San Rafael, Bulacan

According to legend, the origin of town's present name San Rafael traces to a local fisherman. A few days after he had dreamed that he could heal, he successfully treated an ill neighbor using a fish's liver. Because of this, the news spread that he was indeed able to heal. When the Spanish missionaries arrived, they visited his house that was flocked by many people. Because of this, they named the place after Saint Raphael the Archangel, the patron saint of healing whose name is in turn derived from a Hebrew word meaning "God has healed."^[6][7]

San Rafael was established as a pueblo in 1750.^[6] During the Philippine Revolution in 1896 San Juan de Dios Church was used as military barracks for almost three days, after the insurgents had destroyed all papers and documents they found in the convent. When the Spanish Cazadores learned of these rebellious activities, they entered the church and fought the insurgents.^[8] The combatants fought heavily inside the church to a point that blood was spilled all over the church floor. The patio in front of the church was littered by dead bodies of Filipino insurgents. The gobernadorcillo ordered people to dig a common grave near the church for the bodies of the insurgents. The 1818 Spanish census recorded the area having 1,650 native families and 10 Spanish-Filipino families.^[9]: 414

The Americans succeeded the Spaniards with their policy of benevolent assimilation. Schools were established as a potent factor for pacification. In 1903, schools were opened in San Rafael. The municipal building was used as a school house.

In 1899, the Americans incorporated the town to Baliuag when the latter was intended to be the new provincial capital of Bulacan. However, due to a number of petitions of the people of San Rafael, especially when the plan to make Baliuag the capital of Bulacan did not materialize, the Americans where convinced to separate San Rafael as an independent town from Baliwag. Julian V. Valte was appointed to be the first Presidente Municipal of San Rafael, and Emilio Reyes was the last. However, its incorporation to Baliuag pushed through, alongside Bustos, on October 8, 1903, by virtue of Act No. 932.^[10] It was separated from Baliuag to become an independent town once again on March 21, 1907.^[11]

In 1924 and 1927, with the help of some influential men, the Spaniards were able to get the signatures of the land owners of San Rafael and San Ildefonso to an agreement purporting to show their willingness to donate their lands to the Hospital of San Juan de Dios.

Thus the town of San Rafael and San Ildefonso became properties of the hospital and started to be called Hacienda de Buenavista until 1944, when it got back its original name.

Socio–economic, educational and religious programs were largely non-existent. The people were deprived of property, food, supplies and shelter. They were forced or resorted to eat camote, wore jute sacks and tattered clothes. The people of San Rafael evacuated to Upig, Licheria, Coral na Bato and Camachile. Schools were closed and the church was ordered to stop performing its religious duties.

Guerrilla resistance against the Japanese continued throughout the war. Uncaptured Filipino army units, a communist insurgency and supporting American agents all played a role in the resistance. The people of San Rafael refused to be subjected to Japanese authority and they organized and joined small guerrilla bands and harassed the units of the Japanese army stationed in the town whenever there was a chance to do so. These small, organized guerrillas in San Rafael later became members of BMA (Bulacan Military Area).

When the American forces landed in Leyte in October 1944, the Japanese became more brutal. One incident occurred at Barrio Pulo. Men and women who were assembled where tied together, dynamites were strapped to many of them and these were later detonated by the Japanese captors. A lone survivor, Marcelo Mangahas, escaped. Other atrocities followed. However, the people of San Rafael and the Filipino soldiers and guerrillas prevented further casualties and destruction. When the Americans arrived, they found San Rafael liberated by the guerrillas with the Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 32nd, 35th and 36th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 3rd Constabulary Regiment that were mostly from San Rafael.

Soldiers of the 32nd, 35th and 36th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 3rd Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary liberated San Rafael and aided the guerrillas of the Bulacan Military Area (BMA) and defeated Japanese soldiers and aftermath in World War II.^[12]

On December 14, 2024, the municipality set a Guinness World Record for the "largest gathering of people dressed as angels," which was previously held by Winnipeg, Canada, in 2015. Reportedly, there were more than 2,000 participants in the event which was held at the Victory Coliseum.^[13][14]

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

San Rafael is 37 kilometres (23 mi) from Malolos, the provincial capital, 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Manila, the country's capital, and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Baliwag.

San Rafael is politically subdivided into 34 barangays, as shown in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of 7 puroks and some have sitios.

There are 5 urban and 29 rural barangays.

In the 2020 census, the population of San Rafael, Bulacan, was 103,097 people,^[22] with a density of 680 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,800 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of San Rafael

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]}

In April 2023, the San Rafael Heights Township Development Project, a socialized housing innovation, based on Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) started the construction of 3,920 residential condominium units in a seven-hectare lot in Sitio Gulod, Barangay Caingin. It is developed by First Dynabloc Construction and Development Corporation.^[31]

Primeworld Enclave San Rafael is owned by Primeworld Land Holdings Inc. It is a gated and planned community and affordable housing in Barangay Caingin. Its amenities include a clubhouse, basketball court, park and playground, garden walkway and jogging path. Primeworld Land received multiple awards as house developer - DOT Property Philippine Awards 2023, Lamudi Philippine Real Estate Awards, and PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2023.^[32]

8 Waves Waterpark & Hotel, DRT Highway, Ulingao

The 8 Waves Waterpark & Hotel is the prime resort of the Town, and is one of the biggest in the Philippines. The Big Rock Farm Resort is another notable resort of the Town which is located in Barangay Coral na Bato. Bulacan's Prime - Home of Garlic Longaniza located in Diliman 1 San. Rafael who is well known for Authentic Bulakenyo Garlic “Bawang”and Sweet Hamonado Longaniza. The Malangaan Cave and Spring, located in Barangay Tukod is a large cave untouched by quarry operations in San Rafael, Bulacan and according to the locals of the barangay, it was once a hiding place of guerillas during World War II.

The Dela Fuente-Villaroman Ancestral House or Casa dela Fuente (Caingin) was declared a Heritage House per National Historical Commission of the Philippines Resolution No. 7, s. 2022 under RA 10066 at 10086. The historical marker was unveiled on 17 August 2022 by Carminda R. Arevalo, OIC, NHCP and San Rafael Mayor Mark Cholo Violago with G. Leween V. Castro and G. Alvin R. Alid. Barangay Caingin Resolution of June 24, 2022 declared it "Bahay na Malaki" as Heritage House by Captain Ramilito B. Capistrano and all Councilors. Built in 1890, this 19th-century architecture in the Philippines with its Azotea built in 1957, is owned by Vicente Trinidad dela Fuente (November 14, 1866 – December 16, 1920) a Cabeza de Barangay or Kapitan, husband of Paz Lim Villaroman (February 18, 1875 – March 20, 1913) with children Amanda (February 20, 1891 – January 14, 1960), Luisa, Luisa, Araceli (November 25, 1895 – April 7, 1995) and Dolores-Lolita (December 31, 1898 – April 18, 1986), all spinsters, who established the "dela Fuente Lines". Their cousins Leticia Trinidad Gonzales and Dalisay Lim Cruz, teacher, built the Caingin chapel.

In 2024, Mayor Mark Cholo Violago conceptualized the “Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Angels”, a verified Guinness World Records, as tribute to the Seven Archangels in the town's annual September "Angel Festival" and to promote its tourism. On December 14, 2,000 residents dressed in white robes, halos, and wings at the Victory Coliseum, Town Hall.^[33]

Every year, the town celebrates its Angel Festival in honor of their 2nd patron saint, Saint Raphael, together their town's pride, the Angel Festival, which attracts many tourists every year. It is a colorful celebration in honor of the Seven Archangels. This is held every 29 September.

This is highlighted by a parade participated by children from the public and private schools in San Rafael. This is followed by an interpretative dancing competition by all participant schools. The Angel Festival was started in September 29, 2002 through the initiative of the San Juan de Dios Parish and the San Rafael Tourism Council.

The San Rafael Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[34]

• Ruperto Santos – fourth Bishop of Balanga (April 1, 2010–July 22, 2023) and fifth Bishop of Antipolo (July 22, 2023–present).
• Zaijian Jaranilla – actor who studied senior high school in the municipality.