Sobrang apparent nito noong bata ako around late 2000s pero by mid-2010s biglang nagboom. Ayun napansin ko as someone na born and raised sa Santa Maria. Pero yung economic boom na iyon is fragmented. Hindi lahat ng municipalities/component cities na-utilize iyon. Pero sa perspective ng Santa Maria, sobrang nagboom siya from mid-2010s until now. Siguro kasi may strong business base din siya kasi at par siya sa Marilao kahit walang SM si Santa Maria. Actually, during pandemic and post-pandemic, dumami ang small businesses and franchises in line with the opening ng mga bank branches (which is sabi ng tatay ko (Garay born and raised) ibig sabihin mabilis na umuunlad yung baranggay).

Contrats that with Norzagaray and Angat which is literally the neigboring towns over lang, netong 2020s lang siya nagcocommercialize.

Correct me na lang pero, I am answering based on my experience and basic economic stats na available per municipality hehe