All Churches in Pangasinan
PARISH OF
ST. JOSEPH ALAMINOS 1766
This town, with the original name of Sarapsap, was founded in 1766 by the Augustinian Recollects. The first church of the town built in 1770 was burned to-Gether with the convent and the tribunal by a fire that razed the town in 1814. The First parish priest of the town was Fr. Toribio Raymundo (1778-1815). In 1875 the name Alaminos was adopted in ho or of the Spanish Governor General, who visited the town.
Between the years 1837-1849, Fr. Manuel Busquete, the Recollectos parish priest started the construction of the present church and the convent of Alaminos. Fr. Jose Tornos (1849-1878) continued the work. Fr. Victoriano Vereciano (1879-1893) changed the nipa roofing and installed the wooden flooring. He also painted the church. Fr. Toribio Macazo (1998-1926) established the INSTITUTE OF SAN JOSE in the town, Fr, Tomas Changco (1926-1915) improved the church tower, donated three bells and roofed the church with galvanized iron.
PARISH OF
ST. CATHERINE AGNO 1610
The town of Agno is said to have been originally founded in the year 1917 and was named efter Governor General Agno. The town site was formerly situated in a place called Binabalian, northwest of the present town proper. Due to piratical depradations, the inhabitants moved southeast into the interior and established the town permanently in 1818 on the site which is now occupies.
In its beginnings, Agno was populated by Zambals, but as years went by these were outnumbered by Ilocano immigrants. Agno was a part of Zambales until 1904.
PARISH OF
ST. JOSEPH, AGUILAR 1810
This town, form by cattle owners who established their settlement in the place, formerly was a part of San Carlos and was erected civilly on July 16, 1805. On May 9, 1806, the election of the first Minister of Justice was made. The Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1810 accepted Aguilar as a parish under the patronage of St. Joseph, with Fr. Juan Villa as its first parish priest. The town is named after Governor General Rafael Maria Aguilar.
The first church of the town constructed by Fr. Vila was of light materials and did not last for long. Fr. Pons began the constuction of a new church in 1809. Fr. Benito Sanchez Fraga, often called the second founder of Aguilar, started to cement the actual church and tower in 1846. Transferred to Manaoag, he was unable to finish the job which was continued by Frs. Ramon Dumlau and Francisco Treserra and completed by
Fr. Pedro Villanova. It was repaired by Fr. Victor Herrero, The church is 66.40 meters long and 15.73 meters wide.
Fr. Juan Manzano started the cementing of the convent in 1832. It was continued by Fr. Nicolas Fuentes and completed by Fr. P. Fraga in 1839. Under the supervision of this priest the brick-tribunal of the town was also constructed.
Fr. P. Gallego constructed a school for boys in 1868 and a school for girls in 1872. In 1945 the church escape further destruction when the bombs found at the main altar of the church did not explode.
PARISH OF
ST. MARK ALOS, ALAMINOS 1969
The parish of St. Mark the Evangelist was erected on June 1969, comprising five barrios of Alaminos centered in Alos and serving the spiritual needs of 2,300 families. It was Archbishop Mariano Madriaga who chose. St. Mark the Evangelist as the patron of the church, with Father Asterio Doque as the first Parish Priest.
The spiritual needs of Alos used to be taken care by the parish priest of Mabini. Because of these spiritual needs and the growing religious fervor of the people, they petitioned the Archishop to send them a resident pastor. And to show their sincerity and cooperation in their request, they constructed their own parish church before the arrival of the parish preist
PARISH OF
ST. NICHOLAS TOLENTINO, ANDA 1858
This town named after Governor General Simon de Anda Y Salazar, was founded around the year 1858. As a part of the Zambales mission, its spiritual administration was taken care of by the Recollects up to the early years of the Philippines Revolution. From the outbreak of the Revolution up to 1931, the town had no resident priest. The spiritual life of the faithful was taken care of by the resident priest from Bolinao, who came to the town once a year.
PARISH OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, BANI 1834
As a town Bani was founded around the year 1762 with the original name of San Simon. The original site of the old town is in Barrio Namagbagan which is located some three kilometers west of the present site. The name Bani was adopted since 1816. The town was transferred to its present location in 1857. Originally a part of Zambales, Bani was aggregated to the province of Pangasinan on May 10, 1903
PARISH OF
ST. JAMES BOLINAO 1610
Sometime in 1585 Fr. Esteban Marin, an Augustinian Friar, was the very first missionary ever to set foot in Bolinao, an island town, which he formed out of the People he baptized. He worked there till 1587, when he was appointed Prior of the town of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Bolinao was then assigned to the Dpminican Fathers who took charge of it till 1599. In 1600, however, the Augustinian Fathers came back with Fr. Francisco Martinez as their superior. In 1602 Fr. Estacio Ortiz took over, and later on, Fr. Antonio Figueroa. The Augustinian Fathers were the very first sowers of the seeds of the Gospel in this town. They ended their missionary work in 1607.
With their departure, the Most Illustrious Governor and Capt. General Rodrigo de Rivera and the Dean of the Metropolitan Church requested the Recoletos de San Juan Agustin Fathers to take over the work begun by the Augustinian Fathers. Immediately, thereafter, Father Jeronimo de Cristo and Fr. Andres del Espiritu Santo rallied to the call and upon arrival at this island, town of Bolinao, they began to undertake the great work of spreading the Gospel, teaching the people by precepts and the best example of their life. In due time, these missionaries began to reap the fruits of their toils and sacrifices when over 1600 infidels were baptized.
Around 1609, lue to piratical molestation, the town was transferred to the mainland, where it presently exist. Records show that the Recoletos de San Agustin Fathers administered Bolinao parish from 1609-1679. From 1679 to 1712, the Dpminican Fathers took over again the administration of the parish. In 1749, the Recoletos de San Agustin Fathers came back to Bolinao, and took charge of the parish up to about 1784. From then on, different priests, administered Bolinao parish up to the present
PARISH OF
ST. ANDREW BUGALLON 1920
This is the name of the new town which replaced the old town of Salasa. It was named Bugallon in honor of General Jose Torres Bugallon who was a native of Salasa. Salasa enjoyed being the seat of the municipal government until year 1916 when by resolution of the municipal council approved by the Provincial Board, the town site was transferred Andrew was later built.to barrio Anagao, the present seat of the town where a church dedicated to St.
The parish of Bugallon was established in 1920. The construction of the church was started by Father Benjamin Ilarduya of the Capuchin Order and continued by his successor Father Hipolito Azeutia, also of the same Order. Father Fidel Lekamania, put up the present convent. Further improvement of the church was done by the late Father Pedro V. Sison
PARISH OF
ST. ISIDORE THE FARMER BURGOS 1876
The town’s chronicles do not show when the first inhabitants first settled in the upland part of Burgos, Western Pangasinan. But it is certain in that these immigrants came from the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. During the Spanish rule, this municipality was a part of the province of Zambales
In the year 1876, the Dominican created the Parish of St. Isidore of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, because majority of the settlers were farmers. The patron’s feast is annually celebrated on May 15. It is also the town fiesta.
It was the founding missionaries who built the present façade of the church, made mostly of quarried adobe stones contributed by the faithful. The Dominicans left during the American regime and were succeeded by Filipino clergymen who continued the improvement of the house of God and the ministration of the faithful.
PARISH OF
ST. VINCENT FERRER, DASOL
This parish was first recognized way back in 1800. During this time, and during the pre-war period, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish was only visited by the parish priest of Burgos when necessary. After the second world war, Fr. Jose Velasco was assigned the first resident parish priest.
In 1955, the site of the church was transferred from the “old center” of Dasol to its new place.
PARISH OF
ST. RAPAHAEL ARCHANGEL EGUIA 1889
As a Public Oratory, the church of Eguia was founded in 1888 with St. Raphael Archangel as the Patron Saint. On March 19, 1958, it was elevated to the Status of a parish. Its elevation was realized through the insistent pleading of the people and was expedited through the generosity of Don Natalio nd Dona Jacoba Espiritu who donated more than one hectare of rice land for the exclusive use of the parish priest, thus insuring his sustenance.
Father Vicente Gabriel was commissioned by His Excellency Mariano Madriaga, then Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, to be the first priest of the parish. The church was small measuring 20 x 10 meters
PARISH OF
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST INFANTA 1895
Originally a barrio Zambales, Infnta was known as San Juan in honor of the Patron Saint of the barrio. It was organized into a town in 1878, under the patronage of San Felipe. The poblacion then was located in barrio Nangalisan, six kilometers southeast of the present poblacion. It said that the poblacion while in this site was often ransacked and plundered and so for security reasons it was moved to its present site in 1892. Since then, the town has been called Infanta.
The church of the town is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. Constructed in 1897, its measures approximately 7 meters wide and 10 meters long. Its walls were made of coconut leaves and its roof of cogon grass. It had no ground flooring. Ten years later, the ground floor area was enlarge while galvanized iron roofing replaced the cogon grass. Unfortunately a strong typhoon wrecked the church.
Reconstruction was made with whatever available materials were salvaged after the typhoon. The construction of a semi-permanent church began in 1934. In 1969, hollow blocks replaced the adobe walling of the church and given the designed that it has today
PARISH OF
ST. ISIDRO LABRADOR 1765
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was first offered in Labrador in 1575 when a section of the Spanish army was encamped on the shores of Lingayen Gulf at the mouth of the Agno River in an attempt to cut off the retreat of a Chinese pirate, named Limahong, who had invaded this area. It was not until 1755 that Labrador was set up as a priest under the care of the Dominican Father Antonio Ruiz. The parish was dedicated to St. Isidore the Farmer, who is the patron saint of Madrid and who is still greatly venerated here, especially by farmers.
PARISH OF
THE HOLY CHILD, MABINI 1610
Balingcaguing is the original name of this town which was founded in the year 1610. Originally part of Zambales, it consists of a land area of 27,150 hectares. No record exists to show the exacts date when it became part of Pangasinan. However, the church’s records show that in 1930 the name Balingcaguing was changed to Mabini. The town’s patron is the Holy Child or “Sto. NiÑo”.
PARISH OF
ST. RAYMOND OF PENAFORT MANGATAREM 1835
A barrio of San Carlos in its beginnings, Mangatarem flourished largely with the Ilocanos who flocked to the place, attracted by its good terrain which is very conducive for raising palay . In 1827 when it was established a “visita” of San Carlos, .the town had already 19 cabecerias. In 1835, it was separated as an independent town from San Carlos. The Dominicans accepted Mangatarem a former “visita”of San Carlos as a vacariate under the patronage of St. Raymond of Penafort, in 1837. Its firdt vicar was Fr. Joaquin Perez who stayed until 1844. Before Fr. Perez,however, there were other priest who served in Mangatarem, among them was Fr. Benito Focuberta, who administered the parish as a vicar ad interim during the whole year of 1834.
The first church of the town was constructed under the supervision of Fr. Perez. It was burned in 1962. In 1851 began the construction of two remarkable towers started since Fr. Manzano and was continued by his successors, the last one of them Fr. Vicente Iztegui (1875-1884). The work was never completed. The first convent of the town was constructed by Fr. Perez in 1841. The construction of the actual convent was began by Fr. Iztegui.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF LOURDES SALASA 1720
The town of SALASA was founded between the years 1714 and 1717 by Father Antonio Perez. In 1720, it was accepted as a vicariate by the Dominican Order but was soon suspended because of hostilities among its inhabitants. It was again re-stored as vicariate in 1733.
The church of SALASA was built between 1747-1748 by Father Francisco BARROSO. The edifice measures 81 by 21.30 meters.
SALASA ceased to be a town SITE BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD IN 1953. The church of SALASA was stripped of its roof, images, benches and all its liturgical paraphernalia which were brought to the new town of BUGALLON, save the two side altars and the image of SAN ANDRES APOSTOL at the façade, which was brought down inside the church.
Due to pastoral needs, the SALASA parish was opened in 1937 and was handled by the CAPUCHIN Fathers. This parish is under the patronage of OUR LADY OF LOURDES.
PARISH OF
ST. JAMES, SANTIAGO, 1973
Originally, the site of this parish was Santiago Island. Today, the center is in barrio BINALBALAN. The town was founded as early as 1585 by the Augustinian missionaries. It was transferred to the present site in Bolinao in 1608. In July, 1968, the resident priest arrived in Santiago Island, in the person of Fr. Fraancisco Ganaden. The church is located in Barrio Salud.
PARISH OF
ST. PETER MARTYR, SUAL 1835
On May 20, 1805, Governor General Rafael Maria Aguilar issued a decree, creating Sual as a civil town, independent from San Isidro until 1837 when, at the efforts of P.Gabriel Perez, it was declared as an independent parish under the patronage of San Pedro Martir by the Dominican Provincial Chapter of that year. Fr. Perez was appointed the pastor of the new vicariate which was definitely transferred from Labrador to Sual in July, 1835.
The construction of the first church of Sual was completed by Fr. P. Villanueva between 1847 and 1848. The construction of the second church was begun under the term of Fr. Felix Casas in 1883. By order of the Bishop the work was suspended but in 1891, it was resumed by Father Eugenie Minguez and was consecrated on June 8, 1893.
The present church is the third to be built in the town. It was destroyed by bombing during the Liberation in 1945.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, ZARAGOSA 1967
The parish of Zaragosa is located between Bani and Bolinao proper. It was first a Barrio Apostolate of the Capuchin Fathers. Here they built a chapel where they officiated Mass every Sunday. Later in 1966, it was converted into a separate parish with Father Montero as parish priest. He was succeeded by Father Manuel Baraan.
PARISH OF
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, BASISTA 1938
The peresent municipality of Basista with its twelve barrios was erected civilly on September 5, 1961. The town as well as its twelve barrios formerly formed a part of San Carlos City.
As a parish, Basista was for a long time a “visita” of San Carlos City. However, as early as 1947, it already had a resident priest. The first pastor of the town was Fr. Leon Bitanga.
PARISH OF
ST. VINCENT FERRER, BAYAMBANG, 1614
This town with primitive name of Malungay was accepted by the Dominican Provincial Chapter in 1619, under the patronage of St. Vincent Ferrer. It was known as Malungay unitl 1741, when the name Bayambang was adopted-the name of the place or site where the old town site was transferred. Malungay, already existed as a settlement as early as 1614 but it was not established as a vicariate until 1619.
By 1804, the three-naved church of Bayambang was deterio rating and so plans were made to built a new and bigger one. The work was begun by Fr. Manuel Sucias in 1813. It had a cruciform plan. It was continued by Fr. Juan Manzano, Fr. Joaquin Flores, and Fr. Benito Foncuberto, but the work was slow due to many difficulties. It was finally completed by Fr. Juan Ibañez (1832-1847), In 1856, the church was burned. It was reconstructed by Fr. Foncuberto who tore down the cruciform plan and built two sacrities. He roofed the church with tiles but due to earthquakes, he replaced the roofing with galvanized iron. Measuring 16.50 meters wide and 85.70 meters long, the church has survided to this day. The new church belfry is the work of Fr. Ciriaco Billote.
PARIS OF
OUR LADY OF THE PURIFICATION BINMALEY 1674
This town already existed as early as 1614 as part of San Carlos. In 1672, the Capitular Acts of the Dominicans assigned the first vicar of the town, Father Tomas Gutierrez.
The church has been constructed in the 16th century and finished by Fr. Barrozo, O.P. in 1754. Its church bell is one of the three biggest bells in the Philippines, cast in 1804 weighing 4,130 pounds. It was damaged during the World War II. The church was destroyed and only the walls and the tower, partly damaged, were left by the shelling of the American warship from January 7-9, 1945.
PARISH OF
GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL
BONUAN GUESET, DAGUPAN CITY, 1943
The parish was erected in July, 1943 by Bishop Mariano Madriaga with St. Gabriel the Archangel as Patron Saint. Father Jesus Sison (now retired Bishop of Tarlac), was the first parish priest of Bonuan. He served the parish for 21 years. He buikt the first church, beside a big convent. Father Luis Ungson replaced the old Church with a big beautiful one in 1969.
PARISH OF
STS. PETER AND PAUL, CALASIAO (1588)
Calasiao, the second town in Pangasinan founded by the Dominicans, was established as a vicariate by the Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1588 under the patronage of St. Dominic. It was originally known as Gabon, the name of a barrio adjacent to the actual poblacion. The missionaries however, encountered so much hostilities of Gabon that they decided to transfer to Calasiao. Calasiao is a corruption of “Calasian” which means “A place of lightnings”. The Provincial Chapter of 1596 placed the parish under the patronage of St. Paul but from the year 1621, it became the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul. The first parish priest of this town was Fr. Jaun Maldonado de San Pedro Martir.
In the uprising of 1763, the Alcalde Mayor and other Spaniards besieged by the rebels of Binalatongan, took refuge in the church tower of this town as the convent and the church were burning. The religious saved themselves by escaping with the help of the insurgents who respected them. The church and the convent were subsequently rebuilt but in 1894 they turned to be pasture grounds of animals. Through the diligence of Fr. Ramon Dumlau and the cooperation of his parishioners, these buildings were renovated with marked improvements. The convent and the church are made of bricks. The 3-named church is one hundred yards long 30 yards wide. Its brick tower was made famous for having served as a shelter for the Spaniards during the English invasion.
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PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, CALMAY 1973
Formerly a public oratory of the Parish of St. John, the Evangelist of Dagupan City, Calmay was administered by previous Rectors such as Father Desiderio Sandoval, Calixto Armas, Severino Lopez, and Emeterio Domagas. It was canonicallyerected as a parish on January 21, 1973 by the most Rev. Mariano A. Madriaga, Archbishopo of Lingayen-Dagupan, with Rev. Clemente T. Godoy as the first parish priest.
PARISH OF
ST. ROSE OF LIMA, DOMALANDAN 1865
The parish of St. Rose of Lima was created in 1965
CO-CATHEDRAL PARISH OF
THE THREE KINGS, LINGAYEN 1575
The Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1614 accepted this town together with its “visita”, Bagnotan (Dagupan), under the patronage of the Three Kings, after the Augustinians ceded these missions to the Dominican Order in the Preceding year. In 1616, the town was given its first pastor in the person of Father Juan Martinez with Fathers Juan de San Jacinto, Pedro Vasquez and Antonio de San Vicente as his assistant.
Records show that it was the natives of Lingayen themselves who petitioned Archbishop Miguel de Benavides while making a visit in Binmaley that the spiritual care of their town be entrusted to the Dominicans. Since 1575, the Augustinians were already in Lingayen having accompanied the military expedition under Juan Salcedo in pursuit of Limahong.
The old church of Lingayen used to be the best in the province, perhaps in the whole northern Luzon. The dome was the work of famous Father Miguel Aparicio (1862-1834). Like many churches in Pangasinan, the church and the convent of Lingayen were damaged by bombings in 1945.
Lingayen has always been the capital of the province and had been the residence of the Alcalde Mayor. It was the first citadel that the Spaniards established in the province. In Lingayen the Royal Hacienda used to have its houses of revenue tax of the Wine and Tobacco monopoly. The Chinese meztizos had a very active commerce there aside from maintaining a shipyard where merchant boats and even intercontinental passenger vessels were built. Lingayen was chosen to be the Episcopal Seat in 1828.
PARISH OF
SAN ILDEPHONSE, MALASIQUI 1699
The parish of Malasiqui was formerly a “visita” of San Carlos. In 1665, it became a town which the venerable Fr. Juan Camacho as founder and first pastor. The original town of Malasiqui was located some two kilometers to the east of the road leading to Villasis. After an uprising in1660, the town was transferred to the present site in1661-1662. In 1971, Malasiqui was separated as a parish from San Carlos and in 1677, it was accepted by the Dominicans. Fr. Juan Catalan was administrator of the parish.
In 1746, the construction of the church and the convent was started by Fr. Luis Delfin. These buildings were burned in 1763. In 1770 another convent was built and, in 1773, the construction of a new church began under Fr. Tapias. It was completed in 1790. On February 29, 1820, another conflagration gutted down the town together with the church, the convent and the parish archives. The building of a new church began in 1823. This was also burned. A provincial church and a convent were again put up, but these crumbled during the earthquake in 1880. In 1882, Fr. Juan Cardaba constructed a new church which was inaugurated in 1885. This was partly destroyed in the tremors of 1892, but was repaired by Fr. Salvador Millan. This edifice measured 70 meters long and 18.50 meters wide. This was destroyed by the July 16, 1990 earthquake.
Meanwhile the old convent was converted into Malasiqui’s first Catholic School. A new Catholic Rectory was inaugurated by Msgr. Mariano Madriaga on July 2, 1972.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY MANAOAG 1600
This town, once a visita of Lingayen, owes its beginnings from the zeal of the Augustinians. Here in 1600, some children were baptized and a chapel was erected (on the site of the actual cemetery) under the patronage of Santa Monica. Five years later, due to lack of personnel and the great difficulties of the Minister of Doctrine who had to go back and forth from Lingayen, the Augustinians handed the mission to Sr. Diego de Soria , then bishop of Nueva Segovia of which Pangasinan formed a part. In 1608 the bishop in turn turned over the mission to the Dominicans residing in Mangakdan and placed it under the patronage of our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The Dominicans Provincial Chaptere of 1601 established Manaoag as an independent parish assigning the first pastor of the town, V.P. Tomas Gutierrez.This was after Fr. Juan de San Jacinto had resettled the natives of the placed.
The church of Manaoag is a sanctuary frequented by countless people from Pangasinan and from the neighboring provinces on account of the prodigious image of the Lady of the Rosary. This beautiful and solid image was made at the expense of Capitan D. Gaspar Gamboa, a tertiary of the Dominican Order who donated it to the Domincan Province. The church was built in 1912. It measures 89 meters long and 13.65 meters wide. The cruciform bult in 1932 in 53.50 meters long and 15.10 meters wide.
The Domini ans took possession of the Parish admutum Santa Sedis on January 20, 1926.
PARISH OF
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS MANGALDAN,1600
Mangaldan owns the distinction as the third town in Pangasinan to be founded by the Dominican missionaries.
As early as 1591, Mangaldan already existed as a Spanish encomienda. Its foundation as a town is attributed to Blessed Juan Martinez de Santo Domingo, a former missionary of Pangasinan who died a martry’s death in Japan on March 19, 1618.
Mangaldan started as a “visita” of Calasiao and it remained as such until the Dominicans created it as an independent vicariate under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas on June 2, 1600.
It is said that of all the people of Pangasinan, the Mangaldanes were the most difficult to convert. The greatest enemy of the missionaries in the town was a certain man named Casipit who tried to force them out of the town and even attempted to kill some of them. Yet, when he was converted by the first apostle, Fr. Pedro Soto, he became the principal propagator of the Faith. He contributed a great sum of money for the construction of the first church.
In the second half of the 19th century Mangaldan was the richest town in the province. This was due to the famous irrigation system which the missionaries built within the confines of the town causing its fertile fields to yield bountiful harvest of palay. Most outstanding in this gigantic task was Fr. Jose Torres who gave his life to bring it to completion in 1892.
The third church to be built in Mangaldan was completed in 1812 by Fr. Lorenzo Martin. It collapsed during the great earthquake of March 16, 1892, together with the big chapel in the cemetery. The construction of the convent dates back in 1747. The construction of the sixth and present church of Mangaldan was begun in 1942 by Fr. Juan Sison, and was completed 20 years later by Fr. Leon Bitanga.
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PARISH OF
ST. JOSEPH, MAPANDAN 1905
The organization of Mapandan (once a part of Mangaldan) into a town was made through the initiative of the old men from the place with the support of Fr. Benigno Jimenez then parish priest of Mangaldan, and of Don Hilario Aquino, a barrio captain.
Originally, the town was located in the hilly region in the south where “pandan”-a plant the leaves of which are stripped and women wove into mats – grew in abundance. Thus, the town was named Mapandan. Later the town was transferred to Torres, a barrio named after the famous priest of Mangaldan, Fr. Jose Torres, O.P. Finally, in 1902, the town site was transferred to its present location
The first church was built about the time Mapandan was founded as a parish in 1905 with Fr. Juan Ballesteros as the first parish priest. Since then, around twenty-three priests served Mapandan parish. Among them is most Rev. Emilio Cinense, former Bishop of San Fernando, (Pampanga) who served from September, 1934 to April 25, 1936.
PUBLIC ORATORY OF
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART, NAGUELGUEL 1950
Naguelguel was established as a Public Oratory in 1950. It has not been formally erected as a parish yet.
PARISH OF
ST. DOMINIC GUZMAN,
SAN CARLOS CITY 1587
This town with the primitive name of Binalatongan was the first in Pangasinan to be founded by the Dominican missionaries. Its creation as a vicariate dates back to 1588 when it was placed under the patronage of St. Dominic. The first pastor of the town was Father Bernardo Navarro de Santa Catalina.
Binalatongan which means “a place of mangos” have had three different town sites with the same name. Originally it was situated on the western side of the Agno River near the mountains of Zambales. Later it was moved to the eastern side of the Agno which site still conserves the name of “Baloydaan”. It was here that the church and the Dominican House were burned on August 4, 1718. It appears that the town was again transferred around the year 1721 to the site it now occupies where the church and the Domincan House were pillaged and burned in 1763.
In 1770, the construction of a massive brick church began. When completed by Father Cristobal Ausina in 1773, it was the biggest church in the islands. Destroyed by the earthquake of 1796, 1789, and 1799, it was rebuilt in 1803. It measured then 89 yards long and 22 a yards wide.
Binalatongan was the center of the bloody rebellion in 1763 under the leadership of Juan dela Cruz “Palaris”, occasioned by the English invasion of the preceding year. Because of this, the King of Spain, Charles III ordered the town to be demolished and transferred to a new town which should not exceed 500 tributor. The condition was never met, however, because the town’s tributors never went down below five thousand, even after Mangatarem and Urbiztondo were separated from San Carlos as independent towns.
PARISH OF
SAINT FABIAN, SAN FABIAN 1718
The creation of San Fabian into a town and parish was made through the efforts of the Dominican Provincial who petitioned the Province as early as January 9, 1716, to that effect. The provincial Chapter of the Dominican Order in 1718 made San Fabian as a vicariate assigning Father Andres Caballero its first pastor. Before San Fabian became a parish, however, it already had a resident priest since March 21, 1717- Father Manuel del Rio (elected bishop but died before receiving the Bull) whom Father Caballero succeeded.
Because of its excellent geographical location, it is the common tradition that San Fabian was founded to serve as an Infirmary for the religious of Pangasinan. A semi-claustral convent which was converted into a public oratory before it was burned in 1856 was constructed in the town by Fr. Holego Francisco Ferrer in 1763.There used to be a brick building in front of the convent where Bishop Ustaris stayed.
Between the years 1857-1860, Father Juan Gutierrez rebuilt the church. The convent burned in 1856 was rebuilt by Fr. Ramon Fernandez in 1862.
PARISH OF
ST. HYACINTH, SAN JACINTO 1598
The account of Father Diego Aduarte implies that San Jacinto existed as a town as early as 1598. This is confirmed by what the Dominican capitular acts 1604 state and this is: that the Ilocanos who did not wish to return to their towns formed their community in San Jacinto.
Frm 1699, the town began to have a resident vicar although now and then it was annexed either to Manaoag or Mangaldan. In 1598, the town had already a church. In 1653, a new brick church was constructed but was burned in 1719. In 1721, the contruction of another church was started. It was finished in 1731 when the first Mass was said in it. The façade of this beautiful church cracked during an earthquake in 1848. During the stronger tremors of 1892, both the church and the tower collapsed
CATHEDRAL PARISH OF
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, DAGUPAN 1614
The Augustinians had change of the spiritual administration of this town from 1590 to 1613. Formerly known as Bagnotan, it was accepted as vicariate by the Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1614, under the patronage of St. John the vangelist, and assigning Father Kuis Huete, as the first Dominican pastor. Up to 1643, the town was annexed to Calasiao. The town began to be called Dagupan since 1720.
An early church and a convent were burned in 1660 when Andres Malong’s men razed the ton. The Rev. Pedro de Rama rebuilt the church in 1816. In 1895, the Rev. Vicente Iztegui rebuilt the façade that the earthquake of March 16, 1892, had destroyed. The construction of the old convent which is the present Bishop’s residence was begun and completed by father Gregorio Paz. In 1891, a famous College was established in the town by the Dominicans under the patronage of St. Albert the Great.The Massive building was, as everybody knows, washed out by floods in 1936. The church was further repaired and improved by Msgr. Evaristo Soriano in 1936.
The construction of the new present church was begun under Msgr. Mariano Madriaga and was eventually finished under Msgr. Federico Limon,SVD,DD. It was consecrated on 27 December 1974
CHINESE PARISH OF
ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS DAGUPAN CITY 1955.
The parish was founded in October 3, 1955 as Chinese Parish. The Church was built in 1966-1967. Blessing on January 15, 1967.
PARISH OF
ST. PIUS V. URBIZTONDO 1852
The creation of the town named after Governor General Antonio Urbiztondo of Villasis, was due to the efforts of Father Ramon Dalmau, parish priest of San Carlos. It was canonically erected and separated from San Carlos around the year 1853 or 1854. The Dominicans accepted Urbiztondo as vicariate in 1855 assigning Father P. Treserra as its first vicar, although Father Treserra was already in the town as early as November 28, 1853.
When Father Treserra was transferred from Urbiztondo in 1861, the town already had a church, a tribunal and convent- all made of bricks. And the plaza and the streets in the poblacion were already traced. Father Treserra was also responsible for relocating the town to the place where Father Dalmau founded the town was a low terrain and was often flooded.
The parish convent was mysteriously burned down in 1947. The old church building was condemned due to the weakness of its framework. It was replaced by a new structure by the late Father Domingo Frias.
PARISH OF
THE HOLY CROSS ALCALA 1881
The town of Alcala was originally one of the biggest sitios of Bayambang. It was separated civilly from its mother, Bayambang, by the Royal Decree No. 682 of the Spanish Government dated September 20, 1875. It was comprised by the barrios of Dangla, Namalutan, Ba-ong, Baguiyao, Cupi, Bacud and Bitulao. It was first called “Dabgla”, a vernacular name of a medicinal shrub, which was then in abundance in the locality. This name was changed, however, into Alcala in honor of the then incumbent Spanish Governor of Pangasinan who was a native of Alcala, Spain.
Alcala was ceated as an independent parish by another Royal Decree of the Spanish Government dated January 4, 1881, and was given the name, Parish of the Holy Cross. The Dominicans accepted it as a House of the Order on November of 1881 and made Rev. Fr. Eduardo Saamaniego, O.P., the first parish priest on February 21, 1882.
Fr. Samaniego started the construction of the convent. Fr. Revilla continued it, and Fr. Casamitjana finished it. This same Parish priest placed the foundation of the first parish church and his successor completed it. The first church was destroyed.
PARISH OF
ST. LOUIS BERTRAND, ASINGAN 1669
Asingan, whose Titular and Patron Saint is St. Louis Bertrand, O.P., and whose former name was SINNAPOG, was founded in 1669. However, the town began having its resident pastor and parish priest only in 1698, the Reverend Father Fernando de Santa Maria, O.P. He is known as the author of a popular booklet entitled “Medicinas Caseras”.
The first inhabitants of Asingan were pure Pangasinenses. By 1830, however, Ilocanos from Ilocos Norte and Sur began migrating to Asingan so much so that today Asingan is predominantly an Ilocano town.
In 1763, Asingan received from the Spanish Governor General the titles of “Villa Real” and “Villa Muy Leal”, for her loyalty to Spain, the town having been the refuge of the Spaniards of Pangasinan during the revolt of Palaris.In fact, he town’s forces, led by the Captain or townhead met and defeated the invading armed men of Palaris at Bactad, then a barrio belonging to Asingan, now of Urdaneta.
From 1698 to 1898 there were 61 parish priest belonging to the Domincan Order who served the parish. From 1818 to 1834 the parish was administered by diocesan priest.
The construction of the present church edifice and parish rectory was begun by Father Jorge Arjol, O.P., who was pastor from 1874 to 1886. The work was continued by Father Feciano Martin and finished by Father Blas Pastor, the last Dominican parish priest. Unfortunately, the parish rectory was burned in 1898 during the Katipunan Recvolution
PARISH OF
ST. JULIAN, BALUNGAO 1944
The town of Balungao is located at the southern part of Pangasinan. Historical records do not show it was founded but it formerly was a part of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. Due to the geographical conditions it was deemed proper to convert it to a town.
As a parish, Balungao was erected in 1944. The first pastor of the ton was Fr. Casimiro Castillo.
PARISH OF
THE HOLY CHILD BINALONAN 1841
The original site of the present town of Binalonan was located and founded by Fr. Julian Izaga in the barrio of San Felipe. It was created a civil town independent from Manaoag to which it had formerly belonged in1834. Later, the townsite was moved through the efforts of the same Fr. Izaga to the barrio of Santa Catalina. Here he constructed a church and a convent, made of light materials, much against the will of some people of Manaoag and the Ilocanos of Santa Catalina, Fr. Ramon Fernandez transferred the town in 1938 to the place where it now stands.
The Dominicans created Binalonan as a parish in 1841.The first pastor of the town was Fr. Domingo Llue who was succeeded shorthly by Fr,. Policarpio Illanan, whom the Dominicans appointed when they created the parish. Fr. Illana, a church and a convent. Between the years 1854 and 1855, Fr. Antonio Vinelas gathered the materials to build a bigger church. But it was Fr. Ruperto Alarcon who started the actual construction in 1861. Meanwhile, Fr. Juan Fernandez (1861-1865) built a provisional church. Between the years 1866-1873, Fr. Felix Cantador put up the walls of the old convent. His successor, Fr. P.del campo, continued and almost finished the work. In 1879, this priest built another provisional church which was destroyed by a typhoon on October 19, 1881. Father Silvestre Fernandez had almost completed the construction of the church with three naves which Fr. Alarcon had started when it was ruined by the earthquake of 1882. After the tremors the provisional church which served as the central nave of the walls of the new church were destroyed by American soldiers during the Hispano-American War.
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PARISH OF
OUR LORD’S NATIVITY, NATIVIDAD 1904
The town of Natividad was created by the Philippine Commission on December 25, 1904. The name Natividad was given in honor of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The town formerly a barrio of San Nicolas, was then inhabited by immigrants from the Ilocos region who spoke the BAGO dialect, and so as a brrio it was known as Caaguan.
Four some time after its foundation, Natividad had no resident priest, the town being a “visita” of Tayug. Foundation of the present church was laid in the year 1927 by Father Reynaldo Rola. The first parish priest of the town was Fr. Alfredo Obedoza.
PARISH OF
ST. JUDE THADDEUS POZORRUBIO 1880
This town known befor as Claris was formerly a sitio of San Jacinto. It was founded on March 12, 1834, by Fr. Domingo Naval, Vicar of San Jacinto.
In 1839, the foundation of an ermita was laid down which was later finished in 1842. Although Pozorrubio became an independent town on January 30, 1870, by a royal decree of Governor General.
When Pozorrubio became an independent parish, a temporary church was built at Cablong (now the town proper). The new church was blessed on July 26, 1879, by Fr. Julian Lopez, Vicar of San Jacinto, and on December 5, 1879, Fr. Joaquin Gonzales (1879-1884) came as its resident parish priest.
The old convent was built in 1888 by Fr. Silvestre Fernandez (1887-1893) who also established the “escuelas” where people learned to read and write by the “caton” system of instruction. He taught the people how to make mortae as well as ladrillo, how to choose the best wood for house construction. He supervised the construction of the roads leading to Binalonan and Manaoag. He built the old brick-walled cemetery that is still standing today.
Fr. Mariano Rodriguez (1893-1899) started building a second and bigger church of bricks (75.57 m. long, 23 m. 50cm. Wide, walls of 4 m high), which was not finished because of the Philippines-American War. The original brick walls are still intact.
A term church was built during the term of Fr. Lucile Meirs (1899-1925) the first Filipino priest assigned in Pozorrubio. While the width and height of the brick walls remained the same, the length of this Church was reduced to 42 m. This church, together with the convent built by Fr. Fernandez, was destroyed on January 7, 1945, by American Bombers.
After World War II, a make-shift building was erected on the same site by Fr. Emilio Cinense (1947-1952). Fr. Cinense who later became a Bishop, founded the St.Philomena’s academy in 1948. Fr. Alfredo Cayabyab (1954-1967) reconstructed the Church that is standing today.
PARISH OF
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, ROSALES, 1853
The present town of Rosales, with the ancient name if Pinac-aban was erected as a town by decree of the Governor General on March 16, 1852. The name Rosales was given to the town in honor of Capt. Herminio Rosaleszzz for his true and efficient leadership in the community. During the Spanish regime the Parish was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Manila, and a vicar of a district of his archdiocese resided in the town.
At the outbreak of the Revolution in 1896, the church and the convent of the town were completely burned, and religious functions in the town became irregular. By a decree of the Archbishop of Manila dated February 27, 1915, religious functions in the town were restored. The substitute for the burned church Fr. Nicasio Mabante built a modest church and a small convent where he could reside. Meanwhile, after religious functions were interrupted from 1896 to 1915, many of the town’s inhabitants become Aglipayans. It is said that in the early months of 1915, the Mot Holy sacrament as kept n the house of the prominent family of Don Angel pine.
The construction of the present church was begun by Fr. Lazaro de Guzman in 1949.
PARISH OF
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, SAN MAUEL 1687
Hitory states that the town site of San Manuel was originally established in Pao (now the sitio of Bato) a barrio of the town in the year1614. The first church was built in Pao in 1688. In 1720, the church in Pao was burned so that the people went to Sinapug, the first name of the town of Asingan, for their religious services.
In 1860, San Manuel of today was established at its present site. It was accepted as a House of the Dominican Order in 1878, by a Royal Decree dated July 6, 1878, San Manuel was made an independent parish from Asingan.
The first “ermita” of the town was erected with the help of the faithful by Fr. Bonifacio Provanza, the first pastor of the town. The foundations of a concrete church building were laid by the same pastor in 1882, with a cruciform. The work on the church of masonry was continued by Fr. Jose Ma. Puente. The church, inaugurated on October 1, 1894, was destroyed by a powerful whirlwind on the same day. Fr, Fuente began the construction of another church but this together with the convent, was burned by the revolutionaries in 1898. Fr. Probanza who lived for six months in the house of a resident of the town built small convent. The old church of San Manuel measured 100 meter long and 20 meters wide.
PARISH OF
ST. NICHOLAS TOLENTINO, SAN NICOLAS
The Dominicans accepted the administration of the “visita” of San Nicolas with Tayug in 1841, the “visita” of San Nicolas was separated from Tayug, with Father Jose Manso as the first parish priest.
The small church and the convent built by Fr. Jose Manso were improved by Fr. Juan Gutierrez and Fr. Ramon Suarez. The church, the convent and the town were burned in 1864. Another church with wooden walls and iron roofing was also burned in 1898.
The construction of the convent of masonry was started by Fr. Jose Cienfuegos and completed by Father Ravuelta. But this, together with the tribunal and primary schools set up by Fr. Calle, were burned, by the revolutionaries in 1898. After the revolution, however, the church and the convent were provisionally retored
The old church and the rectory were burned on January 26, 1944 by incendiary bombs dropped by American planes. The parish priest, then Fr. Jose Valdez and his successor, Fr.Antonio Salindong, built an used a semi-permanent church building. The construction of the actual church was started with the help of the faithful by Fr. Ulpiano Catungal in May, 1958. He also started the construction of the new rectory.
The new church was consecrated by Archbishop Mariano Madriaga on October 31, 1970.
PARISH OF
ST. PASCUAL BAYLON, SAN QUINTIN 1863
San Quintin, formerly known as the barrio of Lango-lango, was founded as a town and parish in 1863. It used to be a part of Tayug. The old parish church was begun by Fr. Domingo Frias in 1947 and was continued by Fr. Vicente Gabriel in 1966. The roofing and the flooring of the church were installed during the term of Fr. Joseph Casaclang (1969-1970). The cement finishing and painting were done in 1973-1974 under Rev. Jaime Allado.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL SISON 1898
This town originally known as Alava formerly formed a part of San Fabian. It was in fact a hacienda of a certain Spaniard named D. Antonio Bravo, who was a resident of San Fabian. Although this haciendero was forced to abandon his plantations, his farmers mained in the place. Together with some from Ilocos, La Union and San Fabian who came to settle with them, they formed the first community of Alava.
At the petition of the inhbitants, Governor General Jose de Granada granted the license in 1898 to erect the town of Alava, inependent from San Fabian. After the town’s erection, 13 cabezas de barangay from San Fabian moved to Alava and together with the three cabecers of the town formed the principalia of Alava.
From its foundation, Alava has no resident priest. It was administered by the assistant priest of San Fabian. On November 20, 1896, a Royal Decree created Alava as a parish and appointed Fr. Buitrago as its first pastor.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR SANTA MARIA 1875
Santa Maria was declared as an independent town from Taug by a Royal decree dated September 6, 1875. It was erected as a parish on November 4, 1899. The first appointed pastor was Fr. Paulino Aguilar, O.P., but it was actually Father Francisco Pulido, O.P. who discharged the role of the former.
Before the year 1940, the parish church was made of cogon and bamboo facing the north. The present church and the convent were constructed by Fr. Leon Bitanga.
PARISH OF
ST. TOMAS AQUINAS, SANTO TOMAS
As aparish, Santo Tomas was erected on March 15, 1974 by Archbishop Federico Limon. Prior to this date, the town was a ‘visita” of aAlcala. The church is situated in Santo Domingo, a barrio of the town of Santo Tomas.
Before 1898, Santo Tomas was a barrio of Alcala. Arango was its name as a barrio, Such a name derived from “inarang”, a name given to the fresh water shells which abound near the bank of the Agno river
In 1901, Santo Tomas was fused with Alcala for economic reasons. But through the
Efforts of the leding citizens of the town, Santo Tomas was recreated as a town in 1908.
PARISH OF
ST. PATRICK, TAYUG 1817
As a municipality, Tayug was established on March 10, 1817, the first Teniente absolute being Lorenzo Bernardo. But long before this date, the Augustinians were already in the settlement. Tayug was then a part of NUEVA ECIJA and was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Manila. The Augustinians abandoned the place in 1785. From 1785 Tayug was administered by secular priests. In 817 the civil town of Tayug was ceded of Pangasinan. As a Parish it was given to the diocese of Nueva Segovia. At the instance of the Governor General, the Dominicans accepted the administraton of Tayug and Fr. Matias Perez, O.P., took possession of the parish at the end of 1841. Finally the Dominicans accepted Tayug as their vicariate in their Provincial Chapter of 1846.
Fr. Vinelas constructed a wooden convent in 1850. Fr. Juan Fernandez started the construction of the church and the walls of masonry. Fr. Remigio Zapicio, parish priest of the town from 1867 to 1871 together with Fathers Nicolas Ortega and Hilario del Campo completed it.
Jose Cienfuegos (1886-1890) constructed the grandiose convent which used to be the most artistic convent of the province and perhaps in the whole Island. The church measured 67.60 meters long and 15.60 meters wide with a single nave.
Worthy to note in the history of Tayug is the January 10, 1931, “Colorum Upsring.” Led by Pedro Calosa, this semireligious group which was formed to topple the government, marched to the Poblacion, after a religious rally led in Barrio Legaspi,cutting communication lines and burning the Philippine Constabulary Baracks after having killed two officers. When the reinforcement of the Government troops arrived from Dagupan and Lingayen, the rebels retreated to the convent as a last ditch of defense. But after having lost some men when the government, the rebels surrendered
The church and convent were destroyed when the Americans bpmbed Tayug to liberate it from the Japanese. But through the efforts of parishioners led by Father Antonio Palma, the church and a part of the convent were restored.
PARISH OF
ST. ANTHONY, ABBOT VILLASIS 1763
In its beginnings Villasis was a “visita”of Malasiqui. Upon the petition of Fr. Fernando de Santa Maria then assigned in Malasiqui together with the Principals of the town, the license to form Pandoyocan into a town was granted by acting Governor General Miguel Ezpeleta, bishop of Cebu, on October 18, 1759
In 1763, the Dominicans accepted Pandoyocan as a vicariate and assigned Fr. Manuel de San Jose as its first pastor. In 1769, Pandoyocan was entrusted to the Vicar of Asingan.
In 1807, the name Villasis (an ancestrat name of his predecessor Gov. General Antonio Urbiztondo Y. Villasis) replaced its primitive name. The Dominican Provincial Chapter accepted the new town of Villasis as a vicariate in 1841.
The construction of the old church of Villasis was begun by Fr. Joaquin Palacios.
PARISH OF
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, URDANETA 1858
This town one of the biggest in the province, was founded on January 8, 1858. It was accepted by the Dominicans as a parish in 1863. The first pastor of the town was Fr. Nicolas Manrique Alonzo. Before that, the parish had been administered by the parish priest of Binalonan. The town was form by the barrios of Bactad, taken from Asingan; Nancamaliran, taken from Santa Barbara, and Cayambanan, Mitura and the neighboring barrios, taken from Mangaldan.
It was Fr. Manrique who made and executed the plans of the town. He transferred and old camarin which used to serve as the house of worship to the site where the first church of the town was later built.
The construction of the old church was started by Fr. Rafael Cano on March 4, 1884. When finished, it was 77.10 meters long and 23.30 meters wide and had three naves. It was, however, destroyed by the American bombings in January, 1945.
PARISH OF
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION UMINGAN 1845
Umingan as a parish began in 1845 under the Franciscan Order. The first church built by the Spanish Missionaries was destroyed by the Spanish-American War. For a long time Umingan had no church of its own and the spiritual needs of the people were attended to by the parish priest of San Quintin and Tayug and in borrowed, unoccupied rice granary. Finally, a church was put up through contributions of the townspeople and a counterpart coming from the Diocese. However, World War II broke out and this newly built church as bombed by the Japanese in 1941.
In 1945, during liberation, Rev. Fr. Hidulfo Gabriel began the rebuilding of the church. The present church is the cumulative product of the efforts of the different parish priests assigned in Umingan after the liberation beginning with Rev. Fr. Hidulfo Gabriel down to Rev. Fr. Geronimo Marcelino, the present parish priest.
ST. JOSEPH ALAMINOS 1766
This town, with the original name of Sarapsap, was founded in 1766 by the Augustinian Recollects. The first church of the town built in 1770 was burned to-Gether with the convent and the tribunal by a fire that razed the town in 1814. The First parish priest of the town was Fr. Toribio Raymundo (1778-1815). In 1875 the name Alaminos was adopted in ho or of the Spanish Governor General, who visited the town.
Between the years 1837-1849, Fr. Manuel Busquete, the Recollectos parish priest started the construction of the present church and the convent of Alaminos. Fr. Jose Tornos (1849-1878) continued the work. Fr. Victoriano Vereciano (1879-1893) changed the nipa roofing and installed the wooden flooring. He also painted the church. Fr. Toribio Macazo (1998-1926) established the INSTITUTE OF SAN JOSE in the town, Fr, Tomas Changco (1926-1915) improved the church tower, donated three bells and roofed the church with galvanized iron.
PARISH OF
ST. CATHERINE AGNO 1610
The town of Agno is said to have been originally founded in the year 1917 and was named efter Governor General Agno. The town site was formerly situated in a place called Binabalian, northwest of the present town proper. Due to piratical depradations, the inhabitants moved southeast into the interior and established the town permanently in 1818 on the site which is now occupies.
In its beginnings, Agno was populated by Zambals, but as years went by these were outnumbered by Ilocano immigrants. Agno was a part of Zambales until 1904.
PARISH OF
ST. JOSEPH, AGUILAR 1810
This town, form by cattle owners who established their settlement in the place, formerly was a part of San Carlos and was erected civilly on July 16, 1805. On May 9, 1806, the election of the first Minister of Justice was made. The Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1810 accepted Aguilar as a parish under the patronage of St. Joseph, with Fr. Juan Villa as its first parish priest. The town is named after Governor General Rafael Maria Aguilar.
The first church of the town constructed by Fr. Vila was of light materials and did not last for long. Fr. Pons began the constuction of a new church in 1809. Fr. Benito Sanchez Fraga, often called the second founder of Aguilar, started to cement the actual church and tower in 1846. Transferred to Manaoag, he was unable to finish the job which was continued by Frs. Ramon Dumlau and Francisco Treserra and completed by
Fr. Pedro Villanova. It was repaired by Fr. Victor Herrero, The church is 66.40 meters long and 15.73 meters wide.
Fr. Juan Manzano started the cementing of the convent in 1832. It was continued by Fr. Nicolas Fuentes and completed by Fr. P. Fraga in 1839. Under the supervision of this priest the brick-tribunal of the town was also constructed.
Fr. P. Gallego constructed a school for boys in 1868 and a school for girls in 1872. In 1945 the church escape further destruction when the bombs found at the main altar of the church did not explode.
PARISH OF
ST. MARK ALOS, ALAMINOS 1969
The parish of St. Mark the Evangelist was erected on June 1969, comprising five barrios of Alaminos centered in Alos and serving the spiritual needs of 2,300 families. It was Archbishop Mariano Madriaga who chose. St. Mark the Evangelist as the patron of the church, with Father Asterio Doque as the first Parish Priest.
The spiritual needs of Alos used to be taken care by the parish priest of Mabini. Because of these spiritual needs and the growing religious fervor of the people, they petitioned the Archishop to send them a resident pastor. And to show their sincerity and cooperation in their request, they constructed their own parish church before the arrival of the parish preist
PARISH OF
ST. NICHOLAS TOLENTINO, ANDA 1858
This town named after Governor General Simon de Anda Y Salazar, was founded around the year 1858. As a part of the Zambales mission, its spiritual administration was taken care of by the Recollects up to the early years of the Philippines Revolution. From the outbreak of the Revolution up to 1931, the town had no resident priest. The spiritual life of the faithful was taken care of by the resident priest from Bolinao, who came to the town once a year.
PARISH OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, BANI 1834
As a town Bani was founded around the year 1762 with the original name of San Simon. The original site of the old town is in Barrio Namagbagan which is located some three kilometers west of the present site. The name Bani was adopted since 1816. The town was transferred to its present location in 1857. Originally a part of Zambales, Bani was aggregated to the province of Pangasinan on May 10, 1903
PARISH OF
ST. JAMES BOLINAO 1610
Sometime in 1585 Fr. Esteban Marin, an Augustinian Friar, was the very first missionary ever to set foot in Bolinao, an island town, which he formed out of the People he baptized. He worked there till 1587, when he was appointed Prior of the town of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Bolinao was then assigned to the Dpminican Fathers who took charge of it till 1599. In 1600, however, the Augustinian Fathers came back with Fr. Francisco Martinez as their superior. In 1602 Fr. Estacio Ortiz took over, and later on, Fr. Antonio Figueroa. The Augustinian Fathers were the very first sowers of the seeds of the Gospel in this town. They ended their missionary work in 1607.
With their departure, the Most Illustrious Governor and Capt. General Rodrigo de Rivera and the Dean of the Metropolitan Church requested the Recoletos de San Juan Agustin Fathers to take over the work begun by the Augustinian Fathers. Immediately, thereafter, Father Jeronimo de Cristo and Fr. Andres del Espiritu Santo rallied to the call and upon arrival at this island, town of Bolinao, they began to undertake the great work of spreading the Gospel, teaching the people by precepts and the best example of their life. In due time, these missionaries began to reap the fruits of their toils and sacrifices when over 1600 infidels were baptized.
Around 1609, lue to piratical molestation, the town was transferred to the mainland, where it presently exist. Records show that the Recoletos de San Agustin Fathers administered Bolinao parish from 1609-1679. From 1679 to 1712, the Dpminican Fathers took over again the administration of the parish. In 1749, the Recoletos de San Agustin Fathers came back to Bolinao, and took charge of the parish up to about 1784. From then on, different priests, administered Bolinao parish up to the present
PARISH OF
ST. ANDREW BUGALLON 1920
This is the name of the new town which replaced the old town of Salasa. It was named Bugallon in honor of General Jose Torres Bugallon who was a native of Salasa. Salasa enjoyed being the seat of the municipal government until year 1916 when by resolution of the municipal council approved by the Provincial Board, the town site was transferred Andrew was later built.to barrio Anagao, the present seat of the town where a church dedicated to St.
The parish of Bugallon was established in 1920. The construction of the church was started by Father Benjamin Ilarduya of the Capuchin Order and continued by his successor Father Hipolito Azeutia, also of the same Order. Father Fidel Lekamania, put up the present convent. Further improvement of the church was done by the late Father Pedro V. Sison
PARISH OF
ST. ISIDORE THE FARMER BURGOS 1876
The town’s chronicles do not show when the first inhabitants first settled in the upland part of Burgos, Western Pangasinan. But it is certain in that these immigrants came from the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. During the Spanish rule, this municipality was a part of the province of Zambales
In the year 1876, the Dominican created the Parish of St. Isidore of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, because majority of the settlers were farmers. The patron’s feast is annually celebrated on May 15. It is also the town fiesta.
It was the founding missionaries who built the present façade of the church, made mostly of quarried adobe stones contributed by the faithful. The Dominicans left during the American regime and were succeeded by Filipino clergymen who continued the improvement of the house of God and the ministration of the faithful.
PARISH OF
ST. VINCENT FERRER, DASOL
This parish was first recognized way back in 1800. During this time, and during the pre-war period, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish was only visited by the parish priest of Burgos when necessary. After the second world war, Fr. Jose Velasco was assigned the first resident parish priest.
In 1955, the site of the church was transferred from the “old center” of Dasol to its new place.
PARISH OF
ST. RAPAHAEL ARCHANGEL EGUIA 1889
As a Public Oratory, the church of Eguia was founded in 1888 with St. Raphael Archangel as the Patron Saint. On March 19, 1958, it was elevated to the Status of a parish. Its elevation was realized through the insistent pleading of the people and was expedited through the generosity of Don Natalio nd Dona Jacoba Espiritu who donated more than one hectare of rice land for the exclusive use of the parish priest, thus insuring his sustenance.
Father Vicente Gabriel was commissioned by His Excellency Mariano Madriaga, then Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, to be the first priest of the parish. The church was small measuring 20 x 10 meters
PARISH OF
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST INFANTA 1895
Originally a barrio Zambales, Infnta was known as San Juan in honor of the Patron Saint of the barrio. It was organized into a town in 1878, under the patronage of San Felipe. The poblacion then was located in barrio Nangalisan, six kilometers southeast of the present poblacion. It said that the poblacion while in this site was often ransacked and plundered and so for security reasons it was moved to its present site in 1892. Since then, the town has been called Infanta.
The church of the town is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. Constructed in 1897, its measures approximately 7 meters wide and 10 meters long. Its walls were made of coconut leaves and its roof of cogon grass. It had no ground flooring. Ten years later, the ground floor area was enlarge while galvanized iron roofing replaced the cogon grass. Unfortunately a strong typhoon wrecked the church.
Reconstruction was made with whatever available materials were salvaged after the typhoon. The construction of a semi-permanent church began in 1934. In 1969, hollow blocks replaced the adobe walling of the church and given the designed that it has today
PARISH OF
ST. ISIDRO LABRADOR 1765
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was first offered in Labrador in 1575 when a section of the Spanish army was encamped on the shores of Lingayen Gulf at the mouth of the Agno River in an attempt to cut off the retreat of a Chinese pirate, named Limahong, who had invaded this area. It was not until 1755 that Labrador was set up as a priest under the care of the Dominican Father Antonio Ruiz. The parish was dedicated to St. Isidore the Farmer, who is the patron saint of Madrid and who is still greatly venerated here, especially by farmers.
PARISH OF
THE HOLY CHILD, MABINI 1610
Balingcaguing is the original name of this town which was founded in the year 1610. Originally part of Zambales, it consists of a land area of 27,150 hectares. No record exists to show the exacts date when it became part of Pangasinan. However, the church’s records show that in 1930 the name Balingcaguing was changed to Mabini. The town’s patron is the Holy Child or “Sto. NiÑo”.
PARISH OF
ST. RAYMOND OF PENAFORT MANGATAREM 1835
A barrio of San Carlos in its beginnings, Mangatarem flourished largely with the Ilocanos who flocked to the place, attracted by its good terrain which is very conducive for raising palay . In 1827 when it was established a “visita” of San Carlos, .the town had already 19 cabecerias. In 1835, it was separated as an independent town from San Carlos. The Dominicans accepted Mangatarem a former “visita”of San Carlos as a vacariate under the patronage of St. Raymond of Penafort, in 1837. Its firdt vicar was Fr. Joaquin Perez who stayed until 1844. Before Fr. Perez,however, there were other priest who served in Mangatarem, among them was Fr. Benito Focuberta, who administered the parish as a vicar ad interim during the whole year of 1834.
The first church of the town was constructed under the supervision of Fr. Perez. It was burned in 1962. In 1851 began the construction of two remarkable towers started since Fr. Manzano and was continued by his successors, the last one of them Fr. Vicente Iztegui (1875-1884). The work was never completed. The first convent of the town was constructed by Fr. Perez in 1841. The construction of the actual convent was began by Fr. Iztegui.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF LOURDES SALASA 1720
The town of SALASA was founded between the years 1714 and 1717 by Father Antonio Perez. In 1720, it was accepted as a vicariate by the Dominican Order but was soon suspended because of hostilities among its inhabitants. It was again re-stored as vicariate in 1733.
The church of SALASA was built between 1747-1748 by Father Francisco BARROSO. The edifice measures 81 by 21.30 meters.
SALASA ceased to be a town SITE BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD IN 1953. The church of SALASA was stripped of its roof, images, benches and all its liturgical paraphernalia which were brought to the new town of BUGALLON, save the two side altars and the image of SAN ANDRES APOSTOL at the façade, which was brought down inside the church.
Due to pastoral needs, the SALASA parish was opened in 1937 and was handled by the CAPUCHIN Fathers. This parish is under the patronage of OUR LADY OF LOURDES.
PARISH OF
ST. JAMES, SANTIAGO, 1973
Originally, the site of this parish was Santiago Island. Today, the center is in barrio BINALBALAN. The town was founded as early as 1585 by the Augustinian missionaries. It was transferred to the present site in Bolinao in 1608. In July, 1968, the resident priest arrived in Santiago Island, in the person of Fr. Fraancisco Ganaden. The church is located in Barrio Salud.
PARISH OF
ST. PETER MARTYR, SUAL 1835
On May 20, 1805, Governor General Rafael Maria Aguilar issued a decree, creating Sual as a civil town, independent from San Isidro until 1837 when, at the efforts of P.Gabriel Perez, it was declared as an independent parish under the patronage of San Pedro Martir by the Dominican Provincial Chapter of that year. Fr. Perez was appointed the pastor of the new vicariate which was definitely transferred from Labrador to Sual in July, 1835.
The construction of the first church of Sual was completed by Fr. P. Villanueva between 1847 and 1848. The construction of the second church was begun under the term of Fr. Felix Casas in 1883. By order of the Bishop the work was suspended but in 1891, it was resumed by Father Eugenie Minguez and was consecrated on June 8, 1893.
The present church is the third to be built in the town. It was destroyed by bombing during the Liberation in 1945.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, ZARAGOSA 1967
The parish of Zaragosa is located between Bani and Bolinao proper. It was first a Barrio Apostolate of the Capuchin Fathers. Here they built a chapel where they officiated Mass every Sunday. Later in 1966, it was converted into a separate parish with Father Montero as parish priest. He was succeeded by Father Manuel Baraan.
PARISH OF
PARISH OF
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, BASISTA 1938
The peresent municipality of Basista with its twelve barrios was erected civilly on September 5, 1961. The town as well as its twelve barrios formerly formed a part of San Carlos City.
As a parish, Basista was for a long time a “visita” of San Carlos City. However, as early as 1947, it already had a resident priest. The first pastor of the town was Fr. Leon Bitanga.
PARISH OF
ST. VINCENT FERRER, BAYAMBANG, 1614
This town with primitive name of Malungay was accepted by the Dominican Provincial Chapter in 1619, under the patronage of St. Vincent Ferrer. It was known as Malungay unitl 1741, when the name Bayambang was adopted-the name of the place or site where the old town site was transferred. Malungay, already existed as a settlement as early as 1614 but it was not established as a vicariate until 1619.
By 1804, the three-naved church of Bayambang was deterio rating and so plans were made to built a new and bigger one. The work was begun by Fr. Manuel Sucias in 1813. It had a cruciform plan. It was continued by Fr. Juan Manzano, Fr. Joaquin Flores, and Fr. Benito Foncuberto, but the work was slow due to many difficulties. It was finally completed by Fr. Juan Ibañez (1832-1847), In 1856, the church was burned. It was reconstructed by Fr. Foncuberto who tore down the cruciform plan and built two sacrities. He roofed the church with tiles but due to earthquakes, he replaced the roofing with galvanized iron. Measuring 16.50 meters wide and 85.70 meters long, the church has survided to this day. The new church belfry is the work of Fr. Ciriaco Billote.
PARIS OF
OUR LADY OF THE PURIFICATION BINMALEY 1674
This town already existed as early as 1614 as part of San Carlos. In 1672, the Capitular Acts of the Dominicans assigned the first vicar of the town, Father Tomas Gutierrez.
The church has been constructed in the 16th century and finished by Fr. Barrozo, O.P. in 1754. Its church bell is one of the three biggest bells in the Philippines, cast in 1804 weighing 4,130 pounds. It was damaged during the World War II. The church was destroyed and only the walls and the tower, partly damaged, were left by the shelling of the American warship from January 7-9, 1945.
PARISH OF
GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL
BONUAN GUESET, DAGUPAN CITY, 1943
The parish was erected in July, 1943 by Bishop Mariano Madriaga with St. Gabriel the Archangel as Patron Saint. Father Jesus Sison (now retired Bishop of Tarlac), was the first parish priest of Bonuan. He served the parish for 21 years. He buikt the first church, beside a big convent. Father Luis Ungson replaced the old Church with a big beautiful one in 1969.
PARISH OF
STS. PETER AND PAUL, CALASIAO (1588)
Calasiao, the second town in Pangasinan founded by the Dominicans, was established as a vicariate by the Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1588 under the patronage of St. Dominic. It was originally known as Gabon, the name of a barrio adjacent to the actual poblacion. The missionaries however, encountered so much hostilities of Gabon that they decided to transfer to Calasiao. Calasiao is a corruption of “Calasian” which means “A place of lightnings”. The Provincial Chapter of 1596 placed the parish under the patronage of St. Paul but from the year 1621, it became the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul. The first parish priest of this town was Fr. Jaun Maldonado de San Pedro Martir.
In the uprising of 1763, the Alcalde Mayor and other Spaniards besieged by the rebels of Binalatongan, took refuge in the church tower of this town as the convent and the church were burning. The religious saved themselves by escaping with the help of the insurgents who respected them. The church and the convent were subsequently rebuilt but in 1894 they turned to be pasture grounds of animals. Through the diligence of Fr. Ramon Dumlau and the cooperation of his parishioners, these buildings were renovated with marked improvements. The convent and the church are made of bricks. The 3-named church is one hundred yards long 30 yards wide. Its brick tower was made famous for having served as a shelter for the Spaniards during the English invasion.
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PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, CALMAY 1973
Formerly a public oratory of the Parish of St. John, the Evangelist of Dagupan City, Calmay was administered by previous Rectors such as Father Desiderio Sandoval, Calixto Armas, Severino Lopez, and Emeterio Domagas. It was canonicallyerected as a parish on January 21, 1973 by the most Rev. Mariano A. Madriaga, Archbishopo of Lingayen-Dagupan, with Rev. Clemente T. Godoy as the first parish priest.
PARISH OF
ST. ROSE OF LIMA, DOMALANDAN 1865
The parish of St. Rose of Lima was created in 1965
CO-CATHEDRAL PARISH OF
THE THREE KINGS, LINGAYEN 1575
The Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1614 accepted this town together with its “visita”, Bagnotan (Dagupan), under the patronage of the Three Kings, after the Augustinians ceded these missions to the Dominican Order in the Preceding year. In 1616, the town was given its first pastor in the person of Father Juan Martinez with Fathers Juan de San Jacinto, Pedro Vasquez and Antonio de San Vicente as his assistant.
Records show that it was the natives of Lingayen themselves who petitioned Archbishop Miguel de Benavides while making a visit in Binmaley that the spiritual care of their town be entrusted to the Dominicans. Since 1575, the Augustinians were already in Lingayen having accompanied the military expedition under Juan Salcedo in pursuit of Limahong.
The old church of Lingayen used to be the best in the province, perhaps in the whole northern Luzon. The dome was the work of famous Father Miguel Aparicio (1862-1834). Like many churches in Pangasinan, the church and the convent of Lingayen were damaged by bombings in 1945.
Lingayen has always been the capital of the province and had been the residence of the Alcalde Mayor. It was the first citadel that the Spaniards established in the province. In Lingayen the Royal Hacienda used to have its houses of revenue tax of the Wine and Tobacco monopoly. The Chinese meztizos had a very active commerce there aside from maintaining a shipyard where merchant boats and even intercontinental passenger vessels were built. Lingayen was chosen to be the Episcopal Seat in 1828.
PARISH OF
SAN ILDEPHONSE, MALASIQUI 1699
The parish of Malasiqui was formerly a “visita” of San Carlos. In 1665, it became a town which the venerable Fr. Juan Camacho as founder and first pastor. The original town of Malasiqui was located some two kilometers to the east of the road leading to Villasis. After an uprising in1660, the town was transferred to the present site in1661-1662. In 1971, Malasiqui was separated as a parish from San Carlos and in 1677, it was accepted by the Dominicans. Fr. Juan Catalan was administrator of the parish.
In 1746, the construction of the church and the convent was started by Fr. Luis Delfin. These buildings were burned in 1763. In 1770 another convent was built and, in 1773, the construction of a new church began under Fr. Tapias. It was completed in 1790. On February 29, 1820, another conflagration gutted down the town together with the church, the convent and the parish archives. The building of a new church began in 1823. This was also burned. A provincial church and a convent were again put up, but these crumbled during the earthquake in 1880. In 1882, Fr. Juan Cardaba constructed a new church which was inaugurated in 1885. This was partly destroyed in the tremors of 1892, but was repaired by Fr. Salvador Millan. This edifice measured 70 meters long and 18.50 meters wide. This was destroyed by the July 16, 1990 earthquake.
Meanwhile the old convent was converted into Malasiqui’s first Catholic School. A new Catholic Rectory was inaugurated by Msgr. Mariano Madriaga on July 2, 1972.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY MANAOAG 1600
This town, once a visita of Lingayen, owes its beginnings from the zeal of the Augustinians. Here in 1600, some children were baptized and a chapel was erected (on the site of the actual cemetery) under the patronage of Santa Monica. Five years later, due to lack of personnel and the great difficulties of the Minister of Doctrine who had to go back and forth from Lingayen, the Augustinians handed the mission to Sr. Diego de Soria , then bishop of Nueva Segovia of which Pangasinan formed a part. In 1608 the bishop in turn turned over the mission to the Dominicans residing in Mangakdan and placed it under the patronage of our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The Dominicans Provincial Chaptere of 1601 established Manaoag as an independent parish assigning the first pastor of the town, V.P. Tomas Gutierrez.This was after Fr. Juan de San Jacinto had resettled the natives of the placed.
The church of Manaoag is a sanctuary frequented by countless people from Pangasinan and from the neighboring provinces on account of the prodigious image of the Lady of the Rosary. This beautiful and solid image was made at the expense of Capitan D. Gaspar Gamboa, a tertiary of the Dominican Order who donated it to the Domincan Province. The church was built in 1912. It measures 89 meters long and 13.65 meters wide. The cruciform bult in 1932 in 53.50 meters long and 15.10 meters wide.
The Domini ans took possession of the Parish admutum Santa Sedis on January 20, 1926.
PARISH OF
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS MANGALDAN,1600
Mangaldan owns the distinction as the third town in Pangasinan to be founded by the Dominican missionaries.
As early as 1591, Mangaldan already existed as a Spanish encomienda. Its foundation as a town is attributed to Blessed Juan Martinez de Santo Domingo, a former missionary of Pangasinan who died a martry’s death in Japan on March 19, 1618.
Mangaldan started as a “visita” of Calasiao and it remained as such until the Dominicans created it as an independent vicariate under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas on June 2, 1600.
It is said that of all the people of Pangasinan, the Mangaldanes were the most difficult to convert. The greatest enemy of the missionaries in the town was a certain man named Casipit who tried to force them out of the town and even attempted to kill some of them. Yet, when he was converted by the first apostle, Fr. Pedro Soto, he became the principal propagator of the Faith. He contributed a great sum of money for the construction of the first church.
In the second half of the 19th century Mangaldan was the richest town in the province. This was due to the famous irrigation system which the missionaries built within the confines of the town causing its fertile fields to yield bountiful harvest of palay. Most outstanding in this gigantic task was Fr. Jose Torres who gave his life to bring it to completion in 1892.
The third church to be built in Mangaldan was completed in 1812 by Fr. Lorenzo Martin. It collapsed during the great earthquake of March 16, 1892, together with the big chapel in the cemetery. The construction of the convent dates back in 1747. The construction of the sixth and present church of Mangaldan was begun in 1942 by Fr. Juan Sison, and was completed 20 years later by Fr. Leon Bitanga.
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PARISH OF
ST. JOSEPH, MAPANDAN 1905
The organization of Mapandan (once a part of Mangaldan) into a town was made through the initiative of the old men from the place with the support of Fr. Benigno Jimenez then parish priest of Mangaldan, and of Don Hilario Aquino, a barrio captain.
Originally, the town was located in the hilly region in the south where “pandan”-a plant the leaves of which are stripped and women wove into mats – grew in abundance. Thus, the town was named Mapandan. Later the town was transferred to Torres, a barrio named after the famous priest of Mangaldan, Fr. Jose Torres, O.P. Finally, in 1902, the town site was transferred to its present location
The first church was built about the time Mapandan was founded as a parish in 1905 with Fr. Juan Ballesteros as the first parish priest. Since then, around twenty-three priests served Mapandan parish. Among them is most Rev. Emilio Cinense, former Bishop of San Fernando, (Pampanga) who served from September, 1934 to April 25, 1936.
PUBLIC ORATORY OF
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART, NAGUELGUEL 1950
Naguelguel was established as a Public Oratory in 1950. It has not been formally erected as a parish yet.
PARISH OF
ST. DOMINIC GUZMAN,
SAN CARLOS CITY 1587
This town with the primitive name of Binalatongan was the first in Pangasinan to be founded by the Dominican missionaries. Its creation as a vicariate dates back to 1588 when it was placed under the patronage of St. Dominic. The first pastor of the town was Father Bernardo Navarro de Santa Catalina.
Binalatongan which means “a place of mangos” have had three different town sites with the same name. Originally it was situated on the western side of the Agno River near the mountains of Zambales. Later it was moved to the eastern side of the Agno which site still conserves the name of “Baloydaan”. It was here that the church and the Dominican House were burned on August 4, 1718. It appears that the town was again transferred around the year 1721 to the site it now occupies where the church and the Domincan House were pillaged and burned in 1763.
In 1770, the construction of a massive brick church began. When completed by Father Cristobal Ausina in 1773, it was the biggest church in the islands. Destroyed by the earthquake of 1796, 1789, and 1799, it was rebuilt in 1803. It measured then 89 yards long and 22 a yards wide.
Binalatongan was the center of the bloody rebellion in 1763 under the leadership of Juan dela Cruz “Palaris”, occasioned by the English invasion of the preceding year. Because of this, the King of Spain, Charles III ordered the town to be demolished and transferred to a new town which should not exceed 500 tributor. The condition was never met, however, because the town’s tributors never went down below five thousand, even after Mangatarem and Urbiztondo were separated from San Carlos as independent towns.
PARISH OF
SAINT FABIAN, SAN FABIAN 1718
The creation of San Fabian into a town and parish was made through the efforts of the Dominican Provincial who petitioned the Province as early as January 9, 1716, to that effect. The provincial Chapter of the Dominican Order in 1718 made San Fabian as a vicariate assigning Father Andres Caballero its first pastor. Before San Fabian became a parish, however, it already had a resident priest since March 21, 1717- Father Manuel del Rio (elected bishop but died before receiving the Bull) whom Father Caballero succeeded.
Because of its excellent geographical location, it is the common tradition that San Fabian was founded to serve as an Infirmary for the religious of Pangasinan. A semi-claustral convent which was converted into a public oratory before it was burned in 1856 was constructed in the town by Fr. Holego Francisco Ferrer in 1763.There used to be a brick building in front of the convent where Bishop Ustaris stayed.
Between the years 1857-1860, Father Juan Gutierrez rebuilt the church. The convent burned in 1856 was rebuilt by Fr. Ramon Fernandez in 1862.
PARISH OF
ST. HYACINTH, SAN JACINTO 1598
The account of Father Diego Aduarte implies that San Jacinto existed as a town as early as 1598. This is confirmed by what the Dominican capitular acts 1604 state and this is: that the Ilocanos who did not wish to return to their towns formed their community in San Jacinto.
Frm 1699, the town began to have a resident vicar although now and then it was annexed either to Manaoag or Mangaldan. In 1598, the town had already a church. In 1653, a new brick church was constructed but was burned in 1719. In 1721, the contruction of another church was started. It was finished in 1731 when the first Mass was said in it. The façade of this beautiful church cracked during an earthquake in 1848. During the stronger tremors of 1892, both the church and the tower collapsed
CATHEDRAL PARISH OF
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, DAGUPAN 1614
The Augustinians had change of the spiritual administration of this town from 1590 to 1613. Formerly known as Bagnotan, it was accepted as vicariate by the Dominican Provincial Chapter of 1614, under the patronage of St. John the vangelist, and assigning Father Kuis Huete, as the first Dominican pastor. Up to 1643, the town was annexed to Calasiao. The town began to be called Dagupan since 1720.
An early church and a convent were burned in 1660 when Andres Malong’s men razed the ton. The Rev. Pedro de Rama rebuilt the church in 1816. In 1895, the Rev. Vicente Iztegui rebuilt the façade that the earthquake of March 16, 1892, had destroyed. The construction of the old convent which is the present Bishop’s residence was begun and completed by father Gregorio Paz. In 1891, a famous College was established in the town by the Dominicans under the patronage of St. Albert the Great.The Massive building was, as everybody knows, washed out by floods in 1936. The church was further repaired and improved by Msgr. Evaristo Soriano in 1936.
The construction of the new present church was begun under Msgr. Mariano Madriaga and was eventually finished under Msgr. Federico Limon,SVD,DD. It was consecrated on 27 December 1974
CHINESE PARISH OF
ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS DAGUPAN CITY 1955.
The parish was founded in October 3, 1955 as Chinese Parish. The Church was built in 1966-1967. Blessing on January 15, 1967.
PARISH OF
ST. PIUS V. URBIZTONDO 1852
The creation of the town named after Governor General Antonio Urbiztondo of Villasis, was due to the efforts of Father Ramon Dalmau, parish priest of San Carlos. It was canonically erected and separated from San Carlos around the year 1853 or 1854. The Dominicans accepted Urbiztondo as vicariate in 1855 assigning Father P. Treserra as its first vicar, although Father Treserra was already in the town as early as November 28, 1853.
When Father Treserra was transferred from Urbiztondo in 1861, the town already had a church, a tribunal and convent- all made of bricks. And the plaza and the streets in the poblacion were already traced. Father Treserra was also responsible for relocating the town to the place where Father Dalmau founded the town was a low terrain and was often flooded.
The parish convent was mysteriously burned down in 1947. The old church building was condemned due to the weakness of its framework. It was replaced by a new structure by the late Father Domingo Frias.
PARISH OF
THE HOLY CROSS ALCALA 1881
The town of Alcala was originally one of the biggest sitios of Bayambang. It was separated civilly from its mother, Bayambang, by the Royal Decree No. 682 of the Spanish Government dated September 20, 1875. It was comprised by the barrios of Dangla, Namalutan, Ba-ong, Baguiyao, Cupi, Bacud and Bitulao. It was first called “Dabgla”, a vernacular name of a medicinal shrub, which was then in abundance in the locality. This name was changed, however, into Alcala in honor of the then incumbent Spanish Governor of Pangasinan who was a native of Alcala, Spain.
Alcala was ceated as an independent parish by another Royal Decree of the Spanish Government dated January 4, 1881, and was given the name, Parish of the Holy Cross. The Dominicans accepted it as a House of the Order on November of 1881 and made Rev. Fr. Eduardo Saamaniego, O.P., the first parish priest on February 21, 1882.
Fr. Samaniego started the construction of the convent. Fr. Revilla continued it, and Fr. Casamitjana finished it. This same Parish priest placed the foundation of the first parish church and his successor completed it. The first church was destroyed.
PARISH OF
ST. LOUIS BERTRAND, ASINGAN 1669
Asingan, whose Titular and Patron Saint is St. Louis Bertrand, O.P., and whose former name was SINNAPOG, was founded in 1669. However, the town began having its resident pastor and parish priest only in 1698, the Reverend Father Fernando de Santa Maria, O.P. He is known as the author of a popular booklet entitled “Medicinas Caseras”.
The first inhabitants of Asingan were pure Pangasinenses. By 1830, however, Ilocanos from Ilocos Norte and Sur began migrating to Asingan so much so that today Asingan is predominantly an Ilocano town.
In 1763, Asingan received from the Spanish Governor General the titles of “Villa Real” and “Villa Muy Leal”, for her loyalty to Spain, the town having been the refuge of the Spaniards of Pangasinan during the revolt of Palaris.In fact, he town’s forces, led by the Captain or townhead met and defeated the invading armed men of Palaris at Bactad, then a barrio belonging to Asingan, now of Urdaneta.
From 1698 to 1898 there were 61 parish priest belonging to the Domincan Order who served the parish. From 1818 to 1834 the parish was administered by diocesan priest.
The construction of the present church edifice and parish rectory was begun by Father Jorge Arjol, O.P., who was pastor from 1874 to 1886. The work was continued by Father Feciano Martin and finished by Father Blas Pastor, the last Dominican parish priest. Unfortunately, the parish rectory was burned in 1898 during the Katipunan Recvolution
PARISH OF
ST. JULIAN, BALUNGAO 1944
The town of Balungao is located at the southern part of Pangasinan. Historical records do not show it was founded but it formerly was a part of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. Due to the geographical conditions it was deemed proper to convert it to a town.
As a parish, Balungao was erected in 1944. The first pastor of the ton was Fr. Casimiro Castillo.
PARISH OF
THE HOLY CHILD BINALONAN 1841
The original site of the present town of Binalonan was located and founded by Fr. Julian Izaga in the barrio of San Felipe. It was created a civil town independent from Manaoag to which it had formerly belonged in1834. Later, the townsite was moved through the efforts of the same Fr. Izaga to the barrio of Santa Catalina. Here he constructed a church and a convent, made of light materials, much against the will of some people of Manaoag and the Ilocanos of Santa Catalina, Fr. Ramon Fernandez transferred the town in 1938 to the place where it now stands.
The Dominicans created Binalonan as a parish in 1841.The first pastor of the town was Fr. Domingo Llue who was succeeded shorthly by Fr,. Policarpio Illanan, whom the Dominicans appointed when they created the parish. Fr. Illana, a church and a convent. Between the years 1854 and 1855, Fr. Antonio Vinelas gathered the materials to build a bigger church. But it was Fr. Ruperto Alarcon who started the actual construction in 1861. Meanwhile, Fr. Juan Fernandez (1861-1865) built a provisional church. Between the years 1866-1873, Fr. Felix Cantador put up the walls of the old convent. His successor, Fr. P.del campo, continued and almost finished the work. In 1879, this priest built another provisional church which was destroyed by a typhoon on October 19, 1881. Father Silvestre Fernandez had almost completed the construction of the church with three naves which Fr. Alarcon had started when it was ruined by the earthquake of 1882. After the tremors the provisional church which served as the central nave of the walls of the new church were destroyed by American soldiers during the Hispano-American War.
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PARISH OF
OUR LORD’S NATIVITY, NATIVIDAD 1904
The town of Natividad was created by the Philippine Commission on December 25, 1904. The name Natividad was given in honor of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The town formerly a barrio of San Nicolas, was then inhabited by immigrants from the Ilocos region who spoke the BAGO dialect, and so as a brrio it was known as Caaguan.
Four some time after its foundation, Natividad had no resident priest, the town being a “visita” of Tayug. Foundation of the present church was laid in the year 1927 by Father Reynaldo Rola. The first parish priest of the town was Fr. Alfredo Obedoza.
PARISH OF
ST. JUDE THADDEUS POZORRUBIO 1880
This town known befor as Claris was formerly a sitio of San Jacinto. It was founded on March 12, 1834, by Fr. Domingo Naval, Vicar of San Jacinto.
In 1839, the foundation of an ermita was laid down which was later finished in 1842. Although Pozorrubio became an independent town on January 30, 1870, by a royal decree of Governor General.
When Pozorrubio became an independent parish, a temporary church was built at Cablong (now the town proper). The new church was blessed on July 26, 1879, by Fr. Julian Lopez, Vicar of San Jacinto, and on December 5, 1879, Fr. Joaquin Gonzales (1879-1884) came as its resident parish priest.
The old convent was built in 1888 by Fr. Silvestre Fernandez (1887-1893) who also established the “escuelas” where people learned to read and write by the “caton” system of instruction. He taught the people how to make mortae as well as ladrillo, how to choose the best wood for house construction. He supervised the construction of the roads leading to Binalonan and Manaoag. He built the old brick-walled cemetery that is still standing today.
Fr. Mariano Rodriguez (1893-1899) started building a second and bigger church of bricks (75.57 m. long, 23 m. 50cm. Wide, walls of 4 m high), which was not finished because of the Philippines-American War. The original brick walls are still intact.
A term church was built during the term of Fr. Lucile Meirs (1899-1925) the first Filipino priest assigned in Pozorrubio. While the width and height of the brick walls remained the same, the length of this Church was reduced to 42 m. This church, together with the convent built by Fr. Fernandez, was destroyed on January 7, 1945, by American Bombers.
After World War II, a make-shift building was erected on the same site by Fr. Emilio Cinense (1947-1952). Fr. Cinense who later became a Bishop, founded the St.Philomena’s academy in 1948. Fr. Alfredo Cayabyab (1954-1967) reconstructed the Church that is standing today.
PARISH OF
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, ROSALES, 1853
The present town of Rosales, with the ancient name if Pinac-aban was erected as a town by decree of the Governor General on March 16, 1852. The name Rosales was given to the town in honor of Capt. Herminio Rosaleszzz for his true and efficient leadership in the community. During the Spanish regime the Parish was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Manila, and a vicar of a district of his archdiocese resided in the town.
At the outbreak of the Revolution in 1896, the church and the convent of the town were completely burned, and religious functions in the town became irregular. By a decree of the Archbishop of Manila dated February 27, 1915, religious functions in the town were restored. The substitute for the burned church Fr. Nicasio Mabante built a modest church and a small convent where he could reside. Meanwhile, after religious functions were interrupted from 1896 to 1915, many of the town’s inhabitants become Aglipayans. It is said that in the early months of 1915, the Mot Holy sacrament as kept n the house of the prominent family of Don Angel pine.
The construction of the present church was begun by Fr. Lazaro de Guzman in 1949.
PARISH OF
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, SAN MAUEL 1687
Hitory states that the town site of San Manuel was originally established in Pao (now the sitio of Bato) a barrio of the town in the year1614. The first church was built in Pao in 1688. In 1720, the church in Pao was burned so that the people went to Sinapug, the first name of the town of Asingan, for their religious services.
In 1860, San Manuel of today was established at its present site. It was accepted as a House of the Dominican Order in 1878, by a Royal Decree dated July 6, 1878, San Manuel was made an independent parish from Asingan.
The first “ermita” of the town was erected with the help of the faithful by Fr. Bonifacio Provanza, the first pastor of the town. The foundations of a concrete church building were laid by the same pastor in 1882, with a cruciform. The work on the church of masonry was continued by Fr. Jose Ma. Puente. The church, inaugurated on October 1, 1894, was destroyed by a powerful whirlwind on the same day. Fr, Fuente began the construction of another church but this together with the convent, was burned by the revolutionaries in 1898. Fr. Probanza who lived for six months in the house of a resident of the town built small convent. The old church of San Manuel measured 100 meter long and 20 meters wide.
PARISH OF
ST. NICHOLAS TOLENTINO, SAN NICOLAS
The Dominicans accepted the administration of the “visita” of San Nicolas with Tayug in 1841, the “visita” of San Nicolas was separated from Tayug, with Father Jose Manso as the first parish priest.
The small church and the convent built by Fr. Jose Manso were improved by Fr. Juan Gutierrez and Fr. Ramon Suarez. The church, the convent and the town were burned in 1864. Another church with wooden walls and iron roofing was also burned in 1898.
The construction of the convent of masonry was started by Fr. Jose Cienfuegos and completed by Father Ravuelta. But this, together with the tribunal and primary schools set up by Fr. Calle, were burned, by the revolutionaries in 1898. After the revolution, however, the church and the convent were provisionally retored
The old church and the rectory were burned on January 26, 1944 by incendiary bombs dropped by American planes. The parish priest, then Fr. Jose Valdez and his successor, Fr.Antonio Salindong, built an used a semi-permanent church building. The construction of the actual church was started with the help of the faithful by Fr. Ulpiano Catungal in May, 1958. He also started the construction of the new rectory.
The new church was consecrated by Archbishop Mariano Madriaga on October 31, 1970.
PARISH OF
ST. PASCUAL BAYLON, SAN QUINTIN 1863
San Quintin, formerly known as the barrio of Lango-lango, was founded as a town and parish in 1863. It used to be a part of Tayug. The old parish church was begun by Fr. Domingo Frias in 1947 and was continued by Fr. Vicente Gabriel in 1966. The roofing and the flooring of the church were installed during the term of Fr. Joseph Casaclang (1969-1970). The cement finishing and painting were done in 1973-1974 under Rev. Jaime Allado.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL SISON 1898
This town originally known as Alava formerly formed a part of San Fabian. It was in fact a hacienda of a certain Spaniard named D. Antonio Bravo, who was a resident of San Fabian. Although this haciendero was forced to abandon his plantations, his farmers mained in the place. Together with some from Ilocos, La Union and San Fabian who came to settle with them, they formed the first community of Alava.
At the petition of the inhbitants, Governor General Jose de Granada granted the license in 1898 to erect the town of Alava, inependent from San Fabian. After the town’s erection, 13 cabezas de barangay from San Fabian moved to Alava and together with the three cabecers of the town formed the principalia of Alava.
From its foundation, Alava has no resident priest. It was administered by the assistant priest of San Fabian. On November 20, 1896, a Royal Decree created Alava as a parish and appointed Fr. Buitrago as its first pastor.
PARISH OF
OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR SANTA MARIA 1875
Santa Maria was declared as an independent town from Taug by a Royal decree dated September 6, 1875. It was erected as a parish on November 4, 1899. The first appointed pastor was Fr. Paulino Aguilar, O.P., but it was actually Father Francisco Pulido, O.P. who discharged the role of the former.
Before the year 1940, the parish church was made of cogon and bamboo facing the north. The present church and the convent were constructed by Fr. Leon Bitanga.
PARISH OF
ST. TOMAS AQUINAS, SANTO TOMAS
As aparish, Santo Tomas was erected on March 15, 1974 by Archbishop Federico Limon. Prior to this date, the town was a ‘visita” of aAlcala. The church is situated in Santo Domingo, a barrio of the town of Santo Tomas.
Before 1898, Santo Tomas was a barrio of Alcala. Arango was its name as a barrio, Such a name derived from “inarang”, a name given to the fresh water shells which abound near the bank of the Agno river
In 1901, Santo Tomas was fused with Alcala for economic reasons. But through the
Efforts of the leding citizens of the town, Santo Tomas was recreated as a town in 1908.
PARISH OF
ST. PATRICK, TAYUG 1817
As a municipality, Tayug was established on March 10, 1817, the first Teniente absolute being Lorenzo Bernardo. But long before this date, the Augustinians were already in the settlement. Tayug was then a part of NUEVA ECIJA and was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Manila. The Augustinians abandoned the place in 1785. From 1785 Tayug was administered by secular priests. In 817 the civil town of Tayug was ceded of Pangasinan. As a Parish it was given to the diocese of Nueva Segovia. At the instance of the Governor General, the Dominicans accepted the administraton of Tayug and Fr. Matias Perez, O.P., took possession of the parish at the end of 1841. Finally the Dominicans accepted Tayug as their vicariate in their Provincial Chapter of 1846.
Fr. Vinelas constructed a wooden convent in 1850. Fr. Juan Fernandez started the construction of the church and the walls of masonry. Fr. Remigio Zapicio, parish priest of the town from 1867 to 1871 together with Fathers Nicolas Ortega and Hilario del Campo completed it.
Jose Cienfuegos (1886-1890) constructed the grandiose convent which used to be the most artistic convent of the province and perhaps in the whole Island. The church measured 67.60 meters long and 15.60 meters wide with a single nave.
Worthy to note in the history of Tayug is the January 10, 1931, “Colorum Upsring.” Led by Pedro Calosa, this semireligious group which was formed to topple the government, marched to the Poblacion, after a religious rally led in Barrio Legaspi,cutting communication lines and burning the Philippine Constabulary Baracks after having killed two officers. When the reinforcement of the Government troops arrived from Dagupan and Lingayen, the rebels retreated to the convent as a last ditch of defense. But after having lost some men when the government, the rebels surrendered
The church and convent were destroyed when the Americans bpmbed Tayug to liberate it from the Japanese. But through the efforts of parishioners led by Father Antonio Palma, the church and a part of the convent were restored.
PARISH OF
ST. ANTHONY, ABBOT VILLASIS 1763
In its beginnings Villasis was a “visita”of Malasiqui. Upon the petition of Fr. Fernando de Santa Maria then assigned in Malasiqui together with the Principals of the town, the license to form Pandoyocan into a town was granted by acting Governor General Miguel Ezpeleta, bishop of Cebu, on October 18, 1759
In 1763, the Dominicans accepted Pandoyocan as a vicariate and assigned Fr. Manuel de San Jose as its first pastor. In 1769, Pandoyocan was entrusted to the Vicar of Asingan.
In 1807, the name Villasis (an ancestrat name of his predecessor Gov. General Antonio Urbiztondo Y. Villasis) replaced its primitive name. The Dominican Provincial Chapter accepted the new town of Villasis as a vicariate in 1841.
The construction of the old church of Villasis was begun by Fr. Joaquin Palacios.
PARISH OF
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, URDANETA 1858
This town one of the biggest in the province, was founded on January 8, 1858. It was accepted by the Dominicans as a parish in 1863. The first pastor of the town was Fr. Nicolas Manrique Alonzo. Before that, the parish had been administered by the parish priest of Binalonan. The town was form by the barrios of Bactad, taken from Asingan; Nancamaliran, taken from Santa Barbara, and Cayambanan, Mitura and the neighboring barrios, taken from Mangaldan.
It was Fr. Manrique who made and executed the plans of the town. He transferred and old camarin which used to serve as the house of worship to the site where the first church of the town was later built.
The construction of the old church was started by Fr. Rafael Cano on March 4, 1884. When finished, it was 77.10 meters long and 23.30 meters wide and had three naves. It was, however, destroyed by the American bombings in January, 1945.
PARISH OF
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION UMINGAN 1845
Umingan as a parish began in 1845 under the Franciscan Order. The first church built by the Spanish Missionaries was destroyed by the Spanish-American War. For a long time Umingan had no church of its own and the spiritual needs of the people were attended to by the parish priest of San Quintin and Tayug and in borrowed, unoccupied rice granary. Finally, a church was put up through contributions of the townspeople and a counterpart coming from the Diocese. However, World War II broke out and this newly built church as bombed by the Japanese in 1941.
In 1945, during liberation, Rev. Fr. Hidulfo Gabriel began the rebuilding of the church. The present church is the cumulative product of the efforts of the different parish priests assigned in Umingan after the liberation beginning with Rev. Fr. Hidulfo Gabriel down to Rev. Fr. Geronimo Marcelino, the present parish priest.
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ask ko po kung pwedeng padala ng baptismal cerificate ko nuong APRIL 3,1977 sa NAGUELGUEL PARISH LINGAYEN PANGASINAN. ang name ko po nung single ay TEODORA SANTOS PASTOR ang mga magulang ko ay sina ROSITA SANTOS at BIBLEDES PASTOR ang parish priest po ay si REV.MARTIN J.MURPHY ang sponsors sina VIOLITA ABALOS at OLEPIA ABALOS...nais ko sana padala dito sa bahay namin sa addess: VELASQUEZ COMPUOND CORNER P. DIEGO CERA HOME NAGAROAD PULANGLUPA #2 LASPINAS CITY or email add: tav_velasquez@yahoo.com