Pangasinan - Hundred Islands and A Hundred Flavors

“A place where salt is made” is the etymological background behind the name Pangasinan which is based from its main word, asin or salt. The province is famous as the home of bagoong, or fermented fish sauce. Beyond bagoong and Dagupan’s bangus or milk fish, the province has 100-in-1 natural wonder that make tourists stay longer: the Hundred Islands in Alaminos City. Moreover, it can also brag of its historical significance particularly during the World War II.

Demographic

1. Population – 2,645, 395 (as of 2007 census)
2. Land Area - 5,368.82 sq. km.
3. Capital – Lingayen
4. Language/Dialect - Ilocano, English, Filipino, Pangasinense
5. Divisions

Cities (4)

• Alaminos City
• Dagupan City
• San Carlos City
• Urdaneta City

Municipalities (13)

• Agno
• Aguilar
• Alcala
• Anda
• Asingan
• Balungao
• Bani
• Basista
• Bautista
• Bayambang
• Binalonan
• Binmaley
• Bolinao
• Bugallon
• Burgos
• Calasiao
• Dasol
• Infanta
• Labrador
• Laoac
• Lingayen
• Mabini
• Malasiqui
• Manaoag
• Mangaldan
• Mangatarem
• Mapandan
• Natividad
• Pozorrubio
• Rosales
• San Fabian
• San Jacinto
• AG. San Manuel
• San Nicolas
• San Quintin
• Santa Barbara
• Santa Maria
• Santo Tomas
• Sison
• Sual
• Tayug
• Umingan
• Urbiztondo
• Villasis

Hundred Islands National Park
Location: Brgy. Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Tour Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Entrance Fee: P50.00 (to be paid at the Philippine Tourism Authority office at Lucap proper.)
Composed of 123 islets that resemble little emeralds in the pristine sea, this natural wonder is marked by legends of its origin. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy water activities such as snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking, bird watching, and of course, swimming.

Bangus Dagupan
Dagupan is popular for the Bonuan Bangus. This type of milkfish has a short arched belly, fat, with fine, shiny white scale, short tailed and has small head. Most locals are involved in the bangus industry either through culturing, retailing, or processing. With this, Dagupenos owe what they have to the bangus.

Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag
Location: Manaoag, Pangasinan
The Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario de Manaoag is one of the most revered images of the Virgin Mary here in the country and all over the world. Our Lady is the patroness of the sick, helpless and needy. The ivory image of Our Lady was brought to the country during the 16th century and has survived several earthquakes, fires, and bombings during the war. Yearly, thousands of pilgrims visit the site in the hope of receiving a miracle from the Virgin Mary.

Cultural

Bolinao Museum
Location: Bolinao, Pangasinan
Museum Days: Monday – Saturday
Museum Hours: 8:00 am – 12:00pm, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
The National Museum assumed management of the Bolinao Museum in 1976. Here, visitors will be spellbound with this rich collection of archeological, ethnographical, geographical and zoological artifacts found in Pangasinan.

Sison Auditorium
Location: Lingayen, Pangasinan
Built during the World War II, the auditorium has served as a popular venue for events sponsored by the local government. It is located near the provincial capitol and the World War II Museum.

Historical

Limahong Channel
Location: Lingayen, Pangasinan
This channel was created by orders of Lim A Hong or Lin Feng, a notorious Chinese pirate who spread terror in Southern China and Northern Luzon. He established a kingdom in Pangasinan near Agno River. The Spaniards tried to capture the pirate but was able to escape towards the China Sea.

Red Arrow Monument and Villa Verde Trail
Location: Brgy. Sta. Maria East, San Nicolas, Pangasinan
The 32nd US Infantry Division was the first army unit to engage in combat with the Japanese forces in the Pacific, including in the Philippines. These American soldiers had the longest combat record of any army during the WWII. The Marker is in honor of these American soldiers who took part in the liberation of the country. Trekking is the main activity in this area.

Lingayen Public Beach
Location: Lingayen, Pangasinan
This public beach served as one of the landing sites of the Liberation Forces on January 9, 1945, that paved the way for the Liberation of Northern Luzon.

Bonuan Blue Beach
Location: Dagupan City, Pangasinan
This is also one of the landing sites of the Liberation Forces on January 9, 1945. It is a favorite picnic ground for locals and tourist. The MacArthur Landing Marker is located here.

Tambobong White Beach / Colibra Island
Location: Brgy. Nibaliw Vidal – Brgy. Mabilao, San Fabian, Pangasinan
On Christmas Eve of 1941, Lt. General Masaharu Homma landed here and began occupation of the country. This also became of the landing sites of the Liberation Forces in 1945.

Home Economics Building of the West Central Elementary School
Location: Dagupan City, Pangasinan
This building served as the official headquarters of General MacArthur. The local government plans to turn it into a museum.

Lingayen Gulf War Memorial
Location: Lingayen, Pangasinan
Located near the provincial capitol, this area houses several World War II relics like Japanese suicide bomber planes, tanks, and anti-aircraft guns.

Man-made

Cape Bolinao Watchtower
Location: Punta Piedra Point, Brgy. Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
This 103-year old structure was made by Filipino, American and British engineers in order to guide ships and vessels sailing along the South China Sea.

Natural

Cape Bolinao Beach/Patar White Beach
Location: Brgy Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Entrance Fee: P5.00
Although the sand is not actually white, the 2-3 kilometer beach has stayed untouched by modernity. Visitors enjoy swimming, snorkeling and surfing at the beach.

Cacupangan Cave
Location: Brgy. Tagudin, Mabini, Pangasinan
The cave can be quite a challenge for explorers. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones and a few crystal formations are present throughout the cave. In December of 1999, a 6.8 intensity earthquake paved the way for new cathedral like chambers with skylights.

Villacorta Cave
Location: Brgy. Villacorta, Mabini, Pangasinan
This is the longest cave in Mabini, Pangasinan, stretching at 200 meters long, 20 meters high and 20 meters wide. Explorers are advised to discover its pools, waterfalls, terraced rock, and palace-like chamber during summer.

Santiago Island
Location: Bolinao, Pangasinan
This is a considered as a good spot for scuba diving. Divers enjoy the rich marine life found in the island.

Manleluag Spring National Park
Location: Brgy Malabobo, Mangatarem, Pangasinan
This 1,935-hectare is a Protected Landscape since 1940. This is one of the sanctuaries of the Philippine Duck. Trekking, camping, picnic is recommended here.

Agno Umbrella Rocks
Location: Sabangan Norte., Agno, Pangasinan
This series of mushroom-shaped rocks are covered with ferns and vines. They lie on the shores of Agno Beach, which is a good place for swimming, snorkeling and diving for it is rich with underwater beauty and marine life.

Mount Balungao
Location: Balungao, Pangasinan
This extinct volcano hosts series of hot and cold spring. Due to the sulfuric content of the water flowing throughout the mountain, visitors plunge to its waters for its alleged medicinal benefits. The springs, despite numerous visitors, are still covered with lush greenery.

Antong Falls
Location: Sison, Pangasinan
The falls is enveloped in lush greenery and rice fields which make it ideal for picnics and outdoor recreation.

Religious

Our Lady of Manaoag Museum
Location: Manaoag, Pangasinan
Tour Days: Monday, Wednesday – Sunday
Tour Hours: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Entrance Fee: Free admission (donations are accepted)
Inaugurated on May 10, 2002, the museum contains religious artifacts; some even dating as far as the 17th century. Notable items include original vestments, jewelries, haloes and crowns of the Our Lady, and Pre-Vatican II chasubles, capes and a dalmatic.

Pista’y Dayat
Place: Lingayen, Pangasinan
Date: April 25 - May 1
The center of celebration is at the Lingayen Public Beach. In this event, locals celebrate through series of fluvial parades, cultural events, beauty pageant, and street dancing.

Bangus Festival
Place: Dagupan, Pangasinan
Date: April 16 – May 4
The annual Bangus Festival is held in celebration of the milkfish industry in Dagupan. Various events comprise the fiesta like the Bangus Harvest Dance Fest (Gilon! Gilon! Ed Dalan), Bangus Cookfest, float parade, street dancing competition, and the Barbeque Street Part where thousands of milkfish will be cooked along A.B. Fernandez Ave., and will be consumed by everyone for free.

Hundred Islands Festival
Place: Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Date: May 1
This annual event combines sport, adventure, and agro-tourism. Activities like sky diving competition, sports competition, cooking demos, fluvial parade, and island adventure race attract local and foreign tourist to this festival.

Talaba Festival
Place: Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Date: Second to Third week of March
Talaba (oyster) is one of the aquatic blessings of Alaminos. During the feast, here is an annual oyster grill which runs throughout the city where oysters are served for free. The highlight of the event is the oyster-sucking contest where contestants eat as many oysters as they can.

Galicayo Festival
Place: Manaoag, Pangasinan
Date: First to Second Sunday of December
In honor of the patroness of Pangasinan, the Galicayo Festival commemorates the blessings and miracles brought by the Our Lady of Manaoag. Galicayo, when translated means ‘come here’ recalls the apparition of the Nuestra Señora in Manaoag as She calls the people to come and build a church. The image of the Our Lady is paraded throughout the town. Marian dances, lantern parade and other activities follow after the procession.