The Pangasinan people ( pag, Totoon Pangasinan), also known as Pangasinense, are an

ethnolinguistic group An ethnolinguistic group (or ethno-linguistic group) is a group that is unified by both a common ethnicity and language. Most ethnic groups share a first language. However, "ethnolinguistic" is often used to emphasise that language is a major ba ...

native to 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 ...

. Numbering 1,823,865 in 2010, they are the tenth largest ethnolinguistic group in the country. They live mainly in their native

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 ...

of Pangasinan and the adjacent provinces of La Union 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 ...

, as well as Benguet,

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 ...

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

Nueva Vizcaya Nueva Vizcaya, officially the Province of Nueva Vizcaya ( ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Vizcaya; gad, Probinsia na Nueva Vizcaya; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Vizcaya''; tl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Vizcaya ), is a landlocked province in the ...

. Smaller groups are found elsewhere in the Philippines and worldwide in the

Filipino diaspora An overseas Filipino ( fil, Pilipino sa ibayong-dagat) is a person of full or partial Filipino origin—i.e., people who trace back their ancestry to the Philippines but living or residing outside the country. This term generally applies to ...

Etymology

The name Pangasinan means "land of salt" or "place of salt-making". It is derived from ''asin'', the word for "salt" in Pangasinan. The Pangasinan people are referred as ''Pangasinense''. The term ''Pangasinan'' can refer to the

indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention *Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band *Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...

speakers of the

Pangasinan language Pangasinan (''Pangasinense'') is an Austronesian language, and one of the eight major languages of the Philippines. It is the primary and predominant language of the entire province of Pangasinan and northern Tarlac, on the northern part of Luz ...

or people of Pangasinan heritage.

Demographics

玳瑁 Taipue - Unknown couple - Boxer Codex (1590)

The estimated population of the Pangasinan people in the province of Pangasinan is 2.5 million. The Pangasinan people are also living in the neighboring provinces of Tarlac and La Union (which used to be parts of Pangasinan Province), Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Nueva Vizcaya; as well as in Pangasinan communities in the Philippines and overseas.

Indigenous religion

Prior to

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 ...

colonization, the Pangasinan people believed in a pantheon of unique deities (gods and goddesses).

Immortals

*Ama: the supreme deity, ruler of others, and the creator of mankind; sees everything through his aerial abode; father of Agueo and Bulan also referred as Ama-Gaolay *Agueo: the morose and taciturn sun god who is obedient to his father, Ama; lives in a palace of light *Bulan: the merry and mischievous moon god, whose dim palace was the source of the perpetual light which became the stars; guides the ways of thieves

Mortals

*Urduja: a warrior princess who headed a supreme fleet

Notable individuals

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 ...

was a legendary woman warrior who is regarded as a heroine in Pangasinan. Malong and Palaris fought for independence from Spanish rule. Other prominent people of Pangasinan descent include

Fidel Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (, ; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and Eddie Ramos, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military ...

, born in Lingayen, he served in the Cabinet of President

Corazón Aquino Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People ...

, first as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and later on, as Secretary of National Defense from 1986 to 1991 before becoming the Philippine's 12th president.

Tania Dawson Tania Pauline Dawson (born 2 January 1993) is a New Zealand actress, singer, teacher, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe New Zealand, Miss New Zealand 2016. She represented New Zealand at Miss Universe 2016. Personal lif ...

whose mother hails from Santa Maria, Pangasinan, lawmaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., who was born in Dagupan City, Pangasinan; and actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., whose father was from San Carlos City, Pangasinan. Other notable Pangasinenses are Victorio C. Edades,

Angela Perez Baraquio Angela Perez Baraquio Grey (born June 1, 1976), known professionally by her birth name of Angela Perez Baraquio, is an American educator. She was crowned Miss America 2001 on October 14, 2000 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, becoming the first As ...

Ambrosio Padilla Ambrosio Bibby Padilla (December 7, 1910 – August 11, 1996The Philippine Daily Inquirer, In Loving Memory on the 7th Death Anniversary of Ambrosio Padilla', The Philippine Daily Inquirer, B.14 (11 augustus 2003)) was a Filipino basketball ...

Cheryl Cosim Cheryl Kathleen Cosim-Alvarez (; born February 7, 1974) is a Filipina journalist, news anchor and TV host. She began her career as a journalist at ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, hosting the programs '' Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas'', '' Sal ...

(reporter),

Marc Pingris Jean Marc Prado Pingris Jr. (born October 16, 1981) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. Known as one of the best defenders and rebounders in PBA history, he was named one of the league's 40 Greatest Players. He spent 14 season ...

, and Ric Segreto. Notable Pangasinense actresses include

Donita Rose Donita Rose Cavett (born December 5, 1974) is a Filipino-American actress, TV host and former MTV Asia VJ. Early and personal life Donita Rose Cavett was born in Utah on 5 December 1974 and moved to the Philippines when she was five years old. ...

Marlou Aquino Marlou Bucao Aquino (born October 7, 1972) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime he was known by fans as "The S ...

Lolita Rodriguez Dolores Marquez Clark, better known by her screen name Lolita Rodriguez (January 29, 1935 – November 28, 2016), was a multi-awarded actress in the Philippines. She was paired with Eddie Arenas in ''Gilda'' (1956), in which she won her first F ...

Barbara Perez Barbara Perez (born January 4, 1938) is a Filipina actress in movies and television in the Philippines. She was tagged as the " Audrey Hepburn of the Philippines" due to her doe eyes, pixie face, swan-like neck and 19-inch waistline. In the west ...

Gloria Romero Gloria Romero may refer to: *Gloria Romero (actress) Gloria Anne Borrego Galla (born December 16, 1933), known professionally as Gloria Romero (), is a multi-awarded Filipino actress, regarded as the “Queen of Philippine Movies”, her care ...

, Carmen Rosales,

Nova Villa Novelita Villanueva Gallegos (born April 16, 1946), better known as Nova Villa, is a Filipino actress and a veteran comedian. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Villa is recognized as the original 'Goddess of Comedy' and one of the defi ...

Jhong Hilario Virgilio Viernes Hilario Jr. (born August 11, 1976), professionally known as Jhong Hilario, is a Filipino actor, dancer, television host, and politician. He is part of the Filipino dance group ''Streetboys''. He is currently serving as a counc ...

, and

Liza Soberano Hope Elizabeth Soberano( , ; born January 4, 1998), professionally known as Liza Soberano, is a Filipino actress, model and singer. She started in a range of television series and films, including ''Wansapanataym'' (2011), ''Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo ...

References

External links

Sunday Punch

Sun Star Pangasinan

Pangasinan Star Online

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pangasinan People Pangasinan Ethnic groups in Luzon Ethnic groups in the Philippines