Meycauayan , officially the City of Meycauayan (), is a component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
The place got its name from the Tagalog words may kawayan which is literally translated to English as there is bamboo. It was formerly known as Mecabayan , a Kapampangan name, and alternatively as Meycawayan.
History During the Spanish colonization of the country, the town of Meycauayan was established as a settlement by a group of Spanish priests belonging to the Franciscan Order. In 1578, its early inhabitants came into contact with Christianity. In that same year, Father Juan de Placencia and Diego Oropesa built the first church structure, which was believed to be made of nipa and bamboo. Common to all Spanish settlements in that period was the adoption of a patron saint for the newly opened town. Meycauayan has St. Francis of Assisi as the patron saint. It was only in 1668, however, that a concrete church structure was erected.
The 1818 Spanish census recorded the area having 2,375 native families and 16 Spanish-Filipino families.Diccionario Geográfico, Estadístico, Histórico, de las Islas Filipinas By Fr. Manuel Buzeta and Fr. Felipe Bravo, Volume 1, Published Madrid :(Impr. de J.C. de la Peña) 1850-1851. Meycauayan was then one of the largest towns in the province of Bulacan. The towns, which fell under its political jurisdiction, were San Jose del Monte, Bocaue, Valenzuela (formerly Polo), Obando, Marilao, Santa Maria and Pandi. It was also regarded as the unofficial capital of the province, being the hub of activities brought about by the establishment of the market center and the presence of the Spanish military detachment. During the Philippine Revolution, Meycauayan contributed its share in the fight against the Spanish colonizers. Among the residents who figured prominently in the revolution were: Andres Pacheco, Ciriaco Contreras, Guillermo Contreras, Guillermo Bonque, Tiburcio Zuela, and Liberato Exaltacion. There were many others who had joined the revolution and had displayed their exceptional heroism until 1898, when the country gained its independence from Spain.
Between 1901 and 1913, Marilao became part of Meycauayan.
In 1949, a big fire razed the market center and several business establishments in the town, causing setbacks to the development of the municipality. It took several years to recover from the destruction. However, in the 1960s and early part of 1970s, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities were made possible through the assistance of the provincial and national governments. A more sound economic base was established and crop production more than doubled.
Cityhood
Meycauayan attempted cityhood twice. The first was filed by district representative Angelito Sarmiento, seeking the conversion of the then-municipality of Meycauayan into a component city, which was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 5, 2001, as Republic Act No. 9021.
The plebiscite for the ratification, along with that of Cauayan, Isabela (by virtue of RA No. 9017 dated February 28), was scheduled by the Commission on Elections on March 30. The bid however failed, and Meycauayan remained a municipality. Meanwhile, affirmative votes won in the separate plebiscite in Cauayan.
For the second time, in another attempt for conversion, district representative Reylina Nicolas authored House Bill 4397 (dated July 24, 2006), which was later signed into law by President Arroyo as RA No. 9356 on October 2, 2006.
+Meycauayan cityhood plebiscites Choice 2001 2006 Votes % Votes % Yes 8,109 8,247 No 14,788 5,728 Total (valid) votes 22,897 100% 13,975 100% Registered voters/turnout 118,339 Result colspan="2" colspan="2"
A plebiscite was held on December 10, where the cityhood was eventually ratified and the proclamation was made in the evening. It was noted that compared to the first plebiscite, the second showed that only a little more than a hundred voters were added to those in favor of the conversion, as well as a sharp decline in the number of those who were against.
With the ratification, Meycauayan became Bulacan's third component city, following San Jose del Monte in 2000, and Malolos, whose loss in its cityhood bid in 1999 was reversed following a recount.
Contemporary Today, Meycauayan has transformed into a major economic and industrial hub in the province of Bulacan and the rest of Central Luzon.
Geography The City of Meycauayan is generally surrounded with plain land and gentle rolling hills. Meycauayan is named for the Filipino phrase may kawayan that means "with bamboo". Averaging 20 meters above sea level, this terrain is an interweaving of greenery and concrete road network. The slope of the land dips towards a west to north westerly direction. River, natural lake and drainage waterways envelope and criss-cross the area.
The city is located north of Manila and south of Malolos City, the provincial capital city. It is bounded by the town of Marilao to the north, the two Metro Manila cities of Valenzuela to the south and Caloocan (North) to the east, and the town of Obando to the west.
Barangays
Meycauayan is administratively subdivided into 26 urban barangays, as shown in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Meycauayan was 225,673 people, with a density of .
Government Local government
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is the legislature of the government of Meycauayan. As defined by the Local Government Code of 1991, the legislature has legislative and quasi-judicial powers and functions. The members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, often referred to as councilors, are either elected or ex-officio and include a city's vice mayor who serves as the presiding officer.
+ 2025-2028 Meycauayan City OfficialsPosition Name Party Mayor Henry R. Villarica Vice Mayor Josefina O. Violago Councilors Henry Lester R. Villarica Ronald S. Palomares Christian M. Velasco Catherine C. Abacan Raoul M. Atadero Georgina Marie S. Dulalia Wilfredo DS. Macatulad Mary Christine Z. Paguio Larissa A. San Diego Danilo B. Abacan Jr Ex Officio City Council Members ABC President Carlito O. Magno (Tugatog) SK Federation President Jin Marie Eugenie L. Misuse (Malhacan) Barangay ChairpersonsBagbaguin Crispulo D. RiveraBahay PareJoel E. Bernardino Bancal Francisco M. Pacheco Banga Mar R. Biunas Bayugo Joey M. Uy Calvario Apolinar S. Del Rosario Camalig Mark Joseph O. Violago Hulo Paul John P. Prudon Iba Agustin O. Seminiano Langka Joselito L. Beniza Lawa Richard A. Dela Cruz Libtong Carlos M. Evangelista Liputan Oliver R. Dumalay Longos Arnel C. Gutierrez Malhacan Delfin B. San Pablo IV PajoGilbert P. De Vera Pandayan Arsenio B. Lunaria Pantoc Crisanto Niño D. Caparas Perez Job D. Doroja Poblacion Mary Grace T. Portento Saluysoy Arnaldo R. Velasco Saint Francis (Gasak)Homer J. Evangelista Tugatog Carlito O. Magno Ubihan Niño Joseph P. VilladozZamora Bryan M. San Pedro CainginMelanio D. Alcantara
Past officials + List of mayors of Meycauayan No. Presidente MunicipalTook office Left office1 Tomas Testa 1902 2 Aquedo Noriega 19053 Dalmacio Ferrer 1906 4 Aquedo Noriega 19095 Cedistino Juson 1910 19166 Liberato Exaltacion 1917 7 Jose Peñas 8 Hermogenes Lim 9 Maximo Albaño 10 Moises Buñing 1928 11 Hermogenes Lim 12 Perfecto Reyes Lim 1937 No. AlcaldeTook office Left office1 Enrique Legaspi 1938 2 Dr. Restituto Calaguas 3 Patricio Alcaraz 4 Marcelo Lucero 5 Jacinto Legaspi No. Municipal MayorsTook office Left office1 Dr. Lope Daez 1946 19512 Dr. Lope Daez 1956 19593 Pedro Carreon 1960 19634 Celso Legaspi 1964 19785 Jose Catajan 1980 6 Adriano Daez 7 Ernesto Cabigas 8 Oscar Legaspi 9 Rolando Liwanag 10 Florentino Blanco 199211 Edgardo Nolasco 1995 12 Eduardo Alarilla No. City MayorsTook office Left office1 Eduardo Alarilla 2 Joan Alarilla 3 Henry Villarica 4 Linabelle Villarica 3 Henry Villarica
Economy
The City of Meycauayan is the economic, industrial, commercial, financial and educational center of southern Bulacan. The city is known for its jewelry and leather industries. For years, Meycauayan has been the hub of jewelry production in the Philippines and in Asia. It is known for its low-priced jewelry. The locality also produces leather goods. Shoes, bags, and leather products of every kind have traditionally been manufactured here. A number of leather tanneries still operate in Meycauayan, which over the years have converted the city into a hub for leather goods.
In 2016, the total net income for Meycauayan was worth ₱6.875 billion, making it the richest in the province of Bulacan and 18th-highest-income city in the Philippines.
Industrial compounds and parks The City of Meycauayan is also home to many industrial parks and compounds.
Meycauayan Industrial Subd. I, II, III & IV Meridian Industrial Compound Muralla Industrial Park First Valenzuela Industrial Compound Sterling Industrial Park Phase I, II, III & IV
Education
Meycauayan City has its own division of schools since January 2013. The City Schools Division of Meycauayan has two districts, Meycauayan West District and Meycauayan East District.
There are 24 public elementary schools and 4 public high schools as well as 11 private schools in the city.
St. Mary's Academy of Sto. Niño is the first Catholic school built in the fast-growing Las Villas de Sto. Nino Subdivision of Meycauayan City. In September 1983, the developer of the subdivision, Geronima Que, invited Sister Maria Virginia Banez, RVM, to build a school in the heart of Las Villas de Sto. Niño. In October 1983, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECS) erected a school on the hectare of land donated by Que, along with the RVM congregation's purchase of another one and a half hectares to give more space for expansion. It has been expanded and renovated several times since.
There are also tertiary schools in Meycauayan.
Polytechnic College of the City of Meycauayan is under the funding and management of the City Government, currently located at Pag-asa Street, Barangay Malhacan. Meycauayan College is a private educational institution in Barangay Calvario and Malhacan. It was established in 1925 as Meycauayan Institute.
Religion
Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church, commonly known as the Meycauayan Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Meycauayan, Philippines. It is one of the oldest parishes in Bulacan, which even predates the Malolos Cathedral established in 1580 and the Barasoain Church established in 1859. It is also the province's largest parish with an estimated population of about 80,000 parishioners. The church is the seat of the vicariate of St. Francis of Assisi in the Diocese of Malolos.
Feasts
Liputan Barrio Fiesta
This festival takes place every 2nd Sunday of May in Barangay Liputan. After a nine-day novena, the fiesta culminates with a colorful fluvial procession in honor of the "Mahal na Señor", an image of the Crucified Christ venerated on the island of Liputan. The image, along with those of the Virgin and St. Joseph, are placed on a pagoda, a makeshift bamboo bier constructed on boats and decorated with buntings. The images are then taken to the old church in the town center of Meycauayan for a mass.
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
It is a celebration held in the oldest church in Meycauayan, the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church in Barangay Poblacion, which commemorates the foundation of the city in 1578 by the Franciscans. Before, it has come to be known as the "Kawayanan Festival", and includes an animal parade, street dancing, and other related cultural activities. It is held every fourth of October.
Religious organizations/denominations