Hagonoy 城镇

Hagonoy ([hɐˈɡunoɪ] or [hɐˈɡonoɪ]), officially the Municipality of Hagonoy (Tagalog: Bayan ng Hagonoy, Kapampangan: Balen ning Hagonoy), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 136,673 people.

Etymology

The town was named after the "hagunoy" (Chromolaena odorata), a medicinal plant that used to be abundant in its river banks and along the seashores. The original populace used its leaves as their herbal remedy of choice for common illnesses and as food ingredients. Because of the medicinal value of the plant, the news of its effectiveness spread leading the people to call the place "Hagonoy".

Hagonoy's town legend

In the 16th century, some friars took a boat from Manila to the province of Bulacan and reached what was then called "Quinabaloan" (from Kapampangan word kinabaluan meaning "had been known" or "pinag-alaman" in Tagalog—which was then still part of the town of Calumpit and is now the barangays of Santa Monica and San Jose). At that time, a very charming lass was so popular among the young men of the locality. She had many suitors and admirers.

History

Hagonoy was first mentioned in the history of the Philippines in 1571. Even before the "blood compact" between the Spain's conqueror Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the Philippines' Datu Sikatuna was made, the place was already known as Hagonoy. The land consists of archipelagic marsh and river tributaries going to the sea, where the first ancestors of this town probably took this way to reach Hagonoy.

Hagonoy first appeared in Philippine history when they formed part of the fleet of Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe, Pampanga that met Martin de Goiti at the Battle of Bangkusay in the initial defense of the Lusong against the Spaniards in 1571.

Geography

With a total land area of 103.10 square kilometers, Hagonoy is situated at the south-west corner of the province of Bulacan. It is bounded by the municipality of Calumpit on the north, municipality of Paombong on the east, municipality of Masantol, Pampanga on the west and Manila Bay on the south. The municipality is approximately 54 kilometers from Metro Manila or about an hour and a half drive. It can be accessed via North Luzon Expressway and MacArthur Highway.

Hagonoy is a long ridge with a lake on its edge by Manila Bay called "Wawa", which is now part of Barangays San Sebastian and San Nicolas. It is basically a fishing town with Manila Bay as its proximate fishing ground, which extends up to the provinces of Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Hagonoy, Bulacan was 133,448 people, with a density of 1,300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 3,400 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Hagonoy (%)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

According to the Commission on Audit (COA) 2010 Annual Financial Report, Hagonoy ranked as the 8th richest municipality in Bulacan, surpassing the annual income of other municipalities like Bocaue, Calumpit, Plaridel, San Ildefonso and Balagtas.

Trade and commerce

Trade and commerce in Hagonoy is concentrated at the town center where the public market, municipal hall, church, schools, hospital, clinics, and commercial spaces are situated. Major business activities include drugstores, banks, financial institutions, private consignacions, restaurants/food shops, groceries, and construction supplies.

Government

Elected officials

The following officials were elected in the Philippine Elections on May 10, 2025, to serve a three-year term.

Mayor: Ma. Rosario "Ate Charo" Sy-Alvarado Mendoza (Lakas-CMD)

Vice Mayor: Jhane Dela Cruz (PFP)

Councilors

Teton Tanjuan(NPC)

Carlo Caudia. (PFP)

Sir Juan Martin (Lakas-CMD)

Elmer S. Santos (PFP)

Dalisay "Baby" V. Ople (Lakas-CMD)

Glenn Sarto (Lakas-CMD)

Michael Darwin M. Cruz (Lakas-CMD)

Pedro "KAP" Santos (Lakas-CMD)

List of mayors

Don Francisco L. Sebastian (first mayor)

Ramona S. Trillana

Emilio G. Perez (1963–1972)

Hermogenes B. Perez (1972–1986)

Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado (1987–1998)

Felix V. Ople (1998–2007)

Angel L. Cruz Jr. (2007–2013)

Raulito "Amboy" T. Manlapaz Sr. (2013–2022)

Flordeliza "Baby" C. Manlapaz. (2022-2025)

List of vice mayors

Nestor S. Santos (1963–1967)

Maria Garcia (1967–1972)

Eleazer F. Laderas (1988–1995)

Maria G. Santos (1995–1998)

Josefina Contreras (2001–2004)

Religion

National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne in the Philippines

Hagonoy is deeply religious, in the town centre is the native's principal Church. The National Shrine of Saint Anne was originally a visita under the parish of Calumpit. It became a town church in 1731 with Fr. Juan Albarran, OSA, as its first curate. It was rebuilt in 1871 by Fr. Ignacio Manzanares, OSA. The church was taken over by the Filipino clergy in 1896 with Fr. Clemente Garcia as the first Filipino curate. He was succeeded by Dr. Mariano Sevilla from 1902 to 1922, Fr. Exequiel Morales, 1922–1936. Fr. Celestino Rodriguez OFM, curate since 1936 and improved the church. It was made into a national shrine to honor St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This church holds the relics of St. Anne from the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, the international shrine in Quebec, Canada and also the relics of St. Joachim, the husband of St. Anne.

Culture

Annual fiestas are held to honor the town's and each barangay's patron saints. The town's patron saint is St. Anne (the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary) or fondly called "Apo Ana" in the vernacular by the natives. She is enshrined at the church named after her in the poblacion. This church is a National Shrine. There are also small fiestas among the different puroks of the barangays, there are feasts for the: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of the Rosary, and other commemorative feasts of the Catholic Church. The Holy Week observance includes self flagellants on the road, zarzuelas, the "pabasa" (the passion sang as a psalm), the Good Friday and Easter dawn processions, in all parish churches. The Good Friday processions of the Parishes like the Poblacion and the Santo Rosario parishes are attended by at least 15 to 30 Lenten icons.

Social services

Protective services

Hagonoy is generally a peaceful community. Peace and order is being maintained by the Philippine National Police – Hagonoy Station staffed by 29 PNP personnel. The Hagonoy PNP is equipped by 24 long firearms and 17 short firearms, with 2 patrol cars and 4 motorcycles as service vehicles.

In 2009, there were 113 reported crime incidence in the municipality. The crime solution efficiency rate is registered at 97.26%.

Health and nutrition

There are three hospitals operating in Hagonoy – two private hospitals and a government-controlled district hospital. The Emilio Perez Memorial District Hospital, situated at Barangay Santo Nino, is a 50-bed capacity hospital that offers secondary healthcare services. It is one of the district hospitals owned and controlled by the Provincial Government of Bulacan.

Cemeteries

Hagonoy Public Cemetery

Hagonoy Catholic Cemetery

Hagonoy Memorial Park

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. The schools disctice offices are Hagonoy East, and Hagonoy West.

The educational institutions in Hagonoy is composed of: 29 public elementary schools, 10 private elementary schools, 4 public secondary schools, 4 private schools, 26 Day Care Centers, 1 Technical/Vocational School and 1 satellite campus of a state university.

In School Year 2008–2009, the combined elementary school enrollment is 17,934, where 9 out of the 10 students are enrolled in public elementary school. On the other hand, secondary school enrolment is registered at 10,477 students, of which 78.45% are enrolled in public high school.

Notable personalities

Pedro Bantigue - a Priest and Bishop who served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila and first Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna.

Blas Ople - a journalist and politician having served several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branch of the Philippine government including Senate President, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Labor.

Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado - Filipino politician who served as Governor of Bulacan (2010–2019), Congressman of Bulacan’s 1st district (1998–2007), and Mayor of Hagonoy (1986–1998).

Lorifel Lacap-Pahimna - a Filipino lawyer and jurist serving as the 65th Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan.

Susan Ople - a Filipina politician and advocate who served as the first Secretary of Migrant Workers.