This is a list of notable people from
Bulacan, who are also known as Bulakenyos.
National heroes and patriots
The early people of Bulacan, had also risen in revolt as in other parts of the country. Bulacan was one of the eight provinces, which rallied behind the Katipunan's call for an all-out insurrection against the Spanish occupation in the late 19th century.
Commodore
Ramon A. Alcaraz (
Plaridel) – World War II veteran, Captain of Q-boat 112 ABRA Shot down 3 Japanese Zero fighters
Gat Ciriaco Contreras (
Meycauayan) – Defended the Barrio of Langka and commanded the katipuneros of year 1898 against the Spaniards, one of the foundations of Bulacan alongside the Supremo Gat Andres Bonifacio. Also one of the Commanding Officers of the Supremo.
General
Nicolas Capistrano (
Angat) – lawyer, statesman and revolutionary general who fought against Americans in Cagayan de Misamis (now
Cagayan de Oro) in
Mindanao during
Philippine-American War, notably the battles of
Cagayan de Misamis,
Agusan Hill and
Macahambus Hill, all in 1900. He entered politics as a
2nd district congressman of then-undivided
Misamis Province (1909-1912) and a senator of newly established 11th district shared with
Jose Clarin, making him one of the most prominent men in what is now Cagayan de Oro, where he and his wife migrated to after 1895 to avoid arrest by the Spanish colonial government for his involvement in revolutionary activities and to start a new life there.
Artists
Bulacan is also home to many of the country's greatest artists, with a good number elevated as National Artists.
Constancio Bernardo (Obando) – painter and professor known for making the earliest modern geometric abstract paintings in the Philippines and in
Southeast Asia.
Cecilia Rosa de Jesús Talangpaz (Calumpit) – Roman Catholic Servant of God, native of Calumpit with a Kapampangan blood from Macabebe and a candidate for sainthood, and the sister of Bl. Dionisia.
Bishop Amado Paulino y Hernandez, Bishop Antonino Francisco Nepomuceno, and Bishop Bienvenido Mercado Lopez – The "Tres Obispos" (3 Bishops) of Bustos. The first and only small town in the whole archipelago ever to produce 3 Catholic Clergy Bishops at the same time.
Francisco Afan Delgado (Malolos) – Resident Commissioner to the
United States House of Representatives (74th Congress) from the Philippine Islands January 3, 1935 – February 14, 1936; Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations, September 29, 1958 – January 1, 1962
Albert del Rosario (Bulacan) – Former Philippine Ambassador the United States and
Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Great grandparents hail from Bulacan, Bulacan and his great grandmother, Teresa Sempio is the sister of Felipa Sempio, mother of
Gregorio del Pilar
Mar Roxas (San Miguel) – his grandmother was a member of De Leon clan, a rich clan in San Miguel
Luzviminda Tancangco – also known as "Baby"; first non-lawyer and woman commissioner of the Philippine
Commission on Elections. She was also its first female acting chairman (1998–1999).
Conrado Mercado, Sr. – locally known as "Mr. Irrigation"; first
National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Assistant Administrator; Original owner of the Mercado Ancestral House in Brgy. Bonga Menor; the government created a statue for him to serve as a memorabilia for him and his contributions.
Conrado Mercado, Jr. – most successful Bustosenyo in the aspect of arts; famous metal-sculptor and painter; one of the greatest artists produced by the
University of Santo Tomas; enlisted as one of UST's Alumni Permanent Roll of Honor; gained the Outstanding Thomasian Award in the field of arts; honored by the City of
Manila with the Patnubay ng Sining Award; founded the Philippine Association of Figure Artists and became the president of Society of Philippine Sculptors; his artworks are placed in the Paraiso ng mga Bata in front of the Aklatang Bayan ng Bustos being part of the Bustos Heritage Park.
Gen. Romeo Maganto – retired and decorated police general of the
Philippine National Police having awarded with 45 medals in service; former chief of
Western Police District; former traffic czar during the administration of President
Fidel V. Ramos and is known as the first to implement the color coding traffic scheme in 1995; featured in the films Tomagan: Story of Gen. Romeo Maganto and Leon ng Maynila, Lt. Col. Romeo Maganto.
Media figures and broadcast journalists
Cheche Lazaro – TV host, and chairman and CEO of Probe Productions Inc.