Angat, Bulacan Explained

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Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Nickname:True Heart of Bulacan
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1683
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Reynante S. Bautista
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Arvin L. Agustin
Leader Name2:Salvador A. Pleyto Sr.
Leader Title3:Municipal Council
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:157
Elevation Min M:20
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Households
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Demographics Type1:Economy
Demographics1 Title2:Poverty incidence
Demographics1 Info2:%
Demographics1 Title3:Revenue
Demographics1 Title4:Revenue rank
Demographics1 Title5:Assets
Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics Type2:Service provider
Demographics2 Title1:Electricity
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
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Blank3 Name Sec2:Catholic diocese
Blank4 Name Sec2:Patron saint

Angat, officially the Municipality of Angat (Tagalog: Bayan ng Angat), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 65,617 people.

Etymology

The town got its name after the Tagalog word Angat (A-ngat), meaning elevated or a high piece of land.

History

Angat was originally a part of the Old Pueblo de Quingua, now Municipality of Plaridel. This fact was due most probably to the situation of the Rio de Quingua Angat River, which directly connects the town of Quingua, a community then located in the center of vast lands, covering plains and mountains alike.

Augustinian missionaries built a small visita (chapel) under the Parochial ministry of Paroquia de Santiago Matamoro de Quingua. In 1683 the visita of Angat made a Town Church and the whole Angat where established as a new Pueblo.

Today, still stands and legible, is the inscription at the façade of her church with a Roman Numeral "MDCCXII" translated to "1727" a year indicating the date of the erection the Angat Church's present building.

Geography

The towns of San Rafael, Bulacan and Bustos, Bulacan bound the town of Angat on the North. On the East by the vast Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges - Sierra Madre (Philippines), to its South by the towns of Norzagaray, Bulacan and Santa Maria, Bulacan. Angat is from Malolos, from Manila, and from San Jose del Monte.

The municipality of Angat has hilly and mountainous landscape that nestles Angat River - (Bulacan River) which snakes around eleven provinces in the Central Luzon Region. Angat River's main basin of water resource is from Sierra Madre Mountain Range (the longest mountain range in the Philippines) in Luzon island. During increment climate condition like continuous rainy days for days the water inundates to different river tributaries in its adjoining municipalities, as well as provinces through different rivers. To the southeast are 2 rivers: Santa Maria River of Santa Maria, Bulacan. Bunsuran River of Pandi, Bulacan. Balagtas River of Balagtas, Bulacan, and Bocaue River of Bocaue, Bulacan.

Angat's mountainous and hilly area has abundance of trees that are source of timber and wood materials, and unfortunately become an area of illegal logging. The mountainous areas, and lands close to the river shore, some of which are privately owned is rich in mineral deposit of silica. The vast area around Angat River is very high source of rocks and pebbles used for construction and garden landscaping.

Most areas have a very relaxing atmosphere of greenery seen in mountain heights and river shore lines where some fresh water fishes also multiplies.Angat was once part of the 3rd district along with Norzagaray from 1987 to 2022 when it was moved to 6th district along with Santa Maria and Norzagaray.

Barangays

Angat is subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

The prevailing climatic conditions in the municipality is categorized into two (2) types: Wet season (Rainy Season or Monsoon Season) and Dry Season (Summer Season).

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Angat, Bulacan, was 65,617 people, with a density of NaNPD/km2NaNPD/km2.

Religion

The people of Angat are mostly devout Roman Catholics. Their patron saint is Saint Monica. The Santa Monica de Angat Church displays baroque architecture, with its interior replicating the Sistine Chapel, recently remodeled but preserving its old architecture. In 1983, the Parish of the town celebrated its Tricentennial Foundation.

Today, Angat is divided into three parishes and one quasi-parish under the Vicariate of Baliuag, Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos: 1. the Saint Paul the Apostle Parish in Barangay Niugan; 2. the Santa Rita de Cascia Parish in Barangay Binagbag; 3. Santa Monica de Angat Parish in Poblacion and 4. Immaculate Conception Quasi-Parish in Barangay Marungko.

Other religious groups include the Members Church of God International popularly known as Ang Dating Daan, Iglesia ni Cristo, and Jehovah's Witness, Methodists, Aglipayans, Adventists, Baptists, Mormons. There also some Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic churches, ministries, fellowships and religious groups. Islam (Muslims) could also be found.

Government

Elected officials

2022-2025 Angat Municipal Officials
Position Name Party
MayorReynante "Jowar" S. Bautista
Vice MayorArvin L. Agustin
CouncilorsOscar "Oca" C. Suarez
William S. Vergel de Dios
Evelyn "Blem" J. Cruz
Luis "Wowie" J. Santiago
Melandro "Andro" G. Tigas
Darwin A. Calderon
Erwin S. Santos
Ramiro A. Osorio III
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC PresidentRichard C. Cruz
SK Federation PresidentCyndi Pearl Valencia

List of former mayors

No.Municipal MayorsTook officeLeft office
1 Mariano Santiago19011902
2 Pedro Otayco19021903
3 Francisco Vergel de Dios 19031904
4 Damian Santos 19041905
5 Damaso Pascual 19051906
6 Luciano de Guzman 1906 1909
7 Pablo Capistrano 1909 1916
8 Matias A. Fernando 1916 1920
9 Severo Rivera 1920 1922
10 Gerardo Santos 1922 1925
11 Atilano de Guzman 1925 1931
12 Dr. Crispulo Cruz 1931 1934
13 Pablo Amisola 1934 1940
14 Dr. Francisco Infantado 1940 1940
15 Jose S. Santos 19401942
16 Felix Ventura 1942 1943
17 Dr. Pedro Vergel de Dios 1943 1943
18 Atilano de Guzman 1943 1943
19 Engr. Vicente Salvador 1943 1943
20 Dr. Marcelino de Guzman 1943 1944
21 Pedro Cinco 1944 1944
22 Agapito Cruz Correa 1944 1944
23 Atty. Pablo Santos 1944 1945
24 Dr. Luis Infantado 1945 1945
25 Higino Adriano 1945 1946
26 Jose S. Santos 1946 1947
27 Atilano de Guzman 1947 1947
28 Faustino Sombillo 1947 1948
29 Francisco F. Illescas 1948 1954
30 Benito Cruz 1954 1963
31 Francisco Illescas 1964 1980
32 Atty. Florante Cruz 1980 1986
33 Francisca C. Valarao 1986 6 months
34 Leonardo R. de Leon 1987 1998
35 Apolonio P. Marcelo Jr. 1998 2000
36 Angelito Vergel de Dios 2000 2001
37 Leonardo R. de Leon 2001 2010
38 Gilberto C. Santos 2010 2013
39 Leonardo R. de Leon 2013 2022
40 Reynante S. Bautista 2022 present

Education

Colegio de Sta Monica de Angat

The Angateños consider education as very important. It was the dream of many that there would be a Catholic school in Angat. This dream was realized in 1983 through the initiative and leadership of the founding members of the first Board of Trustees of Santa Monica Catholic School, Inc.: Bishop Cirilio R. Almario, Jr., Rev. Fr. Macario R. Manahan, Councilor Manuel C. De Guzman, Mrs. Angelita A. Cruz, Mr. Francisco C. Robles. Through a memorandum of agreement between the Ministry of Social Services and Development and the Parents' Committee, the Day Care Center became Santa Monica Catholic Learning Center.In 1985, the school was renamed Santa Monica Catholic School and given the permit to open and conduct Grade VI. The first batch of Grade VI graduates received their diplomas in March 1986.

On March 27, 1987, the high school department was formally opened. A year later, the school's name was changed to Colegio de Santa Monica de Angat to reflect the town's Hispanic heritage. In the same year, the St. Joseph Building was inaugurated. The first batch graduated in March 1990. Today, the school's population and physical structure continues to grow.[1]

Other schools

+Private Pre-Elem/Elementary Schools[2] SchoolLocation
Angat Ecumenical Kindergarten SchoolSanta Cruz
Colegio De Santa Monica De AngatPoblacion
Kalinangan Integrated SchoolSulucan
Lourdes School Of BulacanMarungko
Wisdom Jade AcademyNiugan
Public Pre-Elem/Elementary Schools! School! Location
Atiliano S. De Guzman Elementary SchoolTaboc
Pablo C. Capistrano Elementary SchoolBanaban
Baybay Elementary SchoolBaybay
Benito C. Cruz Elementary SchoolSanta Lucia
Col. Vicente Salvador Elementary SchoolLaog
Don Pablo Amisola Memorial SchoolNiugan
Dr. Antonio C. Villarama Memorial SchoolMarungko
Francisco F. Illescas Elementary SchoolBinagbag
Marcelo L. Adriano Memorial SchoolEncanto
Matias A. Fernando Memorial SchoolSan Roque
Osias M. Esteban Elementary SchoolPulong Yantok
Paltoc Elementary SchoolPaltoc
Sulucan Elementary SchoolSulucan
Teodoso R. Manuel Elementary SchoolDonacion
Private Secondary Schools! School! Location
Colegio De Santa Monica De AngatPoblacion
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial SchoolSanto Cristo
Kalinangan Integrated SchoolSulucan
Lourdes School of BulacanMarungko
Public Secondary Schools! School! Location
Angat National High SchoolTaboc
Angel M. del Rosario Memorial High SchoolPulong Yantok
Binagbag National High SchoolBinagbag
Pres. Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial High SchoolSanta Cruz
Technical/Vocational Schools! School! Location
Bulacan Polytechnic CollegeSanta Cruz
Tertiary Schools! School! Location
Lourdes College of BulacanMarungko

Culture and Tourism

Town festivities and events

As a predominantly Roman Catholic Christian community, every barangay has their own unique way of celebrating fiestas in honor of their respective patron saint. In the town proper where the old beautiful church of Angat is located, the locals celebrate their fiesta every 4 May in honor of its patron St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine.

Angat is celebrating GulayAngat Festival (Gunita ng Lahi at Yamanag Angat; lit., "Angat Heritage and Treasure Festival") which features the means of livelihood of the town's people. It is celebrated every 3rd week of the month of October. It was accompanied by the establishment of the town of Angat. There were lot of activities happened in the festival such as:

Tourist attractions

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Reference 6
  2. Web site: Schools & Utility Services . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403043240/http://www.angat.gov.ph/schools.php . 2015-04-03 . 2015-04-02 . Municipality of Angat.