerides Filipinas, a column on historical events in the Philippines which appeared in La Oceania Española (1892–1893) and El Ideal (1911–1912). He wrote Ang Wika at Lahi (1917), a discussion on the importance of a national language. He also served as Bulacan's representative to the Philippine Assembly from 1909 to 1912.
Bulacan is a province of the Philippines. It was established on 15 August 1578.
Ang Singsing nang Dalagang Marmol, contemporarily rendered as Ang Singsing ng Dalagang Marmol in the Tagalog language, is a historical novel written by Filipino novelist, scholar, and labor leader Isabelo Florentino de los Reyes before 1905. It is one of the first historical novels written in the Philippines during the first decade of the 20th century. It was also one of the first novels during the period that was written using the technique of blending fact and fiction. Through the novel, De los Reyes revealed his knowledge of the actual events during the Philippine–American War, making the subject as "integral elements" of the book. Based on the original 1912 bookcover for the novel, Ang Singsing ng Dalagang Marmol is alternatively titled Si Liwayway ng Baliwag.
The Sub-Parish Church of Santo Cristo, also known as "Apo Kristo" Chapel and Visita ng Sto. Cristo, is the oldest "ermita" (chapel) in Baliuag, Bulacan, Philippines. The visita is bounded by the cities of San Fernando and Mabalacat in Pampanga, and Balanga in Bataan. At present, its mother Parish, the Saint Augustine Parish Church of Baliuag, Bulacan, has 4 parishes.
The Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary Parish Church, commonly known as Makinabang Church or Bisitang Pula, is a Roman Catholic Marian church in Barangay Makinabang, Baliuag, Bulacan, Philippines. On October 7 it is one of four Roman Catholic parish churches in the municipality and is the focus of one of its largest processions each year. The other nearby Baliuag parishes which bound the church are: Saint Augustine Church (Población); Holy Family Parish (Tangos); and Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Sabang). The church is also about 2 miles from its neighbor, Sub-Parish Church of Sto. Cristo in barangay Santo Cristo.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Augustine, commonly known as Baliwag Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Plaza Naning at the poblacion of Baliwag, in Bulacan province, Philippines. The church is a parish church of the Diocese of Malolos, which is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila.
Good Friday processions in Baliuag or Holy Week procession in Baliuag, Bulacan is an event taking place in Holy Week, in a traditional Roman Catholic culture of the St. Augustine Parish Church of Baliuag.
San Juan de Dios Parish Church, also San Rafael Church, is an 18th-century Roman Catholic church situated in Brgy. Poblacion, in San Rafael, Bulacan, Philippines. Its titular patron is St. John of God; Saint Raphael, archangel, is the secondary patron saint. It is in this church that the Battle of San Rafael took place, wherein hundreds of retreating Filipino soldiers and civilians lost their lives during a battle with the Spanish on November 30, 1896. A historical marker by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines was installed in front of the church in 1997 to commemorate the massacre of an estimated 800 Filipinos.
Kundiman is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The lyrics of the kundiman are written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of serenade in the Philippines.
The buntal hat is a traditional straw hat from the Philippines woven from fibers extracted from the petioles of buri palm leaves. It is traditionally worn by farmers working in the fields and was a major export of the Philippines in the first half of the 20th century. It can also be paired with semi-formal barong tagalog as well as informal attire. Its main centers of production are Baliwag, Bulacan, and (historically) Sariaya and Tayabas in Quezon Province. Buntal hats produced in Baliwag are also sometimes known as balibuntal hats, and are regarded as superior in quality to other types of buntal hats.
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