Valenzuela, municipality of the northern Philippines, on the island of Luzon, in Rizal Province. Part of the Manila metropolitan area and the National Capital Region, Valenzuela is located 15 km (9.5 mi) north of Manila proper. Caloocan lies to the south and Quezon City to the east. Valenzuela was formerly an old agricultural town and is today a residential and industrial suburb of Manila. The Philippines National Railways northern line passes through the town en route to Bulacan Province and points north. Valenzuela, like all of Manila's newest suburban areas, grew rapidly between 1980 and 1990, by 60 percent (compared to 34 percent for the entire National Capital Region and 26 percent for the nation). Population (1999) 501,097.
