A historic marker was officially unveiled at the 134-year-old structure of the former Philippine National Railways (PNR) train station in Malolos, as part of efforts to preserve the cultural and historical significance of the site.
The installation of the marker is part of the SINEliksik project of the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PHACTO), a synergy strategy aimed at teaching and promoting the local history of Bulacan.
PHACTO Head May Arlene Torres explained that one of the significant events in the history of the station was the arrival of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in 1892. The main purpose of his visit was to campaign for the establishment of La Liga Filipina, an organization aimed at uniting Filipinos from different parts of the country to foster mutual care, defend each other against injustice, ensure education for all, and strengthen agriculture and commerce.


Rizal’s visit also allowed him to meet the Kadalagahan ng Malolos, whom he had written to while in London, to encourage their determination to pursue education at a time when it was not yet considered a right for women to express themselves.
The station was also where the delegates of the Malolos Congress disembarked, holding their sessions at the Barasoain Church from 1898 to 1899. During these sessions, the Proclamation of Independence was ratified, and the 1899 Constitution was drafted and finalized.
The PNR operations ceased in 1991, leading to the closure of the station.
After more than three decades of neglect, North-South Commuter Railway Deputy Project Manager Jojo Giron reported that the Department of Transportation began efforts to preserve the station with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The preservation process involves monthly baseline monitoring to detect any small or significant damages over time.
The next step will be the restoration phase, with the Malolos local government planning to transform the site into a museum through adaptive reuse. (PIA Region 3-Bulacan)