# Marilao

Marilao, officially the Municipality of Marilao (Tagalog: Bayan ng Marilao), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 254,453 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

Long before the establishment as an independent town, Marilao traces its origin as little as a barrio. It was initially a barrio of its neighboring town Meycauayan and the Franciscan missionaries from Meycauayan built a visita (chapel) dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel.
Marilao, just like Pangil, a town in Laguna, Philippines, was under the stewardship of the Franciscan order.
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. In 1913, Marilao completely became an independent town.

## Geography

Marilao is 22 kilometers (14 mi) from Manila and 23 kilometers (14 mi) from the provincial capital Malolos City.
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

Climate data for Marilao, Bulacan :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 32 (90) | 34 (93) | 33 (91) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 31 (87) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7 (0.3) | 7 (0.3) | 9 (0.4) | 21 (0.8) | 101 (4.0) | 152 (6.0) | 188 (7.4) | 170 (6.7) | 159 (6.3) | 115 (4.5) | 47 (1.9) | 29 (1.1) | 1,005 (39.7) |
| Average rainy days | 3.3 | 3.5 | 11.1 | 8.1 | 18.9 | 23.5 | 26.4 | 25.5 | 24.5 | 19.6 | 10.4 | 6.4 | 181.2 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

### Barangays

Marilao is politically subdivided into 16 barangays, all classified as urban. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 031411001 | Abangan Norte | 3.7% | 9,424 | 8,665 | ▴ | 0.84% |
| 031411002 | Abangan Sur | 3.8% | 9,625 | 9,788 | ▾ | −0.17% |
| 031411003 | Ibayo | 4.0% | 10,103 | 6,584 | ▴ | 4.37% |
| 031411004 | Lambakin | 16.8% | 42,821 | 37,007 | ▴ | 1.47% |
| 031411005 | Lias | 5.1% | 12,900 | 12,038 | ▴ | 0.69% |
| 031411006 | Loma de Gato | 22.6% | 57,569 | 46,286 | ▴ | 2.21% |
| 031411007 | Nagbalon | 1.6% | 4,015 | 3,766 | ▴ | 0.64% |
| 031411008 | Patubig | 2.9% | 7,501 | 6,113 | ▴ | 2.07% |
| 031411009 | Poblacion I | 0.7% | 1,826 | 1,661 | ▴ | 0.95% |
| 031411010 | Poblacion II | 2.2% | 5,475 | 5,536 | ▾ | −0.11% |
| 031411011 | Prenza I | 2.8% | 7,065 | 5,827 | ▴ | 1.94% |
| 031411012 | Prenza II | 4.4% | 11,229 | 6,507 | ▴ | 5.61% |
| 031411013 | Santa Rosa I | 4.2% | 10,793 | 9,921 | ▴ | 0.85% |
| 031411014 | Santa Rosa II | 3.8% | 9,648 | 8,510 | ▴ | 1.26% |
| 031411015 | Saog | 5.9% | 14,950 | 11,445 | ▴ | 2.71% |
| 031411016 | Tabing Ilog | 2.8% | 7,021 | 5,970 | ▴ | 1.63% |
| | Total | Total | 254,453 | 185,624 | ▴ | 3.20% |

#### Most populous

Barangay Loma de Gato is now holds the most populous village both in the province of Bulacan and in Central Luzon region upon the division of barangay Muzon in the neighboring city of San Jose del Monte after the successful plebiscite approving the proposal in March 2023.

### 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

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1903 | 3,506 | — |
| 1918 | 4,202 | +1.21% |
| 1939 | 5,682 | +1.45% |
| 1948 | 6,206 | +0.98% |
| 1960 | 9,206 | +3.34% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1970 | 16,128 | +5.76% |
| 1975 | 21,017 | +5.45% |
| 1980 | 35,069 | +10.78% |
| 1990 | 56,361 | +4.86% |
| 1995 | 68,761 | +3.80% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2000 | 101,017 | +8.60% |
| 2007 | 160,452 | +6.59% |
| 2010 | 185,624 | +5.45% |
| 2015 | 221,965 | +3.46% |
| 2020 | 254,453 | +2.72% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :
In the 2020 census, the population of Marilao, Bulacan, was 254,453 people, with a density of 7,500 inhabitants per square kilometer or 19,000 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Marilao
* Lua error in Module:Chart at line 301: bad argument #7 to 'max' (number expected, got string).
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Elected officials

2022-2025 Municipal Officials of Marilao :
| Position | Name | Party | Party |
| Mayor | Henry R. Lutao | | NUP |
| Vice Mayor | Jun Bob J. Dela Cruz | | NUP |
| Councilors |
| Councilors | Juanito "Tito" H. Santiago | | PFP |
| Councilors | Mary "Madel" A. Jasa | | PFP |
| Councilors | William "Willy" R. Villarica | | PFP |
| Councilors | Vanessa D. Valdez | | PFP |
| Councilors | Allane T. Sayo | | NUP |
| Councilors | Ariel "Aye" P. Amador | | PFP |
| Councilors | Andre Favian D. Santos | | NUP |
| Councilors | Maria Luisa I. Silvestre | | PFP |
| Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ||||
| ABC President | Bayani P. Clemente | | Nonpartisan |
| SK Federation President | Carlo Gabriel G. Solis | | Nonpartisan |
| Barangay Chairpersons ||||
| Abangan Norte | Joedan V. Visto | Joedan V. Visto | Joedan V. Visto |
| Abangan Sur | Lay Cate B. Pabale | Lay Cate B. Pabale | Lay Cate B. Pabale |
| Ibayo | Joey P. Amador | Joey P. Amador | Joey P. Amador |
| Lambakin | Guillermo T. Paraoan Jr. | Guillermo T. Paraoan Jr. | Guillermo T. Paraoan Jr. |
| Lias | Vandolf V. Mateo | Vandolf V. Mateo | Vandolf V. Mateo |
| Loma de Gato | Natalya Regina B. Saycon | Natalya Regina B. Saycon | Natalya Regina B. Saycon |
| Nagbalon | Adrian J. Espiritu | Adrian J. Espiritu | Adrian J. Espiritu |
| Patubig | Orestes L. Jacinto | Orestes L. Jacinto | Orestes L. Jacinto |
| Poblacion I | Ma. Jasmine M. Mendoza | Ma. Jasmine M. Mendoza | Ma. Jasmine M. Mendoza |
| Poblacion II | Irineo V. Batongbacal | Irineo V. Batongbacal | Irineo V. Batongbacal |
| Prenza I | Bayani P. Clemente | Bayani P. Clemente | Bayani P. Clemente |
| Prenza II | Herbert G. Clemente | Herbert G. Clemente | Herbert G. Clemente |
| Santa Rosa I | Kenneth R. Delos Reyes | Kenneth R. Delos Reyes | Kenneth R. Delos Reyes |
| Santa Rosa II | Melvin L. Guillermo | Melvin L. Guillermo | Melvin L. Guillermo |
| Saog | Segundo R. Angeles | Segundo R. Angeles | Segundo R. Angeles |
| Tabing-Ilog | Pablo S. Catorce | Pablo S. Catorce | Pablo S. Catorce |

### List of local chief executives

| # | Mayor | Took office | Left office |
| 1 | Martin Villarica | 1913 | 1919 |
| 2 | Ceferino Santiago | 1912 | 1922 |
| 3 | Canuto Santo Tomas | 1922 | 1925 |
| 4 | Agripino San Miguel | 1925 | 1928 |
| 5 | Honorio Ramos | 1928 | 1931 |
| 6 | Miguel Villarica | 1931 | 1934 |
| 7 | Ricardo de Vera | 1934 | 1937 |
| 8 | Andres Roxas | 1937 | 1941 |
| (6) | Miguel Villarica | 1941 | 1944 |
| 9 | Benito Santa Rosa | 1945 | 1946 |
| 10 | Justino Cruz | 1946 | 1947 |
| (6) | Miguel Villarica | 1948 | 1951 |
| 11 | Mario Santiago | 1956 | 1971 |
| 12 | Nicanor Guillermo | 1972 | 1984 |
| 13 | Abelardo T. Dalmacio | 1984 | 1986 |
| 14 | Mario De Guzman Villarica | 1986 | 1987 |
| 15 | Israel Guevarra | 1987 | 1988 |
| (13) | Abelardo T. Dalmacio | 1988 | June 30, 1992 |
| 16 | Epifanio Guillermo | June 30, 1992 | June 30, 1995 |
| 17 | Leoncio Duran, Jr. | June 30, 1995 | June 30, 2004 |
| (16) | Epifanio Guillermo | June 30, 2004 | June 30, 2013 |
| 18 | Juanito H. Santiago | June 30, 2013 | June 30, 2019 |
| 19 | Ricardo Silvestre | June 30, 2019 | October 9, 2022 (Died in Office) |
| 20 | Henry Lutao | October 25, 2022 | Incumbent |

## Education

The Pambayang Dalubhasaan ng Marilao Municipal College of Marilao is a public college in Marilao. The public primary and secondary schools in Marilao are governed by the Department of Education-Provincial Schools Division of Bulacan. Several private schools in Marilao also provide education services.

### Public High Schools

* Assemblywoman Felicita G. Bernardino Memorial Trade School (AFGBMTS)
* Prenza National High School (PNHS)
* Marilao Central Integrated School (MCIS (JHS founded in 2022) formerly Marilao Central School founded in 1920)

## 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

* Marilao Welcome Arch along McArthur Highway
* Old Marilao Municipal Hall, now Municipal Hall of Justice
* Marilao Wet and Dry Public Market
* Lias Barangay Hall of
* Loma de Gato Barangay Hall
* Patubig Barangay Hall
* Tabing Ilog Barangay Hall