MUNICIPALITY OF MANGALDAN (PANGASINAN), History and Culture of Part I

This volume on the history and cultural life of the town of Mangaldan, province of Pangasinan, is the embodiment of vital facts and figures about the town and its people — their ideals and customs, their achievements and struggles, their beliefs and traditions; it traces the steady progress of Mangaldan from the earliest days of its existence to the present; its attempts to show not only the various stages of the town's development but also the different aspects — physical, social, religious, and political — that have, to a large extent, contributed to such development.

In the preparation of this volume, intensive and extensive research work had to be done. Old available records and manuscripts were dug up and utilized to advantage with a view to gathering the needed essential data and vital facts. In addition, personal interviews with a number of the town's citizens, especially the old folks, were made use of in order to verify certain events, clarify a few controversial dates, and identify certain personalities. In shorts, attempts were made to make the account as accurate and as comprehensive as was humanly possible.

The committee in charge of the publication wishes to express its sincere thanks and deep appreciation to those who gave their moral support without whose encouragement this volume would have failed short of reality; to the Municipal Council for supplying the committee with some statistical data; to Mr. Crisostomo Garcia, son of the late Don Andres Garcia, who had kindly lent the dilapidated old file of his father from which valuable information was gathered. Finally, to the overall chairmen, Mr. Juan G. Quinto and Mr. Gaudencio Aquino, both from the David Elementary School, who edited and typed this volume into its final form.

		Pages
Part I	History and Cultural Life of the Town - Mangaldan	1-14
	1. History of the Town in General 2. Folkways 3. Courtship and Marriage 4. Death and Burial 5. Local Proverbs and Sayings 6. Population by Barrio	1-7 7-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-
Part II	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of David	15-29
	1. History of the Barrio 2. Folkways 3. Interpretation of Beliefs and Superstitions 4. Local Puzzles and Riddles 5. Games and Amusements 6. Community Proverbs and Sayings 7. Popular Community Songs	15-19 19-21 21-23 23-25 25- 25-26 26-29
Part III	History and Cultural Life of the Barrios of Malabago and Anolid	30-34
	1. History of Anolid 2. History of Malabago 3. Folkways 4. Measuring Time	30- 30-31 31-33 33-34
Part IV	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Embarcadero	35-
	1. Baptismal Practices 2. Courtship Practices 3. Burial Practices 4. Superstitious Beliefs 5. Proverbs, Sayings, and Riddles 6. Measuring Time and Folktales	35-36 36-37 37- 38- 38-39 40-41
Part V	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Bantayan	42-45
	1. History of the Barrio & Some Facts 2. Folk Tales	42-43 43-45
Part VI	History and Cultural Life of Gueguesangen	46-50
	1. History of the Barrio 2. Some Common Superstitious Beliefs	46-48 49-50
Part VII	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Talogtog	51-57
	1. History of the Barrio 2. Customs and Traditions 3. Superstitious Beliefs	51-54 54-56 56-57
Part VIII	History and Cultural Life of Imlambo-Macayug	59-63
	1. History and Cultural Life of Imlambo 2. Cultural Life of the People 3. Customs and Traditions 4. History of the Barrio of Macayug 5. Some Famous Native Songs	59- 60-61 61- 62- 62-63

Part IX	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Guesang	63-
	History of the Barrio	63-
Part X	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Maasin	64-66
	History of the Barrio Folkways	64-64 66-
Part XI	History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Osiem	67-69
	History of the Barrio Some Important Facts and Events	67-68 69-

The town now known as Mangaldan was formerly a cattle ranch. It became gradually populated by immigrants who divided the ranch among themselves. Its early settlers were noted for their looms, salakots, and sampilans.

Legend says that the town got its name when an inhabitant replied, "Mang-alay Adan" to a missionary who inquired about the name of the place, the former mistaking the latter as asking for water to drink. Another version states that it derives its name from its first chieftain, Babaldan, a brother of the founder of San Carlos.

Mangaldan was founded as a municipality by Bl. Juan Martinez, O.P., around the year 1600. It was the third town of Pangasinan to receive the Gospel after San Carlos and Calasiao. It was handed over to the Dominican missionaries, with Fr. Pedro Ledesma as its first vicar. The line of parish priests began with Fr. Diego Serrano, O.P., who served from 1726 to 1744. Santiago Senen was the first town executive, popularly known as "Capitan Basal."

Since the early days, Mangaldan had a big church with a lofty tower from which hung a huge bell. The Casipit family, who bitterly opposed the missionaries but was later converted to the Catholic faith, took charge of the erection of three imposing altar pieces. Destroyed in succession by earthquake and fire, it was rebuilt five times. The sixth church now standing is planned to be massive and enduring. Its construction is financed by the civic-spirited citizens of the town, especially among those Roman Catholic devotees. The townspeople were very grateful to Msgr. Juan Sison, who was the parish priest of the town from 1938-1947.

The people figured actively in several revolts against Spain. Sometime in 1660-1661, Mangaldan became the seat of the rebel kingdom of Andres Malong after Binalatongan fell into the hands of the Spanish forces. In 1762, the inhabitants participated in the revolt led by Juan de la Cruz Palaris. Again, when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many joined the forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo. During the erstwhile existence of the First Philippine Republic, Juan David was designated as the Presidente Local known as "Jefe Local."

Upon the advent of American rule, and the consequent grant of Philippine independence, the following successively served as presidentes or alcaldes: Luis Callanta, succeeded by Apolonio Costes before the expiration of his term; Pedro Estayo, Vicente Magno, Pedro de Guzman, Ulpiano de Vera, Cosme Biagtan, Dandres

Notable among the public improvements effected in this town were: roads, municipal buildings, a market, school buildings, the public plaza with kiosko, auditorium and throne, artesian wells in the barrios, monuments of Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio, a bridge named after Malong spanning the Angalacan River, and the public center and town church. The last but not the least is the establishment of two high schools — public and private.

In the year 1916, the municipality won a celebrated suit in the Supreme Court which was a leading case in the law of public corporations. The Supreme Court upheld the corporate right of the Municipality of Mangaldan to sue the Municipality of Manaoag for losses, damages, and indemnities suffered by the people it represented on account of the acts of the inhabitants of the latter municipality in obstructing the flow of the Angalacan River. (Municipality of Mangaldan v Municipality of Manaoag, 38 Phil. 455.)

For a long time, Mangaldan attained a high popularity in drama and music. It was well-known for its zarzuelas which portrayed the famous plays of Don Juan Biason reflecting the spirit of the times. It also abounded in characters who staged comedias and "moromoro"plays. The town had talented composers and conductors in the persons of Mariano Evangelista, Tranquilino Caballero, Claudio Gonzales, Juan Aquino, and Mariano de Vera. We also had two well-renowned orchestras — the "Orchestra Biason" and the "Orchestra Biagtan." Both were in demand as far as the Ilocos and the southern provinces. At present, there are two well-known orchestras in the province — "The Blue Eagle Swingsters" and "The Mendoza Orchestra."

The people have dedicated themselves to various occupations — farming, fishing, copra-making, indigo-dyeing, slaughtering, blacksmithing, pottery, basketry, salt-making, poultry-raising, piggery, etc. They became noted for their quality indigo, high-class cacao, and "chocolate puro," not to mention the well-liked "pindang" and "batotay," produced by a section of its population. In the 1930 Manila Carnival, a Diploma of Awards was won by the municipality for exhibiting the biggest coconut. Unlike other places, practically all staple foods such as rice, fish, meat, and vegetables are produced by the people. Sugar, corn, tobacco, and other farm products are also raised by them.

The Japanese occupation proved that the people of Mangaldan, like the rest of the Filipinos, could survive under adverse circumstances. Not only were they able to thrive in their respective businesses, but a sizeable number of them joined the resistance movement against the enemy Japs. Their faith in the eventual return of General Douglas MacArthur never died out, and upon the arrival of the American liberation forces on January 9, 1945, the immediately rallied forth in support of the different outfits of the United States Armed Forces.

Mangaldan has remained a stronghold of the Catholic faith. Its people have been intensely religious and have produced a number of priests — Reverend Fathers Eusebio David, Benigno Jimenez, Alberto Soriano, Amado Ballesteros, Federico Lamon, Bernardo Imuan, Benigno Serafica, Ciriaco Billote, Antonio Palma, and F. Ballesteros. The town has been particularly endowed with grace in that its founder, Bl. John Martinez, O.P., has been declared by Rome as one of the Blesseds of the Church, and its sixteenth parish priest, the Most Reverend Father Juan C. Sison S.T.D., has been elevated as Titular Bishop of Limata and Auxiliary Bishop of Nueva Segovia.

The people have been profoundly devoted to their patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas, the "saintliest of the learned of the saints," and every year, a large number of young men and women have been able to pursue their quests for higher education. Mangaldan has several hundreds of educated men and women in the different lines of profession — law, priesthood, medicine, engineering, pharmacy, dentistry, journalism, science, commerce, education, agriculture, forestry, surveying, military science, and others. Some of the outstanding families who have successfully given better education to their children are the de Vera family — two doctors, one lawyer, one engineer, one commerce graduate, two pharmacists, one nun, and two businessmen; the Romero family — one doctor, one pharmacist, one engineer, three educators, and one businesswoman; the Jimenez family — one lawyer, one doctor, one army man, and one commerce graduate; the Frisneza family — two lawyers, one doctor, one dentist, and one educator; the Ballesteros family — one priest, one army man, and one educator; the Garcia family — one doctor, one army man, one commerce graduate, and two educators; the de Guzman family — one doctor, one lawyer, and three educators.

From the year 1727 up to the present, no important events are worth recalling except the change of power in the government — the separation of Mapandan, a barrio unit which made Mangaldan the largest town in Pangasinan. Mapandan is now a regular municipality. We had, too, the highest church tower with the biggest bell which, when rung, could be heard throughout the province.

According to the Census of 1948, Mangaldan has a population of 27, 538, with [blank] electors as of the 1952 elections. Socially, its people appear contented and happy. With noble ideas guiding its leaders, a great future is in store for Mangaldan.

1728 1728 1729 1730 1731 1732 1733 1734 1735 1736 1737 1738 1738 1740 1741 1742 1743 1744 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 1750 1751 1752 1753 1754 1755 1756 1757 1758 1759 1760 1761 1762 1763 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773

Don Santiago Senen Don Juan de la Cruz Don Juan Bautista Don Pedro Casipit Don Santiago Casipit Don Juan de Ocampo Don Pedro Casipit Don Domingo de Guzman Don Juan de la Cruz Don Domingo de Guzman Don Pedro Casipit Don Alfonso Mateo Don Luis Lomboy Don Lorenzo de Vera Don Domingo de la Masa Don Domingo de Guzman Don Tomas Ventura Don Jose de la Cruz Don Domingo de Guzman Don Domingo Gervacio Don Miguel Fabia Don Esteban Satyan Don Mateo David Don Domingo de Guzman Don Lorenzo Lazaro Don Martin Fernandez Don Manuel Salvador Don Francisco Peteti Don Domingo de la Masa Don Domingo de Guzman Don Manuel Fabia Don Bernardo de Vera Don Pedro Jimenez Don Lorenzo Lazaro Don Lorenzo Lazaro Don Francisco Antonio Don Pascual de la Cruz Don Luis Enrique David Don Luis Enrique David Don Alfonso Mateo Don Francisco Antonio Don Alfonso Mateo Caramat Don Juan de Vera Don Juan Amansec Don Luis Enrique David Don Melchor Lomboy Don Domingo de la Cruz

1774 1775 1775 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1874 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821

Don Bartolome de Vera Mas Don Jordan Tambacan Don Luis Fernandez Don Pascual Lomboy Don Julian de Guzman Don Domingo Soriano Don Pascual Lomboy Don Juan Amansec Don Bartolome de Vera Masa Don Fulgencio Caramat Don Fernando Lazaro Don Bartolome V. Masa Don Manuel de Vera Don Gabriel de Guzman Don Domingo de la Cruz Don Domingo Amansec Don Domingo de la Cruz Don Juan de Vera Masa Don Vicente Casupang Don Vicente Bernardo Don Jose Salvador Caramat Don Mariano Almonte Don Pedro Casipit Don Pascual Gallardo Don Domingo de la Cruz Don Domingo de Guzman Don Pedro Geronimo Don Mateo Caramat Don Jordan Tambacan Don Manuel de Vera Don Vicente Bernardo Don Gabriel de Guzman Don Mariano Almonte Don Domingo de Guzman Don Pedro Sabino Don Fulgencio Caramat Don Antonio Francisco Don Bernardo Bautista Don Salvador Amansec Don Juan Sabino Don Maximo Garcia Don Vicente Amansec Don Esteban de Vera Don Manuel Enrique Don Salvador Amansec Don Domingo Aquino Don Vicente Velasco Don Inocencio Torralba

Transcribed from:

History and Cultural Life of the Town — Mangaldan, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.