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Pagawidan: Historic Balungao, Pugaro, Balungao (2026)

29/09/2022

A jadinera bus of Binalonan Liner, a local bus company owned by Ramon Guico, Sr., grandfather of Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III.

From Pilipinas Retrostalgia

23/09/2022

Church and Campanile
Rosales, Pangasinan
Ginn & Company, 1905

18/06/2022

Pangasinan on the Eve of the Philippine Revolution of 1896

Considered as the most populous province of Luzon, Pangasinan had a total population of 293,103 inhabitants as of 1894-1895. The 29 pueblos or towns of Pangasinan each were governed by a capitan municipal, who was assisted by a directorcillo or secretario, and a juez de paz. In Lingayen, there was a separate local government for the town center or ayuntamiento. Government offices such as those regulating business and property ownership and the treasury office were all found in the town. Port authorities were also set up at the cabecera or capital and Dagupan.

Post offices and telegraph stations connected the capital with Dagupan, Santa Barbara, Urdaneta, Tayug and San Nicolas. Carromata dirt roads connected all the towns. The Manila-Dagupan railroad was already operational. The Agno River also served as a highway of people, products and goods.

All of the towns had a public school, with at least one profesor and one profesora for male and female pupils, respectively. A colegio or secondary school – the Colegio de San Alberto el Magno – was located in Dagupan, and secondary schools for teacher education could also be found in Calasiao and San Fabian.

Native lawyers, notaries, surveyors, physicians, medics, pharmacists and surgeons were practicing their professions in the big towns such as Lingayen, Dagupan, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Mangatarem and Tayug. Merchants and traders were concentrated in Lingayen, Dagupan, Calasiao, Mangatarem, San Carlos and Santa Barbara. A printing house was found in Lingayen.

The chief occupation of the inhabitants was cultivating rice, sugarcane and to***co. Formerly, the people not only sent rice to Manila but also exported it to China, Siam or Thailand and Annam, a region of Vietnam today, on board sailing vessels built in local shipyards.

There were some great landowners in Pangasinan; one of them, Don Rafael Sison, owned an estate that stretched from Calasiao and Santa Barbara to Urdaneta.

Rice milling machines, warehouses and traders were set up in Bayambang, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara and Villasis. Foreign investors Smith, Bell & Co. and Warner, Blogget & Co. engaged in rice buying and exportation.

Sugar was produced in some towns. Cooked sugarcane was drained in earthenware molds and the sugar was wrapped in dried sheaths of the buri leaves. Most of the sugar productions were also sent to Manila by sea and exported to China. Modern sugarcane millers and sugar factories were established in Pozorrubio and San Carlos.

Indigo was also cultivated and exported, and a good deal of Sapang and other hardwoods turned into lumber were also exported. An indigo factory was found in Alcala. A lumber commission agent, lumber exporters and sawmills were based in Alcala, Salasa and San Nicolas, respectively.

Exporters and importers of agricultural products, lumber and goods were based in Dagupan. There were groceries and shops in Lingayen, Alcala, Bayambang, Calasiao, Dagupan, Mangatarem, San Carlos, San Nicolas and Tayug.

Nipa and sugarcane wine and spirits or brandy and alcohol distilleries were established in some towns like Lingayen, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Salasa, San Isidro and San Nicolas. Fabrics and jewelry shops, general merchandise, fruit suppliers and sellers of imported European items or goods were owned by Chinese businessmen in Mangatarem, San Carlos, San Manuel and Tayug. Manufacturers and cattle handlers were based in Tayug and San Nicolas, respectively.

Among the industries of Pangasinan can be mentioned the manufacture of finely woven nito and buri hats, which were made at Calasiao. There were also at Calasiao and in other towns blacksmiths who forged excellent bolos or farm knives. Carromatas, the two-wheeled vehicles of the country, were constructed at Lingayen and Dagupan and were said to be very well made. The sands of the Agno River near Rosales, Nueva Ecija and of other tributary streams coming down from the eastern mountains were being washed for gold.

References:

Anuario del Comercio de la Industria de la Magistratura y de la Administracion; Directorio de las 400.000 Señas de España, Ultramar, Estados Hispano-Americanos y Portugal Con Anuncios y referencias al Comercio e Industria Nacional y Estranjera. Madrid: Bailley-Bailliere y Hijos,1898.

Frederick H. Sawyer. The Inhabitants of the Philippines. London: Sampson Low, Maiston and Company, Ltd., 1900.

PROVINCIA DE PANGASINAN

Situada al norte de Manila. Sus limites son: al Norte la provincia de la Union, al Sur las provincias de la Pampanga y Zambales, al Este la de Nueva Vizcaya y al O. el mar de la China.
Superficio: …. hectares.
Poblacion: 293, 103 habitantes.
Producciones: Las principales son arroz, caña dulce y tabaco. Se tejen finisimos sombreros de nito y buri.

LINGAYEN. – Pueblo con 18,886 habitantes, capital de la provincia de Pangasinan, situado a 245 kilometros de Manila. Produce arroz, siendo su principal industria la carpinteria.
Gobierno Civil. – Gobernador, Miguel Socias y Calmari. – Secretario, Felix Mathet.
Ayuntamiento. – Alcalde, Gaspar Castaño. – Secretario, Abraham Garcia y Garcia.
Juzgado de Primera Instancia. – Juez, Antonio Lopez Oliva. – Promotor fiscal, Diego Espinosa de los Monteros. – Interprete, Guillermo Mateo.
Registrador mercantil. – Santiago Guevara.
Registrador de la propiedad. – Antonio Majarreis
Capitan municipal. – Doroteo Solis.
Juzgado de paz. – Juez, Pastor Suri Santos. – Fiscal, Antonio Sabalio
Capitan del puerto. – Jose Villeta.
Administracion de Hacienda. – Administrador de Hacienda. – Administrador, Antonio Chapoli Navarro. – Interventor, Venancio Gonzalez.
Jefe de correos y telegrafos. – Pedro Lurbe.
Vicario provincial y parroco. – Juan T. Nuñez.
Instruccion publica. – Profesores: Jose Fernandez. – Mariano Padilla. – Profesoras: Soledad Rivera. – Maria Paz Palisoc.
Abogados. – Antonio Majarreis. – Francisco Juan Palisoc. – Ricardo Pardo.
Agentes de negocios. – C. Boseh. – Manuel Boseh.
Agente de publicaciones. – Jose Zulueta.
Comerciantes. – Antonio E. Cason. – Donato N. Jose. – Adriano Nijunco.
Comestibles y alcoholes. – Laviada y Arana. – Gregorio Flor Mata.
Medico. – Rafael Monserrat.
Notario. – Santiago Guevara.
Procuradores. – Carlos de Boseh. – Mariano Camagay. – Antonio Fortich. – Doroteo Solis.

AGUILAR. – Pueblo de 4,512 habitantes, situado a 16 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, coco, platanos, azucar, café, cacao, etc.
Capitan municipal. – Antonio de Guzman.
Juez de paz. – Lucas Sagles.
Parroco. – Victor Herrero.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Anastasio Arrieta. – Profesora, Toribia Garcia.

ALAVA. – Pueblo de 6,100 habitantes, situado a 54 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce cacao, café, maiz, arroz, algodon, etc.
Capitan municipal. – Macario Rocalivo.
Secretario. – Mariano Torres.
Juez de paz. – Macario Fortich.
Secretario. – Eusebio Torres.
Parroco. – Juan Antonio Buitrago.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Antonio Callao. – Profesora, Anastacia Terecias.

ALCALA [Santa Cruz] – Pueblo de 5,203 habitantes, con Ayuntamiento de 8,624, situado a 48 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, maiz, camote, algodon y caña de azucar. – Tiene varias carreteras.
Capitan municipal. – Saturnino Dumlao.
Secretario. – Mamerto Tolentino.
Juez de paz. – Francisco Loria.
Parroco. – Aniceto Casamitjana
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Adriano Abad. – Profesora, Asuncion Buyero.
Fabrica de añil. – Clemente Arboleda.
Comestibles. – Domingo Primicias.
Comisionistas en maderas. – Antonio Neri. – Luis Soriano.

ASINGAN. – Pueblo de 8,522 habitantes, situado a 58 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, maiz, añil, mongos, caña dulce y tabaco.
Capitan municipal. – Jose Malong.
Juez de paz. – Serapion Altra.
Parroco. – Fr. Blas Pastor.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Sergio Castro. – Profesora, Sinforosa Diocases.

BAYAMBANG. – Pueblo de 8,505 habitantes, situado a 41 kilometros de Lingayen. – Tiene tres carreteras: una, para Lingayen, Dagupan y San Carlos. – Produce palay, maiz, camote, platano, azucar, tabaco, café, cacao, aceite, añil y mongos.
Capitan municipal. – Mauricio de Guzman.
Juez de paz. – Ramon de Castro.
Parroco. – Feliciano Martin y Fernandez.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Juan Sison. – Profesora, Francisca Navarrete.
Maquinas para mondar arroz. – Mister Bray. – Smith Bell y Compañia.
Comestibles. – Manuel Espinosa.

BINALONAN. – Pueblo con 10,293 habitantes, situado a 43 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, camote, azucar, algodon y aceite de ajonjoli y de higuera infernal. – Tiene cinco carreteras que parten para las pueblos limitrofes.
Capitan municipal. – Ruperto Cortes.
Juez de paz. – Clemente Rodriguez.
Parroco. – Silvestre Fernandez.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Baldomero Alvear. – Profesora, Pascuala Bautista.
Medico. – Julio Ruiz.

BINMALEY. – Pueblo de 13,787 habitantes, situado a 4.5 kilometros de Lingayen. Produce arroz y sal.
Capitan municipal. – Leocadio de Guzman.
Secretario. – Crispulo Vinluan.
Juez de paz. – Juan Castro.
Parroco. – Fr. Ulpiano Sanz.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Crispulo Vinluan. – Profesora, Leonarda Sandoval.

CALASIAO. – Pueblo con 15,753 habitantes, situado a 14.5 kilomtros de Lingayen. – Produce azucar y la industria consiste en la fabricacion de sombreros y petacas de buri y nito.
Capitan municipal. – Juan Abulencia.
Juez de paz. – Sotero Macasiab.
Parroco. – Bonifacio Probanza.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Mariano Fernandez. – Profesora, Angela Cason.
Colegio de segunda enseñanza. – Mariano Dison.
Comerciante y naviero. – Rafael Sison.
Farmaceutico. – N….
Medico. – Vicente M. Sison.

DAGUPAN. – Pueblo con 16,000 habitantes, situado a 12 kilometros de Lingayen. – Tres carreteras. – Produce arroz, azucar y vino de nipa en gran escala.
Capitan municipal. – Andres Palaganas.
Juez de paz. – Eulalio Reyes.
Capitan del puerto. – Jose Villanueva.
Administrador de correos y telegrafos. – Potenciano Andrade.
Parroco. – Vicente Iztegui.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Hugo Zarate. – Profesora, Luisa Hortaliza.
Agrimensor. – Eduardo Munarriz.
Colegio. – Colegio de San Alberto el Magno.
Comerciantes importadores y exportadores. – Co-Sapco. – Pedro Errazquin. – Matias Fuster. – Macario Javila. – Mariano Nable. – Paulino Quesada. – Woalterio Ricard. – Juan Sison. – Sepm-Yayco. – Yap-Chilian.
Comestibles. – Enrique Arana. – Pedro Errazquin. – Gregorio Flor.
Farmacia. – Juan Sarthou.
Medico. – Francisco Masip.
Fabricas de vinos y aguardientes. – Gregorio Bacugan. – Esteban Callanta. – Vicente Cuyson. – Pedro Errazquin. – Matias Fuster. – Andres Palaganas. – Eulalio Reyes. – Juan Villamil.
Sastreria. – Juan Vintares.

MALASIQUI. – Pueblo de 8,908 habitantes, situado a 25 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, caña dulce, cacao, café, maiz, añil, etc. – Carreteras a Manila, Calasiao, San Carlos y Santa Barbara. – Feria todas las semanas. Ferrocaril de Manila a Dagupan.
Capitan municipal. – Antonio Quintana.
Directorcillo. – Antonio Mejia.
Juez de paz. – Vicente Domangtay.
Parroco. – Salvador Millan.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Agaton Belayo. – Profesora, Josefa Cespon.

MANAOAG. – Pueblo de 17,500 habitantes, situado a 30 kilometros de Lingayen.
Capitan municipal. – Manuel Garcia.
Juez de paz. – Antonio Aquino.
Parroco. – Jose M. Puente.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Andres Soriano. – Profesora, Dominica Apostol.
Fabrica de aguardiente. – Thomas Rous.

MANGALDAN. – Pueblo con 16,143 habitantes, situado a 21 kilometros de Lingayen. – Carretera a Dagupan, Santa Barbara, San Fabian y San Jacinto. – Produce azucar y palay.
Capitan municipal. – Domingo Abalos.
Secretario. – Alejandro Aquino.
Juez de paz. – Luis Callanta.
Parroco. – Miguel Llambi.
Intruccion publica. – Profesor, Eximio M. Aquino. – Profesora, Maria Bernal.
Agrimensor. – Francisco Orillana.
Fabrica de alcohol. – Micaela Magno.
Farmaceutico. – Bernardo Porceso.
Mediquillo. – Leonardo Gutierrez.

MANGATAREM. – Pueblo con 10,146 habitantes, situado a 29 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, tabaco, caña dulce, arroz y coco. – Carreteras a Urbiztondo, Aguilar y San Clemente.
Capitan municipal. – Manuel Velazquez.
Juez de paz. – Ramon Ventanilla.
Parroco. – Fr. Balbino Ezpeleta.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Pablo C. Miranda. – Profesora, Maria Ventanilla.
Agrimensor. – Bartolome Reyes.
Cirujano. – Esteban Sison.
Comerciantes. – Petronila Acosta. – Maria Bogayong. – Vicente Cagaoda. – Benito Caoile. – Ramon Caoile. – Maximo Castro. – Rita Catalan. – Domingo Cavacungan. – Tomas Liton. – Hermogenes Mendoza. – Alberto Soriano. – Eulalio Soriano. – Jose Soriano. – Ramon Soriano. – Antonio Velazquez. – Feliciano Velazquez. – Raimundo Velazquez. – Antonio Ventanilla. – Ramon Ventanilla.
Tejidos y bisuteria. – Anchuy. – Ang-que. – Aling Ti-ñga.

POZORRUBIO. – Pueblo de 9,423 habitantes, con Ayuntamiento de 9,947, situado a 40 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, azucar, mongo, maiz, camote, gave, algodon y tabaco.
Capitan municipal. – Eustaquio Magno.
Directorcillo. – Roman Toledo y Martinez.
Juez municipal. – Ricardo Sanchez.
Parroco. – Mariano Rodriguez.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Alejandro Camacho. – Profesora, Rosario Benzon.
Cosecheros de azucar. – Camilo Lopez. – Nicolas Lopez.

SALASA. – Pueblo de 7,067 habitantes, situado a 4.3 kilometros de Lingayen.
Capitan municipal. – Cirilo Espino y Pedroso.
Juez de paz. – Domingo Valenzuela y Carpio.
Parroco. – Francisco Carrosal.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Jose Fernandez. – Profesora, Maria Sison.
Fabricas de alcohol. – Cornelio Asara Cruz. – Tomas Castro. – Mariano Cervantes. – Santiago Espino. – Jeronimo Navaso. – Fructuoso Palilig. – Domingo Palinar. – Doroteo Zaratan.
Exportadores de maderas. – Pablo Aglisit. – Damaso Calisve. – Tomas Doria. – Mariano Espiritu. – Jordan Jabimlanan. – Jeronimo de Leon. – Juan Maludren. – Simon Quintong. – Isidro Santa Cruz.

SAN CARLOS. – Pueblo de 23,934 habitantes, situado a 18.5 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, cacao, coco, arroz y caña de azucar.
Capitan municipal. – Juan Soria.
Juez de paz. – Buenaventura de la Vega.
Parroco. – Leocadio Revuelta.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Ramon Manzon. – Profesora, Ana Gonzalez.
Molinos de azucar. – Pedro Errazquin. – Hipolito Posadas.
Comerciantes. – Pedro Errazquin. – Matias Fuster. – Iquian Sy.

SAN FABIAN. – Pueblo de 9,018 habitantes, situado a 28 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, y en sus costas abunda la pesca.
Capitan municipal. – Domingo Baltazar.
Directorcillo. – Benedicto Serraon.
Juez de paz. – Juan Abalos.
Parroco. – Juan Terres.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Francisco R. Aquino. – Profesora, Guadalupe Abalos.
Colegio de segunda enseñanza. – Juan Alviar.
Farmaceutico. – Domingo Guzman.

SAN ISIDRO. – Pueblo de 2,531 habitantes, situado a 15 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, palay, azucar, maiz, platanos y cacao.
Capitan municipal. – Florencio F. Gaces.
Secretario. – Servando Torres.
Juez municipal. – Antonio Parras.
Secretario. – Florencio Fernandez.
Parroco. – Rufino Irazabal.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Lucas Pascual. – Profesora, Victoria Bravo.
Cirujano. – Domingo Ferrer.
Fabricas de vino de nipa. – Cirilo Berzosa. – Elias Garcia. – Serapion Parras. – Braulio Rico.

SAN JACINTO. – Pueblo de 5,006 habitantes, situado a 24 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, caña dulce, tabaco, cacao, etc. – Carreteras que comunican a varios pueblos limitofres.
Capitan municipal. – Bernardo Lopez.
Juez de paz. – Juan Lagero.
Parroco. – Mariano Revilla.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Rufino Asperin. – Profesora, Maria Paz Quitario.

SAN MANUEL. – Pueblo de 6,590 habitantes, situado a 41 kilometros de Lingayen. – Carreteras a San Nicolas, Binalonang y Asingan. – Produce arroz, caña dulce, maiz, camote, mani, mongo, tabacos y oro en los rios.
Capitan municipal. – Cristino Flores.
Juez de paz. – Mariano Abanan.
Parroco. – Jose Maria Puente.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Heriberito Villalon. – Profesora, Jorja Alonso.
Frutos del pais. – Chong Pengeo. – Martin Sureda.

SAN NICOLAS. – Pueblo con 10,204 habitantes, situado a 60 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, tabaco, maiz, camote y verduras.
Capitan municipal. – Hipolito Manzano.
Secretario. – Diego Magalang.
Juez de paz. – Gregorio Mejia.
Secretario. – Brigido Framil.
Parroco. – Atanasio Calleja.
Estafeta de correas. – Encargado, Braulio Tagarino.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Luciano Floirendo. – Profesora, Victoria Luarca.
Comerciantes en Arroz. – Agustin Alejo. – Antonio Alimuzong. – Laureano Palamgui.
Carrajero. – Agustin Alejo.
Tratantor en ganado vacuno. – Nicolas Mejia. – Marcelo Tamayo. – Sotero de la Vega.
Almacenes del maderas. – Andres Martinez. – Juan Mejia. – Antonio de Manlain.
Vinos. – Agustin Alejo. – Sebastian Bautista. – Agustin Garcia. – Filomeno Martinez.

SANTA BARBARA. – Pueblo con 7,595 habitantes, situado a 22 kilometros de Lingayen. – Carreteras a Calasiao y Urdaneta. – Produce palay, caña de azucar, algodon, tabaco, coco, platano, café y cacao.
Capitan municipal. – Miguel Maramba.
Secretario. – Daniel Maramba.
Juez de paz. – Juan N. Cruz.
Parroco. – Juan B. Tenza.
Estafeta de correos. – Encargado, Francisco Benito.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Casimiro del Rosario. – Profesora, Marina Sison.
Comerciante en arroz. – German Cerdaña.

SANTA MARIA. – Pueblo de 3,959 habitantes, situado a … kilometros de Lingayen.
Capitan municipal. – Telesforo Carbillon.
Juez de paz. – Pedro E. Padillo.
Parroco. – Eduardo Garcia.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Miguel Sandique. – Profesora, Catalina Espino.

SUAL. – Pueblo de 2,626 habitantes, situado a 13 kilometros de Lingayen.
Capitan municipal. – Mariano Tactaquin.
Juez de paz. – Jose Ramoran.
Parroco. – Eugenio Minguez.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Marcelo Rigonan. – Profesora, Filomena Vuson.

TAYUG. – Pueblo de 19,612 habitantes, situado a 45 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce arroz, palay, maiz, añil y azucar.
Capitan municipal. – Antonio Paroni.
Juez de paz. – Felix Valdezco.
Secretario. – Estanislao Vergara.
Estafeta de correos. – Encargado, Rosendo Frio.
Parroco. – Eduardo Garcia.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Ciriaco Malong. – Profesora, Potenciano Ramos.
Fabricantes. – Hilario Lazo. – Felix Valdesco.
Generos de Europa. – Sy-loco. – Tam-piaco.
Medicos. – Feliciano Paragas. – Felix Valdezco.

URBISTONDO. – Pueblo con 5,182 habitantes, situado a 39 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, arroz, caña de azucar y añil.
Capitan municipal. – Isidoro Estrada.
Juez de paz. – Vicente Guevara.
Parroco. – Ramon Aranceta.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Mariano Macaraeg. – Profesora, Juan Tuason.

URDANETA. – Pueblo de 16,588 habitantes, situado a 43 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, añil, mongos y algodon.
Capitan municipal. – Ignacio Pangon.
Secretario. – Marcial Ventura.
Juez de paz. – Antonio Guevara.
Parroco. – Cipriano Pampliega.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Francisco Armas. – Profesora, Juana del Castillo.
Administrador de correos. – Mariano Directo.

VILLASIS. – Pueblo de 11,968 habitantes, situado a 45 kilometros de Lingayen. – Produce palay, maiz, camote, caña de azucar y algodon.
Capitan municipal. – Anacleto Bascos.
Juez de paz. – Mariano Ordoñez.
Parroco. – Paulino Aguiar.
Instruccion publica. – Profesor, Constancio de Mesa. – Profesora, Celedonia Padilla.
Depositos de arroz. – Smith, Bell y Compañia. – Warner, Blogget y Compañia

From Biblioteca Nacional de España

06/06/2022

JULY 17, 1898: INDEPENDENCE DAY of Balungao, Rosales, Umingan and San Quintin from Spanish colonial rule

This seal of the municipal government of Balungao is so far the oldest seal we know and have. It was surely only created in 1898 when the Filipinos gained the country's independence from the clutches of Spanish colonial rule and set up their own government as evidenced by the anthropomorphic sun (the sun with eyes, nose and lips) and stars which were the common symbols of the Kataas-taasan Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (K*K ANB) and the Filipino Republic.

Behind this symbol of an independent town government is the untold story of how the people of Balungao, Rosales, Umingan and San Quintin - more than 4,000 strong - united, rose in revolt and sieged the Spanish force garrisoned in Rosales night and day during the month of June, 1898 and the first weeks of July, 1898 until July 17, 1898 when the colonial government forces fled to Tarlac and so the people declared their freedom even before the arrival of the Tagalog-led Revolutionary Government forces led by Manuel B. Tinio which liberated the Province of Nueva Ecija (including Balungao, Rosales, San Quintin and Umingan which were then formerly part of this province).

The leader of the local revolutionary force was only mentioned in the reference cited below with the name "Claro." Oral tradition in Balungao has it that one of the leaders of the local Katipunan was Raymundo Laureta, who belonged to the Laureta clan of San Leon (Mauban). He later became the presidente local (town mayor) when a new town government under the Filipino Republic was instituted. Thousands remained unnamed.

Fortunately, in my ancestry, my paternal grandmother's (Ms. Felicidad Velasco Gundran-Ligero's) maternal grandfather, the late Guillermo "Immong" Velasco, recalled that he participated in the Revolution against Spain. He attested that although the Filipino "insurrectos" (Revolutionaries) were actually armed only with boneng (farm bolo), they used "uggot iti silag wenno bulong iti silag nga saan pay nagukkrad nga napinturaan iti nangisit" (shoots of the silag or buri palm shrub painted black) as their "rifles" to deceive and intimidate the Spanish force of the Filipino troops' strength. He joined in the "fighting" or troop formation displaying their strength to the enemy (as the Spanish force entrenched in the Catholic church and convent of Rosales was already surrounded by the local "rebels") during the night and went back to his farm during the day.

The stirring events of the Philippine Revolution of 1896-1898 should kindle in us an admiration for those brave, ginger-footed soldiers, who were actually volunteer militia-farmers, who abandoned the comforts of home and risked their lives for the ideal of freedom and nationhood. Our independence has been attained. Our task, nevertheless, is to preserve their brand of courage and unswerving spirit of self-sacrifice to solve the town's problems not only for this generation but for those to come.

PS: The towns of Balungao, Rosales, San Quintin and Umingan should also commemorate this important milestone in their history!

Reference:
"Recuerdos de Filipinas: Hechos Heroicos" in "La Correspondencia Militar," no. 6,772, May 21, 1900, p. 2.

Photo 1:
The image of the Balungao town government's seal was cropped from the scanned document in the form of a certification of ownership of a five-year-old carabao of Mr. Gregorio Angelo dated August 20, 1899. It was signed by Don Raymundo Laureta as Presidente Local (Town Mayor), Don Calixto Soliven as Delegado de Rentas (Town Revenue Officer) and three witnesses.

Photo 2:
“Ejercito Libertador: Cuartel General” - Stamped on a letter dated November 17, 1897 addressed to “G. Secretario de Hacienda, M. Baldomero Aguinaldo.” Photo courtesy of Jim Richardson.

The design of the Balungao town government seal was obviously patterned on that of the General Headquarters of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines in 1897.

Special thanks to Ernifel Bryan De Guzman

26/05/2022

"Nu Agpadaya Ti Tren, Serrek": By the Train, They Tell the Time

Idi tiempo nga nangina pay ti relo weno alikamen nga pagkitaan iti oras, problema iti mamaestro/a nu kasanu maamwan nu kaano nga irugi ti klase ken nu kaano nga ilippas. Naimbag laengen ta idi nanglukat iti eskuelaan iti ili ti gobyerno idi tiempo iti Amerikano, simmaruno ken nagin-inut met nga naglukat ken immatiddog iti serbisyo iti tren iti Manila Railroad Company (MRRCo) sadiay sanga a linyana manipud Paniqui, Tarlac nga pinanggep daguiti agturay nga dumanun agingga't Tayug, Pangasinan. Idi tauen iti 1914 ket agtartarayen ti tren sadiay nga ruta agpatingga't San Leon, Balungao nga dumaw-as sadiay Rosales. Kalpasan iti uppat nga tauen, idi Oktubre 10, 1918, nangrugi ti deretso nga biyahe manipud Paniqui inggana't San Quintin ken agsubli.

Makakatkatawa nga manglaglagip ni Apong ko Ising (Ms. Felicidad G. Ligero, 1925-2019) nu iyis-istorya na ti kuna iti maysa a panglakayen a maestro iti Balungao Central School (nga maysa met kadaguiti intermediate pupils nga nagtrabaho tapno maibangon diay Gabaldon Building iti BCS nga nalpas idi 1914) nga

"Nu agpadaya ti tren, serrek. Nu agpalaud, recess. Nu agpadaya manen, retira ti pangaldaw...(and so on)."

Sigurado nga ammo iti umili iti Balungao ti or-oras iti panaglabas wenno panagsangpet iti tren ta isu met ti napardas nga pagluganan nga agpaDagupan ken Manila. (Nu makadanun sadiay Paniqui, umalis ti pasahero iti tren nga pagsakayan nga mapan sadiay nasao nga il-ili.) Ti byahe iti (bus iti) Pangasinan Transportation Company, Inc. wenno "Pantran" nga agpasada sadiay Balungao ket nangrugi laeng idi kalpasan nga malukatan diay rangtay nga landok (steel truss) sadiay Carmen, Rosales idi tauen iti 1927. Ket idi agtanoy a ket makuna metten nga "babaen iti Pantran, maamwan iti tao ti oras." Dakkel ti gin-awa nga nayted iti serbisyo iti tren kadaguiti umili iti Balungao nga pampaneknekan iti tallo nga istasyon (flag station) nga nilukatan iti gobyerno sadiay pagawidan tayo: Balungao (Kitakita), San Aurelio ken San Leon. Daytoy nga linya ket maysa kadaguiti importante nga sanga a ruta iti MRRCo idi 1930. Ngem segundarya weno incidental laeng ti benepisyo nga napagnumaran iti tattao gapo ta ti nangruna nga panggep nga serbiyan iti daytoy nga ruta ket ti masapul a transportasyon iti Hacienda Esperanza, ti sangkalawaan nga hasyenda sadiay nga dissu iti Central Luzon ken daguiti kakabsat na nga Hacienda Nieto ken Hacienda Porvenir sadiay San Quintin ken Natividad.

Ninaganan iti gobyerno Amerikano nanipud idi un-una nga "Tayug Branch/Line," nirugyan ti panagsurvey iti pagdalanan iti tren idi 1906 ngem nagpatingga laeng ti riles iti daytoy nga linya inggana idiay San Quintin. Idi 1925, pinlano iti agturay nga ituloy wenno lippasen diay linya aginggana idiay Tayug ngem saan da met nga naypaaramid daytoy. Pinlano da pay nga silpuan daytoy iti linya nga mapan idiay Urdaneta ngem saan da met nga nirugyan. Idi bimtak ti gubat (Second World War) idi 1941, inusar iti soldado nga Pilipino ken Amerikano ti tren. A kas parte iti depensa iti Pilipinas kontra Hapon, impadadael ni Gen. Douglas MacArthur daguiti riles, bagon ken dadduma nga alikamen iti Kompanya iti tren tapno saan nga mapagnomaran daguiti kalaban nga Hapon.

Saanen nga naisubli ti serbisyo iti tren sadiay a linya kalpasan iti gerra. Ti nagan iti paset a "Tramo" weno "Riles" sadiay naturod nga pagnaan iti tren (elevated trackbed) ken daguiti nabirbirrak nga concrete platform iti daan nga istasyon laengen ti nabatbati nga paglasinan iti dati nga napateg nga sistema iti transportasyon iti Balungao.

Ladawan: Maysa a pagarigan iti pugonero (steam loccomotive) iti tren iti MRCCo idi sakbay gubat

26/05/2022

Local Streetnames: Signposts to Balungao History

In the previos post on streetnames, we learn that we create and erase history through naming and renaming of streets. Streetnames go beyond the role as indicators of locations or addresses but they are also physical markers of history, geography, politics and culture.

On one hand, the streetnames of Balungao town proper relate quite easily to local history. They bear the names of former municipal presidentes and/or mayors of the town who passed away already. It seems that this is the pattern or the unwritten convention in street renaming that is being followed in Balungao. That is alright as commemorating the past town executives is a very common practice in streetnaming in the Philippines. Fortunately, we still have senior citizens and/or knowledgeable denizens who are on their advanced ages who could help us reconstruct the name, place of residence and term(s) in office of our local political leaders, as follows:

Calixto Soliven, from San Leon, 1908-1909?
Mariano Villanueva, fr. Poblacion, 1909-1912?
Fausto L. Dacanay, fr. Pob., 1912-1916?; 1925-1928?
Evaristo S. Velicaria, fr. Pugaro, 1917-1921?; 1931-1934?; 1935-1937?
Leon Micu, fr. Pob., 1922-1925?
Rufino F. Acosta, fr. Pugaro, 1928-1931?
Maximo Minglana, fr. San Aureio 2nd, 1935?
Vicente E. Soliven, fr. San Leon, 1937-1945?

Felipe O. Peralta, fr. Pob., appointed, 1946-1947; elected 1952-1955
Teodoro L. Bascos, fr. San Leon, 1948-1951
Eligio A. Pollante, fr. Pob., 1956-1959
Mariano S. Micu, fr. Pob., 1960-1963; 1964-1967
Isidoro R. Fernandez, fr. Angayang Norte, 1968-1971
Jose C. Peralta, fr. Pob., 1972-1973; 1973-1980; 1980-1986; 1987-1988; 1988-1992; 1992-1993
Agapito Z. Casil, fr. San Aurelio 2nd, 1986-1987
Celso U. Hernandez, fr. Pob., 1993-1995

On the other hand, the origin of some streetnames are obscure or already forgotten. We seem to lack historical information about the origin of P. Salazar and R. Vino Streets. Moreover, although we know that Pascual Dasil was also an ex town mayor, no one knows the years when he served the post. Knowing who these people were and where do we find out who they were are a good starting points for a local history research project.

Streetnames therefore tell us about the past mayors of Balungao since the American colonial period. Incidentally, streetnames also gives us a clue about the residence of some of the past mayors. Some of the former mayors were directly associated with the streets that honor them. Along the northern E. Pollante St. was where Ex Mayor Tikong Pollante's house was located. Ex Mayors Rufino Acosta and Evaristo Velicaria whose names are borne by two adjacent and parallel streets to the east of the mun. market and plaza were actually neighbors in Pugaro. Ex Mayor Nonoy Micu's home (or the home of his father Francisco Micu) is situated along the M. Micu Street. Probably, the residence of Ex Mayors Enteng Soliven, Iping Peralta and Fausto Dacanay were also used to be located along the street that carries each other's name.

It is right and just that a street should also be named after Ex Mayor Agapito Casil and another for Celso Hernandez.

Pagawidan: Historic Balungao

29/09/2022

23/09/2022

18/06/2022

06/06/2022

26/05/2022

26/05/2022

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