# Angat, Bulacan

Angat, officially the Municipality of Angat (Tagalog: Bayan ng Angat), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 65,617 people.

## Etymology

The town got its name after the Tagalog word Angat (A-ngat), meaning elevated or a high piece of land.

## History

Angat was originally a part of the old pueblo de Quingua (now the municipality of Plaridel). This fact was due most probably to the situation of the Rio de Quingua (Angat River), which directly connects the town of Quingua, a community then located in the center of vast lands, covering plains and mountains alike.
Augustinian missionaries built a small visita (chapel) under the Parochial ministry of Paroquia de Santiago Matamoro de Quingua. In 1683, the visita of Angat made a Town Church and the whole Angat where established as a new Pueblo.
Today, still stands and legible, is the inscription at the façade of her church with a Roman Numeral "MDCCXII" translated to "1727" a year indicating the date of the erection the Angat Church's present building.
On September 13, 1977, Barangays Camachile and Pulong Sampaloc were ceded to the newly established municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1196.

## Geography

The towns of San Rafael, Bulacan and Bustos, Bulacan bound the town of Angat on the north, on the east by the vast Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, and to its south by the towns of Norzagaray, Bulacan and Santa Maria, Bulacan. Angat is 44 kilometers (27 mi) from Malolos, 51 kilometers (32 mi) from Manila, and 21 kilometers (13 mi) from San Jose del Monte.
The municipality of Angat has hilly and mountainous landscape that nestles Angat River (Bulacan River), which snakes around eleven provinces in the Central Luzon Region. Angat River's main basin of water resource is from Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the longest mountain range in the Philippines in Luzon. During increment climate condition like continuous rainy days for days the water inundates to different river tributaries in its adjoining municipalities, as well as provinces through different rivers. To the southeast are 2 rivers: Santa Maria River of Santa Maria, Bulacan. Bunsuran River of Pandi, Bulacan. Balagtas River of Balagtas, Bulacan, and Bocaue River of Bocaue, Bulacan.
Angat's mountainous and hilly area has abundance of trees that are source of timber and wood materials, and unfortunately become an area of illegal logging. The mountainous areas, and lands close to the river shore, some of which are privately owned is rich in mineral deposit of silica. The vast area around Angat River is very high source of rocks and pebbles used for construction and garden landscaping.
Most areas have a very relaxing atmosphere of greenery seen in mountain heights and river shore lines where some fresh water fishes also multiplies.

### Barangays

Angat is subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 031401001 | Banaban | 3.3% | 2,140 | 1,539 | ▴ | 3.35% |
| 031401002 | Baybay | 1.3% | 855 | 836 | ▴ | 0.22% |
| 031401003 | Binagbag | 7.9% | 5,182 | 4,641 | ▴ | 1.11% |
| 031401005 | Donacion | 4.0% | 2,603 | 2,502 | ▴ | 0.40% |
| 031401006 | Encanto | 7.1% | 4,665 | 4,289 | ▴ | 0.84% |
| 031401007 | Laog | 1.9% | 1,225 | 1,053 | ▴ | 1.52% |
| 031401008 | Marungko | 6.6% | 4,344 | 4,263 | ▴ | 0.19% |
| 031401009 | Niugan | 7.0% | 4,607 | 4,362 | ▴ | 0.55% |
| 031401010 | Paltok | 2.2% | 1,447 | 1,369 | ▴ | 0.56% |
| 031401013 | Pulong Yantok | 7.5% | 4,940 | 3,990 | ▴ | 2.16% |
| 031401014 | San Roque (Poblacion) | 7.9% | 5,168 | 4,642 | ▴ | 1.08% |
| 031401015 | Santa Cruz (Poblacion) | 8.6% | 5,641 | 5,663 | ▾ | −0.04% |
| 031401016 | Santa Lucia | 3.8% | 2,475 | 2,663 | ▾ | −0.73% |
| 031401017 | Santo Cristo (Poblacion) | 7.6% | 4,999 | 4,859 | ▴ | 0.28% |
| 031401018 | Sulucan | 8.7% | 5,723 | 5,557 | ▴ | 0.29% |
| 031401019 | Taboc | 4.9% | 3,223 | 3,104 | ▴ | 0.38% |
| | Total | Total | 65,617 | 55,332 | ▴ | 1.72% |

### Climate

The prevailing climatic conditions in the municipality is categorized into two (2) types: Wet season (Rainy Season or Monsoon Season) and Dry Season (Summer Season).
Climate data for Angat, Bulacan :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 34 (93) | 34 (93) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 19 (66) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) |
| Average precipitation cm (inches) | 1.7 (0.7) | 0.7 (0.3) | 0.5 (0.2) | 2.4 (0.9) | 15.3 (6) | 35.5 (14) | 50.4 (19.8) | 51.6 (20.3) | 37.4 (14.7) | 22.5 (8.8) | 16.3 (6.4) | 6.8 (2.7) | 240.8 (94.8) |
| Source: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=984300&refer=&units=metric ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Angat, Bulacan, was 65,617 people, with a density of 890 inhabitants per square kilometer or 2,300 inhabitants per square mile.

### Religion

The people of Angat are mostly devout Roman Catholics. Their patron saint is Saint Monica. The Santa Monica de Angat Church displays baroque architecture, with its interior replicating the Sistine Chapel, recently remodeled but preserving its old architecture. In 1983, the Parish of the town celebrated its Tricentennial Foundation.
Today, Angat is divided into three parishes and one quasi-parish under the Vicariate of Baliuag, Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos: the Saint Paul the Apostle Parish in Barangay Niugan, the Santa Rita de Cascia Parish in Barangay Binagbag, Santa Monica de Angat Parish in Poblacion, and Immaculate Conception Quasi-Parish in Barangay Marungko.
Other religious groups include the Members Church of God International popularly known as Ang Dating Daan, Iglesia ni Cristo, and Jehovah's Witness, Methodists, Aglipayans, Adventists, Baptists, Mormons. There also some Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic churches, ministries, fellowships and religious groups. Islam (Muslims) could also be found.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Angat
* 5
* 10
* 15
* 20
* 2006 11.40
* 2009 7.75
* 2012 7.16
* 2015 7.56
* 2018 4.61
* 2021 16.50
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Elected officials

2022-2025 Angat Municipal Officials :
| Position | Name | Party |
| Mayor | Reynante "Jowar" S. Bautista | Lakas |
| Vice Mayor | Arvin L. Agustin | Lakas |
| Councilors | Oscar "Oca" C. Suarez | NUP |
| Councilors | William S. Vergel de Dios | Lakas |
| Councilors | Evelyn "Blem" J. Cruz | Lakas |
| Councilors | Luis "Wowie" J. Santiago | Lakas |
| Councilors | Melandro "Andro" G. Tigas | Lakas |
| Councilors | Darwin A. Calderon | Lakas |
| Councilors | Erwin S. Santos | NUP |
| Councilors | Ramiro A. Osorio III | Lakas |
| Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ||||
| ABC President | Richard C. Cruz | Nonpartisan |
| SK Federation President | Cyndi Pearl Valencia | Nonpartisan |

### List of former mayors

| No. | Municipal Mayors | Took office | Left office |
| 1 | Mariano Santiago | 1901 | 1902 |
| 2 | Pedro Otayco | 1902 | 1903 |
| 3 | Francisco Vergel de Dios | 1903 | 1904 |
| 4 | Damian Santos | 1904 | 1905 |
| 5 | Damaso Pascual | 1905 | 1906 |
| 6 | Luciano de Guzman | 1906 | 1909 |
| 7 | Pablo Capistrano | 1909 | 1916 |
| 8 | Matias A. Fernando | 1916 | 1920 |
| 9 | Severo Rivera | 1920 | 1922 |
| 10 | Gerardo Santos | 1922 | 1925 |
| 11 | Atilano de Guzman | 1925 | 1931 |
| 12 | Dr. Crispulo Cruz | 1931 | 1934 |
| 13 | Pablo Amisola | 1934 | 1940 |
| 14 | Dr. Francisco Infantado | 1940 | 1940 |
| 15 | Jose S. Santos | 1940 | 1942 |
| 16 | Felix Ventura | 1942 | 1943 |
| 17 | Dr. Pedro Vergel de Dios | 1943 | 1943 |
| 18 | Atilano de Guzman | 1943 | 1943 |
| 19 | Engr. Vicente Salvador | 1943 | 1943 |
| 20 | Dr. Marcelino de Guzman | 1943 | 1944 |
| 21 | Pedro Cinco | 1944 | 1944 |
| 22 | Agapito Cruz Correa | 1944 | 1944 |
| 23 | Atty. Pablo Santos | 1944 | 1945 |
| 24 | Dr. Luis Infantado | 1945 | 1945 |
| 25 | Higino Adriano | 1945 | 1946 |
| 26 | Jose S. Santos | 1946 | 1947 |
| 27 | Atilano de Guzman | 1947 | 1947 |
| 28 | Faustino Sombillo | 1947 | 1948 |
| 29 | Francisco F. Illescas | 1948 | 1954 |
| 30 | Benito Cruz | 1954 | 1963 |
| 31 | Francisco Illescas | 1964 | 1980 |
| 32 | Atty. Florante Cruz | 1980 | 1986 |
| 33 | Francisca C. Valarao | 1986 | 6 months |
| 34 | Leonardo R. de Leon | 1987 | 1998 |
| 35 | Apolonio P. Marcelo Jr. | 1998 | 2000 |
| 36 | Angelito Vergel de Dios | 2000 | 2001 |
| 37 | Leonardo R. de Leon | 2001 | 2010 |
| 38 | Gilberto C. Santos | 2010 | 2013 |
| 39 | Leonardo R. de Leon | 2013 | 2022 |
| 40 | Reynante S. Bautista | 2022 | present |

## Education
### Colegio de Sta Monica de Angat

The Angateños consider education as very important. It was the dream of many that there would be a Catholic school in Angat. This dream was realized in 1983 through the initiative and leadership of the founding members of the first Board of Trustees of Santa Monica Catholic School, Inc.: Bishop Cirilio R. Almario, Jr., Rev. Fr. Macario R. Manahan, Councilor Manuel C. De Guzman, Mrs. Angelita A. Cruz, Mr. Francisco C. Robles.
Through a memorandum of agreement between the Ministry of Social Services and Development and the Parents' Committee, the Day Care Center became Santa Monica Catholic Learning Center. In 1985, the school was renamed Santa Monica Catholic School and given the permit to open and conduct Grade VI. The first batch of Grade VI graduates received their diplomas in March 1986.
On March 27, 1987, the high school department was formally opened. A year later, the school's name was changed to Colegio de Santa Monica de Angat to reflect the town's Hispanic heritage. In the same year, the St. Joseph Building was inaugurated. The first batch graduated in March 1990. Today, the school's population and physical structure continues to grow.

### Other schools

Public Pre-Elem/Elementary Schools :
| School | Location |
| Atiliano S. De Guzman Elementary School | Taboc |
| Pablo C. Capistrano Elementary School | Banaban |
| Baybay Elementary School | Baybay |
| Benito C. Cruz Elementary School | Santa Lucia |
| Col. Vicente Salvador Elementary School | Laog |
| Don Pablo Amisola Memorial School | Niugan |
| Dr. Antonio C. Villarama Memorial School | Marungko |
| Francisco F. Illescas Elementary School | Binagbag |
| Marcelo L. Adriano Memorial School | Encanto |
| Matias A. Fernando Memorial School | San Roque |
| Osias M. Esteban Elementary School | Pulong Yantok |
| Paltoc Elementary School | Paltoc |
| Sulucan Elementary School | Sulucan |
| Teodoso R. Manuel Elementary School | Donacion |
Private Secondary Schools :
| School | Location |
| Colegio De Santa Monica De Angat | Poblacion |
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial School | Santo Cristo |
| Kalinangan Integrated School | Sulucan |
| Lourdes School of Bulacan | Marungko |
Public Secondary Schools :
| School | Location |
| Angat National High School | Taboc |
| Angel M. del Rosario Memorial High School | Pulong Yantok |
| Binagbag National High School | Binagbag |
| Pres. Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial High School | Santa Cruz |
Technical/Vocational Schools :
| School | Location |
| Bulacan Polytechnic College | Santa Cruz |
Tertiary Schools :
| School | Location |
| Lourdes College of Bulacan | Marungko |

## Culture and Tourism
### Town festivities and events

As a predominantly Roman Catholic Christian community, every barangay has their own unique way of celebrating fiestas in honor of their respective patron saint. In the town proper where the old beautiful church of Angat is located, the locals celebrate their fiesta every 4 May in honor of its patron St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine.
Angat is celebrating GulayAngat Festival (Gunita ng Lahi at Yamanag Angat; lit., "Angat Heritage and Treasure Festival") which features the means of livelihood of the town's people. It is celebrated every 3rd week of the month of October. It was accompanied by the establishment of the town of Angat. There were lot of activities happened in the festival such as:
* Hari at Reyna ng GulayAngat (King and Queen of GulayAngat) – featuring the beautiful young men and women of each barangay in Angat.
* Hapag ng Pamana (Heritage Table) – presenting unique dishes made from vegetables.
* Indakan sa GulayAngat (GulayAngat Dance) – highlighting the talent of everyone in their respective barangays through dancing.
* DepEd Day – featuring the talents of the students in Angat.
* Laro ng Laking GulayAngat (GulayAngat Traditional Games) – presenting the different Filipino games just like; Hilahang Lubid (tug-of-war), Karera ng Sako (sack race), Patintero, Palo Sebo (bamboo pole climbing), Dama, Sungka, Agawang Buko (a contact game which players struggle to get a coconut similar to rugby and American football) and Sepak Takraw.

### Tourist attractions

* Angat River
* Heritage Houses
* Santa Monica Church (Santa Monica de Angat Church)
* Gawad Kalinga (Enchanted Farm)
* Fr. Blanco Museum (collection of flora de filipina)

## Gallery

* Angat Welcome Arch
* Santa Lucia Bridge (crossing the Angat River from the Municipality of Angat to the Municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad)
* Angat Wet and Dry Public Market
* Villarama Park at Dr. Antonio C. Villarama Memorial School
* San Pablo Apostol Parish Church
* Santa Rita de Cascia Quasi-Parish Church
* St. Joseph Sub-Parish Church
* Veterans Federation of the Philippines marker for the World War II Veterans - Angat Chapter
* Overlooking view of Angat quarry and Sierra Madre (Philippines)
* Angat River from overlooking view

## Notable people

* Ella Cruz - actress
* General Nicolas Capistrano – lawyer, statesman and revolutionary general who fought against Americans in Cagayan de Misamis (now Cagayan de Oro) in Mindanao during Philippine-American War, notably the battles of Cagayan de Misamis, Agusan Hill and Macahambus Hill, all in 1900. He entered politics as a 2nd district congressman of then-undivided Misamis Province (1909-1912) and a senator of newly established 11th district shared with Jose Clarin, making him one of the most prominent men in what is now Cagayan de Oro, where he and his wife migrated to after 1895 to avoid arrest by the Spanish colonial government for his involvement in revolutionary activities and to start a new life there.