| Bocaue | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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| Nickname(s): Fireworks Capital of the Philippines | |||
| Map of Bulacan showing the location of Bocaue. | |||
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Bocaue
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Central Luzon (Region III) | ||
| Province | Bulacan | ||
| District | 2nd District | ||
| Founded | April 11, 1606 | ||
| Barangays | 19 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Eduardo "Jon-Jon" Villanueva, Jr. (Bangon Pilipinas/Partido Del Pilar) |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 31.87 km2 (12.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| • Total | 105,817 | ||
| • Density | 3,320.3/km2 (8,599.5/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP code | 3018 | ||
| Income class | 1st class, urban municipality | ||
| Website | www.bulacan.gov.ph/bocaue | ||
| Population Census of Bocaue | |||
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| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 69,718 |
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| 2000 | 86,994 | 4.87% | |
| 2007 | 105,817 | 2.74% | |
Bocaue (Filipino: Bukawe) is a first-class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The municipality of Bocaue lies 24.5 kilometers northeast of Manila through the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Highway and is located at the mid-southwestern portion of Bulacan. The town is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Balagtas and a portion of the municipality of Santa Maria; by the municipalities of Marilao and Obando on the south; a larger portion of Santa Maria on the east; a portion of the municipality of Bulacan on the extreme southwestern side; and a portion of Balagtas, Bulacan on the western side.
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The town's name comes from the old Tagalog word "Bokawe" which refers to a type of long bamboo. The town was established in 1606 by Spanish friars and was carved out from the nearby town of Marilao. Bocaue is the mother town of Balagtas,Bulacan which gained its independence as a town.
According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 105,817 people.
There are three road crossings in town that are heavily congested during the rush hours: Lolomboy, Wakas and Bocaue road crossings. The Bocaue River runs through most of the town, and the Bocaue Museum is located near the center. The Bocaue River Festival is celebrated on the first Sunday of every July. During the river festival of July 2, 1993, tragedy struck when around 500 people rode the floating pagoda of the miraculous Holy Cross of Wawa way beyond its capacity, causing it to sink, killing more than two hundred people. Despite the lives lost, no one has been made accountable for the tragedy. This incident became known as the Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy.
Bocaue is about 27 kilometers north of Manila through the North Luzon Expressway and the Bocaue Exit (in Barangay Turo). Its major industry is fireworks, making it the Fireworks Capital of the Philippines. It is also an education center in the Marilao/Sta. Maria/Balagtas municipalities area, with college education provided at St. Paul University (town center) and Dr. Yanga's Foundation College & Teaching Hospital; and private high school and elementary education at St. Paul College (Turo-Igulot boundary)---like the town center university operated by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres---, Sto Niño Academy, Integrated School of Montessori (where the English Skills Masters Organization [ESkiMO] started), and Jesus Is Lord College Foundation (operated by the Jesus Is Lord Church).
A small art gallery beside the town's McDonald's restaurant called Twenty-Twenty (owned by the town's ophthalmologist and her art photographer husband) sells works by a number of Bulacan painters. Nationally-known Bocauenes in the arts include choreographer Francisca Reyes Aquino and TV actress Jewel Mische. Pro basketball player Billy Mamaril and pastor and two-time presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva are also from the town.
Bocaue is also famous for its Bocaue liempo (bacon) roast, crispy pata (cured beef brisket and shank), rellenong bangus (stuffed milkfish) and all sorts of rice cakes.
With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the town is now included in the metropolis' built-up area, which reaches San Ildefonso, Bulacan at its northernmost part. The town of Bocaue is the center route for the national highway called 'Super Highway' - North Luzon Expressway that provides fast transfort to Metro Manila - Manila.
Bocaue has its big river called 'Bocaue River' a tributary of 'Santa Maria River' of Santa Maria, Bulacan from 'Angat River' - Angat, Bulacan. The main source of river tributaries is from Sierra Madre Mountain Range - Sierra Madre, Philippines. Due to its location there are many man made fish ponds used for raising and farming fish like Bangus - Milkfish and Tilapia - Cchildfish.
Bocaue is politically subdivided into 19 barangays.
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Mayors of Bocaue, Bulacan
Eduardo Villanueva, Jr. (2007–Present)
Serafin dela Cruz (2004–2007)
Eduardo Villanueva, Jr. (2001–2004)
Jose DG. Santiago, Sr. (1998–2001)
Serafin M. dela Cruz (1992–1998)
Lorenzo Gonzales (1988–1992)
Cesar N. Nicolas (1988)
Atty. Matias Bernardo Ramirez
Rudy Maran David (1986–1988)
Dioscorro Juan (1956–1958)
Moises E. Nicolas (1948–1952, 1958–1960, 1960–1964)
Guillermo Mendoza (unknown year)
Evangelino Mendoza (unknown year)
Vice Mayors of Bocaue, Bulacan
Jose Santiago, Jr. (2007–Present)
Kennedy Valdez (2004–2007)
Peter Christopher Gonzales (2001–2004)
Rogelio " Maestro " Ramos (1998–2001)
Antonio " Tony Boy " Mendoza (1995-1998)
Mario Mendoza (unknown year)
Serafin dela Cruz (unknown year)
Cesar N. Nicolas (1986–1988)
Moises E. Nicolas (1956–1958)
Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy
December 2007 Bocaue Fire
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