Save Type Political Subdivision Usage Filipino, Tagalog, English Pronounced Pron. boo-la-KAN(Tagalog) buw-LAH-kan(American English, British English) [key·IPA] Meaning & History From the name of a town called Bulakan, derived from Tagalog bulak meaning "cotton" and the place marker suffix -an. This is the name of a province of the Philippines.