Valenzuela
Valenzuela is a city of 620,000 (2015) in northwest Metro Manila. It is one of the cities forming the Camanava Area, largely a residential and industrial suburb of the region.
Understand
Orientation
MacArthur Highway, a four- to six-lane highway, is the main road of Valenzuela, with the city hall and most shopping centers being around here. Polo forms Valenzuela's historic center, and has the Spanish-era San Diego de Alcala Church ("Polo Church") and the town plaza. Barangay Paso de Blas (or formerly Malinta) has the main exit from the North Luzon Expressway and the Gateway Complex.
Get in
By bus
- 🌍 Valenzuela Gateway Complex (VGC), Maysan Road, Paso de Blas (near NLEX Paso de Blas exit). Buses by operators headed for the Malinta (Paso de Blas) area terminate here. It is expected that it will receive all northbound provincial buses that now terminate at Manila, Caloocan, Cubao, or Pasay.
Valenzuela is served by 2 city bus routes:
- 14 Balagtas–Monumento. Runs between Caloocan and Balagtas (Bulacan) via MacArthur Highway.
- 51 VGC–Cubao. Runs from Araneta Center in Cubao (Quezon City) via Katipunan, Luzon, Congressional and Mindanao avenues and NLEX.
By jeepney
If you are from the south, there are Jeepneys around Manila have their destination until Malanday, Valenzuela. But if you are from the north, Jeepneys ply from Malolos up to Malinta, Valenzuela.
By taxi
Taxis can be found everywhere in the Manila or Bulacan. You can take taxi and plot your destination. Fares depends on your destination.
Other public vehicles bound for Valenzuela like pedicabs, and tricycles are available in any nearby city of Valenzuela.
Get around
By jeepney
Jeepneys can be found in major and minor roads of the city. They have a fixed fare and route like buses. Fare ₱8-20.
By pedicab/tricycle
Pedicabs (also called trike or side-car) can be found anywhere (except in major highways) in the city. Pedicabs and tricycles can travel streets which is not covered by jeepneys and buses. Fare ₱10-50.
See
- 🌍 Arkong Bato, M.H. Del Pilar Street (at the boundary with Malabon). A stone arch built by the Americans in 1910. It served as a boundary marker for Bulacan (where Valenzuela, then Polo, belonged), and Rizal.
- 🌍 Libingan ng mga Hapon (Japanese Cemetery). 500 m2 (5,400 sq ft) cemetery for the thousands of Japanese soldiers killed during the final years of World War II.
- 🌍 Dr. Pio Valenzuela Museum, Kapitan Vililia corner Pascual Deato Street. 9AM–4PM. The ancestral home of Pio Valenzuela, one of the leaders of the Katipunan and the namesake of the city, then the town of Polo. It is now fully renovated as of September 2023.
- 🌍 San Diego de Alcala Parish (Polo Church), M.H. Del Pilar Street (near the plaza). This parish church, part of Valenzuela's old downtown, was built by locals in 1632 using the polo y servicio system of forced labor. The Spanish-era church was destroyed during World War II, but its old belfry survived.
- 🌍 Valenzuela City People's Park, MacArthur Highway. 5AM–midnight. A park beside the Valenzuela City Town Center and City Hall of Valenzuela in McArthur Highway.
- 🌍 Museo Valenzuela, #2 Fatima Avenue (inside the Our Lady of Fatima School compund).
- 🌍 Valenzuela City Family Park, #62 Karuhatan Road. 5AM–10PM.
- 🌍 Polo Mini Park, F. A. Sebastian Street, Polo. Open 24 hours.
- 🌍 Tagalag Mini Park, Tagalag Road. Open 24 hours. Boardwalk with a stunning view of sunset.
Buy
- 🌍 SM City Valenzuela, MacArthur Highway. 10AM–9PM.
- 🌍 One Mall Valenzuela, #6045 Gen. T. de Leon Street. 10AM–9PM.
- 🌍 South Supermarket-Valenzuela City, MacArthur Highway. 8:30AM–8:30PM. South Supermarket has many to offer and you can eat, grocery, do arcade or have a massage.
Eat
- 🌍 Maricopa Restaurant, 3 Maysan Road, Maysan (beside Our Lady of Fatima University annex), ☏ +63 2 292-0406. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su closed. Filipino cuisine, salads, and mini sandwiches.
- 🌍 Little Beijing Chinese Cuisine, 186 MacArthur Highway, Karuhatan (near SM Center Valenzuela), ☏ +63 2 432-1352. 10AM-11PM. Now a local chain, with a branch in Marilao. Dim sum, congee, soups, noodles, and rice, and some Filipino-Chinese dishes.
- 🌍 Lola Nena's, #165 MacArthur Highway, ☏ +63289254623. Sweet desserts, pastries, baked cake, cupcake, cookies.
- 🌍 SM Foodcourt Valenzuela, 3/F SM City Valenzuela, MacArthur Highway. 10AM–9PM.
- 🌍 Okinawa Japanese Ramen House, MacArthur Hwy (across from SM City Valenzuela). 2PM–2AM. ₱570-1,400.
- 🌍 Kuya J's Restaurant, SM Valenzuela, Mc Arthur Highway. 10AM–9PM. Kuya J is comprised of favorite Filipino food that has affordable prices, great taste, and excellent service. They cater to families and groups, offering them a casual dining experience. “Our type of cuisine is Filipino, essentially what your mother would cook because she loves you.
- 🌍 Arca Yard Food Park, #286 MacArthur Highway, ☏ +63 917 527 3304. noon–2AM. different food stores and restaurants.
- 🌍 Kuya Bob Pares/Mami On the Go, Saint James Street. 6AM–6:30PM. Decent tasting and very affordable Pares in Valenzuela. Better to dine here early, their best sellers are usually out of stock.
Sleep
- 🌍 MEACO Hotel Karuhatan, MacArthur Highway, Karuhatan, ☏ +63 2 443-9021. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Air-conditioned rooms, free parking and WiFi, and bar. No free meals.
- 🌍 Cariño Resort, #11 San Baraquiel Street, ☏ +63 2 8283 4009. Resort type lodging with big pool. May appeal to locals. ₱1733.
- 🌍 Hollywood Suites & Resort, MacArthur Highway. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Connect
- Internet cafes. 24 hours. All over the city. from ₱10.