MUNICIPALITY OF BOLINAO (PANGASINAN), History and Cultural Life of
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Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DIVISION OF PANGASINAN
DISTRICT OF BOLINAO
Bolinao
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN, "BOLINAO," PANGASINAN
1. Official Name - BOLINAO
2. Former Name - Bolibolinao, name of a tree that grows near the church tower of the Roman Catholic Church many years ago.
3. Date of Establishment - The former seat of the town was in Binabalian (meaning "old town"), a barrio south of Santiago Island. The town was established about the end of the sixteenth century, more definitely in the year 1596.
4. Name of the founder - Don Pablo Lombe [not sure, blurred] was the first chieftain and founder of the place.
5. Names of persons who held official positions in the community:
|
1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1859-1860 1861 1862 1863 1864-1870 1871-1881 1882-1883 1884-1897 1898-1899 |
Alfonso Jose Ignacio Juan Ignacio Vicente Felipe Valerio Miguel de Vera Domingo Caasi Ramon Clavero Casimero Cacho Ceriaco Cariño Pedro de Vera Narciso Camero Alejandro Cando Nicolas Cacho Gabriel Fernandez Mariano Casis Felipe Valerio y Cacho Pedro Vicente 2.0 Mariano Camero Nicolas Cacho Crispolo Roca |
1898-1899 1900 1901 1902-1903 1904-1905 1906-1907 1908-1909 1910 1911 1912 1913-1916 1917-1918 1919-1922 1922-1925 1925-1928 1928-1930 1930-1933 1933-1936 1936-1944 1944-1946 |
Crispulo Roca - Pres. Sebastian Cacho Valentin Celi Vicente Alegre Andres Celeste Tranquilino Celi Sebastian Cacho Pascual de Perio Andres Cacho Tomas Calado Agaton Celino Eugenio de Perio Leopoldo Cacho Clemente Celi Agustin Cacho Saturnino Kamangian Prudencio C. Calado Alonzo Ponce Ponciano C. Cacho Pedro Casis |
|
1946-1947 1947-1951 1951 to present |
Raymundo Caalin Claro L. Camba Juan C. Candoy |
6. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc. - In the year 1880, the town was connected with the other countries of Asia and other countries with cables through which cablegrams were transmitted. The English took charge of these enterprises. The ruins of the cable station buildings can be traced yet by this time.
7. Important facts, incidents, or events that took place:
(a) During the Spanish occupation:
(1) Bolinao was designated by the Spaniards as the distributing center of wine and tobacco. This was the period of wine and tobacco monopoly.
(2) An unbelievably small number of Spanish and Filipino forces,
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originally only 600 men in all, in two small and ancient galleons, "La Encarnacion" and "La Rosario," hastily fitted 20 pieces of artillery and derisively named "two chickens" by the Dutch themselves, routed the enemy appearing in 6 and better-equipped ships first off Cape Bolinao on March 16, 1646.
(3) In 1898, under the leadership of Don Pedro Manalang, the people fought bravely against the Spaniards. This was the time when the money of the priests was looted and carried away by the civilians.
(b) During the American Occupation to World War II:
(1) The Katipunan attacked the Americans and the great leader of the natives, Manalang, was killed.
(2) The pioneer American soldier and teacher, Osband, was also killed.
(3) The American educational system was also introduced in the community.
(4) Later, Captain Jennings established a shipyard in Balingasay, but due to keen competition, this factory of inter-island vessels did not last long.
(e) During and After World War II:
(1) From the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 to January 30, 1943, schools were closed.
(2) During the Japanese occupation, schools were opened. The teaching of the Japanese language was emphasized.
(3) School buildings were used as garrisons for the enemy soldiers.
(4) Japanese vessels that retreated from San Fernando were bombed along the coast of Bolinao by an Americn air squadron.
(5) The first American soldiers that recaptured this region landed at Pisalayan, a sitio of Binabalian, during the early part of January 1945.
(6) The PCAU managed the school system just after the liberation.
8. Destruction of lives, properties, and institutions during wars, especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945:
(1) There was a great fire that caused the six private homes and two school buildings to be turned to ashes.
(2) A big sailboat owned by Syquia, the father-in-law of President Quirino, was straned in Taga Poro (now Dewey). This was the time when President Quirino came to land on this small island.
(3) One guerrilla member, Avides, was killed by the American soldiers.
(4) Most of the houses from Picocobuan to the poblacion were occuped by the Japanese. Provisions, medicines, and other needs were stored therein. Most of these were looted by the natives when the American air forces dropped bombs on the Japanese vessels along the coast. No casualties or burning made by the Japanese during their stay.
Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II:
(1) After World War II, the people have learned the effects of war and began to be industrious. The food production campaign was waged to the remotest barrio.
(2) Rural areas and community improvements were given more attention during this period.
(3) The present administration is giving more appropriations to economic rehabilitation.
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PART TWO - FOLKWAYS
1. (a) Traditions, customs, and practices of domestic and social life. The kasama, bayani, or tobale (tagnaua) in the household, field, and in social activities. Kissing the hands of parents after angelus bells.(c) Courtship and marriage - In primitive days, the man had to serve the parents of the girl during the courtship period. Dowries are also required besides giving a party on the wedding day.
(d) Death and burial - Offering garlands or wreaths to the dead. There will be a gathering of relatives and friends after a novena of nine consecutive nights. The anniversary in honor of the dead will be held after nine months or a year after death.
(e) Visits - Friends and neighbors visit their sick friends and those who have just arrived from distant places and who were away for many years.
(f) Punishments - Criminals convicted by the local court are jailed and are utilized to work on public improvements like cleaning the streets, digging canals, etc. In former days, culprits were submerged in the sea or in rivers. During the Spanish regime, teachers punished the pupils in many awkward ways like whipping, standing on one foot for several hours, kneeling on grains of rice, etc.
(b) The patron saint, Saint James, of this town, saved the place from many perilous moments due to miraculous activities. Many people, including the Japanese, saw a man riding on his white horse along the beach.
(c) It is a common belief in this town that when a man plants chico, he dies first. Many owners of first chicos planted became widows.
(d) The people believed that when fruit trees bear plenty of fruits, the rice harvest will be plentiful.
(e) The putting of the sign of a cross in a place is believed by many that bad spirits will go away.
(f) It was believed by many people that the earth was flat and had four corners.
(g) There are people who still believe that some causes of sicknesses are done by witchcraft.
(h) It is a common believe that once, the Philippines was under the sea, because we can see some traces or signs in many places — shells can be found on the tops of mountains.
3. Popular songs, games, and amusements:
(a) Cundiman songs were popular.
(b) Boat races, horse races, sipa, bullfights, fencing and moro-moro were important during the Spanish regime. Cockfighting was found as a national (pastime?)
(c) Athletic games, ballgames, poker, and movie shows were introduced by the Americans to the Filipinos.
4. Puzzles and riddles; proverbs and sayings - in the process of gathering.
5. Methods of measuring time - with the use of the shadow during daytime; with the position of cross stars at night; crowing of the roosters, etc.
6. Folk tales - in the process of gathering.
Part Three - Other Information
No books were written in this town.
The writers of composers of songs in this town was Don Tomas Calado, Don Simon del Fierro.
Principal