Discover Calumpit: Church, Meyto Shrine and Libad

Calumpit offers several distinct ways to explore history and living tradition: St. John the Baptist Church and Meyto Shrine represent two historical accounts from 1572; Libad brings an annual event on June 23 and 24. There is also the old Bagbag Bridge over the Bagbag River and a newer bridge on the MacArthur Highway. When planning your stay, you can choose between focusing on cultural history, visiting during the festival, or exploring the bridges.

Church and religious history

St. John the Baptist Church was built in 1572 and is considered the oldest church in Bulacan; it is also one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. During its construction history, its original location was moved, and Baroque architectural elements were incorporated into the building. If you are traveling with children, you can use the date as a conversation starter: 1572 marks the construction, while the change of location and Baroque elements reveal other aspects of its architectural history.

Meyto Shrine is considered the cradle of Christianity in Bulacan. The first Catholic Mass in Bulacan province was celebrated there in 1572. The year also appears in connection with the church, but at the shrine it refers to a different event: the Mass, not the construction. Calumpit is therefore home to two distinct historical reference points—the building of the church and the province’s first Mass at the shrine.

Libad: an annual June event

The annual Libad celebration is held in honor of the patron saint, San Juan Bautista, and is an act of gratitude to him. It takes place on June 23 and 24 and includes a river procession and water splashing, which leaves celebrants wet. The dates give your travel plans a specific time frame. If you would like to plan your stay around Libad, check the dates and program for the relevant year: the celebration is held annually, but the specific program may vary.

The two Bagbag bridges

The old Bagbag Bridge, dating from the American period, now serves as a pedestrian park and consists of several spans over the Bagbag River. A newer Bagbag Bridge carries vehicle traffic on the MacArthur Highway. This offers different perspectives for comparison: the older bridge is notable for its design and function as a pedestrian park, while the newer one carries vehicle traffic on the highway.

When looking for a vacation rental or holiday home in Calumpit, your reason for traveling is a useful starting point: would you like to time your stay around the Libad dates, or focus primarily on the history of the church, shrine, and bridges? This way, you can choose your travel dates around a specific festival or a focus on cultural history.

Discover more destinations: Concepcion, Candelaria, Marilao, Capas, Bongabon, Abucay, Mariveles, Porac.

For the broader travel overview: Central Luzon.