Center for Pangasinan Studies

05/09/2026

The Center for Pangasinan Studies extends its deepest sympathies to the family, colleagues, students, and friends of 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒓. 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍 𝑩. 𝑴𝒐𝒋𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔.

A pioneer in Philippine local studies, Dr. Mojares founded the Cebuano Studies Center in 1975, one of the country’s earliest regional studies centers. Last November, as the Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary, the CPS had the privilege of participating in the Local Studies Roundtable, “Revisiting Local Studies: A Roundtable on History, Networks, and Futures.”

We remember with gratitude a scholar whose work helped shape the local studies community and whose legacy continues through the many scholars and institutions inspired by his vision.

𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮, 𝓓𝓻. 𝓜𝓸𝓳𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓼. 𝓜𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓾𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines joins the nation in mourning the passing of National Artist for Literature and esteemed historian Dr. Resil B. Mojares earlier today, 5 September 2026.

He is a pioneer in Philippine Local Studies who served as the founding director of the University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies Center in 1975, one of the first regional studies centers in the country. His expansive academic work includes six titles that won the National Book Award such as The War Against the Americans: Resistance and Collaboration in Cebu Province, House of Memory: Essays, and Vicente Sotto, The Maverick Senator. He also wrote extensively on Philippine cultural history and literature. As a leading local historian, he contributed to the Cebu Town History Project where he wrote the history of the Province of Cebu.

In 2018, he was bestowed with the Order of the National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in recognition of his immense contributions to scholarly and literary development. From 2018 to 2021, Dr. Mojares served as the Chair of a Panel of Experts convened by the NHCP to assess claims on the site of the First Easter Sunday Mass in the Philippines which was colloquially referred to as the Mojares Panel. They submitted their report and recommendation that reaffirms Limasawa as the site of the First Easter Sunday Mass in 1521. The NHCP has also had the honor of working with Dr. Mojares as a resource speaker and author of articles and books published by the Commission.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, colleagues, and the whole Filipino people in his passing. A true titan of local history has left us.

02/09/2026

𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐓𝐂𝐀𝐎 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟏𝟑𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐇𝐂𝐍 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄

The Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) and the Pangasinan Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) participated in the 13th General Assembly and 2026 National Conference on Local History and Heritage of the Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN), held on August 25–27, 2026, at the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan, Biñan City, Laguna.

With the theme “Kasaysayan at Pakikipagkapwa: Ang Diwang Transendental ng Diplomasyang Pilipino,” the two-day national conference brought together historians, researchers, educators, cultural workers, heritage advocates, and representatives of local historical committees and institutions from across the country.

The conference opened with remarks from National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Regalado Trota Jose Jr., followed by the keynote presentation of Ambassador Celia Anna “Cookie” Feria on “Cultural Diplomacy,” highlighting the historical, cultural, and diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Portugal.

The succeeding sessions explored indigenous diplomacy, the politics of historical memory, diaspora and transnational connections, regional and local diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and Southeast Asian studies. Among the highlights was the second session, “Diaspora, Memory, and Transnational Connections,” which featured Prof. Melchor E. Orpilla with his presentation, “From Binalonan to America: Carlos Bulosan, Migrant Memory and Transnational Belonging,” and Mr. Jan Marlon S. De Vera with “Geronima T. Pecson as Mother UNESCO: A Global Pillar of UNESCO Advocacies, 1950–1989.”

The presentations underscored the significant contributions of Pangasinan-born figures to Philippine history and demonstrated how local histories can transcend geographical boundaries and contribute to broader national and global narratives.

The conference also featured the unveiling of the Cayo Alzona historical marker, honoring the Biñan-born writer, educator, and government official, as well as discussions on Philippine-Japanese and Philippine-Indonesian relations, cultural exchange, the Filipino diaspora, and historical connections across Southeast Asia.

The gathering concluded with a cultural program hosted by the City Government of Biñan, showcasing the talents of Biñanenses and warmly welcoming the delegates and speakers. The 2027 History Month theme, “Matapang. Mapagkalinga. Mukha ng Kasaysayan,” in celebration of the 2027 Year of Women in Philippine History,” was also announced, together with Dapitan and Dipolog as the next host cities of the LHCN National Conference.
For Pangasinan, the participation of PTCAO and CPS reinforces the province’s continuing commitment to the research, documentation, preservation, and promotion of local history and heritage, while strengthening partnerships with historians, cultural institutions, and heritage practitioners nationwide.

The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, under the leadership of Governor Ramon Mon-Mon Guico III, remains committed to advancing initiatives that ensure that Pangasinan’s history, culture, and heritage continue to be remembered, studied, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.

26/08/2026

𝕃ℍℂℕ 𝟙𝟛𝕥𝕙 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕪 𝕊𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕞𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕟

Pormal na binuksan ang ika-13 taunang General Assembly ng Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN) ng Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan sa Sentrong Pangkultura, Biñan, Laguna. Ang pagtitipon ay dinaluhan ng mga kinatawan mula sa iba’t ibang lungsod at bayan mula Luzon, Visayas hanggang Mindanao.

Patuloy nilang nilalayon ang pagpapalaganap ng lokal na kasaysayan ng bansa. Mainit ang pagsalubong ng lokal na pamahalaang lungsod ng Biñan sa mga delegado, kung saan sinimulan ang programa sa pambungad na mensahe ni Biñan City Mayor Angelo ”Gel” Alonte na masiglang bumati nang - “Mabuhay ang LHCN, mabuhay ang lokal na kasaysayan!”

Ang programa ay tatakbo hanggang ika-27 ng Agosto 2026.

26/08/2026

Look: CPS joined the Heritage Tour around Sta. Rosa and Biñan City, Laguna with the other member-affiliates of the Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN) on August 24, 2026.

07/08/2026

29/07/2026

𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻

In celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month 2026, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the Pangasinan Polytechnic College, launched the Environmental Resilience Lecture Series, opening with a session on the history of flooding in Pangasinan, the science behind ground subsidence, and approaches to building disaster-resilient communities. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the underlying factors that contribute to flooding, including geographical conditions, unplanned human developments, and other environmental complexities.

This partnership with the Center for Pangasinan Studies, Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office, and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, will bring succeeding lectures as part of the shared goal to address environmental issues and promote disaster preparedness across the province of Pangasinan.

15/06/2026

: Pakpël

Kumusta, kabalëyans?

This month of June, as we celebrate our nation's freedom, we feature a word that all of us need to show each day—just like our local heroes did: pakpël. It is a Pangasinan word for courage.
Let’s practice how to use it!

"Komon ta agnaandi so pakpël tayon arapën so antokaman a problema." (May our courage never perish as we face any adversity.)

What gives you pakpël in your everyday life? Share your own sentences using our word of the month in the comments below!

11/06/2026

Exactly 128 years ago today, on June 12, 1898, the Philippines proudly declared its independence after more than 300 years of Spanish rule.

Today, the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) joins the whole country in celebrating this historic day. We remember the bravery of our ancestors who fought hard for our Kawayangan.

True freedom also means remembering who we are. Today, we protect our independence by loving our culture, learning our history, and speaking our beautiful Salitan Pangasinan.

CPS is dedicated to making sure the stories of our local heroes live on. As we look at our flag today, let us be proud of our roots and the Pangasinenses who fought for the freedom we enjoy today.

Malikët ya agëw na kawayangan!