Top 10 must-see places & events in Bocaue, Bulacan

Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna

Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna is the first female mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan. Along with this, she also brought into her office many firsts not only for Bocaue but also for the country.

Joni is the first mayor to envision  Bocaue as a tourism hub in this part of Luzon. She has started the development of Bocaue River, which traverses 16 out of the 19 barangays in Bocaue, to transform Bocaue into “RiverTown Wonders.” She will very soon begin the construction of the municipality’s very own public hospital.

She is also arguably one of the country’s first “Toss Coin Mayors.” Because of a tie between Joni and her rival for the mayoralty post during the 2016 elections, with both candidates then garnering 16,694 votes, the Municipal Board of Canvassers resorted to the  best of five rounds of coin toss to determine who the winner  for mayor should be. Joni chose tails and won in three straight rounds of coin toss.

Now on her second year as mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan, Joni,  with great pride, says, “This unique opportunity to serve the Bocaueños is a blessing that can only come from God.”

Here are Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna’s Top 10 must-see places and events in Bocaue, Bulacan.

1. Pailaw-Pasasalamat. This is my top pick because Pailaw-Pasasalamat pretty sums up Bocaue’s culture and historical heritage. We are hardworking, creative and jolly people. This is our thanksgiving for the blessings of prosperity for all our industries, especially fireworks and pyrotechnics, for the past year. This event, which happens every Jan. 1, also brings together Bocaueño families and local tourists to welcome the New Year with an unforgettable merrymaking and fervent prayers for a bountiful whole year.

2. St. Martin of Tours Church. This is also known as the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross of Wawa. At 400 years, it is one of the oldest churches in Bulacan, having been founded in 1606 by Franciscan missionaries. St. Martin of Tours is hailed to be the home of the Mahal na Poong Krus sa Wawa, which, for the devotees, is a miraculous cross. This cross is the center of the festivity of Bocaue’s Pagoda Festival.

3. The Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon. This church offers the uniqueness of being inspired by Korean architectural designs. This serene location is the best place to pray and meditate. The shrine was established to honor St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean Catholic priest who chose our Brgy. Lolomboy for his studies prior to his service as a missionary.

Kadenita(left), Bocaue Liempo(right)

4. Our local products (food and non-food).

Kadineta — It is a unique embroidery technique in Brgy. Taal; it has been passed on through generations. We are proud of it and in fact, we are reclaiming kadineta’s glory as an export-quality Filipino product.

Embroidered and handpainted fans — We are also proud to have meticulously handcrafted wooden fans with handpaintings from Brgy. Tambubong.

Our food — Must-try food specialties are the Bocaue Liempo, Pancit Alanganin and tinapang isda.

5. Tiangge. Our tiangge is a must-visit every Friday. Tourists may drop by to buy our unique local dishes as well as any of the products from an enormous number of choices ranging from apparel to household items to knick knacks. This tiangge offers a “Divisoria experience” for Bocaueños and tourists in this part of Northern Luzon.

6. Tipanan Food Park. While many food parks mushroom in Metro Manila, this food park is a worthy nearby alternative as it proudly offers a well-thought out mix of dishes — from our local Bocaue to Asian, European and American dishes. A trip to Tipanan is like a visit to a hotel that offers a buffet package of international cuisine.

7. The Philippine Arena. In itself, the Philippine Arena is a tourist attraction being the world’s largest indoor arena. But more than just being an arena, it is also a place for sports events, leisure activities, and big and small family affairs. It’s a refreshing sight to see that on weekend mornings, people from all walks of life are at the arena for physical exercises like Zumba, jogging and biking. There is also a food market here. The Philippine Arena also recently offered its newest attraction: The Garden and Animal World Ciudad de Victoria.

8. Pagoda Festival. There are many regatta festivals all around the world. But the Pagoda Festival is Bocaue’s unique contribution to a float parade culture, with a distinct historical and religious mix. This is one of Bocaue’s biggest tourist attractions every year.

9. Stevia Farm. We are proud to be the home to “The Sweetest Farm in the Philippines.”

10. Bagumbayan Christmas display (Kalye Paskuhan). This is Bocaue’s yearly Christmas attraction, which proves that every single Christmas symbol and display never fails to bring joy to the young and old alike.