BRIEF HISTORY OF ALAMINOS

The Municipality of Alaminos was first founded of Zambals led by one known as Suyang.  This group left the mountains of their native province of Zambales and journeyed north in search of a new home on lowlands near the seas.

At about the same time, another group of people left eastern Pangasinan to escape persecutions by the Spaniards and established towns where they could enjoy more freedom and abundance of food that the lowlands of Western Pangasinan could afford them.

These two groups of people met near the shore of Lucap Bay around the year 1763 and decided to make a joint settlement of the area.  This settlement, consider far removed from the influence of the hated Spaniards, came to be called Casboran or Baley and proved to be ideal for fishing and farming, being near the sea and bordered on three sides by fresh water rivers.

The population soon increased attracting many free loving people from Eastern Pangasinan to Northern Zambales.  With this increase in population, it became necessary that some type of government be formed.  To resolved the situation, the two leaders, Suyang and Jose Perez, a close relative of Juan dela Cruz, entered into a gentlemen’s agreement to rule the prospering village alternately, with Perez being chosen as “Captain” and Suyang as “Tinyente Mayor”.

At the expiration of the first term, the two men switched positions.  It soon became evident that Suyang, now acting as “Captain” was a more capable leader.  Under his guidance, the village became a town.  In 1768, a church and convent were constructed and a representative tribunal was formed.

The able leadership of Suyang necessitated an extension of his term in office, a clear violation of the initial agreement.  When Suyang refused to vacate his post as “Captain”, Perez contracted the services of Palaris, a leader of a group of refugees who fled to the mountains of Zambales after his revolution in Eastern Pangasinan was crushed by the Spaniards.

Palaris and his fighting men, led by Perez attached and burned the whole village.  The resident population fled in all directions; some lived temporarily on the bank River Bued, which is now Barangay Pocal-Pocal, another group moved to Balsaan, along the Embarcadero River, while still others went to Polo and Sa Jose.  The Zambales, still led by Suyang, took refuge in Bani, following the image of “La Purisima Conception,” now the patron saint of Bani.  Not long thereafter, many of these former inhabitants returned to the charred ruins of the town and resume it “Baleyadaan”.

Not satisfied with “Baleyadaan”, many of the resident took years to select.  Finally, they decided on a higher piece on ground which was better protected from floods and enemy raiders.  More people gradually moved this Plateau, most of them Pangasinanses.  On the very spot where the image of San Jose, the Carpenter, appeared a church was erected.

Unfortunately, the church caught fire in 1775, a new edifice of semi-concrete materials was built under the supervisions of the first priest assigned to this new settlement called Zarapsap.

With the establishment of Zarapsap came progress and an increase in population.  By the middle of the 19^th century Zarapsap became the most progressive and prosperous town in Northern Zambales.  Its rapid growth attracted the attention of Spanish authorities, and in 1860, the Spanish authorities, and in 1860, the Spanish Governador-General of the Philippines visited Zarapsap.

Being a democratic administrator, the Governor-General captured the imaginations and sympathy of the inhabitants.  Under the leadership of Captain Domingo Montemayor, Zarapsap was renamed “ALAMINOS” IN 1887, IN HONOR OF THE Governador-General.

Progress and expansion extended into all lines of endeavor, particularly commerce, transportation and education.  Many enterprising young men came from neighboring towns and provinces to marry and live in Alaminos.  Among the distinguished personages who came were of the “Revolutionaries” in Pangasinan and Zambales.

During the period of struggle against the Spanish rule, Manalang led the revolutionaries of Alaminos with the assistance of Gen. Mauro Ortiz, Col. Jose Montemayor Jimenez and a selected group of young officers.

Due to the incidence of the revolution, progress came to a virtual standstill.  From 1898 to 1900, the erstwhile Philippine Republic was established.  This was soon followed by the American Regime (1901-1936) which introduced the democratic form of government to our country.

The first Municipal President to be elected by the town people of Alaminos was Don Francisco Reinoso whose untiring efforts brought about the cessation of the nine towns of Northern Zambales to Pangasinan.

After the term of Don Francisco Reinoso as President of the town, two political parties emerged to struggle for supremacy.  One party was led by Don Tranquilino Montemayor and the other by Don Pedro Reinoso.

About the year 1901, the Institution de San Jose was founded to further the cause of Catholicism and the education of the town’s children.

Summarily therefore, the history of Alaminos may be briefly divided into the following stages:

Source: Alaminos Library