Plaridel Bulacan Philippines

Brief History of Plaridel

The historical past of the town of Plaridel can be traced from some records way back in 1595, in the early years of the Spanish colonization, when the place was a vast undeveloped plain covered with thick forest and cogon grass, with the rivers Angat and Tabang running through it.

The Angat River flowed directly in a snakelike wave to Calumpit meeting the Pampanga River, while the Tabang river which was a mere branch with adjoining intersections dividing the middle of the present Poblacion, flowed to Manila Bay passing Guiguinto and Bulacan towns. The water of this river was called "Tabang" or fresh water.

Very few people lived here, and closely related with each other. Each group had a leader called "tandis". Different groups spoke different dialects, Pampango, Pangasinan, Ilocano and Tagalog. From Calumpit, Spanish priest and missionaries of the Augustinian Order led by the Rev. Fr. Bernardino de Leon frequently visited the place, preaching the Catholic faith ... using the "balsa" or bambQ,o raft as their means of transportation. These missionaries thought of clearing the land and established settlements and convened the people to unity. The thought of a plan to give generous rewards to those who could clear the biggest area was hatched. The inhabitants favored the ideas so that everyone set to work. Each "Tandis" drew a plan to pursue.

For seven years, the groups of people labored so much that when the priest returned, they found the place to have been cleared. They inquired from the natives who should be credited, and the Pampangos exclaimed, "Quing wawa Ding tagalog po" or the Tagalogs got it. So every now and then, to every question of the friars, the people would reply. "Buti Quing Wawa Tagalog, Quingwa". The priest believed that the Tagalogs should be credited and should receive the gold medal and from thereafter the place was called Quingwa.

Like any other community, Quingwa grew and prospered. The life of the people flourished and intelligent sons were born. One of them, Jose J. Mariano, who was then the "Alcalde" or town mayor had the initiative of renaming the town. Congressman Pedro Magsalin, a friend of the alcalde sponsored a bill changing the name of the town from Quingwa to Plaridel. The bill was passed by the Philippine Congress and was approved by President Manuel L. Quezon. On December 29, 1936, amidst elaborate celebrations, the town was renamed PLARIDEL in honor of the great hero of Bulacan - Marcelo H. del Pilar; in the presence of political luminaries that included Speaker Gil Montilla, Congressman pedro Magsalin, Honorable Nicolas Buendia, Honorable Eulogio Rodriguez, Honorable Elpidio Quirino and Governor Jose Padilla, Sr.