MUNICIPALITY OF MANAOAG (PANGASINAN), History of Part II

In 1847, Father Benito Sanchez arrived in Manaoag. He strengthened the faith of the devotees to the Virgin Mary. In order to do this, he translated many different books to the Pangasinan language. He published a book called "Glorias de Maria."

In 1873, Fr. Agustin Gallego was assigned to the parish. He studied first the common language of the community. His fluency in speaking the Pangasinan language qualified him for the work. It was he who initiated the novena after Lent. Because of the numerous pilgrims, many of them used to stay in the plaza, the market, and at the beds of the Angalacan River. He also repaired and beautified the Camarin (wide room at the back of the throne) of the Virgin Mary. He also ordered the making of the crown of the Virgin Mary and her son Jesus; bought the carroza having 99 lamps, the most expensive carroza in the Philippines. Another Father Curate who increased the lovers and devotees of the Virgin Mary was Father Hilario del Campo. He treated the pilgrims very kindly. Profusely, he gave prayer books, rosary medals, and pictures of the Virgin Mary. More pilgrims flocked to Manaoag on Sundays, after Christmas Day, during Lent, in the months of March, April, May, October, the month of the Holy Rosary, on Saturdays, and on Easter.

Pilgrims trekked to Manaoag hiking, riding on caritones, carromatas, bringing with them their fuel and pots. Sleeping along the roadsides, under the shades, near the Angalacan River, and on the yards of houses. Rich and poor, high and low, lived together with a common desire — to visit Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.

At about two o'clock in the afternoon of Easter Sunday in the year 1697, a conflagation was seen in the western part of the town.

On February 27, 1901, Father P. Pacis arrived in Manaoag parish. He began the reconstruction of the church, which was destroyed during the revolution of 1898.

In 1902, the American soldiers left the convent and Fathers Cipriano Pampliega, Mariano Revilla, and Jose Bartolo occupied the convent vacated by the soldiers.

Father Cipriano Pampliega started the reconstruction of the church. Materials for reconstruction came from different places, lime from Ilocos Sur and Sual. The bringing of wood to Manaoag was difficult because of the lack of animals, and was very expensive. Thousands of bricks were made in the church yard. Reconstruction continued so that the novena in 1906 was held in the church.

Construction of the church continued until 1907. The main altar, the camarin, ceiling, and the flooring were made. Mr. Tampinco, a sculptor from Manila, did and directed the work according to plan. He also carved the image of St. Francis de Asis, Saint Domingo de Guzman, including the railings and the side altars for the Sacred Family and San Roque.

The church, when finished, had a length of 70 meters from the front door to the first step of the presbitery and 14 meters wide. The presbitary was 14 meters long and also the sacristy. It was 13 meters high from the floor to the base of the ceiling. The height was 18 meters to the highest part of the ceiling.

It was built on top of the hill away from the houses, very beautiful and spacious. It had seven doors and many windows. Three doors in front were leading to the patio where beautiful gardens were cared for. Processions were usually held around these gardens. There were two doors at the side and two at the sacristy.

Under the administration of Padre Andres Duque, the church was again reconstructed. The simborio was made as well as the two wings. Not only was reconstruction done, but also the beautification. It cost the church about ₱75,000 for the project. Looking down from the airplane, one could see that the church had a big cross.

CORONATION OF OUR LADY: On April 21, 1926, the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary was cannonically crowned by Archbishop William Piani, D.D., Apostolic delegate of the Holy Father to the Philippines. Thousands of lovers and devotees of the Virgin Mary witnessed the extraordinary solemnity of the coronation.

In April 1952, the image of Our Lady was brought to the different places and parishes of the Diocese of Lingayen. She was fittingly received in every parish; streets were decorated, arches were built, and long processions were held before the image was brought to the churches.

On the 21^st of April, the Shrine of Manaoag celebrated its Golden Jubilee — repeating the ceremoniel coronation in solemn religious splendor.

Destruction of the Church - During the liberation, the church was bombed. According to Father Manzanado, forty-seven bombs were dropped on the church at a distance of five meters each. One big bomb which was dropped did not explode. Instead,

Miraculously, the church escaped much damage during the bombing. Father Sanchez, a lay brother, and the servant of Mayor Morata of Quezon City, who retreated to Manaoag, were killed.

In 1945, just after liberation, the first Cristo del Rey was held in Manaoag. Most of the churches that time were damaged. Thousands and thousands of delegations from different parishes of the Lingayen Diocese flocked to Maoag to give their thanks and reverence to Our Lord Jesus, the King of Kings. It was said to be the longest procession held in the Lingayen Diocese.

Many candidates for local, provincial, and insular positions in the government used to come to Manaoag asking the aid and favors of Our Lady. President Quirino, Senator Laurel, and the members of their party did not fail to visit her shrine.

Even the Japanese soldiers who were barbarous in many of their ways took with them medals of the Virgin Mary because they believed that they would not be killed if they had with them the marvelous medals. They took with them the medals before they retreated to the mountains.

Local Government during the Japanese Occupation - During the Japanese occupation from December 23, 1941 to May of 1942, the municipal mayor was Don Mariano M. Armas. He had no Vice-Mayor. ex-president Don Vicente Bautista was his Chief of Police. They were both appointed by Tanaka, a carpenter employed in the Hind Sugar Company.

From June 1942 to January 1945, Atty. F. Aquino was the

In 1945, Mr. Ignacio Galaban resumed office as municipal mayor and Mr. Marcelo Abad was the vice-mayor.

The Commonwealth Government was re-established in 1946, and in the general elections, a young lawyer, Atty. Tomas L. Aquino, was the elected mayor. He was the first elected mayor under the Philippine Republic. His vice-mayor was Mr. Eduardo Betil.

The present incumbent, Atty. Bernardo F. Mendoza, assumed office on January 1, 1950. A former law student and an energetic son of Laoac, Mr. Rufino Tabayoyong is the vice-mayor.

The following were the sons of Manaoag who held the highest executive office during the Spanish regime. Each carried the official title of "capitan municipal" or municipal captain:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

Name Don Pedro Finuliar Don Lorenzo Mangsat Don Pascual Somangay Don Domingo Romero Don Vicente Punay Don Vicente Punay Don Andres Dulay Don Miguel Tamayo Don Jacinto Guico Don Francisco Finuliar Don Pascual Somangay Don Justo de la Cruz Don Vicente Punay Don Francisco Finuliar Don Jacinto Guico Don Francisco Augco Don Mariano Soriano Don Mariano Soriano Don Bernardino Membrebe Don Tomas de Aquino Don Mariano de Peralta Don Tomas de Aquino Don Francisco Padilla Don Salvador de la Cruz Don Tomas de Aquino Don Juan Mansed Don Antonio Bocala Don Baltazar de los Reyes Don Mariano de Peralta Don Domingo Aquino Don Tomas de Aquino Don Tomas de Aquino Don Tomas de Aquino Don Agustin Marra Don Baltazar de los Reyes Don Mariano de Peralta Don Tomas de Aquino Don Baltazar de los Reyes Don Baltazar de los Reyes Don Juan Salinas Don Tomas de Aquino Don Mariano Peralta Don Baltazar de los Reyes Don Agustin Marra Don Pascual Prado Don Tomas de Aquino Don Juan Salinas Don Pascual Veloria Don Vicente Peralta Don Alonso Rosario Don Juan Salinas

Year 1743 1744 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 1750 1751 1752 1753 1854 1755 1756 1757 1758 1759 1760 1761 1762 1763 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792

52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 96. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105.

Name Don Feliciano Velasquez Don Vicente Bemido Don Esteban de San Andres Don Tomas de Aquino Don Jacinto Manangan Don Feliciano Velasquez Don Nicolas de Peralta Don Vicente de Peralta Don Bartolome Fernandez Don Nicolas Peralta Don Juan Salinas Don Vicente Peralta Don Pascual Prado Don Ignacio Fernandez Don Francisco Garcia Don Vicente Padilla Don Francisco Peralta Nicolas de Peralta Don Bartolome Prado Don Pedro Teodoro Don Pedro Teodoro Don Francisco Manuel Don Nicolas Peralta Don Roque Padilla Don Jose Benito Don Domingo Eligio Don Isidro Salvador Don Vicente Prado Don Jose de Peralta Don Silverio de los Santos Don Camilo Salinas Don Raymundo Garcia Don Jose de Peralta Don Bartolome Prado Don Fermin de Peralta Don Eugenio Barrozo Don Buenaventura Oaing Don Catarino Guico Don Santiago Lorenzo Don Jose dela Cruz Don Lorenzo Vicente Don Carlos Quintos Don Juan Guico Don Silverio delos Santos Don Miguel Mangsat Don Juan Costales Don Agapito delos Santos Don Agustin Oaing Don Vicente Eustaquio Don Carlos Quintos Don Patricio dela Cruz Don Leonardo Garcia Don Agapito delos Santos Don Miguel Mangsat

Year 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 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846

106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136.

Name Don Agustin de Guzman Don Domingo Soriano Don Juan Garcia Canila Don Benedicto Peralta Don Leonardo Garcia Don Rafael Garcia Don Domingo Soriano Don Leonardo Garcia Don Felipe Batil Don Pascual Bautista Don Juan Tabilin Don Pedro Barlatito Don Narciso Jornales Don Bernardo Tanguilig Don Mariano Soriano Don Narciso Jornales Don Tomas Garcia Don Juan Vinuya Don Juan Vinuya Don Felipe Estil Don Carlos Velasquez Don Nicolas Samson Don Venancio Tambaoan Don Juan Garcia Don Mariano Soriano Don Fernando Mananton Don Jose Garcia de Aquino Don Manuel Garcia Don Vicente de Peralta Don Felipe Garcia Don Manuel Garcia

Year 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861-64 1865-66 1867-68 1869 1870 1871-75 1873-74 1875-76 1877-78 1879-80 1881-82 1883-84 1885-88 1889-90 1891-92 1893-94 1895-99

Only one son of Manaoag held the chief executive's office of the town during the erstwhile Philippine Republic or during the revolutionary government under General Emilio Aguinaldo. He was an appointive official with the official title of "Jefatura Local" or Local Chief in English.

137.

Don Andres Soriano

1899-1900

During the American regime, the following held the highest municipal office. "Municipal President" was their official designation. The names of their respective Vice-Presidents follow immediately after their names.

1.	Don Domingo Vinuya Don Domingo Garcia	1901-1902
2.	Don Manuel Garcia Don Silverio Tambacan	1903-1904
3.	Don Manuel Garcia Don Pedro Tanguilig	1905-1906
4.	Don Domingo Vinuya Don Pedro Bautista	1907-1908
5.	Don Nazario Soriano Don Jose Mangonon	1909-1910
6.	Don Miguel Castro Don Domingo Barrozo	1911-1912
7.	Don Pablo Tiong Don Don Vicente Bautista	1913-1916
8.	Don Pedro Garcia Estil Don Basilio Mangonon	1917-1919
9.	Don Rosendo Soriano Don Teodoro Milo	1920-1922
10.	Don Vicente Bautista Don Jacinto Runes	1922-1925
11.	Don Pedro Garcia Estil Don Fransisco Malapit	1926-1929
12.	Don Mariano M. Armas Don Vicente Soriano	1930-1931
13.	Don Lorenzo B. Guico Don Ignacio Galaban	1931-1934
14.	Don Mariano M. Armas Don Marcelo Abad	1934-1938
15.	Don Nemesio Tiong Don Don Felipe Tayoyong	1938-1941
16.	Don Ignacio Galaban Don Bonifacio Guico	1941-Jap. Occupation
17.	Don Mariano M. Armas No Vice President	1942-May 1942
18.	Don Jose F. Aquino Don No Vice President	1942-1945
19.	Don Ignacio Galaban Don Marcelo Abad	1945-Liberation
20.	Don Tomas L. Aquino Don Eduardo Estil	1946-1950
21.	Don Bernardo F. Mendoza	1950-present

1. It is not good for any member of the family to sit at the doorway when someone in that family is pregnant. The expectant mother will have difficulty in her delivery.

2. In cooking the first food of the mother (porridge), the ladle or paddle should not be made to stay long in the pot so that the newly-born child will not suck the breast of the mother always.

3. When you ask somebody to wash the clothing of your wife she used during her delivery, advise her not to talk to anyone so that the bay will not often cry.

4. Just after the delivery, it is believed that putting a cross and a branch of camatchili under the mother will drive the evil spirits aways.

5. It is believed that if we want the baby to be well-disciplined, the cord removed should be buried quietly.

6. During the delivery lobes [?] of the mother, it is believed that if the father is asked to go down the stairs with his head down, the delivery will be easy.

7. When a child is born, she is immediately placed on the back part of a winnowing basket which is then tapped and tapped to scare the baby. This is believed to make the baby brave.

8. It is not good for a pregnant mother to sleep near an open window at night or else the "aswang" may get get fetus.

9. The mother should refrain from using an electric light or gas light so that her eyesight will not decline. She uses [unreadable] instead to preserve her good eyesight.

10. If the newborn child does not cry at once and she is displaying

11. The mother is then placed on a bamboo bed, and uses nine pillows so that her head will be inclined. She also places a white band of cloth around her head. This is done so that she will not suffer from headaches. Beside her is a stove. This is fired all morning and evening. The heat is supposed to return the mother's womb to normal.

12. The room is curtained with mats and blankets to prevent drafts. She stays home for nine days. She eats very hot food. Her diet consists of chicken for nine days, too. She drinks hot water, too. This is done so that the baby will not suffer from stomach aches.

13. After nine days, she takes her first bath. Various barks, fragrant roots, and leaves are used. These are boiled until the water becomes black. Any violation of this custom will result into illness.

14. Just after the delivery, it is believed that putting a cross sign and a branch of the camatchili tree will drive spirits and devils away.

15. During the pregnancy of a mother, she is supposed to take a walk for some exercise. If it happens to be at night, she must let her hair land on her shoulders, not knotted or braided. It is believed that this will prevent spirits from getting the fetus from the mother.

16. A mother who is conceiving is prohibited to eat twin bananas or any kind of eats because she will deliver twins. She must also not look at twin objects or persons in pictures, the same may heppen.

17. A mother who is conceiving must not despise anything because she may deliver a child very similar to what she is despising.

1. When the child will be baptized, the sponsor (padrino or padrina) will hold the baby at a level higher than the others so that he will be more intelligent than the rest.

2. Just after the baptismal ceremony, the sponsor will walk ahead of the others until he reaches the door of the church so that the child will struggle to be the first (too) in all the activities that he will undertake.

3. If a baby or child makes his first visit to a certain house, it is the custom to give the child any amount in cash called the "palasor" because if we don't give him any, it will bring him bad luck.

4. Right after the baptismal ceremony, the sponsors run as fast as they can out of the church because being the last means ill health on the godson or goddaughter.

5. When a sponsor wishes that that the baby will acquire his capabilities and talents, he tries to blow gently on the baby's forehead when the priest is pouring holy water.

1. During the time of courtship, a man or woman engaged must not move from one place to another at the table so that one will not turn fickle-minded.

2. The young man is observed by the parents and relatives of the woman before he is accepted. He stays in the home of the girl for a certain period for close observation. During this period, he gets to work for the parents of the girl. (mangatolangan)

1. The early Filipinos did not have churches or temples as we have today. When they were married, they did not go to church.

Transcribed from:

History of Manaoag, Province of Pangasinan, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.