The bustling charm of San Jose del Monte

MANILA, Philippines -  San Jose del Monte takes pride with its rich history, one that goes as far back as the 1800s or during the Spanish colonization.

The city saw the Filipinos cry for freedom, even serving as a battleground between the Filipino and Spanish forces. It also became a shelter and hiding place to Filipino guerrillas during the Japanese occupation. Now, its numerous historical and religious sites such as the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine and the heritage church St. Joseph The Worker Parish, and resorts like Groto Vista Resort and Los Arcos de Armano facade, and other tourist attractions make the town a frequent destination of travelers and holiday-makers.

Today, San Jose del Monte bustles with life amid a panoramic landscape and new residents find it as a fresh alternative to the already highly congested Metro Manila. At present, San Jose del Monte is already home to numerous industries and malls, and boasts paved roads, accessible transport, and high-speed internet.

“Ours is a story of simple steps from humble beginnings up until we have become the very first city in the historic province of Bulacan. Now, we are happy to show our distinct beauty and talent, our industry, our perseverance, and our great pride as a community of people,” said Mayor Reynaldo S. San Pedro.

Having a large and continuously growing labor pool, also welcomes a rising number of entrepreneurs and businesses that see the tremendous opportunities available. Real estate properties and the costs of doing business are much less expensive than in Manila, but the potential to grow is as significant.

The city is witnessing the emergence of new markets for trade and commerce. San Jose del Monte is home to over a thousand businesses specializing in manufacturing, amusement, finance, real estate, services, food and beverages, automotive, wholesale, retail, construction, agriculture, among other industries.

Among the banks catering to the businesses’ and families’ financial needs are BPI, Metrobank, BDO, RCBC Savings, and PNB. Globe, PLDT, Digitel, and Sun are also present to provide telecommunication services.

In San Jose del Monte, retail establishments such as Puregold, Starmall, and Savemore have risen, along with drugstores like Mercury Drug, The Generics Pharmacy and Generika Drugstore.

For dining, families can choose from Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Chicboy, and Andok’s, and soon to open are McDonalds and Starbucks, among others. Afterwards, they can head to clothing boutiques like Bench, Rusty Lopez, Human, or JAG or go to David’s or Bench Fix salons.

There are many schools in the city like Siena College of San Jose, La Concepcion College, College of Saint Anthony, Colegio de San Jose del Monte, Colegio de San Gabriel Arcangel, AMA Computer Learning Center, Darwin International School, or Forest Ridge Integrated School, Inc., among others.

For health needs, the residents may visit the public Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte, or the private Grace General Hospital, Kairos Maternity and General Hospital, or Roquero General Hospital.

A 15-minute ride from Quezon City is all it takes to reach the City of San Jose Del Monte. This bustling city, which shows all signs of progress, is bounded by Santa Maria and Marilao, Bulacan to the west; Rodriguez, Rizal to the east; Norzagaray, Bulacan to the north; and Caloocan City and Quezon City to the south.