Home to the largest indoor stadium in the world, Bocaue takes its name from an old Tagalog word meaning “long bamboo”. It’s been nicknamed the "Fireworks Capital of the Philippines” due to its abundance of fireworks stores and hosts an annual river festival commemorating the Holy Cross of Wawa.
Things to do in Bocaue
One of Bocaue’s most famous attractions is the Shrine of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, an intricately designed Catholic church dedicated to Korea’s first priest. It was originally established in 1959 around a statue of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, which was gifted by the Archbishop of Seoul, Stephen Cardinal Kim. The current church was constructed in 2001 to coincide with the parish’s 50th anniversary and is beautifully decorated with mural paintings depicting scenes from the Bible.
Coincide your visit to Bocaue with a soccer match at the Philippine Sports Stadium, which opened to spectators in 2014 and has the capacity to seat 25,000 people. In addition to holding sporting events, concerts and New Year’s Eve countdowns, it’s renowned for the leafy gardens and outdoor plazas that surround the complex.
Adjacent to the Philippine Sports Stadium is the Philippine Arena, a Modernist landmark and the largest indoor arena in the world. Its architecture was inspired by the mother tree of the Philippines, the narra, while the roof was designed to reflect that of a traditional nipa hut. The Philippine Arena regularly hosts boxing, tennis and basketball games, as well as live music performances and major church gatherings of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
Getting around Bocaue
Bocaue is around 45 minutes’ drive from the centre of Manila and just over an hour from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Buses and jeepneys are the main means of getting around the area and connect to destinations throughout Metro Manila.