DISCOVERING THE MALOLENYO IN EVERY FILIPINO
The rich and dynamic heritage city of Malolos is the capital city of Bulacan province and is the current seat of the provincial government. Owing to its important role in Philippine history, this bustling suburb is also proud of its rich cultural legacies, enjoying its current economic growth while establishing the right conditions for future development.
Philippine history is deeply ingrained in the city of Malolos. But there is more to this city than its glorious past. And you’ll be surprised that in every Filipino, there is something Malolenyo that lives within them.
1. FANTASTIC FOOD CHOICES
For years, Malolenyo food has become one of the city’s best kept secrets. Traditional Filipino comfort food is making a comeback
through local restaurants. Enjoy the culinary delights and taste home-cooked Pinoy cuisine at traditional Malolos restaurants like Bahay na Tisa, Bistro Malolenyo and Kabisera. Other unique culinary delights include the 200-yearold snack, Empanada de Kaliskis, a flaky, chicken
empanada crispy-fried to golden perfection; the bringhe, a type of paella made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, chicken and vegetables; and the iconic recreation of the century-old original menu served during the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic. 2. RICH HERITAGE
There is an abundance of Art Deco houses, the first government offices, well-preserved Spanish colonial churches and chapels, walls, bridges and other histroically significant structures in Malolos. That is why the Malolos City government, led by Malolos City mayor Christian Natividad, has partnered with the Wong Chu King Foundation and the private sector to embark on an advocacy that renovates and preserves historic sites all over the city.
The local government and the Heritage Homeowners Association pushes countless initiatives to preserve the glorious history and heritage of their beloved city, watch over these valuable heirlooms, and hopefully pass it safely to the next generation of Malolenyos.
3. VIBRANT ART TRADITION
The Malolos art scene comes alive during the Tinta at Pinta sa Republica (Tattoo and Arts Festival) where hundreds of local and visiting tattoo artists and body painters battle it out to create the perfect skin art.
There’s also the puni, the traditional art of leaf frond folding, which the city of Malolos has been preserving and promoting for the past 20 years. Similar to the origami of the Jap-
anese, puni art takes the form of toys, such as birds, balls, and stars, as well as food containers like balisuso and the many intricate designs of the palaspas.
4. ACTIVE SPORTS COMMUNITY
The love of sports is very much a passion of the Malolenyo. Malolos plays host to the Republica Cup, one of the country’s largest basketball tournament that has seen the likes of collegiate amateur stars (Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer and Kiefer Ravena) and hoops legends (Marlou Aquino, Kenneth Duremdes). Meanwhile, the Malolos Bike Festival invites cyclists and bike enthusiasts to come and share the streets.
5. CULTURAL HERITAGE
Every January, the much-awaited highlight of the annual Fiesta Republica celebrations has always been the Dulansangan, a youthled street dance-drama competition, and the Pasiklaban ng mga Banda competition, which showcases the unique brass band tradition of Malolos. In this special day, hundreds of upbeat street dancers clad in colorful costumes parade the streets to recall and give importance to select historical moments.
The yearly Senaculo tradition never fails to draw tourists during the Holy Week. The traditional passion plays in Tikay, Bulihan, and Caingin and the modern musical drama versions of Malolos-based cultural groups, like Dularawang Bulakan, Canalate Community Theater Group, and the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation continue to keep this unique cultural tradition very much alive.
6. EMERGING COASTAL TOURISM
One of the major tourism programs for Malolos is the effort to revive coastal-based tourism circuit centers on shoreline and riverside barangays of the city.
“Combining agri-fisheries with agro-tourism in the coastal-based approach, Malolenyos offer guests a taste of the bounty from locallysourced, fresh seafood in Malolos, reflecting the Taga-ilog (Tagalog) way of life,” shares tourism brand architect and advocate, and a proud Malolenya herself, Amor Maclang.
7. AN INVESTMENT HUB AND A GATEWAY TO CENTRAL LUZON
Malolos also holds the distinction of being one of the Philippines’ 10 “Next Wave Cities” for the IT-business process management (ITBPM) sector. This came after the city was heralded by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) last year, recognizing the unique ability of the city of Malolos to enable and support the entry and growth of IT-BPM companies.
“The potential of the city as a growing economic hub has also been recognized by the national government. In fact, now there are plans to build two strategic railway routes here in Malolos,” says city mayor Christian Natividad.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently completed feasibility studies on the 38-kilometer Tutuban to Malolos railway section and the 55-kilometer MalolosClark railway route. Both aim to decongest the clogged capital by spurring growth into the suburbs.
All of these are just bits and pieces of the story that portrays the genuine connection of every Filipino with the Malolenyo way of life. Perhaps it’s about time we go out and rediscover this connection by writing our own Malolos experience ourselves.