| Malolos Historic Center and Heritage Town | |
| Native Name: | Makasaysayang Kabayanan at Pamana ng Bayan ng Malolos |
| Native Language: | Tagalog |
| Type: | Heritage Zone |
| Coordinates: | 14.8445°N 120.8113°W |
| Location: | Malolos Downtown City of Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines 3000 |
| Built: | 1580, 1750, 1800, 1840, 1900, 1930, 1940 |
| Architect: | various |
| Architecture: | Spanish, American, Post-war |
| Governing Body: | City Government of Malolos and National Historical Commission of the Philippines |
| Designation1 Offname: | Malolos Heritage Town |
| Designation1 Date: | August 15, 2001 |
The Malolos Historic Town Center is a historic district located in downtown (or the old town center of the capital town of) Malolos City, Bulacan, Philippines, commonly called the Camestisuhan or Pariancillo District of Malolos. It was declared as such for its collection of Spanish and American-era houses and government structures, and for being the birthplace of the First Philippine Republic and the Malolos Constitution as well as having been the capital of the Philippines from 1898 to 1900. The National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) declared the downtown Malolos area officially as a National Historical Landmark and a Heritage Town on August 15, 2001.[1]
The Camestisuhan District of Malolos was originally called Pariancillo. It was the district intended for the Chinese residents of Malolos in the 1700s. It was started in 1755 when the Governor General of the Philippines ordered the expulsion of the Chinese from the Philippines due to their participation in some rebellion and sedition acts against the Spanish Government.
On documents such as the Registros Paroquiales or The Catholic Baptismal Registry of Malolos, the town already had its own "Parian" (a kind of Chinatown) in 1710. Some of the Chinese in Manila transferred to Malolos as it was already a hub for some Chinese and so that they could be far from the eyes of the Spanish Government in Manila. When he heard about this migration, the Governor General ordered that all Chinese migration destinations outside Manila should have a district for the Chinese for racial segregation. Thus the Malolos Pariancillo was established. Pariancillo means "small parian". A provision in the segregation order also stated that only those Chinese who have long been residents of the town who have married a native of Malolos will not be expelled. Thus the Sangleys of Malolos were born and the Pariancillo became the Chinese enclave in Bulacan Province.
The National Historical Institute board resolution cites several reasons for the declaration of certain areas in downtown Malolos as a National Historical Landmark and Heritage Town, or informally as parts of a Historic Town Center:
According to the board resolution, the following streets are identified as part of the Malolos Historic Town Center:
| Paseo del Congreso Street from Barasoain church to Malolos bridge | San Agustin |
| Padre Jose Burgos Street bound by Enriquez St. and Malolos Bridge | |
| Hipolito Street bound by P. Burgos and Enriquez Streets | |
| Cigarillera Street (Tampoy) | Santo Niño |
| Pariancillo Street | |
| Santo Niño Street | |
| F.T. Reyes (Electricidad) bound by Santo Niño Street and M. Tengco Street | |
| M. Tengco Street bound by F. T. Reyes and F. Estrella Streets | |
| F. Estrella Street bound by Liang River and Kanto Boy Street | |
| Santiago - Cruz House at Jacinto Street (Pariancillo) | |
| Pineda and Aldaba Houses at F. T. Reyes Street | |
| Malolos Water Cistern at Plaza Torres | San Vicente |
The following table lists down extant built heritage within the areas declared by the National Historical Institute: |}
The following table lists of structures in Malolos extant built heritage outside the declared National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute but are still covered by the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 as cultural property:[2]
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One of the features of Malolos Historic Town Center are the monuments created by the artisans and National Artist can be found at different areas in the city.
| Structure | Provenance | Site Location | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Fountain | 1933 | Dr. Luis Santos Art Deco House | Guillermo Tolentino |
| Bounty Harvest Painting | 1933 | Dr. Luis Santos Art Deco House | Fernando Amorsolo |
| Gat Francisco Balagtas Marble Bust | 1950 | Malolos Plaza and Rotounda | Guillermo Tolentino,National Artist |
| Brass Bust of Marcelo Hilario del Pilar | 1903 | Malolos City Hall Plaza | Hilario Sunico, Bellcaster of 19th century |
| Brass Bust of Dr.Jose P. Rizal | 1901 | Plaza Rizal, Casa Real, Malolos City | Hilario Sunico, Bellcaster of 19th century |
| Bronze Statue of Emilio Aguinaldo | 1950 | Barasoain Church Plaza, Malolos City | Antonio Caedo,pre-National Artist |
| Gen.Isidoro Torres Monument | 1950 | Plaza Torres, Malolos Market | n/a |
| Jose Rizal Statue | 1923 | Malolos Central School | n/a |
| The Propagandista Triumvirate | 1950 | Bulacan Capitol Compound, Malolos | n/a |
| President Ramon Magsaysay | 1960 | Bulacan Capitol Compound, Malolos | |
| General Gregorio del Pilar | 1950 | Bulacan Capitol Plaza, Malolos | n/a |