Malolos (Pop. approx 180,000) is the Capital of the Philippine Province of Bulacan. Situated 40 kilometers north of Manila, it is a major suburb outside of Manila. It was the site of the first Constitutional Convention of 1898 that lead to the establishment of the First Philippine Republic, the first republic in Asia, headed by revolutionary General Emilio Aguinaldo. It served as the capital of the short-lived republic from 1898-1899. During the Philippine-American War, it was captured through a blood battle that led to the escape of Aguinaldo to San Fernando, Pampanga. It became a city in 1999. The major industries are agriculture, fisheries and manufacturing. It is also one of the centers of education in Central Luzon region, it has several universities like the government-funded Bulacan State University, and privately-owned Centro Escolar University.