By Shane F. Velasco
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan (PIA) — Can you imagine how event organizers plan their event? Surely, the result is a display of grandeur. That is what happens during the 10th Anniversary of the Bulacan Event Suppliers Association (BESA), reaffirming Bulacan’s status as a premier wedding destination north of Metro Manila.
From a simple ‘huntahan’ or casual conversation among five individual event organizers, BESA was formally established in 2015 through the help of the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PHACTO). Since then, the group expanded its network among wedding and event professionals, with their creativity and collaboration marking Bulacan’s potential in wedding tourism.
BESA has also been a showcase of public-private partnership in the creative industry, demonstrating how local talent and government support can come together to spur tourism, heritage appreciation, and local enterprise.
Over the past decade, BESA has received valuable assistance from national and local government agencies, empowering it to expand services and elevate the quality of events in the province.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has made BESA one of its official event supplier partners in several tourism events.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bulacan officer-in-charge Cristy Valenzuela is now looking forward to bringing the Malikhaing Pinoy Program to help BESA to further boost its creativity, productivity and sustainability.
This is in line with Marcos Jr.’s administration agenda on leveling the playing field in the development of the creative industry.
Bulacan Vice Governor Alexis Castro has cited BESA for making weddings in the province more seamless and hassle-free for couples.
“Through their work, I believe that wedding tourism is the next frontier for the province’s heritage and tourism sector, especially with its wealth of historic churches and cultural richness,” he said.
Couples can enjoy a dream wedding in Bulacan for nearly half the cost of ceremonies held in major venues like the Manila Cathedral or San Agustin Church, where packages typically range from ₱500,000 to ₱1 million.
In contrast, BESA offers “all-in” wedding packages from ₱199,000 to ₱300,000 for 100 guests — complete with catering, styling, coordination, and even traditional attire. The packages highlight Bulacan’s artisanal craftsmanship, with locally made gowns, ternos, and Barong Tagalog of premium quality at competitive prices.
Top venue choices include Barasoain Church, site of the 1899 inauguration of the First Philippine Republic; and the Malolos Cathedral-Basilica Minore, which served as the Palacio Presidencial of President Emilio Aguinaldo. These historic locations offer not only aesthetic grandeur but also national pride.
Traditional Filipino cuisine and Bulacan’s signature hospitality complete the experience, drawing more couples and event organizers to the province.
BESA President Josephine Murillo-Cruz shared that Bulacan’s events industry now generates an estimated ₱5 billion to ₱10 billion annually, as Bulakenyo suppliers expand both locally and to venues across Metro Manila.
Cruz added that beyond local weddings, BESA members also caters to a range of life events including birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, corporate events, and even funerals
As BESA celebrates a decade of artistry and service, its journey reflects a shared vision among government and private stakeholders to promote heritage-based, inclusive, and sustainable tourism in the region. (MJSC/SFV, PIA Region 3- Bulacan)
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