Marilao ([mɐɾiˈlaʊ]), officially the Municipality of Marilao (Tagalog: Bayan ng Marilao), is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 254,453 people. It is 22 kilometers (14 mi) from Manila and 23 kilometers (14 mi) from the provincial capital Malolos City.

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Marilao is part of Manila's built-up area which reaches San Ildefonso on its northernmost part.

History

Long before the establishment as an independent town, Marilao traces its origin as little as a barrio. It was initially a barrio of its neighboring town Meycauayan and the Franciscan missionaries from Meycauayan built a visita (chapel) dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel.

Marilao, just like Pangil, a town in Laguna, Philippines, was under the stewardship of the Franciscan order.

On April 21, 1796, the Barrio of Marilao was established as a pueblo as approved by the Alcalde Mayor of Bulacan and the Franciscan friars of Meycauayan, with the approval of Archbishop of Manila, the visita of San Miguel Arcangel became a town church where Padre Vicente de Talavera served as its parish priest. Between 1901 and 1903, it was consolidated with Meycauayan. In 1913, Marilao completely became an independent town.

Geography

Climate

Barangays

Marilao is politically subdivided into 16 barangays, all classified as urban. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020		2010
031411001	Abangan Norte	3.7%	9,424	8,665	▴	0.84%
031411002	Abangan Sur	3.8%	9,625	9,788	▾	−0.17%
031411003	Ibayo	4.0%	10,103	6,584	▴	4.37%
031411004	Lambakin	16.8%	42,821	37,007	▴	1.47%
031411005	Lias	5.1%	12,900	12,038	▴	0.69%
031411006	Loma de Gato	22.6%	57,569	46,286	▴	2.21%
031411007	Nagbalon	1.6%	4,015	3,766	▴	0.64%
031411008	Patubig	2.9%	7,501	6,113	▴	2.07%
031411009	Poblacion I	0.7%	1,826	1,661	▴	0.95%
031411010	Poblacion II	2.2%	5,475	5,536	▾	−0.11%
031411011	Prenza I	2.8%	7,065	5,827	▴	1.94%
031411012	Prenza II	4.4%	11,229	6,507	▴	5.61%
031411013	Santa Rosa I	4.2%	10,793	9,921	▴	0.85%
031411014	Santa Rosa II	3.8%	9,648	8,510	▴	1.26%
031411015	Saog	5.9%	14,950	11,445	▴	2.71%
031411016	Tabing Ilog	2.8%	7,021	5,970	▴	1.63%
	Total		254,453	185,624	▴	3.20%

Most populous

Barangay Loma de Gato is now holds the most populous village both in the province of Bulacan and in Central Luzon region upon the division of barangay Muzon in the neighboring city of San Jose del Monte after the successful plebiscite approving the proposal in March 2023.

Pollution and flooding

In 2007, Marilao, along with neighboring Meycauayan, share a slot in the list of the world's 30 most polluted places in the developing world drawn up by a private New York-based institute. In its report, “The World’s Worst Polluted Places” for 2007, the Blacksmith Institute said: “Industrial waste is haphazardly dumped into the Meycauayan, Marilao and Obando River system, a source of drinking and agricultural water supplies for the 250,000 people living in and around” the Meycauayan-Marilao area.

Marilao is also notorious for frequent flooding during the monsoon season. A section of MacArthur Highway near SM City Marilao is in particular, prone to floods.

Demographics

Population census of Marilao

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 3,506 —     1918 4,202 +1.21% 1939 5,682 +1.45% 1948 6,206 +0.98% 1960 9,206 +3.34%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 16,128 +5.76% 1975 21,017 +5.45% 1980 35,069 +10.78% 1990 56,361 +4.86% 1995 68,761 +3.80%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 101,017 +8.60% 2007 160,452 +6.59% 2010 185,624 +5.45% 2015 221,965 +3.46% 2020 254,453 +2.72%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, the population of Marilao, Bulacan, was 254,453 people, with a density of 7,500 inhabitants per square kilometer or 19,000 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Marilao

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2006 6.60 2009 3.37 2012 2.80 2015 5.11 2018 3.60 2021 9.66 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Government

Elected officials

2022-2025 Municipal Officials of Marilao

Position	Name	Party
Mayor	Henry R. Lutao		PDP–Laban
Vice Mayor	Jun Bob J. Dela Cruz		NUP
Councilors
	Juanito "Tito" H. Santiago		PDP–Laban
	Mary "Madel" A. Jasa		Aksyon
	William "Willy" R. Villarica		PDP–Laban
	Vanessa D. Valdez		PDP–Laban
	Allane T. Sayo		PDP–Laban
	Ariel "Aye" P. Amador		PDP–Laban
	Andre Favian D. Santos		Independent
	Maria Luisa I. Silvestre		Independent
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC President	Bayani P. Clemente		Nonpartisan
SK Federation President	Carlo Gabriel G. Solis		Nonpartisan
Barangay Chairpersons
Abangan Norte	Joedan V. Visto
Abangan Sur	Lay Cate B. Pabale
Ibayo	Joey P. Amador
Lambakin	Guillermo T. Paraoan Jr.
Lias	Vandolf V. Mateo
Loma de Gato	Natalya Regina B. Saycon
Nagbalon	Adrian J. Espiritu
Patubig	Orestes L. Jacinto
Poblacion I	Ma. Jasmine M. Mendoza
Poblacion II	Irineo V. Batongbacal
Prenza I	Bayani P. Clemente
Prenza II	Herbert G. Clemente
Santa Rosa I	Kenneth R. Delos Reyes
Santa Rosa II	Melvin L. Guillermo
Saog	Segundo R. Angeles
Tabing-Ilog	Pablo S. Catorce

List of local chief executives

#	Mayor	Took office	Left office
1	Martin Villarica	1913	1919
2	Ceferino Santiago	1912	1922
3	Canuto Santo Tomas	1922	1925
4	Agripino San Miguel	1925	1928
5	Honorio Ramos	1928	1931
6	Miguel Villarica	1931	1934
7	Ricardo de Vera	1934	1937
8	Andres Roxas	1937	1941
(6)	Miguel Villarica	1941	1944
9	Benito Santa Rosa	1945	1946
10	Justino Cruz	1946	1947
(6)	Miguel Villarica	1948	1951
11	Mario Santiago	1956	1971
12	Nicanor Guillermo	1972	1984
13	Abelardo T. Dalmacio	1984	1986
14	Mario De Guzman Villarica	1986	1987
15	Israel Guevarra	1987	1988
(13)	Abelardo T. Dalmacio	1988	June 30, 1992
16	Epifanio Guillermo	June 30, 1992	June 30, 1995
17	Leoncio Duran, Jr.	June 30, 1995	June 30, 2004
(16)	Epifanio Guillermo	June 30, 2004	June 30, 2013
18	Juanito H. Santiago	June 30, 2013	June 30, 2019
19	Ricardo Silvestre	June 30, 2019	October 9, 2022 (Died in Office)
20	Henry Lutao	October 25, 2022	Incumbent

Education

The Pambayang Dalubhasaan ng Marilao Municipal College of Marilao is a public college in Marilao. The public primary and secondary schools in Marilao are governed by the Department of Education-Provincial Schools Division of Bulacan. Several private schools in Marilao also provide education services.

Public High Schools

• Assemblywoman Felicita G. Bernardino Memorial Trade School (AFGBMTS)
• Prenza National High School (PNHS)
• Marilao Central Integrated School (MCIS (JHS founded in 2022) formerly Marilao Central School founded in 1920)

Religion

Roman Catholicism

National Shrine of the Divine Mercy

It was elevated to the status of National Shrine by Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. The first mass was held at the site on February 2, 1992, the Feast of the Presentation. Located in Barangay Santa Rosa I.

On the occasion of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in 2017, a 38-meter Statue of Merciful Jesus was built here.

San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church

The Parish celebrates its patronal feasts on May 8 and September 29. Its 28th Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Alberto D.J. Santiago succeeded Fr. Avelino G. Santos. Under Parochial Vicar, Fr. Francis Protacio S. Cortez III, OSA. It is hundred years old spiritual edifice in Poblacion I considered as “place marker” and serve as “point of orientation” to the local residents and visitors. Located in Barangay Poblacion I.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church

Located in Barangay Loma de Gato.

Our Lady of Mercy Quasi-parish Church

Located in Barangay Loma de Gato.

Other religions

There are also a presence of other religions in Marilao such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Christians, Members Church of God International, etc.

Radio

• (PA) 1422 kHz (Advanced Media Broadcasting System) (Planned)

Gallery

• 
  Marilao Welcome Arch along McArthur Highway
• 
  Old Marilao Municipal Hall, now Municipal Hall of Justice
• 
  Marilao Wet and Dry Public Market
• 
  Lias Barangay Hall of
• 
  Loma de Gato Barangay Hall
• 
  Patubig Barangay Hall
• 
  Tabing Ilog Barangay Hall