San Rafael, Bulacan

San Rafael, officially the Municipality of San Rafael (Tagalog: Bayan ng San Rafael), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 94,655 people.[3]

San Rafael
Municipality
Municipality of San Rafael
Municipal Hall
Seal
Map of Bulacan with San Rafael highlighted
OpenStreetMap
San Rafael
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°57′N 120°58′E
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon (Region III)
ProvinceBulacan
District3rd District
FoundedSeptember 29, 1750
Barangays34 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorCipriano D. Violago Jr.
 • Vice MayorEdison M. Veneracion
 • CongressmanLorna C. Silverio
 • Electorate63,481 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total152.43 km2 (58.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total94,655
 • Density620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
 • Households
22,051
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence7.01% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue PHP 274.63 million (2017) [5]
 • Assets PHP 808.98 million (2017)
 • Expenditure PHP 181.93 million (2017)
Utilities
 • ElectricityMERALCO
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3008
PSGC
031422000
IDD : area code +63 (0)44
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesTagalog
Websitewww.sanrafael.gov.ph

History

Spanish era

The San Juan de Dios Church still stands as the silent witness of the bloody battles that the Filipino insurgents fought during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. This church was used as military barracks for almost three days, after the insurgents had destroyed all papers and documents they found in the convents. When the Spanish Cazadores learned of these rebellious activities, they entered the church and fought the insurgents.[6] The combatants fought heavily inside the church to a point that blood was spilled all over the church floor. The patio in front of the church was littered by dead bodies of Filipino insurgents. The gobernadorcillo ordered people to dig a common grave near the church for the bodies of the insurgents.

American influence

The Americans succeeded the Spaniards with their policy of benevolent assimilation. Schools were established as a potent factor for pacification. In 1903, schools were opened in San Rafael. The municipal building was used as a school house. Since then, with the supervision of the American administrators, San Rafael has enjoyed the education and the progress which was denied to them during the three–century rule of the Spaniards.

In 1899, the Americans incorporated the town to Baliwag when Baliwag was intended to be the Provincial Capital of Bulacan. However, due to a number of petitions of the people of San Rafael, especially when the plan to make Baliwag the capital of Bulacan did not materialize, the Americans where convinced to separate San Rafael as an independent town from Baliwag. Mr. Julian V. Valte was appointed to be the first Presidente Municipal of San Rafael, and Mr. Emilio Reyes was the last.

In the year 1924 and 1927, with the help of some influential men, the Spaniards were able to get the signatures of the land owners of San Rafael and San Ildefonso to an agreement purporting to show their willingness to donate their lands to the Hospital of San Juan de Dios.

Thus the town of San Rafael and San Ildefonso became properties of the hospital and started to be called Hacienda de Buenavista until 1944, when it got back its original name.

Japanese occupation

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was invaded by the Empire of Japan in December 1941 shortly after Japan's declaration of war upon the United States of America, which controlled the Philippines at the time and possessed important military bases there. The combined American-Filipino army was defeated by April 1942.

In May, 1942, the Japanese government opened schools and introduced the teaching of Nippon-go. As part of its war drive, Japanese propaganda included phrases like "Asia for the Asians!" and talked about the perceived need to liberate Asian countries from imperialist powers. Similarly, the Philippines were propagandized about "American exploitation," "American Imperialism," and "American tyranny," and blame was laid on the United States for starting the war.[7] They were assured that the American forces would not return and that they were not Japan's enemies. The effect of this was considerably undermined by the actions of the Japanese Army, and the Filipinos soon waited for the return of the Americans to free them from the Japanese. Japanese education condemned anything American, tried to infuse Japanese culture and to teach Filipinos the concept of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere under the Japanese influence.

Socio–economic, educational and religious programs were largely non-existent. The people were deprived of property, food, supplies and shelter. They were forced or resorted to eat camote, wore jute sacks and tattered clothes. The people of San Rafael evacuated to Upig, Licheria, Coral na Bato and Camachile. Schools were closed and the church was ordered to stop performing its religious duties.

Guerrilla resistance against the Japanese continued throughout the war. Uncaptured Filipino army units, a communist insurgency and supporting American agents all played a role in the resistance. The people of San Rafael refused to be subjected to Japanese authority and they organized and joined small guerrilla bands and harassed the units of the Japanese army stationed in the town whenever there was a chance to do so. These small, organized guerrillas in San Rafael later became members of BMA (Bulacan Military Area).

The liberation of San Rafael

When the American forces landed in Leyte in October, 1944, the Japanese became more brutal. Hundreds met their death in the hands of the enemy. One cruel incident occurred at Barrio Pulo. Men and women who were assembled where tied together, dynamites were strapped to many of them and these were later detonated by the Japanese captors. A lone survivor, Marcelo Mangahas, told the world of the gory incident. Other atrocities followed. However, the unity of the people of San Rafael and the heroism of the Filipino soldiers and guerrillas prevented further casualties and destruction. When the Americans arrived, they found San Rafael liberated by the courageous guerrillas with the Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 32nd, 35th and 36th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 3rd Constabulary Regiment that were mostly from San Rafael.

Local Filipino troops of the 32nd, 35th and 36th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 3rd Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary liberated the town in San Rafael, Bulacan and aided the guerrillas of the Bulacan Military Area (BMA) and defeated Japanese soldiers and aftermath in World War II.[8]

Barangays

San Rafael is politically subdivided into 34 barangays (5 urban, 29 rural).

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015[3] 2010[9]
031422001 BMA‑Balagtas 1.6% 1,515 1,512 ▴ 0.04%
031422002 Banca‑banca 1.2% 1,174 1,122 ▴ 0.87%
031422003 Caingin 10.8% 10,262 9,723 ▴ 1.03%
031422004 Coral na Bato 1.6% 1,500 1,808 ▾ −3.49%
031422005 Cruz na Daan 1.4% 1,372 1,255 ▴ 1.71%
031422006 Dagat‑dagatan 1.4% 1,347 1,307 ▴ 0.58%
031422007 Diliman I 3.5% 3,340 3,333 ▴ 0.04%
031422008 Diliman II 0.9% 850 773 ▴ 1.82%
031422009 Capihan 6.8% 6,423 5,083 ▴ 4.56%
031422010 Libis 2.4% 2,228 2,077 ▴ 1.35%
031422011 Lico 2.1% 2,023 1,941 ▴ 0.79%
031422012 Maasim 1.4% 1,346 1,302 ▴ 0.63%
031422013 Mabalas‑balas 3.9% 3,667 3,196 ▴ 2.65%
031422014 Maguinao 4.4% 4,123 3,659 ▴ 2.30%
031422015 Maronguillo 3.5% 3,284 2,514 ▴ 5.22%
031422016 Paco 1.2% 1,101 926 ▴ 3.35%
031422017 Pansumaloc 1.1% 997 873 ▴ 2.56%
031422018 Pantubig 4.0% 3,750 3,508 ▴ 1.28%
031422019 Pasong Bangkal 1.0% 955 717 ▴ 5.61%
031422020 Pasong Callos 0.9% 818 738 ▴ 1.98%
031422021 Pasong Intsik 1.5% 1,459 1,317 ▴ 1.97%
031422022 Pinacpinacan 1.9% 1,815 1,538 ▴ 3.20%
031422023 Poblacion 1.7% 1,636 1,678 ▾ −0.48%
031422024 Pulo 3.7% 3,488 3,470 ▴ 0.10%
031422025 Pulong Bayabas 1.1% 1,071 926 ▴ 2.81%
031422026 Salapungan 2.2% 2,058 1,895 ▴ 1.58%
031422027 Sampaloc 4.2% 4,009 3,693 ▴ 1.58%
031422028 San Agustin 1.6% 1,486 1,290 ▴ 2.73%
031422030 San Roque 8.7% 8,233 6,494 ▴ 4.62%
031422031 Talacsan 3.9% 3,659 3,638 ▴ 0.11%
031422032 Tambubong 8.3% 7,810 7,432 ▴ 0.95%
031422033 Tukod 2.5% 2,381 2,262 ▴ 0.98%
031422034 Ulingao 2.8% 2,653 2,198 ▴ 3.65%
031422035 Sapang Pahalang 0.9% 822 723 ▴ 2.47%
Total 94,655 85,921 ▴ 1.86%

Climate
Climate data for San Rafael, Bulacan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 28
(82)		 30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 6
(0.2)		 4
(0.2)		 6
(0.2)		 17
(0.7)		 82
(3.2)		 122
(4.8)		 151
(5.9)		 123
(4.8)		 124
(4.9)		 99
(3.9)		 37
(1.5)		 21
(0.8)		 792
(31.1)
Average rainy days 3.3 2.5 11.7 6.6 17.7 22.2 25.2 23.7 23.2 17.9 9.2 5.2 168.4
Source: Meteoblue [10]

Demographics
Population census of San Rafael
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 6,682—    
1918 8,537+1.65%
1939 12,269+1.74%
1948 14,632+1.98%
1960 19,772+2.54%
1970 28,039+3.55%
1975 32,342+2.90%
1980 36,803+2.62%
1990 49,528+3.01%
1995 58,387+3.13%
2000 69,770+3.89%
2007 85,284+2.81%
2010 85,921+0.27%
2015 94,655+1.86%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][9][11][12]

In the 2015 census, the population of San Rafael, Bulacan, was 94,655 people,[3] with a density of 620 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,600 inhabitants per square mile.

Tourism
8 Waves Waterpark & Hotel, DRT Highway, Ulingao

The 8 Waves Waterpark & Hotel is the prime resort of the Town, and is one of the biggest in the Philippines. The Big Rock Farm Resort is another notable resort of the Town which is located in Barangay Coral na Bato. The first specialty store of the popular Bulacan's Prime - The Home of Garlic Longaniza can also be found in San. Rafael who is well known for its Garlic and Sweet Longaniza. The Malangaan Cave and Spring, located in Barangay Tukod is a large cave untouched by quarry operations in San Rafael, Bulacan and according to the locals of the barangay, it was once a hiding place of guerillas during World War II.

Festivals

Every year, the town celebrates its Angel Festival in honor of their 2nd patron saint, Saint Raphael, together their town's pride, the Angel Festival, which attracts many tourists every year. It is a colorful celebration in honor of the Seven Archangels. This is held every 29 September.

This is highlighted by a parade participated by children from the public and private schools in San Rafael. More than a thousand children in angel costumes in the street make it look like heaven has come down to the town of San Rafael. This is followed by an interpretative dancing competition by all participant schools. The Angel Festival was started last September 29, 2002 through the initiative of the San Juan de Dios Parish and the San Rafael Tourism Council.

  • San Rafael Fire & PNP Police Stations and Municipal Trial Court, inside the New San Rafael Municipal Hall (Sampaloc)
  • St. Paul College San Rafael (Pantubig)
  • San Juan de Dios Church, a witness to the bloody 1896 Philippine Revolution (used as military barrack of Filipino insurgents for 3 days)
  • MMPCI Ecology Center (Maronquillo), 2.3 hectare lot
  • Baywalk view (Lico, San Rafael) of Angat Dam-River & Sierra Madre (Philippines)
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References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Bulacan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ""Commission on Audit 2017 Report-Bulacan"". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Audit. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  6. "Spanish Order of Battle - Philippines". spanamwar.com.
  7. "Japanese PSYOP During WWII". psywarrior.com.
  8. "Official Website of San Rafael, Bulacan". Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. "San Rafael: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  11. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  12. "Province of Bulacan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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