San Jose del Monte

Understand

SJDM was founded in the 18th century and was little more than a provincial town. This changed in the 1980s, when thousands of informal settlers from Metro Manila were relocated to San Jose del Monte. The city is home to some of the biggest resettlement areas in the Philippines like the Sapang Palay resettlement area spread over 36 barangays, Pabahay 2000 in Barangay Muzon and Towerville in Barangay Minuyan Proper. It is home to about 686,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) Most of the city's population come from former informal settlers along the creeks, esteros, riverbanks and railway tracks of Metro Manila. There have been growing demands for SJDM to become a highly-urbanized city administratively independent from Bulacan; this has consistently been opposed by the provincial government, which fears a loss of important revenue once this happens.

Getting there

San Jose del Monte is 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Malolos and 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Manila.

By bus There are many city buses heading to San Jose del Monte from Metro Manila, mostly via Quirino Highway. The most common route to San Jose del Monte is the PITX-Grotto route, which plies Manila, Commonwealth Avenue, and Quirino Avenue.

By jeepney There are many jeepneys and minibuses heading to San Jose del Monte from Metro Manila, mainly from SM Fairview in Quezon City via Quirino Highway. There are also connections with neighboring towns and cities of Bulacan such as Meycauayan, Norzagaray and Santa Maria.

By train San Jose del Monte is the terminus of the under-construction MRT Line 7 from Quezon City. The terminus will be far east of downtown, with a public transport terminal proposed there.

Getting around

The sheer size and number of barangays in SJDM has resulted in multiple intracity routes plied by jeepneys and minibuses.

See

1 Kaytitinga Falls, Barangay San Isidro (a 1-hour trek). The way to Kaytitinga Falls is not well-developed that leads to non-accessibility of the trail. There are also no public toilets or showers in the area. 2 Angat Watershed Forest Reserve. A portion of the reserve extends into SJDM. The watershed is a popular birdwatching site and is a biodiversity hotspot containing most of the remaining closed-canopy forests in Central Luzon.

3 Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine (Graceville), Graceville. A pilgrimage site often visited by Roman Catholic devotees during Holy Week, distinguished by its spire and curving ramps around it. However, parts of the main church building are in a dilapidated state, and the ramps have been closed off due to concerns about structural integrity. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Mount Balagbag, Barangay San Isidro. A 777 metres (2,549 ft) peak used as a stand-in location for films set in northern Luzon and one of the closest hiking destinations to Metro Manila. (updated Apr 2026) 5 St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church, San Ignacio Street, Poblacion I. SJDM's main Roman Catholic church, built in the 19th century and repaired to its original style despite being burned thrice in the Philippine Revolution, World War II, and the Huk Rebellion in 1950. (updated Apr 2026) 6 People's Park of San Jose Del Monte City, Santa Maria-San Jose del Monte Road, Sapang Palay Proper. SJDM's main recreational area containing an athletics stadium. (updated Apr 2026) 7 Padre Pio Mountain of Healing, Paradise III. A hilltop Roman Catholic shrine featuring a 50 feet (15 m) statue of Padre Pio accessible by climbing 150 steps. (updated Apr 2026) 8 River Park Esplanade, Norzagaray Road, Dulong Bayan (at the back of SJDM City Hall). A park with amphitheater along the San Jose River. (updated Apr 2026) 9 VS Orchids, Santo Cristo. The biggest orchids nursery and ornamental plants farm in Bulacan, measuring 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres). (updated Apr 2026)

Do

1 Grotto Vista Resort, Governor Fortunato Halili Road, Graceville. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Los Arcos De Hermano Resort, School Road, Tungkong Mangga. (updated Apr 2026)

Buy

1 Starmall San Jose del Monte, Quirino Highway, Kaypian. (updated Apr 2026) 2 SM City San Jose del Monte, Quirino Highway, Tungkong Mangga. (updated Apr 2026)