Malolos

Understand

Malolos is the capital (since 1901) and second most populous city of the province of Bulacan. It is home to about 270,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) . It was the site of the constitutional convention of 1898, known as the Malolos Convention, that led to the establishment of the First Philippine Republic, at the sanctuary of the Barasoain Church. The convent of the Malolos Cathedral served as the presidential palace at that time. Malolos gave birth to the first constitutional republic in Asia. The town was burned on the orders of President Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine-American War in 1899 as the Americans approached, but unlike other major population centers in the country, managed to retain a sizeable number of colonial era houses concentrated around Camestisuhan aka Pariancillo District, which was declared a Heritage Town by the government in 2001. Malolos became a legally-designated city in 1999.

Orientation Today’s Malolos was formed by the merger of two towns divided by the Malolos River. Old Malolos, with its historic core lay south of the river, while Barasoain, to the north, was a separate municipality with its own parish church until it was dissolved into Malolos during the American period. Further north, a new commercial core has sprung up along the MacArthur Highway and the provincial capitol.

Getting there

By car The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) provides access from Manila and Angeles, and exits near Malolos are Tabang and Santa Rita. Tabang exit is best used from Manila, while Santa Rita exit is best used from the north. The MacArthur Highway passes north of Barasoain between Calumpit and Guiguinto.

By bus Golden Bee and First North Luzon Transit has buses between Manila and the towns of Paombong and Hagonoy. The main bus stop is on McArthur Highway, near the flyover. These buses do not pass through downtown Malolos but instead pass through Blas F. Ople Diversion Road. From Quezon City, minibuses and a Point-to-Point bus terminate at Robinsons Malolos. The P2P buses run every 30 minutes from 6AM to 10:30PM. A one-way bus fare costs P120. Malolos is also a stopover on some Victory Liner buses along the San Fernando-Metro Manila route, especially if the bus signages indicate “Inner Cities” and enter MacArthur Highway via NLEX Tabang Exit in Guiguinto.

By train There are no trains to Malolos since the main line to La Union closed in the 1980s. There is ongoing construction of an electrified standard-gauge railway from Metro Manila to Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga, and New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The first segment of that rail project will run up to Malolos. As of 2026, the line is still under construction, with a station serving Malolos being built in front of the provincial capitol along MacArthur Highway.

Getting around

Public transportation in Malolos is served by buses, jeepneys, and UV Express AUVs. The city is also served by tricycles, which offer their services on a for-hire basis. Malolos is known for its Karatig Jeepneys which serves as an intra-city public transportation. The name came from the word karatig, which means nearby places or barangays. The Karatig jeepney is the smaller version of the jeepneys which usually have the size of about 3 meters long and can board 8-10 commuters at the back plus 2 passengers in the front seat. Longer models can accommodate about 10-12. Its capacity varies according to the jeep’s length and size. There are two Karatig routes around Malolos, including one that runs from the downtown to the Provincial Capitol via Paseo del Congreso.

See

1 Bulacan Provincial Capitol View Park, Manila North Road, Guinhawa (in front of Bulacan Provincial Capitol). City park with many flagpoles and monuments to local heroes. Free. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Malolos Cathedral (Immaculate Conception Parish Cathedral & Minor Basilica (Diocese of Malolos)), Estrella Street. The seat of the Roman Catholic church in Bulacan, rebuilt in its original style following its burning by Filipino forces during the Philippine-American War. Some visitors confuse the cathedral with Barasoain Church, although President Emilio Aguinaldo did use the cathedral’s convent as his official residence during the First Republic. (updated Apr 2026) 3 Emilio Aguinaldo Monument, Barasoain Church Compound, Paseo Del Congreso. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Museo ng Republika ng 1899, Paseo del Congreso, Plaza Rizal (in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish - Barasoain Church). 9AM-4PM. Housed in the convent of Barasoain Church, the museum tells the story of the First Philippine Republic. Free, donation optional. (updated Feb 2026) 5 Kalayaan Tree, Estrella Street (inside the Malolos Cathedral compound). depends on the compound’s opening hours. A more than 100-year old Siar tree named after the Filipino word for freedom for having existed during the First Philippine Republic. Free. (updated Apr 2026) 6 Old Malolos City Hall, Jacinto Street, ☏ +63 447916891. 8AM–5PM. A rare pre-World War II government building, built in 1940. (updated Apr 2026) 7 Bulacan Provincial Capitol, Manila North Road, Guinhawa (at the back of Capitol Viewpark). Built in the art deco style in 1937, it is one of the few provincial government buildings in the Philippines that survived World War II. (updated Apr 2026) 8 Barasoain Church, Paseo del Congreso. Erected in 1885, was the site of the very First Philippine Congress on September 15, 1898, and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic on January 23, 1899. In this church the Oath of Office of Emilio Aguinaldo and Joseph Estrada as Philippine presidents took place. Within the premises of Barasoain Church, there are other historical markers installed by National Historical Commission, such as the Universidad Literaria y Scienifico de Filipina at Malolos Convent, General Emilio Aguinaldo Monument at Barasoain patio, and First Philippine Republic marker installed at left side of the main lateral wall of the church. 9 Casa Real, Paseo del Congreso, Plaza Rizal, ☏ +63 945 387 7336, [email protected]. 9AM-4PM. It was built in 1580 as Casa Tribunal and Casa Presidencia of the town gobernadorcillo. It became the Spanish treasury in 1673.

Do

1 Malolos Sports & Convention Center, #10 MacArthur Hwy, ☏ +63 44 796 3326. Convention center. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

1 Robinsons Malolos, MacArthur Hwy. 10AM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023) 2 WalterMart Shopping Center - Malolos Branch, KM 45, MacArthur Hwy, Longos, ☏ +63 9190649811. 9AM–8PM. Mall, Food Stores, Supermarket. (updated Sep 2023) 3 South Supermarket Malolos, Feliza Bldg, 110a MacArthur Hwy, Sumapang Matanda, ☏ +63 9955556790. 8:30AM–8PM. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Malolos Public Market, Lucero Street. Open 24 hours. (updated Sep 2023) 5 Malolos City Terminal Hub by XentroMall, MacArthur Highway corner Diversion Road, Bulihan (beside Bulacan State University). 9AM-8PM. (updated Apr 2026) 6 Puregold Malolos, MacArthur Highway, Bulihan (beside XentroMall). (updated Apr 2026)

Eat

1 Fortune Hong Kong Seafood, MacArthur Hwy, ☏ +63 932 891 4152. 10AM. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Tutong’s Laksa - Malolos, Capitol View Park Subd, Diamond. (updated Sep 2023) 3 McDonald's-Malolos Bayan Branch, Sto. Nino Street corner Estrella Street. Open 24 hours. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Bistro Maloleño, 1 Valenzuela Street, [email protected]. 10AM-10PM. Opened in April 2013, Bistro Maloleno is a casual dining restaurant serving heritage Bulacan dishes derived from recipes compiled by one of the province’s leading food historians. It also serves standard Filipino fare and individual plates, along with a tie-up from a neighboring cafe, Le Jardin. P120-800. (updated Apr 2026) 5 Lioming’s Rice Noodles Corner, Lucero Street, ☏ +63 9757146044. Open 24 hours. Thai restaurant. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink & nightlife

1 Steak and Wine Unlimited Malolos Branch, Seaoil, MacArthur Highway. 11AM–9PM. ₱₱. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Kape Kapitolyo - Malolos, Caltex BSU, Guinhawa, ☏ +63 44 760 5908. 9AM-6PM. (updated Mar 2024) 3 Cafe Congreso, G/F Don Mar Building, Paseo del Congreso Street, Catmon, ☏ +63 44 306 5742, [email protected]. 11AM-8PM. (updated Mar 2024) 4 Coffeenity Co., km41 MacArthur Hwy, ☏ +63 44 764 5205, [email protected]. 9AM-10PM. (updated Mar 2024) 5 The Ugly Mug Cafe Bulacan, 192 A Mabini. 10AM-8PM. (updated Mar 2024) 6 Bo's Coffee - Malolos, San Francisco Square, Estrela Street Sto Nino (beside Malolos Cathedral), ☏ +63 962 943 2298. 7AM-11PM. (updated Mar 2024) 7 Cafe Rese, [email protected]. always open. (updated Mar 2024) 8 Fifteenth Café, Blas Ople Diversion Road, Bulihan, ☏ +63 995 062 1534, [email protected]. 10AM-11PM. (updated Mar 2024) 9 Kopi Brood Cafe, Luisa St. Rufina Homes subdivision Bagong Bayan, ☏ +63 939 908 0208, [email protected]. 8AM-7PM. (updated Mar 2024) 10 1995 Studio Cafe, Km 44, MacArthur Highway, Longos, ☏ +63 917 179 8221. 11AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2024) 11 Dear Joe Malolos. 10AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2024)

Sleep

1 The Grove Resort and Hideaway, #955 Enriquez Street, ☏ +63 9058411707, [email protected]. ₱₱. (updated Sep 2023)