Santa Maria is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is a growing commercial hub in the Bulacan plains that is gradually becoming a commuter town of Metro Manila.
Understand
[edit]Previously a barrio of Bocaue, Santa Maria was established as an independent town during the Spanish era in 1793. Founded as Santa Maria de Pandi after the large hacienda estate of which it was part of, it was shortened to Santa Maria to avoid confusion with the neighboring town of Pandi, which used to be part of Bigaa (Balagtas) and became a separate town in 1946.
Despite being bypassed by the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in the 1970s, its proximity to the Bocaue Exit, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away, has led to an influx of commuter workers serving Metro Manila, industrial warehouses and other commercial enterprises.
As of 2024, Santa Maria has a population of 322,525 people.
Get in
[edit]From Metro Manila, take NLEX Bocaue Exit and turn right along Governor Fortunato Halili Avenue leading to Santa Maria. An alternate route is through NLEX Ciudad de Victoria Exit leading to bypass roads connecting it with Halili Avenue, though this may be closed if there are major events in the nearby Philippine Arena.
From Trinoma in Quezon City, a point-to-point bus leaves every 30 minutes from 6:30AM to 10:30PM for Caypombo, a northern barangay of Santa Maria, with a stopover at WalterMart Santa Maria in Barangay Santa Clara, where tricycles can be taken to downtown Santa Maria for up to P60. A one-way bus fare to WalterMart costs P100, while fares to Caypombo reach P120.
There are also jeepneys connecting Santa Maria with Monumento in Caloocan, Metro Manila, as well as other Bulacan destinations such as Pandi, Bocaue, Malolos, Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte, Angat and Norzagaray. The main jeepney terminal is below Santa Maria Bridge and occupies a promenade along the Santa Maria River.
- 1 New Santa Maria Jeepney Terminal, Santa Maria Riverbank, Poblacion.
- 2 Precious Grace P2P Transport Terminal, Norzagaray-Santa Maria Road, Caypombo.
Get around
[edit]
Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
To avoid traffic in downtown Santa Maria, a bypass road skirts the west of town from Puregold Halili Avenue, passing through WalterMart before joining Norzagaray-Santa Maria Road further north.
See
[edit]- 1 Immaculate Conception Parish Church, F. Santiago Street, Poblacion. Santa Maria's main Roman Catholic church, built in a Baroque style during the Spanish era and hosting a venerated image of the Virgin Mary.
- 2 La Purisima Concepcion House, J.C. de Jesus corner M. de Leon Streets, Poblacion. An American-era private residence with a central parapet and lavish external decorations on its façade.
- 3 Santa Maria Plaza, J.C. de Jesus corner C. de Guzman Streets, Poblacion. A public park with a children's playground, civic monuments and a Hollywood-like sign of Santa Maria.
- 4 Diocesan Shrine of the Mother of the Eucharist and Grace, Tungkong Mangga Road, San Vicente. A Roman Catholic Shrine built following reports of appearances of the Virgin Mary before residents in 1991.
Do
[edit]- 1 4K Garden Resort, Bulac, ☏ +63 919 555 0002, [email protected]. A sprawling hotel and resort complex with swimming pools.
- 2 3M's Garden Resort and Pavillion, 1461-B Pasong Kasay Street, San Vicente. Resort complex with swimming pool.
Buy
[edit]- 1 WalterMart Santa Maria, Santa Maria Bypass Road corner J.P. Rizal Street, Santa Clara.
- 2 Santa Maria Public Market, A. Morales Street, Poblacion.
- 3 Puregold Santa Maria Bayan, J.P. Rizal Street, Poblacion.
- 4 Puregold Santa Maria, Governor Fortunato Halili Avenue, Bagbaguin.
Eat
[edit]- Jennie's Chicharon. A popular homegrown pork skin/rind (chicharon) brand with multiple branches and resellers across town.
- 1 Steaks and Arrows, Norzagaray-Santa Maria Road, Dulong Bayan, Poblacion, ☏ +63 915 801 9846. M-F noon-9PM, Sa Su 11AM-9PM. Steakhouse and other western dishes. Also has an archery range on account of the owners' favorite sport. ₱255-5000.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Santa Maria Dairy-Catmon MPC, Dairy Farmers' Street, Pulong Buhangin, ☏ +63 44 815 3200, [email protected]. Locally-made dairy products including flavored milk and yogurt.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Casa Elize Resort and Hotel, Pulong Buhangin-Balasing-Catmon Road, Guyong, toll-free: +63 44 815 5007, [email protected].
- 2 Bluewind Private Resort and Villa, Bulac, ☏ +63 919 555 0005, [email protected].