MUNICIPALITY OF ALCALA (PANGASINAN), History and Cultural Life of
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HISTORY & CULTURAL
LIFE OF THE TOWN AND
BARRIOS OF ALCALA
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HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF THE TOWN OF ALCALA
ALCALA, PANGASINAN
I - Part I - History
A. Present official name of the town - Alcala.
B. Popular Name of the town:
The town of Alcala was formerly a barrio of Bayambang, Pangasinan. It was known as "Dangla," derived from the medicinal tree which was in abundance during the Spanish regime. On April 1, 1873, early settlers and the cabezas de barangay petitioned the proper authorities for the separation of the sitios of Dangla, Cupi, Namalutan, Bacud, Baong, Bitulao, and Bugino into a separate pueblo. On September 20, 1875, a communication was received by the petitioner decreeing the founding of the new municipality. It is safe to say, therefore, that September 20, 1875 was the founding date of the town. It is said that the governor of Pangasinan at the time was a native of Alcala, Spain, which, perhaps, influced the petitioners to name the newly-founded town Alcala. The area constituting the new pueblo was greatly diminished when Santo Tomas became a separate town in 1908.
C. Principal Barrios of Alcala:
The principal barrios of Alcala are Pindangan, San Pedro, San Nicolas, Canarvacanan, San Juan, San Vicente, Amilid, Gualsic, and Atainan. Pindangan definitely was constituted a barrio in 1901. Its name was derived from the word "pindang," meaning "to dissect." It was the meeting place of the fishermen from the surrounding towns were to dissect and [unreadable] their catch. That is why to this day, it is popularly called Pindangan. San Pedro got its name from St. Peter. It now includes San Pedro Apartado and the sitios of Cupi and Bacud. It was organized in 1876, known as Mabalangoy, Pangasinan, a word for a young coconut tree. San Nicolas was organized in 1901 and named after Saint Nicolas. San Juan and San Vicente were organized in 1876; San Vicente was formerly called Dangla. Canarvacanan was also organized in 1876 and was formerly called Piddigan because the early settlers were from Piddig. Settlers from Narvacan were predominant, so that it was finally called Canarvacanan. The sitios of Namalutam, Baong, Bitulao, and Buguiao are included in this barrio. In the southern part of the town is the barrio of Amilid, taken from the word Anuler. Gualsic is a barrio north of the Agno River which at first included Macayo, Malaganda, and Sta. Cruz. It was referred to as Bual because it was partly eroded during one rainy season. Atainan is a new barrio in the northwestern part of the town. It being the old bed of the Agno River, it has been called so.
D. List of Ex-Mayors and Ex-Vice-Mayors; Alcala, Pangasinan, arranged in the order of their terms:
| Presidents & Mayors | Vice-Pres. & Vice-Mayors | ||
|
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. |
Gabriel Kayaban Clemente Castañeda Domingo Primicias Jose Perez Marcelo Collado Socorro Reyes Javier Primicias Andres Dumlao Mariano Jose Anastacio Soriano Victorino Peregrino Benito Mabalot Raymundo Casman [unsure, blurred] Jacinto Fronda Ignacio Lorenzo |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. |
Timoteo Ancheta Pedro Asuncion Gregorio Curameng Mariano Jose Andres Dumlao Gregorio Lopez Melchor Diaz Victorino Peregrino Mariano de Vera Roberto Lucero Francisco de Guzman Anecito Coalboy [unsure, blurred] Dionisio Mabalot Leon Ordoñez Sotero Abiang |
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|
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. |
Marcelo de los Santos Felix Lucas (1941-1944) Ignacio Lorenzo Sotero Abiang Marcelo de los Santos Severo Pascual Sotero Abiang |
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. |
Eugenio Limeda Juanito Dumlao Sotero Abiang Eugenio Limpin Eugenio Limpin Norberto Lopez Silvestre Castillo |
E - Data on Historical Sites, Structures, Buildings, Rivers, etc.:
1. Socio-economic Survey of Alcala:
The town of Alcala is located on the southern part of Pangasinan. The place is quiet and orderly, inhabited by 17,000 peace-loving, hospitable, and God-fearing people.
The comparative municipal revenue report from March 31, 1951 shows that the collection of revenues on account of the increases in municipal taxes is 55% of that of the previous year. One source of revenue is the exchange of cattle. The current revenue from this source is ₱1,238.00, which is more than twice of that of the previous year. Likewise, increases are noted in the rentals and miscellaneous income. The revenue from the public market suffered a decrease of ₱195.32 and is expected to continue owing to the upward trend of prices, the scarcity of supplies, especially the imported articles. It is interesting to note that the number of deaths decreased but the number of marriages increased. This fact is attributed to the sanitation and the joint effort of the Doctor of the Sanitary Division and the teachers of the school to make the homes of individuals clean.
Alcala is beginning to grow, a fact which is highly gratifying. In addition to our agricultural lands, we have 89 sari-sari stores, 24 meat vendors, 8 rice dealers, 10 rice mills, one theater, 5 tailors, 6 dressmakers, 5 beauty parlors, 5 restaurants, one repair shop for vehicles, 3 funeral parlors, 4 barber shops, 2 bakeries, 62 carromatas, 101 bicycles, 10 public schools, and 3 private schools. We have no way of obtaining the volumes of transaction affected by the above establishments.
The average daily expense per person of ₱0.35 (1-c) fish, 10c., rice 30c., clothing 10c., and shelter 5c. The total expense of Alcala is ₱9,350.00 (₱.55 x 7,000). The yearly expense is ₱3,412,750.00. This amount covers only our daily needs and does not included the educational expenses of our children, which aggregates to ₱300,000.00 annually.
Alcala, by decree of the government on August 5, 1879, was separated from Bayambang. The said decree was complimented [?] at Manila on September 16, 1879. It was composed of the district of Dangla, Namalutam, Baong, Bugiao, Cupi, Bacud, and Bitulao. It was made as an independent parish by Royal Order on January 4, 1881, and was complimented at Manila on the second of March of the same year. The Dominicans accepted it as the seat of their order in a resolution approved in November 1881. The first priest appointed was Father Eduardo Samaniego, Monsignor Cuartero, Bishop of Vigan, on February 21, 1881, furnished the provincial father the application of the principal inhabitants of Alcala for their separation from Bayambang. It had a convent the construction of which was commenced by Father Samaniego, continued by Father Revilla, and was finished by Father Casametjanan, who commenced also the construction of the church and finished by his successor. Said church is spacious with a tower made of brick. After a lapse of a few years, the convent was rebuilt, with the addition of one half more of its former size. The different epochs of construction of the two parts of said church was destroyed and in the place where it was established was built a smaller one. This town has also a cemetery. The school of the children as well as the tribunal are made of wood. Afterwards, it was reinforced with brick. Its inhabitants in the year 1886 was eight thousand six hundred fifty-one (8,651).
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F - Important Facts or Events that Took Place:
1. During the Spanish Occupation:
a. The people were mostly Ilocano immigrants from the different Ilocos provinces. They were an industrious and peace-loving people. They carried with them their early traditions.
b. They were fond of manufacturing the native wine called "basi."
c. They were fond of horse-racing and cockfighting.
d. The late Grand Old Man Don Clemente Arboleda founded the town. He organized the local Katipunan Society. The result of this was that Mr. Mariano Jose, a cabeza de barangay during that time, was nearly killed by the Spaniards. The old man Arboleda was the one who saved him from death and torture. His house was not saved, however. It was burned to ashes.
2. During the American Occupation:
a. During the American occupation, the most important event that took place in the town was the opening of the primary school in 1906.
b. It was said that Gen. Aguinaldo, during his retreat, stopped at Namalutan. He stayed there until his big bodyguards arrived. It was further said that our first national anthem was drafted there also. It was continued further at Bautista, pangasinan.
3. During World War II:
a. During the last war, General Wainright set up his HQ at San Pedro Ili. The general, however, did not stay long there because of the retreat of the America-Filipino forces to Bataan.
b. A municipal road was opened in 1945 from the town, passing through San Pedro Apartado to the town of Moncada, province of Tarlac.
PART II - FOLKWAYS:
A - Some Beliefs and Superstitions in Alcala:
1. Some people believe that when a person gets sick, evil spirits are offended and, for him to get well, the spirits must be appeased by a sacrifice called "atang." The favorite animals sacrificed are the pigs and chickens, preferably white although, in some barrios, any kind of animal is cooked.
2. For good luck. There is one practice believed to bring good luck to the new household which is prevalent in many parts of the town. This consists of putting coins under the posts of the new house. Generally, most Filipino homeowners want their stairways to face the east. At any rate, the stairway must never face the west. This preference for stairway arrangement if founded on the belief that, since it is in the East where the sun rises, luck will bring joy and prosperity. A house show stairways faces that direction will be blessed with good luck.
3. The favorite way of founding out whether the contemplated new house will be lucky is for a wooden cross to be planted in the middle of the proposed home site stands unchanged for several days. The erection of the house on the site is approved by the spirits if the cross leans or moves. It is construed that it is an ideal place for the new house to be erected on.
4. A palm leaf which has been blessed during Palm Sunday and placed inside the house will divert lightning and other destructive elements from the house.
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5. Some folks kiss the hands of the deceased before he is buried, to show love and respect and as a sign of farewell.
6. Gifts of good luck. The sprinkling or rice on the newly-married couple seems to be a universal practice, believed to bring opulence to the couple. Rice-throwing is practiced not only among the wealthy people but also among the poor of Alcala.
7. It is supposed to bring good luck to the newly-married pair and, at the same time, it determines who shall be the boss in the new household. If the woman succeeds on stepping on the bridegroom first, she is allowed to handle all money matters and more or less dominate her husband. If the husband is more agile, he holds the purse strings and may become reckless with expenses.
8. All that a guest drinks and smokes in a wedding feast has to be purchased, and the money collected goes to the couple. The most common way of raising money for the new couple consists of throwing coins or bills at the feet of the dancing couple.
9. A small quantity of the first rain in May may be collected in a small bottle. When the part of the bottle which is unfilled gets cloudy, the household knows that it is going to rain.
10. Babies are likewise utilized as weather indicators by some farmers. When the baby blows his saliva at regular intervals, either rain or a storm may come.
B. Riddles in Ilocano.
[Note to the reader: This section is not transcribed. The original file is of such low resolution and the characters have been blurred by a poor typewriter ribbon that it is not possible for the transcriber, who is not an Ilocano-speaker, to read the characters with any degree of accuracy.]