Marilao (), officially the Municipality of Marilao (), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
Etymology Marilao is derived from the Tagalog word "marilaw", which translates to yellowish, with its root word "rilaw" is linked to "dilaw," the Tagalog term for yellow. This is in reference to a yellow plant that grew abundantly in the area.
History Marilao traces its origin to a barrio of its neighboring town Meycauayan. Franciscan missionaries from Meycauayan built a visita (chapel) dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel therein.
On April 21, 1796, the Barrio of Marilao was established as a pueblo as approved by the Alcalde Mayor of Bulacan and the Franciscan friars of Meycauayan, with the approval of Archbishop of Manila, the visita of San Miguel Arcangel became a town church where Padre Vicente de Talavera served as its parish priest. Between 1901 and 1903, it was consolidated with Meycauayan. The 1818 Spanish census recorded the area having 881 native families and 28 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.
In 1913, Marilao completely became an independent town.
Geography Marilao is from Manila and from the provincial capital Malolos.
With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Marilao is part of Manila's built-up area which reaches San Ildefonso on its northernmost part.
Climate
Barangays Marilao is politically subdivided into 16 barangays - as shown in the matrix below - all classified as urban. Each barangay consists of housing subdivisions and villages, puroks and some have sitios.
Barangay Loma de Gato holds the most populous village both in the province of Bulacan and in Central Luzon region after the division of Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte after the ratification of the successful plebiscite concluded in March 2023.As supported by:
Pollution and flooding In 2007, Marilao, along with neighboring Meycauayan, share a slot in the list of the world's 30 most polluted places in the developing world drawn up by a private New York-based institute. In its report, “The World’s Worst Polluted Places” for 2007, the Blacksmith Institute said: “Industrial waste is haphazardly dumped into the Meycauayan, Marilao and Obando River system, a source of drinking and agricultural water supplies for the 250,000 people living in and around” the Meycauayan-Marilao area.
Marilao is also notorious for frequent flooding during the monsoon season. A section of MacArthur Highway near SM City Marilao is in particular, prone to floods.
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Marilao, Bulacan, was 254,453 people, with a density of .
Economy
Government Elected officials + 2025-2028 Municipal Officials of MarilaoPosition Name Party Mayor Jemina M. Sy Vice Mayor Ariel P. Amador Councilors Maria Luisa I. Silvestre Mary Del "Madel" A. Jasa Juanito H. Santiago Vanessa D. Valdez Wilfredo D. Diaz Divina G. Espiritu-Reyes Harvey C. Mediante Jessalyn M. Dela Cruz Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ABC President Bayani P. Clemente SK Federation President Carlo Gabriel G. Solis Barangay ChairpersonsAbangan NorteJoedan V. VistoAbangan SurLay Cate B. PabaleIbayoJoey P. AmadorLambakinGuillermo T. Paraoan Jr.LiasVandolf V. MateoLoma de GatoNatalya Regina B. SayconNagbalonAdrian J. EspirituPatubigOrestes L. JacintoPoblacion IMa. Jasmine M. MendozaPoblacion IIIrineo V. BatongbacalPrenza IBayani P. ClementePrenza IIHerbert G. ClementeSanta Rosa IKenneth R. Delos ReyesSanta Rosa IIMelvin L. GuillermoSaogSegundo R. AngelesTabing-IlogPablo S. Catorce
List of local chief executives # Mayor Took office Left office1Martin Villarica191319192Ceferino Santiago191219223Canuto Santo Tomas192219254Agripino San Miguel192519285Honorio Ramos 192819316Miguel Villarica 193119347Ricardo de Vera193419378Andres Roxas19371941(6) Miguel Villarica194119449 Benito Santa Rosa 1945194610 Justino Cruz19461947(6) Miguel Villarica 1948195111 Mario Santiago 1956197112 Nicanor Guillermo 1972198413 Abelardo T. Dalmacio 1984198614 Mario De Guzman Villarica 1986198715 Israel Guevarra 19871988(13) Abelardo T. Dalmacio1988June 30, 199216 Epifanio Guillermo June 30, 1992June 30, 199517 Leoncio Duran, Jr. June 30, 1995June 30, 2004(16) Epifanio Guillermo June 30, 2004June 30, 201318 Juanito H. Santiago June 30, 2013June 30, 201919 Ricardo SilvestreJune 30, 2019October 9, 2022 (Died in Office)20 Henry LutaoOctober 25, 2022June 30, 202521 Jemina SyJune 30, 2025 Incumbent
Education The Marilao Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.
Primary and elementary schools
Abangan Norte Elementary School Abangan Sur Elementary School Angelicum Academy of Heritage Marilao Angelican School of Marilao Barcelona Academy Casa de Soleil Child Development Center Discovery Child Dev't. of Montessori Divine Word School Dolores Academy Early Wisdom School Escuela de Santo Padre Pio Escuela Familia de Montessori Estrella Homes Learning School FSS Patulo Elementary School Good Shepherd Montessori School Heartbeat of Christ Mission Academy of Heritage Heritage Bible Baptist Christian Academy Heritage Homes Integrated School Holy Child Academy Holy Lamb Academy Ibayo Elementary School Jocelyn V. Cacas Montessori School Joyful Touch School KAV Academy Lambakin Elementary School Lambakin Elementary School - Annex Lias Elementary School Little Einstein Discovery School Loma de Gato Elementary School Lord's Vine Academy Maria Katrina School Marilao Central Integrated School Mary Mount Academy Marygold School Mother Eufemia Montessori School Mother of Divine Mercy School Mother Teresa Academy Mother Teresa Preparatory: An English School Northville IV Elementary School Northville IV-B Elementary School Patubig Elementary School Prenza Elementary School Power Kids Academy (Main) Power Kids Academy (Annex) Roseland Learning Center Sacred Word of the Lord Christian Academy Saog Elementary School Seed Academy Foundation St. Amatiel Technoligical Institute St. Anne Power Academy St. Joseph Learning Center St. Joseph the Worker Community School St. Michael School St. Philomena School: Kids Comfort Zone St. Therese School Sta. Rosa I Elementary School Sta. Rosa II Elementary School Tabing Ilog Elementary School Team Mission Christian School The Holy Lady Academy Thomas Aquinas Learning Center
Secondary schools Assemblywoman Felicita G. Bernardo Memorial Trade School Marilao Central Integrated School (Junior High School) Prenza National High School South East-Asia Institute of Trade & Technology
Higher educational institutions Pambayang Dalubhasaan ng Marilao (PDM)
Religion Roman Catholicism National Shrine of the Divine Mercy It was elevated to the status of National Shrine by Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. The first mass was held at the site on February 2, 1992, the Feast of the Presentation. Located in Barangay Santa Rosa I.
On the occasion of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in 2017, a 38-meter Statue of Merciful Jesus was built here.
San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church The Parish celebrates its patronal feasts on May 8 and September 29. Its 28th Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Alberto D.J. Santiago succeeded Fr. Avelino G. Santos. Under Parochial Vicar, Fr. Francis Protacio S. Cortez III, OSA. It is hundred years old spiritual edifice in Poblacion I considered as “place marker” and serve as “point of orientation” to the local residents and visitors. Located in Barangay Poblacion I.
Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church
Located in Barangay Loma de Gato.
Our Lady of Mercy Quasi-parish Church
Located in Barangay Loma de Gato.
Other religions There are also a presence of other religions in Marilao such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Christians, Members Church of God International, etc.
Gallery
References
External links
Bulacan Official Website - Marilao Marilao Bulacan New Website of Marilao [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information The Blacksmith Institute - World's Worst Polluted Places Iglesia, "Ang Bayan ng Dios" - Multiply Website