II.A HISTROICAL DEVELOPMENT

1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ALAMINOS

1.1. ETHYMOLOGY

Because of its strategic location, Alaminos is undeniably a growing trade, commercial, political, educational, and religious center of this part of the province. However, such status was not achieved overnight. Like any other municipalities in the province of Pangasinan or in the whole country, Alaminos started from an insignificant settlement more than a couple of centuries age.

In the year of our Lord, 1743, our municipality, in its first site near the seashore (now Baleyadaan), was a tiny settlement founded by a handful of Zambal pioneers led by an able leader known only as Suyang. The settlement was named after him. With much efforts and severe toils, the pioneers built their homes and the chapel of their patron. “EL Patriarca San Jose.”

At first, the settlement was considered a paradise among the settlers. It commands a fair view of the horizon between the “Capurwapurwan” and “Cabaruyan” (Hundred Islands and Anda). Unfortunately, after barely two years, the pioneers found their settlement frustrating and very disappointing due to constant visits of typhoons. For these reasons, the settlers decide to look for a better place. In consideration to the distance from the sea, as one of the major source of food the group chose in a little further southwest a fertile wide plain. The fertility of the soil made their plant grew robustly and yielded abundantly. The settlers named their new settlement, Casboran, which refers to plants favorably and robustly growing due to the fertility and suitability of the soil.

At about the same time, another group of people left Pangasinan to escape persecution by the Spaniards and established themselves where they could enjoy more freedom and abundance of food that the lowland of Northern Zambales could afford them. (It shall be noted that the present Western Pangasinan was the Northern Zambales.) These people from Pangasinan joined the group of Suyang in the new settlement. With this increase in population, it became necessary that some type of government be formed. To resolve the situation the two leaders, Suyang and Jose Perez, a Pangasinense and a close relative of Juan dela Cruz Palaris, entered into a gentleman’s agreement to rule the prospering village alternately, with as Perez being chosen as “Captainand Suyang as “Tenyente Mayor.”

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

The leadership of Suyang necessited the 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 the group of refugees who fled to the mountains of Zambales after the Spaniards crushed his revolution in Western Pangasinan.

Palaris and his fighting men, led by Perez attacked and burned the whole town. The population fled in all directions. Some lived temporarily on the bank of Bued River, which is now barangay Pocalpocal. Other moved to Balsaan, along Embarkadero River, while still others went to Polo and San Jose. The Zambals still led by Suyang, took refuge in Bani following the image of “La Purisima Concepcion” now the patron Saint of Bani.

The fall of Casboran broke the town into conflicting parties, the bigger group established themselves at Nansangaan (Guesangan or Inerangan). Their new settlement was named San Jose. Not long thereafter, many of the former inhabitants returned to the charred ruins of Casboran and renamed it “Baleyadaan.” Unfortunately, the condition of San Jose was not favorable. The number of inhabitants was alarmingly reduced and depleted, they were dispirited and demoralized, they had paid no tributes; and many families had dispersed to other districts in Bani or Bolinao. In addition to the misfortune in 1775, the church caught fire which worsened the situation in the present settlement.

The survivors of the fire, among them, Don Nicolas Purificacion, Don Andres de San Jose, and Don Antonio dela Cruz found it to San Jose (Nansangaan). Their desire to transfer materialized in the year 1776.

Their choice was a flat, treeless but grassy plateau commanding a superb view of the countryside. It was bounded on two sides by rivers; it was safely a five-kilometer distance from the sea. It was conveniently located at the crossroad of the newly burgeoning towns of Northern Zambales.

1.2 CREATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY

The transfer of the settlement from San Jose to the new locality was a wise decision. The site was called “Salapsap”, “Zarapsap”, as pronounced by the Spaniards, which refers to the sound produced by the shallow water that flows down the stream. It’s too shallow that during summer it couldn’t submerge some higher portion of the bottom of the river.

The founders started to build their new church for their patron San Jose, and new convent for their new parish priest, Don Toribio Raymundo, who was their resident priest for the whole duration of some 37 years from 1778 to 1815. In 1778, with the incumbency of Fr. Toribio, the parish was easily established; the dream of the pioneers was finally realized. A town and a parish.

With the establishment of Salapsap came progress and an increase in population. By the middle of the 19^th century, Salapsap became the most progress town in Northern Zambales. It’s rapid growth attracted the attention of the Spanish authorities, and in 1860, the Spanish Lieutenant Governor-General of the Philippines visited Zarasap.

Being a very democratic administrator, the Lieutenant Governor-General captured the admiration and sympathy of the inhabitants. Under the leadership of Captain Domingo Montemayor, Zarapsap was named “ALAMINOS” in 1887, in honor of Lieutenant Governor-General Alaminos.

2. MAJOR AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND SITUATION LEADING TO THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE MUNICIPALITY

2.1 HISTORICAL ROLE AND EVENTS

Progress and expansion extended almost in every endeavor, particularly commerce, transportation and education. Many enterprising young men from neighboring towns and provinces came to marry and then live in Alaminos. Among the distinguished personages who came were Mauro Ortiz and Andres Manalang, who became the leaders of the Katipunan of the “revolutionaries” in Pangasinan 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 1990, the erstwhile Philippine Republic as established. This was followed by the American regime (1901-1936), which introduced the democratic form of government to our country.

The first municipal president to be selected by the townspeople of Alaminos was Don Francisco Reinoso whose untiring efforts brought about the secession of the nine (9) towns Zambales to Pangasinan. Alaminos and the rest of Northern Zambales became the wetern frontier of Pangasinan in 1903.

Prosperous municipality of Northern Zambales was not spared by the considerable number of calamities and horrible destructions did not spare the prosperous municipality of Northem Zambales. It had experienced various fires, famine and diseases, drought ravaging the field, pest devouring their cattle, cholera stalking the streets in a ramboo of death and the whirling dark clouds of locusts swooping on the helpless town and relentlessly devouring everything in their path without sparing the church and the convent. But with fortitude, perseverance and faith in God, Alamineans survived all these trials. At long last, from Suyang to Casboran on to San Jose and Salapsap and Alaminos, the slow growth of the people, from clan to village, on to community and pueblo civil; in happiness and in sorrow, in failure and in success, in war and in peace, Alaminos is once again the most progressive and prosperous municipality but no longer of Northern Zambales but now of Western Pangasinan.

2.2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Twenty years ago Alaminos is a fourth class municipality with an annual income of P500,000.00 more or less. In 1978, the town’s public market including all adjacent and neighboring commercial centers was burned. Again, on January 30, 1999 the new Public Market met the same faith like that in 1978 and due to this untimely disaster like in the past business activities slowed down up to the present.

2.3 SOCIO/CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Today, Alaminos is a first class municipality in Pangasinan like the towns of Malasique, Lingayen and Bayambang in terms of income and other economic activities. The town is dominated by Catholic followed by Iglesia Ni Cristo and other religious agrupation.

Based on historical accounts Alaminos was governed by leaders from Zambales as the former is a part of the latter and other leaders coming from the Eastern part of the province. Suyang is the first leader followed by Perez who migrated to Alaminos to find a greener pasture. Inter-marriage took place between these settlers thus making it hard/difficult to govern later. This prompted the two leaders to enter into a gentlemen’s agreement, which provides that they will govern the municipality alternately. But ths agreement didn’t last long as one of them wants to extend his term of office. Because of this, there was a civil disorder. Suyang left the place and fled to the neighboring community. (See Historical Background).

2.4 POLITICAL/ADMINISTRATIVE/FISCAL DEVELOPMENT

Immediately after Alaminos was ceded to the Province of Pangasinan, Don Fancisco Reinoso was elected by the town’s people as their first Municipal President. The former is a dedicated public servant and through his effort, nine towns of Northern Zambales were ceded anD annexed to Pangasinan.

After the term of Don Francisco Reinoso, two political parties emerged and struggle for supremacy. One was headed by Don Tranquilino Montemayor and the other by Don Pedro Reinoso.

The shaping of the municipality of what it is today is due to the dymanic leader ship and efforts of the following leaders:

[Listings of Sangguniang Bayan 1972-2001 and Barangay Captians 1989-2002 excluded due to lack of space]

Former Mayor Leon M. Rivera, Jr. now the incumbent Vice-Mayor started fuling the Town sometimes in September, 1973 succeeding the late Mayor Marcelo Ochave who died the same year. At that time Alaminos has only a population of 42,296 with an estimated income of P500,000 or more. He ruled the town for almost 19 years. His term of office started in 1973 and was briefly cut-off by the EDSA Revolution. But immediately after that historic event, he was appointed as OIC Vice-Governor of the Province of Pangasinan for a period of 16 months. He was then replaced by an OIC Mayor in the person of Hon. Pedro Braganza, Jr.

It was after the declaration of Martial Law and after the EDSA Revolution that the municipality experienced growth in income as well as in population. The growth in income and population maybe attributed to the following factors; good peace and order, tax ordinance has been updated and codified, increase in population, improved marker and other business facilities, good roads and transportation, abundance of business opportunities and the good leadership of the incumbent Municipal Mayor, Hon. Eduardo “Dong” F. Fontelera.

3. ROLES OF THE TOWN IN RELATION TO OTHER TOWNS

The Municipality of Alaminos is among the growth centers in Region I. In July 1991, based on the provisions of Executive Order No. 249 and of Finance Department Order No. 79-91, the town was reclassified from 4^th to 3^rd class municipality, the only one in the province and one of he five (5) municipalities in Region I. It is the number one tourist attraction of the province due to the development of the Hundred Islands. Again, in 1997 pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 97-3(58) of the Department of Finance dated May 7, 1997 the Town was reclassified into a first class municipality. At that time Alaminos has a total income ofP30, 590,185.94.

Alaminos is also the center of trade and commerce in Westem Pangasinan. Traders and businessmen from different municipalities come to invest in the municipality, which triggered its development. Neighboring municipalities in Western Pangasinan get their agricultural and commercial goods from Alaminos being more proximate than other growth center in the province like dagupan City. These increasing commercial activities needed more facilities and services to meet the demands of a growing population. Indeed, Alaminos was a star Municipality of Pangasinan.