History of SJDM - City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines (2024)

During the Spanish colonial period, reduccion, which was the method of relocating settlers towards the center of the poblacion, was practiced in San Jose, Centro Da Baloges. The practice was widely spread as part of the movement to spread Catholicism to the remote areas of Bulacan.

Therefore, in March 1750 a decree from the Archbishop of Manila on the creation of new municipalities was announced in Lagulo Church in Meycauayan; the decree included the list of families who volunteered to be relocated. From being a visita of Meycauayan, San Jose Del Monte was thereafter founded as a municipality on March 2, 1752. This reduccion from Meycauayan brought settlers to the place where the occupants were previously only the Itas and Dumagats. The name of the town was taken from San Jose Del Monte, a phrase that is a combination of the patron saint of the town and “Del Monte”, which means “of the mountains. Further accounts of the history of the town can be found in the work of Dr. Jaime Veneracion of the Departamento ng Kasaysayan of the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The new municipality’s population, which was not exceeding 200 people, belonged to the family of farmers and stonecutters of Libtong and Meycauayan. They lived a simple lifestyle and raised fish, root crops, vegetables, fruits and other natural products. These families brought with them rice, wine, nganga, and salt from Lagulo (now Malhacan) in exchange for the wild pigs, deer, yantok and almasigan of the Itas
and Dumagats. Solares, including intended lots for main roads, were peacefully distributed to the new occupants after being measured and surveyed.

Under the American regime in 1901, San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) was placed under the political supervision of Sta. Maria, Bulacan due to the town’s lack of progress, peace, and order. In 1903, Act 932 of the US-established Philippine Commission bolstered this supervision. Then, on January 1, 1918, the town became an independent municipality with Honorable Ciriaco Gallardo as the first Municipal Mayor through Executive Order No. 100 by then Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison.

The City had its share of violent historical events. The Japanese Imperial Army took over the local government of San Jose del Monte from 1942-1943. In resistance against the occupation of the Japanese, the population of the municipality formed its own guerrilla unit. Also, during the latter parts of the Second World War, SJDM experienced many casualties when the Americans bombed the Poblacion on January 11, 1945. This was repeated on January 14, 1945. Years later, dissidents burned the Municipal Building on October 10, 1950.

Further reorganizations inside the City happened as the population grew and as the system of national laws matured. The year 1961 marked the opening of the first Government Resettlement Project, the SapangPalay Resettlement Area, which covered 752 hectares. On January 25, 1978, nine barangays were created under P.D. 1292. With the passage of the new local government code in 1991 emanated the reformulation of equal wealth sharing between the national and local units and the realization of the residents of having their own barangays. This move led to the creation of an additional 41 barangays under Provincial Ordinance promulgated by RA 7160 in December 1991.

The reorganization and increasing population also induced changes in the executive and legislative administration of the City as a whole. On September 10, 2000, SJDM was proclaimed as a Component City
under Republic Act No. 8797. Due to such event, it was said to be the largest town in the whole province of Bulacan in terms of land area and population. In addition, the City, also known as the “Balcony of the Metropolis”, was recorded as the first City in the province of Bulacan and recorded as the 86th City of the Philippines.

On December 18, 2003, the City of San Jose became the 1st Lone Congressional District in Bulacan. As the new millennium marches on, the population of the City registers a booming population. It continues to grow as settlements mushroomed in strategic areas of the Municipality to catch the urbanization that is happening in the Greater Metro Manila region.

On September 19, 2017, the city achieved the World’s Largest Lantern Parade in the Guinness World Records, the city government as an organizer with 14,173 participants carrying hand-made lanterns out of recycled can beer and soda completed the parade in Colinas Verdes barangay Tungkong Mangga despite heavy rain.

Following on December 20, 2019, the city (SJDM) has got the Guinness World Record for “The Most Number of Living Figures in a Nativity Scene” after breaking the 2016 record held by the Calne Town Council and Bible Society in Calne, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. This is the city’s second Guinness World Record by joining together 2,101 participants staging a living Nativity scene.On December 4, 2020, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte proclaimed the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan as highly-urbanized-city under Proclamation No. 1057 through Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 2019-059-09 after the city met the minimum requirements prescribed under section 452 of RA. 7160 or the “Local Government Code of the Philippines “.

On July 26, 2021, RA 11896 otherwise known as “AN ACT DIVIDING BARANGAY MUZON IN THE CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, PROVINCE OF BULACAN INTO FOUR (4) SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT BARANGAYS TO BE KNOWN AS BARANGAY MUZON PROPER, BARANGAY MUZON EAST, BARANGAY MUZON WEST AND BARANGAY MUZON SOUTH” was enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Third Regular Session of the Eighteenth Congress.

On July 1, 2022, RA 11896 was lapsed into law, under this law, Section 3, The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct and supervise the plebiscite to be held in Barangay Muzon in the City of San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this act. Following Comelec Resolution No. 10880, the plebiscite to ratify the division of Barangay Muzon is sets to March 25, 2023.

Below is a summary of key events in the history of the City.

Summary of key events in the history of the City

Chronological order of barangays created in City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

The original barrios based on record.
1. Poblacion
2. Gaya-gaya
3. Muzon
4. Sto. Cristo
5. Sapang Palay

In circa 1948, a barangay was created from Barangay Poblacion
6. Dulong Bayan/Kiriapay

In circa1968, 2 barangays were created
from Barangay Gaya-gaya
7. Tungkong Mangga from Barangay Sto. Cristo
8. Kaypian
9. Kaybanban

In circa 1973, 2 barangays were created from its mother barangay, Sapang Palay (became Sapang Palay Proper) through Sapang Palay Resettlement Project (SPRP).
10. Minuyan known as Area A
11. Bagong Buhay as Area B

In 1978 through PD 1292, additional 7 barangays were created out of barangays Bagong Buhay and Minuyan
12. San Martin as Area C (from Bagong Buhay)
13. Sta. Cruz as Area D (from Bagong Buhay)
14. Fatima as Area E (from Bagong Buhay)
15. San Pedro as Area F (from Bagong Buhay)
16. Citrus as Area G (from Minuyan)
17. San Rafael as Area H (from Bagong Buhay)
18. Sto. Niño as Area I (from Minuyan)

In 1991 due to RA 7160, additional 41 barangays were created.
– from Poblacion
19. Poblacion I
– from its mother barangay, Gaya-gaya
20. Graceville
21. Gumaoc West
22. Gumaoc Central
23. Gumaoc East
– from its mother barangay, Tungkong Mangga
24. Maharlika
25. San Manuel
26. Ciudad Real
– from Barangay Kaypian
27. Francisco Home -Guijo
28. Francisco Homes-Yakal
29. Francisco Homes-Narra
30. Francisco Homes-Mulawin
– from Barangay Kaybanban
31. San Roque
32. Paradise III
33. San Isidro
-from Barangay Minuyan / Area A (retained as Minuyan Proper)
34. Minuyan
35. Minuyan II
36. Minuyan III
37. Minuyan IV
38. Minuyan V
-from Barangay Bagong Buhay (retained as Bagong Buhay)
39. Bagong Buhay II
40. Bagong Buhay III
-from Barangay San Martin (retained as San Martin)
41. San Martin II
42. San Martin III
43. San Martin IV
-from Barangay Sta. Cruz (retained as Santa Cruz )

44. Santa Cruz II
45. Santa Cruz III
46. Santa Cruz IV
47. Santa Cruz V
-from Barangay Fatima (retained as Fatima )
48. Fatima II
49. Fatima III
50. Fatima IV
51. Fatima V
– from Barangay San Rafael (retained as San Rafael)
52. San Rafael I
53. San Rafael III
54. San Rafael IV
55. San Rafael V
-from Barangay Sto. Niño (retained as Santo. Niño)
56. Santo. Niño II 59. Assumption
57. St. Martin de Porres
58. Lawang Pari

On October 18, 2021 SP Reso. No. 2021-1261-10 resolved to correct the name of various barangays of the City in accordance with RA. 9230.

Old Corrected

Bagong Buhay Bagong Buhay I

Fatima Fatima I

Minuyan Minuyan I

San Martin San Martin I

San Rafael San Rafael II

Santa Cruz Sta. Cruz I

Santo. Niño Sto.Niño I

Sapang Palay Sapang Palay Proper

St. Martin de Porres San Martin de Porres

On July1, 2022 RA 11896, was lapsed into law, additional 4 barangays were created from the division of barangay Muzon.
– from its mother barangay, (3.) Muzon
3. Muzon Proper
60. Muzon West
61. Muzon East
62. Muzon South

Past Municipal and City Mayors of San Jose del Monte Bulacan

1. Ciriaco Gallardo – 1918-1921
2. Sinfroso Avena – 1922-1924
3. Feliciano Avanceña – 1925-1930
4. Quirico Villano – 1931-1936
5. Feliciano Avanceña – 1937-1939
6. Jose Avanceña – 1940-1941
7. Adriano Capa – 1942-1943
8. Ricardo Marcelo – 1943-1944
9. Catalino Casas – 1944-1945
10. Bonifacio Inocencio – 1945
11. Jose Avanceña – 1945-1946
12. Feliciano Avanceña – 1946-1955
13. Eusebio Aguirre – 1956-1963
14. Quirico Villano – 1964-1967
15. Constantino Nolasco – 1968-1973
16. Jose Guballa – 1973-1980
17. Guillermo Robes – 1980-1986
18. Reynaldo Villano – 1986-1988
19. Eduardo Roquero, M.D. – July 1988-May 1992
20. Reynaldo Villano – May 1992-May 1995
21. Eduardo Roquero, M.D. – May 1995-June 2004
22. Angelito Sarmiento – July 2004-June 2007
23. Eduardo Roquero, M.D. – July 2007-August 2009
24. Reynaldo San Pedro(acting) – August 2009-September 2009
25. Angelito Sarmiento – September 2009-June 2010
26. Reynaldo San Pedro – July 2010-2016
27. Arturo Robes – July 2016-Present

Official Logo or Seal

VISION

“A PEOPLE-CENTERED CITY, TRANSFORMED INTO A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY OF DESTINATION WITH HIGHLY COMPETENT PEOPLE THRIVING IN A VIBRANT ECONOMY.”

MISSION

• To implement programs designed to tap the creative potentials of the different sectors in
• To transform the city into an investment and a tourist-friendly
• To encourage the citizenry to become self-reliant and
• To provide the people with relevant social support, livelihood opportunities and economic

SECTORAL GOALS

• Pump priming the local economy for inclusive growth through investment attraction and generation of employment and livelihood opportunities.
• Uplifting the quality of life of San Joseños thru enhanced social services capable of producing remarkable and desired result or outcome.
• Effective and efficient resource allocation thru the promotion of distinctive quality of service and rational implementation of laws to rebuild people trust and confidence.
• Promotion of green environment thru improved technology and increased mobility of the people thru better traffic management and upgrading road network system.

CORE VALUES

• PROFESSIONALISM
• RESILIENCY
• EXCELLENCE
• INTEGRITY
• TEAMWORK

7 PILLARS OF GOVERNANCE

1. Providing quality education and trainings
2. Environmental protection
3. Effective public service towards poverty reduction
4. Commitment to good governance
5. Securing a safe and peaceful community
6. Sustaining agriculture, business, trading and investment
7. Promotion of tourism, culture and arts