History of Barangay Zone VI, Bayambang, Pangasinan

BARANGAY ZONE VI

by Prof. Romulo Velasquez

By direct testimonies of its early residents, Zone VI was first known as “Palandey” (a Pangasinan term for “mountain” when actually it was only a “hilly area”) because of its relatively higher elevation and for being a thickly forested area. Contrary to earlier claims, this area had not been a part of the vast Cojuangco estate nor of the college campus (the former Bayambang Normal School) established in 1922 -- now Pangasinan State University Bayambang. Instead it was considered as “an extra part left when slicing a cake of irregular shape,” to mean that this area was a result of territorial subdivision between the two parties as mentioned. It was even believed that this area used to be part of the existing cemetery and that it was under the territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church. The thick forest that used to exist made it so difficult for the first group of residents to establish a better road line. When settlers cleared a relatively large area of the place, they planted various crops and trees such as mango, kamoteng kahoy and bamboos which they cultivated for a living.

The main road line of Zone VI was only a trail going to Bical Norte during the early years. The trail was actually widened into a road when the Philippine Constabulary Headquarters, then called “military barracks,” was constructed in the late 1940s. All the towering and aging acacia trees proudly standing today in almost two perfect columns leading to the 153 PC Headquarters were all planted and cultivated by early the soldier occupants of the said barracks. From that time on, “Palandey” was better known as the “Campsite.”

Meanwhile, early leaders of the place were said to have been appointed by the Municipal Administration or elected by viva voce. Mr. Bernardino “Narding” de Gusman, now 73 years old, once served as its Teniente de Barrio. Other leaders followed like the late PC Lieutenant Vicente Guillano who served in the late 60s up to early 70s. His service coincided with the official adoption of its present name – Zone VI – as a result of zoning initiatives of the Municipal Administration. The succeeding Capt. Romulo G. Soriano served the longest, from 1982 to 1994. Barangay Captain Arturo M. Lopes served from 1994 to 1997. The 1997 May election paved the way for the reelection of  Brgy. Captain Soriano, who served from July 1997 up to the time of his death on May 4, 1998 due to vehicular accident at Barangay Malimpec, Bayambang. By law of succession, Alejandro B. Patungan Jr., the first Barangay Kagawad, was sworn in as the next Brgy. Captain.

Zone VI prides itself as a seat of at least four very important institutions -- others would consider it jokingly as the only barangay with “four campuses,” referring to Pangasinan State University Bayambang Campus, the 153 PNP Mobile Force Campus, the Methodist Campus and the “Camposanto” or the Bayambang Public Cemetery. As of 1995, Zone VI has a total population of 826. It is one of the barangay Laboratory Development Centers of Pangasinan State University here in Bayambang. With the dynamic leadership of the officials and the strong cooperation of barangay residents, Zone VI has been adjudged as Second Placer for Model Barangay Award during the Bayambang Pista’y Baley & Expo ’99. The said award was doubly significant considering that it happened for the very first time and that Brgy. Captain Alejandro Patungan Jr. had only served his first 11 months in office.

Mrs. Cesaria de Guzman (75 years old at the time of interview), and her brother, Mr. Bernardino “Narding” de Guzman, gave these testimonies. Their family was among the first to settle at Zone VI.

History of Barangay Zone III, Bayambang, Pangasinan

Barangay ZONE III

During the administration of Mayor Jaime Junio, the Poblacion area was divided into seven zones and five barangays, including Barangays Poblacion Sur and Poblacion Norte, and Zone I up to Zone VIII.

History of Barangay Warding, Bayambang, Pangasinan

BARANGAY WARDING

Prior to World War II (18^th century), the barangay was a forest so thick that no one attempted to live here. Later, a group of Filipinos decided to live here because of its considerable distance from the center of the town. They thought that the ruling Spaniards could no longer reach the place. It became their hideout from the Spaniards, as they dug a hole to serve as their temporary shelter.

This group of people had been thinking of the name to call the place, but the new inhabitants could not think of something to call it.

One day, a group of Spaniards reached the place by accident and saw a kind of animal roaming around eating the grasses. They asked a resident of the place what the name of the beasts was, and he answered in their Ilocano language, “Kalding.” One of the Spaniards repeated the word, but he mispronounced it into “warding.” From then on, the place is named Warding.

History of Barangay Telbang, Bayambang, Pangasinan

HISTORY OF TELBANG

Ayon sa mga pahayag ng mga naimbitahang tagapagsalita para sa pagtuklas sa tugmang pundasyon ng bayan ng Bayambang, laging nababanggit ang “Telbang/Malunguey.” Ayon kay Dr. Lino Dizon, isa sa mga naimbitahan, ang ibig sabihin ng salitang “Malunguey” ay pinuno ng mga mananalangin (prayer leader) sa wikang Kapampangan. Telbang ang dating pangalan ng ating bayan ng Bayambang. Ang ilog Agno ang daanan ng mga bangka para sa transportasyon ng mga produkto (barter system) at mga mamamayan. Subalit nang palaging umaapaw ang ilog at laging binabaha ang mababang bahagi ng Telbang, inilipat na kung saan ang baryong dating bayan ng Telbang.

Noong panahong iyon ay Kastila ang mga namamahala. Isinusulong nila ang Kristianismo sa buong bayan. Nagpatayo sila ng simbahan na tinawag nila noon na Visitas ng Binalatongan na ang ibig sabihin ay simbahan ng komunidad. Dito ginaganap ang pagmimisa, kasalan at binyagan. Taong 1614 nang kilalanin ng mga Dominikanong pari ng Bayambang ang pangalan ng ating bayan at unti-unting nawala na sa bibig ng mga mangangalakal ang dating pangalan ng Telbang.

Kung taong 1614 kinilala ng mga Dominikanong pari ng Bayambang ang pangalan ng ating bayan, malinaw na sa taong din iyon naging baryo ang Telbang sapagkat doon nagwakas ang pagiging bayan nito. Malinaw din na Telbang ang pinakamatandang baryo sa ating bayan.

History of Barangay Tamaro, Bayambang, Pangasinan

Barangay Tamaro

Before the eighteenth century, our barangay was a forest with many wild animals and trees that no one attempted to live there. Later, a group of Aetas known as the Agalets came to  be the first settlers in our barangay. They learned to like the place because of its abundant trees.

One day, the Aetas thought of a name to call their vicinity, but the inhabitants could not think of any, until the Agalets discovered a cattle-like animal known as tamaraw roaming around the forest. It was because of this that they agreed together to name the place Tamaraw, until it evolved into Tamaro, which came to mean “a strong body of the north.”

As the years went by, the small Barrio Tamaro grew into a progressive barangay, and from time on, Tamaro was retained as the name of our community.