Meycauayan

Meycauayan is a city in Bulacan, outside the limits of Metro Manila.

Understand

Meycauayan is an industrialized city to the north of Metro Manila, situated directly north of Valenzuela. It was founded in 1578, hence one of the oldest towns established in the province. Its name translates to "[a place] with lots of bamboo", which can still be seen in the partly-rural northeastern barangays.

Meycauayan is increasingly becoming urbanized, and in 2015 it had nearly 210,000 residents.

Get in

The city lies along the North Luzon Expressway and the older MacArthur Highway running north from Manila.

By jeepney or bus

Buses terminate at Malanday in Valenzuela, and transfers to jeepneys are available. There are many jeepneys between Malinta in Valenzuela and other towns in Bulacan.

By car

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX, or E1), passes east of the city's downtown, with one exit at the residential and industrial barangay of Malhacan. A toll-free alternative is the slower and heavily trafficked MacArthur Highway (Route 1), which passes near Meycauayan's city proper.

See

• 1 Old Meycauayan Station, MacArthur Highway, Malhacan (southeast of St. Mary's College). One of the stations of the old Manila-Dagupan railway, it also witnessed one of the battles of the Philippine-American War. The station building stands until today, but is slowly crumbling and the station interior is closed to the public. A new station for the future Manila-Clark Railway is to be constructed near this station, alongside the restoration of the older structure. (updated Mar 2019)
• 2 Meycauayan Church (San Francisco de Assisi Church). This church is built in 1578, predating the Barasoain Church (built 1630) by 62 years. The original church was built in what is now barangay Bahay Pare, but is moved to the poblacion area due to attacks from the indigenous Aeta (Negritos). Meycauayan Church survived the Philippine Revolution and World War II, but was destroyed by a fire in 1949 and the present church is rebuilt in 1953. (updated Jul 2019)

Do

Events

• Kawayanan Festival. This annual festival is being hosted by the City Government of Meycauayan. The festivities include street dancing using bamboos as major props and ornamentals. It depicts the city's local culture and historical outlook. 

Buy

• 1 Aliw Shopping Complex, MacArthur Highway. 9AM–9PM. It's a small mall but packed with a lot of different shops like Jollibee, a noodle house, some food stalls, Pandayan Bookstore, Puregold, donut shops, and a lot of tiangge and gadget stores at the second floor. They even have the Pound for Pound gym inside and some beauty shops. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 SPC STARSHOP PLaza, Manila North Road. 8AM–9PM. Department store. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

• 1 8 Kings Buffet, MacArthur Highway (Near St. Mary's College). 11AM–9PM. Mostly Filipino dishes. (updated Jul 2019)

Sleep

• Lo Beato, 10 Sitio Bisita, Malhacan (Near San Isidro-San Roque Parish). Apartment-style rooms. Has a coffee shop on top, but items at inflated prices. From ₱1130. (updated Jul 2019)

Go next

Routes through Meycauayan

San Fernando ← Marilao ←

N  S

→ Valenzuela → Balintawak