History of Barangay Amancosing Norte, Bayambang, Pangasinan

HISTORY OF AMANCOSILING NORTE

By MANOLITO V. FLORES

Researcher:

MRS. JACINTA D. PENULLAR

Many are wondering how Amancosiling came into existence and how it was called as such. Well, it was formed after the Americans defeated the Spanish government. There were only a few inhabitants at first. The ruler of the Barangay was called Teniente del Barrio. Amancosiling Norte, Amancosiling Sur and Buayaen were once a united barangay called Amancosiling. It was governed by only one Teniente del Barrio. According to the old-timers, its name was derived from a certain snail species called “coliling.” This snail was so numerous that it was the most numerous of all species that could be found in this place. In the latter part of 18^th century, they called this place Amancosiling (the land of the ‘coliling’).

Before Amancosiling was divided into three, because of increasing population, two Tenientes del Barrio served first. They were Camilo Cayabyab and Marcos Solomon. After its division into Amancosiling Norte, Amancosiling Sur and Buayaen, Esteban Ambat took the responsibility as Teniente del Barrio, followed by Juan Sarmiento and Ediong Cayabyab. During the invasion of the Japanese, the Japanese found the snail to be a great source of food.

After Villanueva, it was Domingo Terrado who also made a great record in administration and, because of the Japanese invasion, a new life for the barangay began. Next to Terrado was Ansoy de Guzman who taught the young how to read and write. He was succeeded by Piling Flores who was responsible for building the Barangay Chapel. Religious activity was fully encouraged at this time. The Amancosiling Inner Wheel Association was formed for the youth and it is where the first written form of voting was administered. Flores was followed by Berting Cayabyab, who continued the program of the former Teniente del Barrio. After Cayabyab, Andoy Garcia won as Barangay Captain, the new title for Teniente del Barrio. The Amancosiling Youth Club was also formed during his time, which gave the youth the opportunity for the first time to render a more serious form of service. The second who took the title as barangay captain was Emilio P. Quinsayas. Another form of improvement was done and some disciplinary actions were enforced. He organized the Barangay Brigade, Disaster Brigade, Volunteer Brigade and, for the youth, the Young Lovers’ Club. The transfer to the present location of the barangay plaza was initiated by him, for it to be a place for social gatherings, and this greatly helped the people. He had the longest years of service ever in the barangay. Barangay Captain Quirino B. Cayabyab was he successor on the “highest-vote” form of election. He organized the BAYO or Brgy. Amancosiling Young Once Group and the Amancosiling Norte Youth Organization, where potential youth leaders were developed.

In 1989, a new name for the Barangay Tanod was given -- CVO (Civilian Volunteer Organization) -- which took charge of the discipline in the barangay. In the year 1990, a killer quake struck the country and the road near the Amancosiling-Buayaen Boundary was damaged. A portion of it sank. With the cooperation of the people, the road was made passable again for vehicles. The riverbank at this time faced a tremendous problem but Capt. Cayabyab was able to solve the problem through a spur dike process to control the movement of the water. A portion of the barrio road was cemented, and the construction of the former Barangay Hall, the setting of boundary between Amancosiling and Buayaen, and the first registration of the Sangguniang Kabataan were done. After 5 years of the service, he was succeeded by Barangay Captain Gregorio Flores, a retired military man, who was responsible for the streetlights, together with the Barangay Council and the SK. He was able to add rocks to control the erosion of the tebag, the popular name of the eroded part of the barangay after the killer quake. In his administration, the lot where the barangay plaza was located was finally bought and owned by the barangay. They bought it from former Barangay Captain Emilio Quinsayas.

He led the construction of the new barangay hall, concrete benches, stage and the perimeter fence that secured the place for social gatherings. Barangay officials together with the CVOs were given uniforms. The Amancosiling Youth Organization was organized as a partner of the Sangguniang Kabataan in leading the youth.