San Miguel, officially theMunicipality of San Miguel (Tagalog:Bayan ng San Miguel,Kapampangan:Balen ning San Miguel), is amunicipality in theprovince ofBulacan,Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 172,073 people.^[3]

San Miguel San Miguel de Mayumo
Municipality
Municipality of San Miguel
San Miguel Municipal Hall
Flag Seal
Map of Bulacan with San Miguel highlighted
OpenStreetMap
San Miguel Location within thePhilippines
Coordinates:15°08′45″N120°58′42″E / 15.14583°N 120.97833°E /15.14583; 120.97833
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Bulacan
District	3rd district
Founded	September 29, 1725
Chartered	1874
Barangays	49 (seeBarangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	John A. Alvarez
• Vice Mayor	Jhong Reyes
• Representative	Lorna C. Silverio
• Municipal Council	Members Gerome D. Reyes Romeo C. Dizon Mary Joy Ann S. Chico Emmanuel D. Magtalas Anika Corinne D. Santiago-Tan Joseph Noel P. de Guzman Mark David C. Maon Richard P. Dela Cruz
• Electorate	105,167 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	231.40 km2 (89.34 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Highest elevation	54 m (177 ft)
Lowest elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	172,073
• Rank	16 out of 1,489Municipalities
• Density	740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
• Households	40,269
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	18.05 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 643.4 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 1,170 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 480.6 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 595.3 million (2022)
Utilities
• Electricity	Meralco
• Water	Pamana Water
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3011
PSGC	0301421000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)44
Native languages	Tagalog Kapampangan
Major religions	Catholic
Feast date	September 29
Catholic diocese	Diocese of Malolos
Patron saint	St. Michael

There are two accounts on the origin of the town's name:

• According to the 1953 journalHistory of Bulacan, the town was originally namedMayumo from the Kapampangan term for "sweets". The name San Miguel was added by the Augustinian missionaries who selectedMichael the Archangel as the patron saint of the town.^[5]
• An account tells that the two leaders decided to form a town named Miguel De Mayumo after the name of Miguel Pineda andMayumo, from the Kapampangan term and for the goodwill and generosity of Mariano Puno.

The municipality of San Miguel de Mayumo was established in 1763 by Carlos Agustin Maniquiz, Maria Juana Puno - wife of Carlos Agustin Maniquiz and Miguel Pineda, with Pineda as the first town mayor of San Miguel. Miguel Pineda was a native ofAngat, Bulacan who decided to settle permanently in the barrio of San Bartolome (now named Barangay Tartaro). He found the place ideal for hunting and was later chosen as the leader of other settlers. He formed an alliance with Mariano Puno, the recognized leader of the adjacent prosperous village called Santo Rosario (now named Barangay Mandile).

The town was previously part of Pampanga, hence San Miguel's culture havingKapampangan influence. In 1848, the town and the neighbouring barrios, which were then part of Pampanga, were added to the territory of the Province of Bulacan.^[5]

During thePhilippine Revolution in 1897, newly appointed Governor-GeneralFernando Primo de Rivera decided to crushEmilio Aguinaldo and his troops inCavite, but Aguinaldo fled toBatangas and joined forces with Gen.Miguel Malvar. The Spaniards continue their pursuit but the troops outwitted them by going to the district ofMorong (nowRizal) and finally to Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel, Bulacan. Aguinaldo made the mountain caves into his headquarters.^[6][7]

Biak-na-Bato (21.17 km² (8.17 sq mi) in the villages of Kalawakan and Talbak inDoña Remedios Trinidad town and the villages of Biak-na-Bato and Sibul) served as one of the camps of the revolutionaryKatipunan forces during thePhilippine Revolution. It was declared anational park byManuel L. Quezon on November 16, 1937, through Proclamation No. 223.^[8]

Between 1903 and 1906, the adjacent town ofSan Ildefonso was consolidated with San Miguel due to the former's low income and inability to finance its expenditures in operating the local government.^[9] It was later separated from the town to become an independent town of its own when it became capable of meeting its expenses.^[10]

DuringWorld War II, Japanese Imperial ground troops entered and occupied the town municipality of San Miguel on 1942. Local Filipino troops of thePhilippine Commonwealth Army andPhilippine Constabulary units retreated into the nearby mountains to become the Bulakeño guerrilla resistance against the Japanese occupation forces until the province's liberation.

San Miguel was the largest town in the province of Bulacan until September 13, 1977, whenDoña Remedios Trinidad, currently the largest municipality of Bulacan, was established underPresidential Decree No. 1196 during the term of PresidentFerdinand Marcos. Barangays Camachin, Kalawakan, and Talbac were ceded to the new municipality.^[11]

On August 26, 2007, residents at the foot of the Biak-na-Bato mountains petitioned presidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo to declare the mountains protected areas to stopmarble quarrying andmining in the area .^[12]

In August 2014 during a fieldtrip to the Madlum Cave, seven students ofBulacan State University were swept after heavy rains which triggered a flash flood while crossing the Madlum river.^[13]

The town of San Miguel is bounded byNueva Ecija Province to the north area andPampanga Province to the west. The town ofSan Ildefonso, Bulacan lies next to San Miguel to the south; and,Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, and Angat to the east.

San Miguel then was the biggest municipality in the province of Bulacan before some areas were taken and annexed to Doña Remedios Trinidad during the term ofFerdinand Marcos. The geographic nature of the town is diversified and multi-faceted, rich in nature's beauty like waterfall, rivers, caves, few mountains, hilly areas and springs. The mainland are plain agricultural lands, some part of which was substantially eroded due to commercialization and urbanization.^{[citation needed]}

San Miguel is the third largest municipality by area in the province afterDoña Remedios Trinidad andNorzagaray. It is 53 kilometers (33 mi) fromMalolos and 76 kilometers (47 mi) fromManila.

The prevailing climatic conditions in the municipality is categorized into two types: Wet season and dry season.

• Wet Season - (Rainy season or Monsoon season)
• Dry Season - (Summer season)

San Miguel is politically subdivided into 49barangays, as shown in the matrix below.^[15] Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios

There are 11 urban and the rest rural barangays in the town.

In the 2020 census, the population of San Miguel, Bulacan, was 172,073 people,^[3] with a density of 740 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,900 inhabitants per square mile.

The municipality, along with two other municipalities (Remedios Trinidad and Norzagaray) and one city (San Jose del Monte) of Bulacan, is the homeland of theAlta Kabulowan, the first inhabitants of Bulacan,whose language is also calledAlta Kabulowan. Their language is currently endangered and is in dire need of local government intervention. The majority of residents in the town are native speakers of theTagalog language. Due to its proximity with Pampanga towns and it was part of Pampanga, some residents also speak theKapampangan language.

Currently, San Miguel is divided into four parishes and a large number ofvisitas, all of which are under the jurisdiction of theDiocese of Malolos. These areDiocesan Shrine and Parish of San Miguel Arcangel located in Brgy. Poblacion; San Jose Esposo de Maria Parish located in Brgy. San Jose; Nuestra Señora delos Remedios Parish located in Brgy. Sibul Springs; and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish located in Brgy. Salacot.

The traditions are very alive and well-preserved in San Miguel, as shown by theHoly Week processions in the mother church, which include about 60carrozas. Numerous images of our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and saints, visited this church, such as theNuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo andLa Purisima Concepcion de Santa Maria. Every May 8, San Miguel holds its townfiesta, and every September 29, it celebrates itsPistang Patron celebration.

The tradition ofLos Desposorios or theBethrotal of Mary and Joseph is very alive at San Jose Esposo de Maria Parish in Brgy. San Jose. The said parish celebrates itsfiesta every 26 November, the traditional date which theAugustinians celebrates the feast of the Bethrotal. It will start withProcesion de los Desposorios and after that, the antique image of Saint Joseph and Our Lady meets at thepatio of the parish and the rite of theRenewal of Vows will be conducted.

Poverty incidence of San Miguel

• Municipal Mayor: Roderick D. Tiongson (PFP)
• Municipal Vice Mayor: John "Bong" A. Alvarez (Lakas-CMD)
• Sangguniang Bayan Members:

1. Gerome "Jhong" D. Reyes (NUP)
2. Romeo C. Dizon (PFP)
3. Mary Joy Ann S. Chico (PFP)
4. Emmanuel "Emil" D. Magtalas (Lakas-CMD)
5. Anika Corinne "Nika" D. Santiago-Tan (PFP)
6. Joseph Noel P. de Guzman (Lakas-CMD)
7. Mark David "Bong" C. Maon (PFP)
8. Richard "Ritchie" Dela Cruz (Lakas-CMD)

• ABC President: Aries Pengson
• Sangguniang Kabataan President: Mark Joshua S. Sevilla

• Municipal Mayor: John "Bong" A. Alvarez (Lakas-CMD)
• Municipal Vice Mayor: Gerome "Jhong" D. Reyes (NUP)
• Sangguniang Bayan Members:

1. Christopher Tolentino Beltran (Lakas-CMD)
2. Pol David Roura Buencamino (PFP)
3. Sarah Jane Dela Cruz Gatchalian (Lakas-CMD)
4. Joseph Noel Perez De Guzman (Lakas-CMD)
5. Mary Joy Ann Salimbao Chico (PFP)
6. Emmanuel Dela Cruz Magtalas (Lakas-CMD)
7. Romeo Catiis Magat (PFP)
8. Wilfredo De Leon Dela Cruz (PFP)

The town has numerous public schools offering elementary and high school education. Some of the elementary public schools are:

• San Miguel North Central School, in barangay Camias
• San Miguel South Central Elementary School, located in population center of the town

Some of the public high schools are:

• San Miguel National High School, located in barangay San Juan
• John J. Russel Memorial High School, located at Sibul
• Vedasto R. Santiago High School, located in barangay Salacot
• Partida High School, located at Partida
• Balaong High School, annex of San Miguel National High School, located at Barangay Balaong
• Maligaya High School, annex of Vedasto R. Santiago High School, located at Barangay Maligaya

Some of the private schools offering elementary and pre-elementary education are:

• D. C. Nicolas School, located in barangay Tigpalas
• Park Ridge School of Montessori, located in barangay Camias
• St. Paul University at San Miguel, located in Barangay Salangan
• School of Mount St. Mary, located in barangay Santa Rita (New)
• Waminal Achievers Academy, Incorporated, located in population center of the town
• God's Love Children's Advancement Center, location in Santa Rita (Old)

Some of the tertiary schools are:

• Bulacan Polytechnic College (San Miguel Campus) in barangay Salacot
• Integrated College of Business and Technology at barangay Salangan
• St. Paul University at San Miguel, located in Barangay Salangan
• Microlink Institute of Science and Technology (San Miguel Campus) in barangay Camias

• Nicanor Abelardo - Kundiman composer.
• Serafin Payawal - Commonwealth-era violinist and bandleader of the Serafin Payawal Orchestra
• Virgilio S. Almario - National Artist for Literature. Poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher, cultural manager, and the founder ofAdarna House.
• Felipe Buencamino - FormerSecretary of Foreign Affairs and one of the founders ofIglesia Filipina Independiente. One of the authors of theMalolos Constitution
• Alfredo Lim – FormerPhilippine Senator, then Mayor ofManila and formerDirector of the National Bureau of Investigation.
• Pablo Tecson – FormerGovernor General ofBulacan and later served asInsular Secretary of the Philippine Bureau of Agriculture.
• Emiliano Tecson – Participated in the ratification of the firstPhilippine Constitution withEmilio Aguinaldo.
• Simon Tecson – Filipino General who served as revolutionary Colonel of theSiege of Baler. Former mayor of San Miguel, Bulacan.
• Trinidad Tecson – One of the renowned female revolutionaries of thePhilippine Revolution. Known as theMother of Biak-na-Bato. Also known as 'The Mother ofPhilippine Red Cross' and 'Mother of Mercy'.
• Maximo Viola - Doctor, revolutionary, and initial financier of the publication of Jose Rizal's novelNoli me tangere (novel)
• Carlos A. Santos-Viola – Filipino architect. Best known for designing and building churches for theIglesia ni Cristo religious group.
• Pablo Payawal - Congressman, House of Representative, 2nd District of Bulacan. (1934-1935)
• Narcisa Buencamino-de Leon - One of the founders of LVN Pictures, one of the biggest film studios in the history ofPhilippine Cinema
• Von Lazaro - New York-based fashion designer
• Magtanggol C. Gunigundo - chairman, Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) from 1992 to 1998; and Constitutional Convention Delegate representing the 2nd District of Bulacan, 1971 Constitutional Convention

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information