Calumpit, officially the Municipality of Calumpit, is a town in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is the gateway to Pampanga.
Understand
[edit]Calumpit is one of the oldest towns in Bulacan, with the first Christian mass in the province held in 1572 by the Spanish conquistadores in present day barangay Meyto. For much of its history, Calumpit has prospered thanks to its location along the combined deltas of the Angat and Pampanga Rivers, which were then vital trade arteries that also sustain its agricultural and fishing industries while at the same time providing chronic headaches through flooding during the rainy season.
Since the shift to motorized transportation beginning in the 20th century, Calumpit has further prospered, first due to its location along a now-defunct railroad (now being revived), its position along the MacArthur Highway and its proximity to both the provincial capital Malolos and the province of Pampanga, with the towns of Apalit, Macabebe and Masantol just across the Sulipan Bridge over the Pampanga River.
According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 118,471 people.
Get in
[edit]Calumpit lies along MacArthur Highway, the main thoroughfare of coastal Bulacan. To avoid chronic traffic congestion, most travelers from Metro Manila take instead the Pulilan Exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and make a left turn along Pulilan Regional Road towards neighboring Calumpit.
From Trinoma in Quezon City, passenger vans link Calumpit with Metro Manila from 4AM to 12MN, but will involve waiting for the vehicle to fill up before leaving. There are also passenger vans in the adjacent SM North EDSA mall. An alternate option is a point-to-point bus from Trinoma that leaves every 30 minutes to Robinsons Malolos, from which jeepney transfers can be taken along MacArthur Highway to Calumpit.
Calumpit is also a stopover on some Victory Liner buses along the San Fernando-Metro Manila route, especially if the bus signages indicate “Inner Cities”.
Calumpit is the terminus of a jeepney route originating from Meycauayan. It is also along the jeepney and minibus route from Malolos to San Fernando in Pampanga. All three routes traverse MacArthur Highway.
Get around
[edit]
Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
See
[edit]- 1 Calumpit Church (Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint John the Baptist), Padre Burgos Street, Poblacion. Calumpit's main Roman Catholic church, built during the 17th century. Its facade resembles a wedding cake due to ornamentations made by local artists.
- 2 Meyto Shrine, PD Road, Meyto. A small shrine with a gazebo commemorating the first Mass in Bulacan in 1572.
- 3 Old Bagbag Bridge, Pulilan Regional Road, Santo Niño. A Spanish-era bridge built over a channel connecting the Pampanga and Angat Rivers. It was the site of a bloody and decisive battle in 1899 that saw Americans defeat Filipino forces during the Philippine-American War and enter Pampanga, forcing the flight of the Republican government further into northern Luzon. The old bridge has been superseded by a newer one just beside it and has now lost a span.
- 4 Calumpit Municipal Hall, Provincial Road, Balungao (at the back of Sergio Bayan Park). A rare Art Deco civic building sometimes used as a stand-in for period films and TV series.
Do
[edit]- 1 Jed's Island Resort, MacArthur Highway, Gatbuca (near the Bulacan-Pampanga Boundary Arch), ☏ +63 960 840 0658, [email protected]. A sprawling resort complex featuring 11 swimming pools, statues of popular cartoon characters and overnight accommodation. ₱209 entrance fee, separate charges for rentals and accommodation.
Buy
[edit]- 1 El Mercado de Calumpit, MacArthur Highway, Corazon. Calumpit's main market, refurbished in 2025.
Eat
[edit]Calumpit is famous for its longganisa (sausage).
- 1 LALA Garden Café, MacArthur Highway, Pio Cruzcosa. A Korean-style bakery and cafe that also serves rice meals. PHP180-800.
- 2 Dalampasigan Seafood Restaurant, MacArthur Highway, Pio Cruzcosa (in front of Wilcon Depot), ☏ +63 917 878 6480.
- 3 Kamayan sa Villares, Kalinangan Street, Villares Subdivision, Pio Cruzcosa, ☏ +63 915 311 3335.
- 4 Orante’s Floating Restaurant, Iba Este, ☏ +63 976 026 0355. A restaurant whose dining area consists of barges along the Angat River.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Cafe 925, Provincial Road, Bulusan, ☏ +63 994 661 5581.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Paco Royal Inn And Cafe Inc, MacArthur Highway, Palimbang, ☏ +63 917 878 6480.
- 2 El Vistra Travellers Inn, MacArthur Highway, Pio Cruzcosa, ☏ +63 916 894 123.
- 3 Seven Seven Travellers Inn, MacArthur Highway, Pio Cruzcosa, ☏ +63 908 890 5250.
- 4 Lawiswis Kawayan Garden Resort & Spa, Buguion, ☏ +63 917 811 2332, [email protected].
- 5 Leticia’s Garden Resort And Events Place, 333 Calumpit-Pulilan Regional Road, Santo Nino, ☏ +63 917 823 8852, [email protected].
Stay safe
[edit]A low-lying town, Calumpit is susceptible to flooding from its rivers during the rainy season, which is exacerbated by typhoons, high tide from Manila Bay, and the release of water from the Angat, Ipo and Bustos Dams upstream.
Stay healthy
[edit]Due to chronic flooding, medication against leptospirosis (a disease carried by rat urine) is necessary after wading into floodwaters.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Calumpit |
| San Fernando ← Apalit ← | N  S
|
→ Malolos → Monumento |