Plaridel, Bulacan

Plaridel, officially the Municipality of Plaridel (, Kapampangan: ''Balen ning Plaridel''), formerly known as Quingua, is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 114,432 people.

The name of the municipality during the Spanish and American colonial periods was ''Quingua.'' On December 29, 1936, a bill was passed and approved changing the town's name to ''Plaridel'', in honor of the great hero of Bulacan, Marcelo H. del Pilar.

History

Like many towns in Bulacan, Plaridel has its niche in Philippine history as the site of the Battle of Quingua during the Philippine–American War as part of the defense of the First Philippine Republic against the Northern Campaign of the American Army. The battle, manned by Pablo Tecson—Lt. Colonel Pablo Ocampo Tecson of San Miguel, Bulacan—under Gregorio del Pilar on the side of the First Philippine Republic, led to the death of Col. John Stotsenberg of the American Army on April 23, 1899. A marker now stands at the site of the battle in barangay Agnaya.

Plaridel's history can be traced through records back to 1581 in the early years of the Spanish colonization. The Augustinian friars from the Malolos Convent discovered a vast forest in 1581 then named as Binto; this would later be known as Quingua. As per the history of the Parish of St. James the Apostle (2001 issue) Quingua was established by the Augustinian Friars of Malolos who initially named it "Encomienda Binto" (Barangay Bintog got its name from this settlement). They built a ''visita'' (chapel of ease) and placed it under the jurisdiction of Fray Mateo Mendoza, the prior of Malolos.

The visita of Binto was elevated to an independent parish named Parroquia de Santiago Apostol, and the whole of Quingua was separated from Malolos and was created as a new pueblo on September 27, 1602.

Plaridel is traversed by the Angat and formerly by Tabang River. The Angat River, otherwise known as Quingua River, flows directly to Calumpit, Bulacan, meeting the Pampanga River. The Tabang River was a former distributary of the Angat River. The water of this river was called "tabáng," referring to its fresh water. It previously crossed the town proper of Plaridel and divides into two bodies of water in the middle of the present-day poblacion. It was intersected by the irrigation canal coming from Bustos Dam specifically the South Main Canal of the Angat-Maasim Irrigation System (AMRIS). It was designated as Lateral J. It flows toward Manila Bay after passing through the towns of Guiguinto and Bulakan.

Initially very few people lived in the town, and most were closely related. Each group had a leader called "tandis". Different groups spoke different languages; Pampango, Pangasinan, Ilocano and Tagalog. From Malolos, the friar curate frequently visited the place, preaching the Catholic faith, using the "balsa" or bamboo raft as his means of transportation upriver and back through Angat River. The missionaries decided to clear the land and establish settlements, from which they could work to bring unity to the people. They needed ideas to bring this about, so each "tandis" drew up a plan to pursue.

The groups of people labored, so much so that when the priest returned seven years later, he found the area completely cleared. The priests' party inquired among the natives as to whom the credit should go, and the Pampangos exclaimed, "Quing wawa". Thereafter, every now and then, to every question of the friars the people would reply "Quing wa". As a consequence, the place had come to be referred to as Quingua.

During the presidency of Manuel L. Quezon, the then "Alcalde", or Town Mayor, of Quinga, Jose J. Mariano, took the initiative of renaming the town. Representative Pedro Magsalin, a friend of the Alcalde, sponsored the bill changing the name of the town from Quingua to Plaridel. The bill was passed by the Philippine Congress and was approved by the President, and on December 29, 1936, the town was renamed as 'Plaridel', in honor of the great hero of Bulacan, Marcelo H. del Pilar. The celebrations that followed were attended by political luminaries of the time, including Speaker Gil Montilla, Congressman Magsalin, Nicolas Buendia, Eulogio Rodriguez, Elpidio Quirino and Governor José Padilla, Sr.

Geography

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Plaridel is part of Manila's built-up area which reaches San Ildefonso, Bulacan at its northernmost part.

Plaridel is from Malolos, from Manila, and from Guiguinto.

Barangays

Plaridel is divided into 19 barangays, as shown in the matrix below. In 1954, sitio Mayamot in Barrio Banga was changed to Bagong Silang while a sitio in the eastern part of barrio Tabang, called Bagong Silang, was created. These barangays are headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. All are elected every three years. Each barangay consist of 7 puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Plaridel, Bulacan, was 114,432 people, with a density of .

Economy

Government

Elected officials

Tourism

Parish Church of Santiago Apostol

The Plaridel Church was initially a mission chapel built by the Augustinians in Malolos made of light materials. The chapel was located near River at Lumang Bayan and transferred to present site. It is clearly evident why the said Barrio named Lumang Bayan means-Old Poblacion. From 1590 to 1602, Quingua was administered by Friar Curate from Malolos Church which close at hand.

The present church was built in 1602 and established as the town church of the newly created Pueblo de Quingua.

Plaridel is one of the earliest settlement to be established at around 1590 as Encomienda. Its Parish Church of Santiago Apostol has one of the unique Moorish architectural style among the Augustinian Churches in the province. It was here that the money and jewels of san Agustin in Intramuros, Manila were kept during British Occupation in 1762–63.

The church is small and its two level facade is bare. However, the crowning pediment is elaborate consisting of a pair of volutes with the inner space filled with triangular patterns and floral embellishments that first glance can be mistaken as having a Moorish influence because of the minaret like dome formed. In between the volutes are a series of spaced relieves of cherubs, ramilletes, two saints including that of St. Augustine and the pierced heart which is the symbol of the Augustinian Order. The octagonal and tapering belltower on the other hand sits on a quadrilateral base and rises 4 level
Visita Iglesia: The old churches of Bulacan, Part 1 of 2

The Parish Church of Santiago Apostol is the location of GMA Network's ''Fantaserye Darna'' (2009), ''Zaido'' (2007), ''Iglot'' (2011) and afternoon drama series, ''Nita Negrita'' (2011), ''Broken Vow'' (2012). And the Judy Ann Santos-Sarah Geronimo Movie ''Hating Kapatid'' in July 2010.

And recently, ABS-CBN's drama anthology ''Maalaala mo kaya: Toga'', starring Albie Casiño and Erich Gonzales and the episode of Police Uniform" starring Empress and Joseph Marco.

Salubong Festival or Horse Festival

Salubong Festival celebrated annually every December 29. It's called ''salubong'' or ''welcome'' because they welcome the St. James the Greater's equestrian replica from Sipat. It's also called ''Horse festival'' because they paraded calesas, tiburins (non-roofed calesa) and an only riding on the horse ( equestrian) and holding a horse racing in the afternoon.

Other Attractions

*Battle Of Quingua Monument
* Plaridel Airport

Gallery

File:Parkmarianojf.JPG, Don Jose J. Mariano Park
File:Plarideljf8078 28.JPG, Marcelo H. Del Pilar Statue in front of the Municipal Hall
File:Plarideljf8048 35.JPG, Don Jose J. Mariano Statue
File:Plarideljf8048 12.JPG, World War II Veterans Memorial Statue
File:Sandiegogymjf.JPG, Don Cesario Multi-purpose Gymnasium
File:Plaridelair2jf.JPG, Control tower of Plaridel Airport and parked planes of the aviation schools located at the airport
File:Stjames33jf.JPG, Overview of the interior of the Parish of St. James the Apostle church
File:Plaridelmarketjf.JPG, Plaridel Wet and Dry Public Market
File:Laconsolacionjf.JPG, La Consolacion University General Hospital (formerly University of Regina Carmeli)
File:09925jfPulilan Walter Mart Plaridel Bulacanfvf 01.jpg, Walter Mart Plaridel
File:FvfBanga1and2Plaridel1065 32.JPG, Facade of Plaridel Terminal Mall
File:0088jfNovo Department Store Plaridel Bulacanfvf 05.jpg, Front of Novo Department Store Plaridel
File:FvfPulilanPlaridel1031 31.JPG, Front of the Plaridel Municipal Slaughterhouse
File:FvfDampolPlaridel7812 28.JPG, San Miguel Arkanghel Parish Church
File:FvfBintogHallChapelP9791 07.JPG, San Nicolas de Tolentino Chapel
File:0212jfBarangays Culianin Roads Plaridel Bulacan Santo Rosario Chapelfvf 05.JPG, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Chapel
File:07186jfTabang Agnaya Roads Lumang Bayan Chapel Sipat Plaridel Bulacanfvf 16.JPG, Chapel of the Holy Cross
File:FvfBanga1and2Plaridel1065 34.JPG, Saint Anthony of Padua Chapel
File:09985jfBulihan San Jose Angels Church Plaridel Bulacanfvf 10.JPG, Holy Angels Quasi-parish Church
File:0166jfHighway Culianin Plaridel Lumina Bustos Bulacan Roadfvf 15.JPG, Entrance to Lumina Homes Plaridel

See also

*List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

References

External links

* Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census InformationPlaridel Bulacan

{{Authority control

Municipalities of Bulacan