Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan ( pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Pangasinan, ; ilo, Probinsia ti Pangasinan; tl, Lalawigan ng Pangasinan), is a coastal
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
located in the
Ilocos Region
Ilocos Region ( ilo, Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; pag, Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno; tl, Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the northwestern section of Luzon and part of ...
of
Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
. Its capital is
Lingayen
Lingayen, officially the Municipality of Lingayen ( pag, Baley na Lingayen; ilo, Ili ti Lingayen; tgl, Bayan ng Lingayen), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Pangasi ...
. Pangasinan is in the western area of
Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
along the
Lingayen Gulf and the
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
. It has a total land area of .
[ According to the 2020 census it has a population of 3,163,190. The official number of registered voters in Pangasinan is 1,651,814. The western portion of the province is part of the homeland of the Sambal people, while the central and eastern portions are the homeland of the ]Pangasinan people
The Pangasinan people ( pag, Totoon Pangasinan), also known as Pangasinense, are an ethnolinguistic group native to the Philippines. Numbering 1,823,865 in 2010, they are the tenth largest ethnolinguistic group in the country. They live mainly in ...
. Due to ethnic migration, the Ilocano people
The Ilocanos ( ilo, Tattao nga Iloko/), Ilokanos, or Iloko people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group and mostly reside within the Ilocos Region in the northwestern seaboard of Luzon, Philippines. The native language of the Ilo ...
settled in the province.
Pangasinan is the name of the province, the people and the spoken language. Indigenous Pangasinan speakers are estimated to number at least 2 million. The Pangasinan language, which is official in the province, is one of the officially recognized regional languages in the Philippines. In Pangasinan there were several ethnic groups that enriched the cultural fabric of the province. Almost all of the people are Pangasinans and the rest are descendants of Bolinao and Ilocano that settled the eastern and western parts of the province. Pangasinan is spoken as a second-language by many of the ethnic minorities in Pangasinan. The secondary ethnic groups are the Bolinao-speaking Zambals
The Sambal people are a Filipino ethnolinguistic group living primarily in the province of Zambales and the Pangasinense municipalities of Bolinao and Anda. The term may also refer to the general inhabitants of Zambales.
In 1950s, hundreds of ...
, and Ilocanos.
The name ''Pangasinan'' means "place of salt" or "place of salt-making"; it is derived from the prefix ''pang'', meaning "for", the root word ''asin'', meaning "salt”, and suffix ''an'', signifying "location". The Spanish form of the province's name, ''Pangasinán'', remains predominant, albeit without diacritics
A diacritic (also diacritical mark, diacritical point, diacritical sign, or accent) is a glyph added to a letter or to a basic glyph. The term derives from the Ancient Greek (, "distinguishing"), from (, "to distinguish"). The word ''diacriti ...
and so does its pronunciation: . The province is a major producer of salt in the Philippines. Its major products include bagoong ("salted-krill
Krill are small crustaceans of the order Euphausiacea, and are found in all the world's oceans. The name "krill" comes from the Norwegian word ', meaning "small fry of fish", which is also often attributed to species of fish.
Krill are consi ...
") and alamang ("shrimp-paste").
Pangasinan was founded by Austronesian peoples
The Austronesian peoples, sometimes referred to as Austronesian-speaking peoples, are a large group of peoples in Taiwan, Maritime Southeast Asia, Micronesia, coastal New Guinea, Island Melanesia, Polynesia, and Madagascar that speak Austro ...
who called themselves ''Anakbanwa'' circa 2500 BCE. A kingdom called ''Luyag na Caboloan
Caboloan (also spelled ''Kaboloan''; pag, Luyag na Caboloan), referred to Chinese records as Feng-chia-hsi-lan (), was a sovereign pre-colonial Philippine polity located in the fertile Agno River basin and delta, with Binalatongan as the cap ...
'' which expanded to incorporate much of northwestern Luzon existed in Pangasinan before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The Kingdom of ''Luyag na Kaboloan'' was known as the Wangdom of Pangasinan in Chinese records. The ancient Pangasinan people were skilled navigators and the maritime
Maritime may refer to:
Geography
* Maritime Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps
* Maritime Region, a region in Togo
* Maritime Southeast Asia
* The Maritimes, the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prin ...
trade
Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.
An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
network that once flourished in ancient Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
connected Pangasinan with other peoples of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...
, India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, China, Japan and the rest of the Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...
. The ancient kingdom of Luyag na Caboloan was in fact mentioned in Chinese and Indian records as being an important kingdom on ancient trade routes.
Popular tourist attractions in Pangasinan include the Hundred Islands National Park
The Hundred Islands National Park is the first national park and a protected area located in Alaminos, Pangasinan in the northern Philippines. The islands, totaling 124 at low tide and 123 at high tide, are scattered in Lingayen Gulf covering ...
in Alaminos the white-sand beaches of Bolinao
Bolinao, officially the Municipality of Bolinao ( pag, Baley na Bolinao; ilo, Ili ti Bolinao; tgl, Bayan ng Bolinao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
and Dasol. Dagupan City
Dagupan, officially the City of Dagupan ( pag, Siyudad na Dagupan, ilo, Siudad ti Dagupan, fil, Lungsod ng Dagupan), is a 2nd class independent component city in the Ilocos Region, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...
is known for its Bangus Festival ("Milkfish Festival"). Pangasinan is also known for its mangoes and ceramic oven-baked Calasiao ''puto'' ("native rice cake"). Pangasinan occupies a strategic geo-political
Geopolitics (from Greek γῆ ''gê'' "earth, land" and πολιτική ''politikḗ'' "politics") is the study of the effects of Earth's geography (human and physical) on politics and international relations. While geopolitics usually refers to ...
position in the central plain of Luzon. Pangasinan has been described as the gateway to northern Luzon.
History
Ancient history
The Pangasinan people, like most of the people in the Malay Archipelago, are descendants of the Austronesian-speakers who settled in Southeast Asia in prehistoric times. Comparative genetics, linguistics and archaeological studies locate the origin of the Austronesian languages in Sundaland which was populated as early as 50,000 years ago by modern humans. The Pangasinan language is one of many languages that belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian languages
The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. The Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken by the Austronesian peoples outside of Taiwan, in the island nations of Southeas ...
branch of the Austronesian languages family.
Southeast Asian maritime trade network
A vast maritime trade network connected the distant Austronesian settlements in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...
, the Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...
and the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by t ...
. The Pangasinan people were part of this ancient Austronesian civilization.
The ancient Austronesian-speakers were expert navigators. Their outrigger canoes and sailboats were capable of crossing the distant seas. The Malagasy sailed from the Malay archipelago to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
and possibly reached Africa. As the possible predecessors of the Polynesians, large seagoing canoes called "bangka" (" vaka" in several Polynesian dialects and "waka
Waka may refer to:
Culture and language
* Waka (canoe), a Polynesian word for canoe; especially, canoes of the Māori of New Zealand
** Waka ama, a Polynesian outrigger canoe
** Waka hourua, a Polynesian ocean-going canoe
** Waka taua, a Māori w ...
" in Maori) were first developed by Austronesians in the Philippine archipelago. Bangka were used to establish long-distance trade networks with Pacific islands from the Micronesia
Micronesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, consisting of about 2,000 small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a close shared cultural history with three other island regions: the Philippines to the west, Polynesia to the east, and ...
n island nations of Guam
Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
and Palau
Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the ...
, as far away as Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
and Easter Island
Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its ne ...
and possibly the Pacific coastline of the Americas. Proof of these trade exchanges are the prevalence of "kumara" or sweet potato in the Pacific Islands which is endemic to South America and the abundance of chicken bones in ancient South American archaeological dig sites whose closest genetic relatives are those of chickens from Asia. At least three hundred years before the arrival of Europeans the Makasar and the Bugis from Sulawesi as well as the Sama-Bajau
The Sama-Bajau include several Austronesian ethnic groups of Maritime Southeast Asia. The name collectively refers to related people who usually call themselves the Sama or Samah (formally A'a Sama, "Sama people"); or are known by the exo ...
s of the Malay Archipelago carried out long-distance commerce with their ''prau'' or ''paraw'' ("sailboat") establishing settlements in north Australia which they called ''Marege''.
Pangasinan was founded by Austronesian peoples
The Austronesian peoples, sometimes referred to as Austronesian-speaking peoples, are a large group of peoples in Taiwan, Maritime Southeast Asia, Micronesia, coastal New Guinea, Island Melanesia, Polynesia, and Madagascar that speak Austro ...
who called themselves ''Anakbanwa'' during the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan and Southern China circa 5000–2500 BCE or the Austronesian dispersal from Sundaland at least 7,000 years after the last Ice Age. ''Anakbanwa'' means "child of ''banwa.''" ''Banwa'' (also spelled ''banua'' or ''vanua'') is an Austronesian concept that could mean territory, homeland, habitat, society, civilization or cosmos. The Pangasinan people identified or associated ''banwa'' with the sun which was their symbol for their ''banwa''. The Pangasinan people are closely related to the Ibaloi
The Ibaloi (also spelled Ibaloy; Ibaloi: ''ivadoy'', ) are an indigenous ethnic group found in Benguet Province of the northern Philippines.
''Ibaloi'' is derived from ''i-'', a prefix signifying "pertaining to" and ''badoy'' or house, together ...
in the neighboring province of Benguet and other peoples of Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
. The ''Anakbanwa'' established their settlements on the banks of the Agno River
The Agno River, or Pangasinan River, is a river in the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Traversing the provinces of Baguio and Pangasinan, it is one of the largest river systems in the country, with a drainage area of .
The river originate ...
and the coasts of the Lingayen Gulf. The coastal area came to be known as ''Pangasinan'' and the interior area came to be known as ''Kaboloan''. Eventually the people and the language came to be known as Pangasinan. Archaeological evidence as well as early Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
and Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
records show that the inhabitants of Pangasinan traded with India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, Arabia
The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plat ...
, China and Japan as early as the 8th century CE.
''Wangdom'' of Pangasinan (''Luyag na Caboloan'')
The Wangdom of Pangasinan (as known in Chinese records), known locally as the ancient kingdom of ''Luyag na Caboloan'' (also spelled ''Kaboloan''), was located in the fertile Agno River
The Agno River, or Pangasinan River, is a river in the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Traversing the provinces of Baguio and Pangasinan, it is one of the largest river systems in the country, with a drainage area of .
The river originate ...
valley with its capital in ''Binalatongan''. Around the same period the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires arose in Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
and extended their influence to much of the Malay Archipelago. Urduja
Urduja was a legendary warrior princess recorded in the travel accounts of Ibn Battuta (1304 – possibly 1368 or 1377 AD). She was described to be a princess of ''Kaylukari'' in the land of ''Tawalisi''. Though the locations of ''Kaylukari'' and ...
/Udaya, a legendary woman warrior who Ibn Battuta called a rival of the Mongol Empire, is believed to have ruled in Pangasinan around the 14th century. The ''Luyag na Caboloan'' expanded the territory and influence of Pangasinan to what are now the neighboring provinces of Tarlac
Tarlac, officially the Province of Tarlac ( pam, Lalawigan ning Tarlac; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Tarlac; ilo, Probinsia ti Tarlac; tgl, Lalawigan ng Tarlac; ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. It ...
, La Union, Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
, Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province ...
, Aurora (province)
Aurora, officially the Province of Aurora ( fil, Lalawigan ng Aurora; ilo, Probinsia ti Aurora), is a province in the Philippines located in the eastern part of Central Luzon region, facing the Philippine Sea. Its capital is Baler and borders, cl ...
, Quirino
Quirino, officially the Province of Quirino ( ilo, Probinsia ti Quirino; tl, Lalawigan ng Quirino), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Cabarroguis. It is named after Elp ...
, and Benguet. Pangasinan enjoyed full independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
until the Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
conquest.
Spanish accounts of pre-Hispanic Pangasinan
In the sixteenth-century Pangasinan was called the "Port of Japan" by the Spanish. The locals wore native apparel typical of other maritime Southeast Asian ethnic groups in addition to Japanese and Chinese silks. Even common people were clad in Chinese and Japanese cotton garments. They blackened their teeth and were disgusted by the white teeth of foreigners which were likened to that of animals. They used porcelain jars typical of Japanese and Chinese households. Japanese-style gunpowder weapons were encountered in naval battles in the area. In exchange for these goods traders from all over Asia would come to trade primarily for gold and slaves but also deerskins, civet and other local products. Other than a notably more extensive trade network with Japan and China they were culturally similar to other Luzon groups to the south.
Pangasinans were also described as a warlike people who were known for their resistance to Spanish conquest. Bishop Domingo Salazar described Pangasinans as the fiercest and cruelest in the land. They were untouched by Christianity but like Christians they used vintage wine in small quantities for sacramental practices. The church bragged that they, not the Spanish military, won the northern part of the Philippines for Spain. The church was strict with adulterers with the punishment being death for both parties. Pangasinans were known to take defeated Zambal
The Sambal people are a Filipino ethnolinguistic group living primarily in the province of Zambales and the Pangasinense municipalities of Bolinao and Anda. The term may also refer to the general inhabitants of Zambales.
In 1950s, hundreds of ...
, (Aeta
The Aeta (Ayta ), Agta, or Dumagat, are collective terms for several Filipino indigenous peoples who live in various parts of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They are considered to be part of the Negrito ethnic groups and share common ...
) and Negrito
The term Negrito () refers to several diverse ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia and the Andaman Islands. Populations often described as Negrito include: the Andamanese peoples (including the Great Andamanese, the O ...
warriors to sell as slaves to Chinese traders.
Christianity
In 1324, Odoric of Pordenone
Odoric of Pordenone, OFM (1286–1331), also known as Odorico Mattiussi/Mattiuzzi, Odoricus of Friuli or Orderic of Pordenone, was an Italian late-medieval Franciscan friar and missionary explorer. He traveled through India, the Greater Sunda Is ...
, a Franciscan missionary from Friuli
Friuli ( fur, Friûl, sl, Furlanija, german: Friaul) is an area of Northeast Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity containing 1,000,000 Friulians. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giuli ...
, Italy, is believed by some to have celebrated a Catholic Mass and baptized natives at Bolinao. In July 2007, memorial markers were set up in Bolinao to commemorate Odoric's journey based on a publication by Luigi Malamocco. The 1324 mass would have predated the mass held in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan ( or ; pt, Fernão de Magalhães, ; es, link=no, Fernando de Magallanes, ; 4 February 1480 – 27 April 1521) was a Portuguese explorer. He is best known for having planned and led the 1519 Spanish expedition to the Eas ...
which is generally regarded as the first mass in the Philippines
The first documented Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday. It was conducted by Father Pedro de Valderrama of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition along the shores of what was referred to in the journals of Anton ...
by some 197 years. However, historian William Henry Scott concluded after examining Oderic's writings about his travels that he likely never set foot on Philippine soil and if he did there is no reason to think that he celebrated mass.
Spanish colonization
On April 27, 1565, the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in the Philippine islands with about 500 soldiers and established a Spanish settlement. On May 24, 1570, the Spanish forces defeated Rajah Sulayman
Rajah Sulayman, sometimes referred to as Sulayman III (Sanskrit: स्ललैअह्, Arabic: سليمان, Abecedario: ''Suláimán'') (1558–1575), was the Rajah of Maynila, a fortified Tagalog Muslim polity on the southern half of the ...
and other rulers of Manila and later declared Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
as the new capital of the Spanish East Indies
The Spanish East Indies ( es , Indias orientales españolas ; fil, Silangang Indiyas ng Espanya) were the overseas territories of the Spanish Empire in Asia and Oceania from 1565 to 1898, governed for the Spanish Crown from Mexico City and Madri ...
. After securing Manila the Spanish forces continued to conquer the rest of the island of Luzon including Pangasinan.
Provincia de Pangasinán
In 1571 the Spanish conquest of Pangasinan began with an expedition by the Spanish conquistador Martín de Goiti
Martín de Goiti (c. 1534 – 1575) was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish colonization of the East Indies and the Pacific in 1565. From his base in Mexico City, he led the expedition to Manila ordered by Miguel López de Legazpi in 15 ...
who came from the Spanish settlement in Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
through Pampanga
Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga ( pam, Lalawigan ning Pampanga; tl, Lalawigan ng Pampanga ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tarlac ...
. About a year later another Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo
Juan de Salcedo (; 1549 – March 11, 1576) was a Spanish- Novohispanic conquistador. He was born in Mexico in 1549 and he was the grandson of Miguel López de Legazpi and brother of Felipe de Salcedo. Salcedo was one of the soldiers who accompa ...
, sailed to Lingayen Gulf and landed at the mouth of the Agno River
The Agno River, or Pangasinan River, is a river in the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Traversing the provinces of Baguio and Pangasinan, it is one of the largest river systems in the country, with a drainage area of .
The river originate ...
. Limahong
Limahong, Lim Hong, or Lin Feng (; March 7, 1499 – ?), well known as Ah Hong () or Lim-A-Hong or Limahon (), was a Chinese pirate and warlord who invaded the northern Philippine Islands in 1574. He built up a reputation for his constant rai ...
, a Chinese pirate, fled to Pangasinan after his fleet was driven away from Manila in 1574. Limahong failed to establish a colony in Pangasinan, as an army led by Juan de Salcedo chased him out of Pangasinan after a seven-month siege.
Pangasinan as a province dates back to an administrative and judicial district, with Lingayen as the capital, as early as 1580 but its territorial boundaries were first delineated in 1611. Lingayen has remained the capital of the province except for a brief period during the revolutionary Era when San Carlos served as temporary administrative headquarters and during the slightly longer Japanese Occupation when Dagupan was the capital.
The province of Pangasinan was formerly classified as an ''alcaldía mayor de término'' or first class civil province during the Spanish regime and has remained a first class-A province up to the present day. Its territorial jurisdiction once included the entire province of Zambales and portions of what are now Tarlac and La Union provinces.
Rebellion against the Spanish rule
Malong liberation
Andres Malong, a native chief of the town of Binalatongan (now named San Carlos City), liberated the province from Spanish rule in December 1660. The people of Pangasinan proclaimed Andres Malong ''Ari na Pangasinan'' ("King of Pangasinan"). Pangasinan armies attempted to liberate the neighboring provinces of Pampanga and Ilocos, but were repelled by a Spanish-led coalition of loyalist tribal warriors and mercenaries. In February 1661, the newly independent Kingdom of Pangasinan fell to the Spanish.
Palaris liberation
On November 3, 1762, the people of Pangasinan proclaimed independence from Spain after a rebellion led by Juan de la Cruz Palaris. The Pangasinan revolt was sparked by news that Manila had fallen to the British on October 6, 1762. The Traité de Paris ended the Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (175 ...
between Britain, France and Spain on March 1, 1763. On January 16, 1765, Juan de la Cruz Palaris was captured and Pangasinan independence was lost again.
Philippine revolution against Spain
The Katipunan
The Katipunan, officially known as the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK; en, Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation ...
, a nationalist secret society, was founded on July 7, 1892, with the aim of uniting the peoples of the Philippines in the fight for independence and religious freedom. The Philippine Revolution began on August 26, 1896, and was led by the leader of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio
Andres or Andrés may refer to:
*Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US
*Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
*Andres (name)
*Hurricane Andres
* "Andres" (song), a 1994 song by L7
See also ...
. On November 18, 1897, a Katipunan council was formed in western Pangasinan with Presidente Generalisimo Roman Manalang and General Mauro Ortiz. General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence on June 12, 1898. Dagupan City
Dagupan, officially the City of Dagupan ( pag, Siyudad na Dagupan, ilo, Siudad ti Dagupan, fil, Lungsod ng Dagupan), is a 2nd class independent component city in the Ilocos Region, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...
, the major commercial center of Pangasinan, was surrounded by Katipunan forces on July 18, 1898. The Battle of Dagupan lasted from July 18 to 23 of that year with the surrender of 1,500 Spanish soldiers under Commander Federico J. Ceballos and Governor Joaquin de Orengochea.
The Battle of Dagupan was fought by local Katipuneros under the command of General Francisco Makabulos
Francisco Macabulos y Soliman (September 17, 1871 – April 20, 1922), commonly known today as Francisco Makabulos, was a Filipino patriot and revolutionary general who led the Katipunan revolutionary forces during the Philippine Revolution ag ...
and the last remnants of the once mighty Spanish Army under General Francisco Ceballos. Three local heroes fought in the five-day battle, Don Daniel Maramba of Santa Barbara, Don Vicente Prado of San Jacinto and Don Juan Quezada of Dagupan. Their armies amassed in Dagupan making a last stand at the brick-walled Catholic Church.
Maramba led the liberation of the town of Santa Barbara on March 7, 1898, following a signal for simultaneous attack from Makabulos. Hearing that Santa Barbara fell to the rebels Spanish forces in Dagupan attempted to retake the town but were repelled by Maramba's forces. After the setback the Spanish decided to concentrate their forces in Lingayen in order to protect the provincial capital. This allowed Maramba to expand his operations to include Malasiqui, Urdaneta and Mapandan which he defeated in succession. He then defeated the town of Mangaldan before proceeding to the last Spanish garrison in Dagupan. On March 7, 1898, rebels under the command of Prado and Quesada attacked convents in the province of Zambales which now constitute western Pangasinan.
Attacked and brought under Filipino control were Alaminos, Agno, Anda, Alos, Bani, Balincaguin, Bolinao, Dasol, Eguia and Potot. The revolt then spread to Labrador, Sual, Salasa and many other towns in the west. The towns of Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Salasa and Bayambang were occupied first by the forces of Prado and Quesada before they attacked Dagupan.
On April 17, 1898, General Makabulos appointed Prado to politico-military governor of Pangasinan with Quesada as his second in command. In May 1898 General Emilio Aguinaldo returned from his exile in Hong Kong following the signing of the Pact of Biac-na-Bato in December 1897. Aguinaldo's return gave renewed the flames of the revolution. On June 3, 1898, General Makabulos entered Tarlac.
So successful were the Filipinos
Filipinos ( tl, Mga Pilipino) are the people who are citizens of or native to the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos today come from various Austronesian ethnolinguistic groups, all typically speaking either Filipino, English and/or othe ...
in their many pitched battles against the Spanish that on June 30, 1898, Spanish authorities decided to evacuate all forces to Dagupan for a last stand against the rebels. They were ordered to go to Dagupan were all civilian and military personnel, including members of the volunteer locales of towns not yet in rebel hands. Those who heeded this order were the volunteer forces of Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Pozorrubio, Manaoag, and Villasis. Among the items brought to Dagupan was the image of the Most Holy Rosary of the Virgin of Manaoag which was the patron saint of Pangasinan.
The siege began when the forces of Maramba and Prado converged in Dagupan on July 18, 1898. The arrival of General Makabulos strengthened the rebel forces until the Spanish, holed up inside the Catholic Church, waved the flag of surrender five days later. The poorly armed Filipinos were no match for the Spanish soldiers holed inside the Church. The tempo of battle changed when the attackers under the command of Don Vicente Prado devised a crude means of protection to shield them from Spanish fire while advancing. They used trunks of bananas bundled up in sawali which enabled them to move upon the Church.
Northern Zambales ceded to Pangasinan
On November 30, 1903, several municipalities from northern Zambales including Agno, Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta and Mabini were ceded to Pangasinan by the American colonial government. These municipalities were a part of the homeland of the Sambal people who wanted to remain within the Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
province. This 1903 colonial decision has yet to be reverted.
American colonization and the Philippine Commonwealth regime
Pangasinan and other parts of the Spanish East Indies
The Spanish East Indies ( es , Indias orientales españolas ; fil, Silangang Indiyas ng Espanya) were the overseas territories of the Spanish Empire in Asia and Oceania from 1565 to 1898, governed for the Spanish Crown from Mexico City and Madri ...
were ceded to the Americans after the Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris may refer to one of many treaties signed in Paris, France:
Treaties
1200s and 1300s
* Treaty of Paris (1229), which ended the Albigensian Crusade
* Treaty of Paris (1259), between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France
* Trea ...
, which ended the Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
. During the Philippine–American War Lieutenant Col. José Torres Bugallón of Salasa fought together with Gen. Antonio Luna to defend the First Philippine Republic
The Philippine Republic ( es, República Filipina), now officially known as the First Philippine Republic, also referred to by historians as the Malolos Republic, was established in Malolos, Bulacan during the Philippine Revolution against ...
against American colonization in Northern Luzon. Bugallon was killed in battle on February 5, 1899. The First Philippine Republic was abolished in 1901. In 1907 the Philippine Assembly was established and for the first time five residents of Pangasinan were elected as its district representatives. In 1921, Mauro Navarro, representing Pangasinan in the Philippine Assembly
The Philippine Assembly (sometimes called the Philippine National Assembly) was the lower house of the Philippine Legislature from 1907 to 1916, when it was renamed the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The Philippine Assembly wa ...
, sponsored a law to rename the town of Salasa to Bugallon in honor of General Bugallon.
Manuel L. Quezon was inaugurated as the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines with collaboration from the United States of America on November 15, 1935.
The 21st Infantry Division were stationed in Pangasinan during the pre-World War II era. Anti-Japanese Imperial military operations included the fall of Bataan and Corregidor along with aiding the USAFFE ground force from January to May 1942 and the Japanese Insurgencies and Allied Liberation in Pangasinan from 1942 to 1945.
Philippine Republic
1946–1986
After the declaration of Independence on July 4, 1946, Eugenio Perez, a Liberal Party (Philippines), Liberal Party congressman representing the Legislative districts of Pangasinan#4th District, fourth district of Pangasinan, was elected Speaker of the lower House of Representatives of the Philippines, Legislative House. He led the House until 1953 when the Nacionalista Party became the dominant party.
Pangasinan, which is historically and geographically part of the Central Luzon Region, is made politically part of the Ilocos Region
Ilocos Region ( ilo, Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; pag, Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno; tl, Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the northwestern section of Luzon and part of ...
(Region I) in the gerrymandering of the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
by Ferdinand Marcos, despite the fact that Pangasinan has its distinct primary language, which is Pangasinan. The political classification of Pangasinan as part of the Ilocos Region has generated confusion among some Filipinos. The residents of Pangasinan are Ilocanos even though Ilocanos constitute a minority in the province. Pangasinan is an ethnic group with a distinct language and culture. Its economy is larger than the Ilocano provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union and its population is more than 50 percent of the population of Region 1.
1986–present
In February 1986 Vice Chief of Staff General Fidel V. Ramos, head of the Philippine Integrated National Police and a native of Pangasinan, became an instrumental figure in the People Power Revolution, EDSA people power revolution which deposed President Ferdinand Marcos.
After the downfall of Marcos all local government unit executives were ordered by President of the Philippines, President Corazon Aquino to vacate their posts. Some local executives were ordered to return to their seats as in the case of Mayor Ludovico Espinosa of Dasol who claimed to have joined UNIDO during the height of the People Power Revolution, EDSA Revolution. Fidel Ramos was appointed as AFP Chief of Staff and later as Defense Secretary replacing Juan Ponce Enrile. Oscar Orbos, a congressman from Bani, was appointed by Aquino to head the Department of Transportation and Communications and later to Executive Secretary.
On May 11, 1992, Fidel V. Ramos 1992 Philippine general election, ran for President of the Philippines, President. He became the first Pangasinense President of the Philippines. Under his leadership the Philippines recovered from the oil and power crisis of 1991. His influence sparked the economic growth of Pangasinan when it hosted the 1995 ''Palarong Pambansa'' (Philippine National Games).
Jose de Venecia, who represented the same district as Eugenio Perez, was the second Pangasinense to become Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1992. He was reelected again in 1995. De Venecia was selected by the Ramos' administration party Lakas NUCD to be its presidential candidate in 1998. De Venecia 1998 Philippine general election, ran but lost to Vice President of the Philippines, Vice President Joseph Estrada. Oscar Orbos 1998 Philippine general election, ran for vice president but lost to Senate of the Philippines, Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose mother, former First Ladies and Gentlemen of the Philippines, First Lady Eva Macapagal, Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal, hails from Binalonan.
Arroyo ascended to the presidency after the second EDSA II, EDSA Revolution when President Joseph Estrada was overthrown.
In May 2004 actor-turned-politician Fernando Poe, Jr. of San Carlos City ran for president against incumbent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The Pangasinan vote was split by the two presidential candidates, both with Pangasinan roots. Arroyo was elected president but her victory was tainted by charges of electoral fraud and vote-buying.
Geography
Physical
Pangasinan is located in the west central area of Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
in the Philippines. It is bordered by La Union to the north, Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya to the northeast, Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province ...
to the southeast, and Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
and Tarlac
Tarlac, officially the Province of Tarlac ( pam, Lalawigan ning Tarlac; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Tarlac; ilo, Probinsia ti Tarlac; tgl, Lalawigan ng Tarlac; ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. It ...
to the south. To the west of Pangasinan is the South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
. The province also encloses the Lingayen Gulf.
The province has a land area of . It is north of Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, south of Baguio, north of Subic International Airport and Seaport, and north of Clark International Airport. At the coast of Alaminos, the Hundred Islands National Park, Hundred islands have become a famous tourist spot.
The terrain of the province, as part of the Central Luzon plains, is typically flat, with a few parts being hilly and/or mountainous. The northeastern municipalities of San Manuel, Pangasinan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Pangasinan, San Nicolas, Natividad, Pangasinan, Natividad, San Quintin, Pangasinan, San Quintin and Umingan, Pangasinan, Umingan have hilly to mountainous areas at the tip of the Cordillera Central (Luzon), Cordillera mountains. The Zambales mountains extend to the province's western towns of Labrador, Pangasinan, Labrador, Mabini, Pangasinan, Mabini, Bugallon, Pangasinan, Bugallon, Aguilar, Pangasinan, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Pangasinan, Mangatarem, Dasol, and Infanta, Pangasinan, Infanta forming the mountainous portions of those towns.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported several Volcano#Popular classification of volcanoes, inactive volcanoes in the province: Mount Amorong, Amorong, Mount Balungao, Balungao, Cabaluyan, Cahelietan, Candong, and Malabobo. PHIVOLCS reported no active or potentially active volcanoes in Pangasinan. A caldera-like landform is located between the towns of Malasiqui and Villasis with a center at about 15° 55′ N and 120° 30′ E near the Cabaruan Hills.
Several rivers traverse the province. The longest is the Agno River
The Agno River, or Pangasinan River, is a river in the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Traversing the provinces of Baguio and Pangasinan, it is one of the largest river systems in the country, with a drainage area of .
The river originate ...
which originates in the Cordillera Central (Luzon), Cordillera Mountains of Benguet and eventually terminates at the Lingayen Gulf. Other major rivers include the Bued River, Angalacan River, Sinocalan River, Patalan River and the Cayanga River.
Administrative divisions
The province of Pangasinan is subdivided into 44 Philippine municipality, municipalities, 4 Cities of the Philippines, cities, and 1,364 ''barangay'' (which means "village" or "community"). There are six Legislative districts of Pangasinan, congressional districts in the province.
The capital city, capital of the province is Lingayen
Lingayen, officially the Municipality of Lingayen ( pag, Baley na Lingayen; ilo, Ili ti Lingayen; tgl, Bayan ng Lingayen), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Pangasi ...
. In ancient times, the capital of Pangasinan was Binalatongan, now San Carlos, Pangasinan, San Carlos. During Japanese occupation, Dagupan was made a wartime capital.
Independent city
* Dagupan
Component cities
* Alaminos
*San Carlos, Pangasinan, San Carlos
*Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Urdaneta
Municipalities
*Agno, Pangasinan, Agno
*Aguilar, Pangasinan, Aguilar
*Alcala, Pangasinan, Alcala
*Anda, Pangasinan, Anda
*Asingan, Pangasinan, Asingan
*Balungao, Pangasinan, Balungao
*Bani, Pangasinan, Bani
*Basista, Pangasinan, Basista
*Bautista, Pangasinan, Bautista
*Bayambang, Pangasinan, Bayambang
*Binalonan, Pangasinan, Binalonan
*Binmaley, Pangasinan, Binmaley
*Bolinao
Bolinao, officially the Municipality of Bolinao ( pag, Baley na Bolinao; ilo, Ili ti Bolinao; tgl, Bayan ng Bolinao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
*Bugallon, Pangasinan, Bugallon
*Burgos, Pangasinan, Burgos
* Calasiao
*Dasol
*Infanta, Pangasinan, Infanta
*Labrador, Pangasinan, Labrador
*Laoac, Pangasinan, Laoac
*Lingayen
Lingayen, officially the Municipality of Lingayen ( pag, Baley na Lingayen; ilo, Ili ti Lingayen; tgl, Bayan ng Lingayen), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Pangasi ...
*Mabini, Pangasinan, Mabini
*Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Malasiqui
*Manaoag, Pangasinan, Manaoag
*Mangaldan, Pangasinan, Mangaldan
*Mangatarem, Pangasinan, Mangatarem
*Mapandan, Pangasinan, Mapandan
*Natividad, Pangasinan, Natividad
*Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, Pozorrubio
*Rosales, Pangasinan, Rosales
*San Fabian, Pangasinan, San Fabian
*San Jacinto, Pangasinan, San Jacinto
*San Manuel, Pangasinan, San Manuel
*San Nicolas, Pangasinan, San Nicolas
*San Quintin, Pangasinan, San Quintin
*Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, Santa Barbara
*Santa Maria, Pangasinan, Santa Maria
*Santo Tomas, Pangasinan, Santo Tomas
*Sison, Pangasinan, Sison
*Sual, Pangasinan, Sual
*Tayug, Pangasinan, Tayug
*Umingan, Pangasinan, Umingan
*Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, Urbiztondo
*Villasis, Pangasinan, Villasis
Barangays
Pangasinan has 1,364 barangays comprising its 44 municipalities and 4 cities, ranking the province at 3rd with the most barangays in a Philippine province, only behind the Visayan provinces of Leyte (province), Leyte and Iloilo.
Longos Amangonan Parac‑Parac Fabrica is the longest named barangay in the Philippines. It is situated in the municipality of San Fabian, Pangasinan. The most populous barangay in the province is Bonuan Gueset in Dagupan City with a population of 22,042 as of 2010. If cities are excluded, ''Poblacion'' in the municipality of Lingayen
Lingayen, officially the Municipality of Lingayen ( pag, Baley na Lingayen; ilo, Ili ti Lingayen; tgl, Bayan ng Lingayen), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Pangasi ...
has the highest population at 12,642. ''Iton'' in Bayambang has the lowest with only 99 as of the 2010 census.
Demographics
Population
The population of Pangasinan in the 2020 census was 3,163,190 people, with a density of .
The Pangasinan people
The Pangasinan people ( pag, Totoon Pangasinan), also known as Pangasinense, are an ethnolinguistic group native to the Philippines. Numbering 1,823,865 in 2010, they are the tenth largest ethnolinguistic group in the country. They live mainly in ...
(Totoon Pangasinan) are called Pangasinan or the Hispanicized name ''Pangasinense'', or simply ''taga-Pangasinan'', which means "native of Pangasinan". Pangasinan people were known as traders, businesspeople, farmers and fishers. Pangasinan is the third most-populated province in the Philippines. The estimated population of the indigenous speakers of the Pangasinan language in the province of Pangasinan is almost 2 million and is projected to double in about 30 years. According to the 2000 census 47 percent of the population are native Pangasinan and 44 percent are Ilocano people, Ilocano settlers. Indigenous Sambal people predominate in the westernmost municipalities of Bolinao
Bolinao, officially the Municipality of Bolinao ( pag, Baley na Bolinao; ilo, Ili ti Bolinao; tgl, Bayan ng Bolinao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
and Anda, Pangasinan, Anda. The Pangasinan people are closely related to the Austronesian people, Austronesian-speaking peoples of the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
as well as Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
and Malaysia.
Languages
The Pangasinan language is an agglutinative language. It belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian languages
The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. The Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken by the Austronesian peoples outside of Taiwan, in the island nations of Southeas ...
branch of the Austronesian language family and is the primary language of the province of Pangasinan, as well as northern Tarlac and southwestern La Union. The Pangasinan language is similar to the other Malayo-Polynesian languages
The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. The Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken by the Austronesian peoples outside of Taiwan, in the island nations of Southeas ...
of the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, as well as Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
and Malaysia. It is closely related to the Ibaloi language spoken in the neighboring province of Benguet, located northwest of Pangasinan. The Pangasinan language along with Ibaloi are classified under the Pangasinic group of languages. The other Pangasinic languages are:
* Karao
* Iwaak
* Keley-I
* I-Kallahan
* Ibaloi
* Tinoc
* Kayapa
Aside from their native language, many educated Pangasinans are highly proficient in Ilocano language, Ilocano, English language, English and Filipino language, Filipino. Pangasinan is mostly spoken in the central part of the province in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and is the second language in other parts of Pangasinan. Ilocano language, Ilocano is widely spoken in the westernmost and easternmost parts of Pangasinan in the 1st, 5th and 6th districts, and is the second language in other parts of Pangasinan. Ilocanos and Pangasinans speak Ilocano with a Pangasinan accent, as descendants of Ilocanos from first generation who lived within Pangasinan population learned Pangasinan language. Bolinao language, Bolinao, a Sambalic languages, Sambalic language is widely spoken in the western tip of the province in the towns of Bolinao and Anda.
Religion
The dominant religion in Pangasinan is Roman Catholicism with 80% affiliation in the population. The Aglipayan Church comes in second with 15% of the population. Other religious denominations are divided with other Christian groups such as Members Church of God International, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Baptist, Methodist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventist. Few are strict believers and continue to practice their indigenous anito beliefs and rituals, like most of the people of the Philippines.
Spanish people, Spanish and United States, American missionaries introduced Christianity to Pangasinan. Prior to the Spanish conquest in 1571, the predominant religion of the people of Pangasinan was similar to the indigenous religion of the highland Igorot or the inhabitants of the Cordillera Administrative Region on the island of Luzon, who mostly retained their indigenous culture and religion. A translation of the New Testament (excluding Revelation) in the Pangasinan language by Fr. Nicolas Manrique Alonzo Lallave, a Spanish Dominican friar assigned in Urdaneta, was the first ever translation of a complete portion of the Bible in a Philippine language. Pangasinan was also influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam to a lesser extent before the introduction of Christianity. Some Pangasinense people have reverted to their indigenous religion of worshiping Ama Kaoley or Ama-Gaolay, while the Sambal people of the west have reverted to their indigenous religion worshiping Malayari.
Economy
The province's economy is mainly agricultural due to its vast fertile plains. More than 44 percent of its agricultural area is devoted to crop production. Aside from being one of the Philippine's rice granaries, Pangasinan is also a major producer of coconut, mango and eggplant. Pangasinan is the richest province in the Ilocos Region.
Energy
The Sual Power Station, 1200 megawatt Sual coal-fired power plant and San Roque Dam (Philippines), 345 megawatt San Roque multi-purpose dam in the municipalities of Sual and San Manuel, respectively, are the primary sources of energy in the province.
Marine
Pangasinan is a major fish supplier in Luzon and a major producer of salt in the Philippines. It has extensive fishponds mostly for raising ''bangus'' or "milkfish" along the coasts of the Lingayen Gulf and the South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
. Pangasinan's aquaculture includes oyster and sea urchin farms.
Salt is also a major industry. In salt evaporation ponds seawater is mixed with sodium bicarbonate until the water evaporates and the salt remains. This is their ancient tradition inspired from Egypt.
Agriculture
The major crops in Pangasinan are rice, mangoes, Maize, corn, and sugar cane. Pangasinan has a land area of 536,819 hectares, and 44 percent of the total land area of Pangasinan is devoted to agricultural production.
Financial
Pangasinan has 593 banking and financing institutions.
Health and education
There are thousands of public schools and hundreds of private schools across the province for primary and secondary education. Many Pangasinans go to Metro Manila, Baguio, and the United States for tertiary and higher education.
Pangasinan has 51 hospitals and clinics and 68 rural health units (as of July 2002). Although some residents go to other parts of the Philippines, Metro Manila, Europe and the United States for extensive medical tests and treatment, almost all Pangasinans go to the major medical centers in the cities of Dagupan City, Dagupan, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, San Carlos and Urdaneta City, Urdaneta.
Culture
The culture of Pangasinan is a blend of the indigenous Malayo-Polynesian and western Hispanic culture with some Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
and Han Chinese, Chinese influences as well as American influences. Pangasinan is westernized yet retains a strong native Austronesian background.
The main centers of Pangasinan culture are Dagupan City
Dagupan, officially the City of Dagupan ( pag, Siyudad na Dagupan, ilo, Siudad ti Dagupan, fil, Lungsod ng Dagupan), is a 2nd class independent component city in the Ilocos Region, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...
, Lingayen
Lingayen, officially the Municipality of Lingayen ( pag, Baley na Lingayen; ilo, Ili ti Lingayen; tgl, Bayan ng Lingayen), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Pangasi ...
, Manaoag, Pangasinan, Manaoag, Calasiao and San Carlos City, Pangasinan, San Carlos City.
Government
The incumbent governor of Pangasinan is Ramon Guico III along with Vice Governor Mark Lambino, son of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino. Among prominent figures who served as Governor of Pangasinan include Francisco Duque Jr., former Secretary of Department of Health (Philippines), Conrado Estrella, former secretary of Department of Agrarian Reform, Tito Primicias, Vicente Millora, Daniel Maramba, Oscar Orbos, Victor Agbayani and Amado Espino Jr.
Here are the other newly elected officials beginning June 30, 2022:
District Representatives
* 1st District: Arthur Celeste
* 2nd District: Mark Cojuangco
* 3rd District: Rachel Arenas
* 4th District: Christopher de Venecia
* 5th District: Ramon Guico Jr.
* 6th District: Marlyn Primicias-Agabas
Provincial Board Members
* 1st District: Napoleon Fontelera Jr. and Apolonia Bacay
* 2nd District: Philip Theodore Cruz and Haidee Pacheco
* 3rd District: Shiela Baniqued and Vici Ventenilla
* 4th District: Marinor de Guzman and Jerry Rosario
* 5th District: Chinky Perez-Tababa and Louie Sison
* 6th District: Noel Bince and Salvador Perez Jr.
* Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President: TBA
* PCL Pangasinan President: TBA
* Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial President: TBA
Notable people
Notable people either born or residing in Pangasinan include:
* José Torres Bugallón, Filipino people, Filipino military officer who fought during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War, from Bugallon.
* Carmen Velasquez, National Scientist of the Philippines for Parasitology, from Bayambang.
* Perla Santos-Ocampo, National Scientist of the Philippines for Pediatrics, from Dagupan.
* Francisco Sionil José, National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, from Rosales.
* Victorio Edades, National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts– Painting, from Dagupan City.
* Salvador Bernal, National Artist of the Philippines for Theater and Design, from Dagupan City.
* President Fidel V. Ramos, who was born in Lingayen and hails from Asingan.
* Narciso Ramos, a journalist, lawyer, assemblyman and ambassador, and one of the founding fathers of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), born in Asingan.
* Manuel Moran, 7th Chief Justice of the Philippines, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, who was born in Binalonan.
* Jhosep Lopez, 190th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, born in Umingan
* Senator Geronima Tomelden-Pecson, the first female senator of the Philippines, was a native of Lingayen.
* Senator Pedro María Sison, delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935, from Urdaneta.
* Senator Cipriano Primicias Sr., from Alcala, Pangasinan, Alcala
* Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani (Senator of the Philippines, 1987–1998), born in Lingayen and hails from Asingan.
* Senator Ambrosio Padilla, vice-president of the Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986, born in Lingayen.
* Senator Rene Cayetano (Senator of the Philippines, 1998–2003), from San Carlos City.
* Speaker Eugenio Perez, 8th Speaker of the House of Representatives (Philippines) from Pangasinan, born in Basista.
* Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives (Philippines), born in Dagupan.
* Conrado Estrella III, House Representative for the Abono Partylist, former 6th District Representative of Pangasinan (1987-1995; 2001-2010)
* Deputy Speaker Rose Marie Arenas noted socialite and philanthropist
*Maria Rachel Arenas former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chairman and first woman representative of Pangasinan
* Eva Macapagal, First Lady of the Philippines in 1961–1965 and mother of Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, from Binalonan.
* Fernando de Araújo (East Timorese politician), Jacqueline Aquino Siapno, a professor from Dagupan City, former interim first lady of East Timor.
* Gabriel C. Singson, the former governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, from Lingayen.
* Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Former AFP Chief of Staff and current adviser of National Security Council (Philippines), born in Asingan.
* Arturo Lomibao, 11th Philippine National Police Chief, Chief of the Philippine National Police, from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, Mangaldan
* Edward Soriano, retired United States Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general and is the highest-ranking Filipino American officer to have served in the United States military, and the first promoted to a general officer., from Alcala
* Romeo de la Cruz, former Solicitor General of the Philippines from Urdaneta City.
* Thomas Orbos, current undersecretary of Department of Transportation (Philippines), brother of former Governor Oscar Orbos, natives from the town of Bani.
* Oscar Orbos, a native of Bani, a former governor and TV host.
* Carlos Bulosan, author of America Is in the Heart, from Binalonan.
* Larry Itliong, Filipino-American labor organizer, from San Nicholas.
* Ermin Garcia, journalist and newspaper publisher, from San Fabian, Pangasinan, San Fabian
* Julius Babao, ABS-CBN news anchor, TV/Radio host, born in Dagupan City.
* Cheryl Cosim, TV5 news anchor, TV/Radio host is from Dagupan City.
* Maki Pulido, GMA news anchor, hails from Anda.
* Carmen Rosales, Filipina actress and World War II guerilla fighter, born in Rosales.
* Fernando Poe Sr., former action star, from San Carlos City.
* Barbara Perez, veteran actress, born in Urdaneta City.
* Lolita Rodriguez, actress, born in Urdaneta City.
* Gloria Romero (actress), Gloria Romero, a veteran actress, hails from Mabini.
* Nova Villa, GMA veteran actress, from Mangatarem
* Mitoy Yonting, first winner of The Voice of the Philippines, lead singer Draybers., from Calasiao.
* Papa Jack, TV Radio Broadcaster and DJ, from Alcala.
* Mocha Uson, Assistant Secretary of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), born in Dagupan City.
* Jhong Hilario, ABS-CBN dancer and actor, born in Asingan.
* Jane Oineza, ABS-CBN Teen Actress from Bani.
* Danny Ildefonso, two-time Philippine Basketball Association, PBA Season MVP, five-time Best Player of the Conference, three-time Finals MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, eight-time Philippine Basketball Association, PBA Champion and one of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History, from Urdaneta City.
* Marc Pingris, two-time Finals MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star Game MVP, Most Improved Player, eight-time Philippine Basketball Association, PBA Champion and one of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History, from Pozorrubio
* Marlou Aquino, Rookie of the Year, Best Player of the Conference, Defensive Player of the Year, three-time Philippine Basketball Association, PBA Champion and one of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History, from Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, Santa Barbara.
*Rachel Alejandro, opm singer and actress, from Alaminos.
*Lordy Tugade, Finals MVP and Philippine Basketball Association, PBA Champion, from Alaminos.
*Niña Jose, ABS-CBN actress, politician, mayor of Bayambang, from Bayambang.
See also
*Pangasinan literature
*Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan
*Roman Catholic Diocese of Alaminos
*Roman Catholic Diocese of Urdaneta
References
;Bibliography
* Agoncillo, Teodoro A. ''History of the Filipino People''. (Quezon City: Garotech Publishing, Eighth Edition, 1990).
* Cortes, Rosario Mendoza. ''Pangasinan, 1572–1800''. (Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1974; New Day Publishers, 1975).
* Cortes, Rosario Mendoza. ''Pangasinan, 1801–1900: The Beginnings of Modernization''. (Cellar Book Shop, April 1991).
* Cortes, Rosario Mendoza. ''Pangasinan, 1901–1986: A Political, Socioeconomic, and Cultural History''. (Cellar Book Shop, April 1991).
* Cortes, Rosario Mendoza. ''The Filipino Saga: History as Social Change''. (Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 2000).
* Craig, Austin. "Lineage Life and Labors of Jose Rizal". (Manila: Philippine Education Company, 1913).
* Mafiles, Victoria Veloria; Nava, Erlinda Tomelden. ''The English Translations of Pangasinan Folk Literature''. (Dagupan City, Philippines: Five Ed Printing Press, 2004).
* Quintos, Felipe Quintos. ''Sipi Awaray Gelew Diad Pilipinas (Revolucion Filipina)''. (Lingayen, Pangasinan: Gumawid Press, 1926).
* Samson-Nelmida, Perla. ''Pangasinan Folk Literature'', A Doctoral Dissertation. (University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City: May 1982).
External links
*
Official Tourism Website of Pangasinan
Official Website of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan
Provincial Profile at the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines
Local Governance Performance Management System
Pangasinan Wikipedia
Salt production in Pangasinan
Philippine Standard Geographic Code
{{Authority control
Pangasinan,
Provinces of the Philippines
States and territories established in 1611
1611 establishments in the Philippines