Bayambang, Home of Innovation (A Historical-Cultural Profile)

Bayambang, Home of Innovation

by Resty S. Odon

 

Introduction

A keen study of Bayambang’s history shows that it is a town with a multifaceted ‘persona.’ Among its most popular monickers are: “the onion capital of north Luzon,” “the corn belt of Pangasinan,” “the producer of the best fish buro,” “the home of the binasuan dance,” “the Guinness Record holder of the longest barbecue” (8 km), and “the Guinness Record holder of the tallest bamboo sculpture (supported)” (50-plus meters).

Once upon a time, it was regarded as “the fifth capital of the (short-lived) First Philippine Republic.” It also served as the seat of the provincial government during the Japanese invasion. But even before that, as Malunguey, it was once a part of Binalatongan, which is said to be the ancient capital of the province of Pangasinan.

Evidently, Bayambang’s character as a town is quite a complex one that it is hard to pin it down or summarize in just one neat word or sentence. But having considered all of those aspects of our town, one theme in its narrative noticeably keeps on repeating, and that is Bayambang is a town of patriots and revolutionaries as well as the home of leaders in their various fields – individuals all with a pioneering spirit.

In other words, the spirit of innovation or being innovative runs in the blood of Bayambangueños.

 

Where Patriots Visited, Walked, Sought Refuge

Reexamining the town’s past through this prism yields a picture of a community often visited by patriots, if not sought by their kind as a place of refuge.

1660: Andres Malong first brought his fight here, particularly in the barrio of Manambong. Then known as Malunguey, Bayambang figures in accounts of the Andres Malong revolt of the 1660s. Malunguey was where Malong of Binalatongan (now San Carlos City) first campaigned, particularly in the barrio of Manambong, but the local resistance was immediately quelled by the Spanish authorities.

1763: Juan dela Cruz Palaris won his biggest victory here. In 1763, according to historical accounts, "the biggest victory in the revolt against Spain in Pangasinan took place in the Battle of Bayambang led by Juan dela Cruz Palaris. In retaliation, the Spaniards razed the whole village. The burning of the entire village is considered the darkest hour of Bayambang."

1880s: Rizal visited here on his way to his muse, Leonor Rivera, who resided in Camiling. Local lore (though unvalidated) often told about Rizal visiting the house of Don Gavino de Guzman in Poblacion to take some rest. He reportedly went to the parish church and even played botayong (cara y cruz) with locals out front. 

June 1898: Luna's Department of War was transferred to Bayambang. Luna transferred the revolutionary Philippine government’s Department of War to Bayambang around June of 1898. This tells us that Bayambang was a strategic location in terms of logistics, because we were then (as we are now) the gateway to northern Luzon while at the same time the bridge to the vast plains of central Luzon.

August 1899: Jose Palma wrote the lyrics of the national anthem. "In a barrio in Bayambang, Jose Palma, a staff member of the revolutionary government’s newspaper ‘La Independencia,’ writes a poem that becomes the lyrics for the melody of the “La Marcha Nacional Filipina” composed by Julian Felipe. This poem was eventually translated to Filipino and given the title "Lupang Hinirang," which is now the Philippine national anthem. (The said barrio is now part of Bautista town.)"

November 12, 1899: Gen. Aguinaldo declared Bayambang as the country's fifth capital. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's bronze sculpture by National Artist Napoleon Abueva stands in front of the Bayambang Municipal Hall. It is a sole marker that reminds us that Bayambang became the fifth capital of the First Philippine Republic after Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo encamped here on November 12, 1899, bringing with him the entire fledgling Philippine government. Among Aguinaldo's legacy are: the Philippine Constitution, a national army, a government organizational structure (with executive, legislative, and judiciary branches), a unifying flag, and a national anthem.

The Aguinaldo monument is one of the few ones in the country outside the general's home province of Cavite (owing to controversies surrounding Aguinaldo). In Bayambang, the fledgling national government disintegrated as it fled the pursuing elements of the American Army and declared an all-out war against the foreign invaders using non-conventional (guerrilla) means. This is the reason why Bayambang town today commemorates November 12 as "SingKapital" Day so as not to forget that day in history when our heroes bravely took a stand for self-determination and spilled copious blood for it, and that is why we enjoy our freedom today.

November 12, 1899: Estacion na Tren was once the publishing house of "La Independencia." According to historian Jaime B. Veneracion, when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary government fled to Bayambang on November 12, 1899, “the Bayambang railroad station served as the publishing house of the newspaper ‘La Independencia,’ whose editor was Antonio Luna and among whose staff included Rosa Sevilla, Cecilio Apostol and Jose Palma.” Thus the train station was not just the first-ever transportation system that offered fast, straight travel to Manila, it was also a witness to Filipinos' fight for independence.

According to another historian, Ricardo Jose, “Babasaey Ombaley,” a Pangasinan-Ilocano newspaper of the same revolutionary nature, had a circulation around this time up to 1900.

November 12, 1899: Emilio Aguinaldo's daughter, Flora Victoria, was buried in Bayambang church. Gen. Aguinaldo's newborn daughter was buried in Bayambang church on Nov. 12, 1899. From the diary of Dr. Santiago Barcelona comes this account: "While Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and company were on their way to Bayambang, his daughter died of undisclosed cause, and when they reached the town, she was buried at the local church."

The daughter was named Flora Victoria, and as one observer astutely noted, her death would signify the imminent "flowering of victory" of the Philippine Revolution, although it was temporarily cut short by the American invasion, which as we all know lasted until July 4, 1946.

(Dr. Barcelona was one of two doctors – the other being Dr. Simeon Villa – who joined Aguinaldo in his flight to Palanan, Isabela, in November 1899.)

Even 'Goyo' went here. Gen. Gregorio del Pilar – fondly referred to as 'Goyo' – purposely went to Bayambang to fulfill a mission: to find Gen. Antonio Luna and his men.  This is the reason why the Malolos-based Salinlahi heritage tour group routinely makes a stop in Bayambang every December as part of retracing the path that Goyo took leading to his martyrdom at Tirad Pass in Concepcion (renamed Gregorio del Pilar), Ilocos Sur.

1943: Bayambang was Col. Edwin Ramsey's ECLGA headquarters. Former enemies became allies during World War II. Noted American military official Col. Edwin Ramsey set foot in Bayambang to organize Filipino guerrillas against a common nemesis: the Japanese Imperial Army. In the country's bitter struggle against Japanese imperialism, Bayambang became Lt. Ramsey's East Central Luzon Guerrilla Area (ECLGA) headquarters for sometime. ECLGA encompassed Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales, and La Union. Ramsey's aide de camp was our very own Major Claro J. Camacho of Barangay Nalsian.

According to local lore, Col. Ramsey evaded capture by the Japanese by hiding inside a taltagan (giant wooden mortar) in the barrio of Inirangan.

October 1955: Pres. Magsaysay caused a commotion in Mangabul. The charismatic and popular Pres. Ramon Magsaysay once caused a stampede in the Mangabul Lake area of Bayambang. The following is an account of Dr. Augusto V. de Viana as posted on the National Historical Commission of the Philippines website on September 6, 2012 in an article titled, "Stories About Magsaysay":

...

 "Upon winning the gubernatorial race in Pangasinan, I was to take my oath of office before the President, but instead of me going to Malacañang, he came to Pangasinan to induct me. ... He brought with him his entire Cabinet, to meet out-of-town for the first time, at Mangabul in Bayambang town where people stampeded to get near him, tearing down the makeshift canopies of coconut leaves on bamboo posts that served as the venue. ... Thousands turned out to mob the President in a pandemonium of sorts - no hakot as others would have done to ensure a big crowd of reluctant participants as in the case of the much-heralded EDSA celebrations. ... At Mangabul, Magsaysay was approached freely by the rural folk to seek assistance, redress grievances and a whole gamut of requests which he granted then and there, including hospitalization for the sick, veterans' backpay claims and what have you. ... He wrote instructions to government officials on scratch paper and upon the back of the man next to him or on the hood of a parked vehicle. No formalities were observed as long as he acted on a request with dispatch. ... At the same time, Magsaysay put an end to a land dispute involving the tenant farmers of a big landowner by affirming the farmers' claim in the periphery of Mangabul springs. ... In short Magsaysay had no need for elaborate preparations, protocol, motorcades, bodyguards and fanfare to announce or decorate his presidency because he was at home with the people."

Magsaysay is said to have donated a water pump for the barrio people.

This incident is the reason why a statue of Magsaysay stands inside the Municipal Plaza.

References: 

1. Rosario Cortez, Pangasinan, 1572-1800, p. 150

2. unpublished coffee-table book by Dr. Clarita DG. Jimenez et al.; http://www.watawat.net/the_palaris_revolt.htm

 

3. History professor, Dr. Joel T. Cayabyab, quoting Ambeth Ocampo; Dr. Clarita DG. Jimenez et al., oral account

 

4. http://www.quezon.ph/2015/12/11/luna-timeline/

 

5. History page of the official website of the Province of Pangasinan: https://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/the-province/history/

 

6. History page of the official website of the Province of Pangasinan: https://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/the-province/history/

 

7. References: Jaime B. Veneracion, "A Guide to Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur, and the Heroes’ Trek" (SAMPAKA Inc., 2003); Ricardo Jose, “The Philippine revolutionary press, 1896-1900,” filipinokastila.tripod.com/revpres.html

8. https://philippinediaryproject.com/tag/flora-victoria-aguinaldo-y-del-rosario/

9. https://filipiknow.net/facts-about-general-gregorio-del-pilar/

10. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/col-edwin-ramseys-war

 

11. http://nhcp.gov.ph/stories-about-magsaysay/

 

Upholding Traditions while Making Room for the Groundbreaking

Our town is 409 years old by now, and with its more than four centuries of existence, it is certainly no slouch in contributing to our nation’s culture and arts and heritage.

We are a people who love music and dance. We have so many folk songs in the Pangasinan language and some of them are compiled in theses and books produced here. It is not surprising that we are known for folk music groups that play the rondalla as well as the Pangkat Kawayan, which plays bamboo instruments, like the angklung and sibakong. 

Our townsfolk are fond of performing folk dances, which include the siwi-siwi, pastora, sayaw ed tapew na bangko, sayaw na sumisigay, and others, and they invented at least one folk dance here, the binasuan dance. Binasuan is similar to pandanggo sa ilaw, but the difference is that, the glasses used contain water or wine, and the movements are different, requiring a higher level of skill and dexterity.

Reputedly, Bayambang is the place where the Pangasinan-Spanish dictionary was first compiled by a Spanish Dominican missionary priest, Fr. Lorenzo Fernández Cosgaya.

In culinary arts, we are also known for our fish buro and binuburan. Other local delicacies considered to be the town's specialties include gipang produced in Brgy. Amanperez, deremen (black rice cake for All Souls’ Day) produced in nearby barangays, and rice crackers produced in Brgy. Sancagulis.

The PSU-DOST 1 Food Innovation Center of the Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus has assisted in the conceptualization of many products in Bayambang: Chelsea’s peanut butter, Nanay Doray’s odorless buro, to name a few. In 2017, 1Food Corp., assisted by LGU Bayambang, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the FIC for assistance in producing a line of vacuum-fried vegetable (okra, onion, squash) snack chips and tomato salsa under the brand O-Krantz.

1Food Corp. has also conceptualized the Bayambang’s Best line of top-quality longanisa.

Bayambang is also a known as a town of ‘faith healers’ using indigenous modalities such as panaggulgol, panag-ilot, panagsuob, panag-gaton, panag-tawas, panag-larak, etc., including herbal medicine. Well, in parallel, as far as innovation goes… Set to open soon is the Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center in Brgy. Ligue offering modern as well as alternative holistic medicine and psychiatric services.

Center of Learning and Excellence in Education

Bayambang is an old center of learning in northern Luzon. That is because we have here one of the oldest schools in Pangasinan, the Bayambang Central School, which was built in 1914, and the Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus, now a 100-year-old institution.

We are particularly proud of PSU because it is a pioneer in so many things: In 1955, "the first Child Study Center in the country was put up at the then Pangasinan Normal School." "The Center made initial studies on the Filipino child in order for the Philippines to have its own data about its children." In 1956, it experimented with the country's first pre-elementary school or kindergarten, to "provide a working laboratory for the Child Study Center." In the same year, it also established the first Opportunity Class for exceptional children. In 1962, it became the venue of the first National Institute in Physical Education and Recreation in the Philippines. PSU also pioneered in child nutrition studies in the Philippines, being the seat of the Applied Nutrition Project.

It was in PSU-Bayambang where landmark works in Pangasinan literature and culture have been produced: Marina Sabangan’s and Dr.  Perla Nelmida’s compilation of Pangasinan folk songs, tales, and sayings (“A Study of the Legends, Customs, Superstitions, Proverbs, Folksongs, Folk Dances and Ballads of Pangasinan-speaking Towns in Pangasinan,” PNS, 1968; Pangasinan Folk Literature, 1982, defended in UP Diliman, but while on study leave at PSU as professor); Prof. Elsa Quinto et al.’s compilation of notated folk songs (“Cancancion na Pangasinan,” KWF, 2002 ); Prof. Rufino Menor’s Pangkat Kawayan (established early 1980s); and Prof. Januario Cuchapin’s Matalunggaring Dance Troupe (established 1986) and his research on and compilation of notated local folk dances (“Bali-Balin Pangasinan,” NCCA grant of 2006).

Inside PSU-Bayambang's sprawling campus can be found the aforementioned PSU-Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region I's Food Innovation Center. It was formally launched in 2018 to serve the needs of Region I in the area of cutting-edge food processing technology.

At the 3^rd floor of Royal Mall, a newly established institution is the Bayambang Polytechnic College, which was put up to offer – with free tuition – much-needed technical-vocational courses, especially agro-enterprise, for those who can't be accommodated in other universities. Its first President is Dr. Rafael Limueco Saygo, concurrently the local government’s tourism chief and anti-poverty team leader.

Today, Bayambang is home to 58 elementary schools (49 public, 9 private), 12 high schools (9 public, 3 private), and 3 colleges (2 public, 1 private).

Outside formal educational institutions, we have the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation Inc., a nonprofit put up by Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao which offers sustainable livelihood and skills training modules in cooperation with TESDA and DOST. Its accomplishments in this field have received national recognition through the DepEd's National Literacy Awards and the DSWDs GAPAS Awards.  

The Bayambang Municipal Library, opened in 1950, is known to scholars and academic researchers because it has a collection of rare books, including the Pangasinan translations of “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo.” Notably, our library is a subscriber to a global online library and also a Tech4Ed Center, an internet-enabled facility for those seeking a host of online government services.

 

Matalunggaring Sons and Daughters: Pioneers, Trailblazers, Role Models

Time and again, Bayambangueños become achievers by being models and innovators in their respective fields. Many of them have been recognized by the local government, with the highest award being the Matalunggaring Award. “Matalunggaring,” in the Pangasinan language, roughly means “outstanding.”

A random example would be Rusty Lopez, the famous fashion designer who pioneered the retail fashion industry in the Philippines and is best known for selling a popular line of leather shoes, the Rusty Lopez shoes.

Indie film director Christopher Gozum directed the first full-length film about Pangasinan in the Pangasinense language, “Anacbanua.” Another young international award-winning indie filmmaker is Allan Michael Ibañez.

Bayambang is the home of the father of the Philippine cycling, Atty. Geruncio ‘Gerry’ Lacuesta, the organizer of the famed Tour of Luzon cycling races nationwide.

Other native-born and longtime residents have distinguished themselves in various other fields, whether in science, military science, culture and arts, etc.: Rufino Romano (discoverer of active ingredient for Viagra), Carmen Velasquez (national scientist), Sr. Mary John Mananzan (founder of Gabriela), Ronaldo Tomas (music/acid jazz), Prof. Rufino Menor (Pangkat Kawayan), Generoso Sendaydiego (graphic arts), Dr. Prospero de Vera (former CHEd chair), Dr. Danilo Concepcion (former University of the Philippines President), Dr. Jose DV. Camacho Jr. (UP Los Baños Chancellor), Carlos Salazar (matinee idol and actor), Jing Abalos (action star), and Vic Pacia (TV personality and actor).

Last but not the least, Bayambang has produced Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao, who is dubbed as “a man of many firsts” for a reason. He is a successful businessman, philanthropist, and former mayor, who made his name by helping pioneer PPP projects or public-private partnership projects to fast-track development projects in the country. In 2008, he was instrumental in the success of the automated elections of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. His computerization project for the Land Transportation Office got rid of notorious fixers and the well-known extent of corruption in that government agency. He computerized the land titles at Land Registration Authority for easy access of information. His Metro Manila Skyway project is a groundbreaking project because it pioneered the Build, Own and Transfer (BOT) scheme between the government and the private sector.

 

Fast-Tracking Agro Modernization

Bayambang is an agricultural town, so it is not surprising that it is called "the corn belt of Pangasinan" and "the onion capital of Northern Luzon." We also produce rice and a variety of vegetables.

Because we have a number of rivers, tributary creeks, lakes, and ponds here, we are also known for freshwater catch, the fish buro or fermented fish delicacy. We produce buro by curing freshwater fishes, which we call malangsi, in salt using large clay pots. We use tilapia, gourami, siringan (small gourami), or dalag in making buro. In Bayambang, we use just salt instead of adding a fermenting agent (bubod, bubor), and cure the fish for one week.

Among the innovations introduced lately in this town is Mayor Quiambao’s farm mechanization program, which aims to modernize agriculture using modern farm machinery.

As part of this program, the Quiambao family recently put up the Agricultural Infrastructure and Leasing Corp. (AILC), which is the largest post-harvest facility in northern Luzon.

Ever the creative visionary, Dr. Quiambao is involved in the production of novel food items with 1Food Corporation to convert our farmers’ raw produce into higher-value products. He also masterminded the E-Agro app, which is a computer application that brings together in one online platform all the different aspects of the farming business (knowledge, technical support, loan option, etc.), thus offering a holistic or well-rounded approach to farming.

RiceBIS-Bayambang Agricultural Cooperative has come up with a line of pigmented rice products (red rice, brown rice, black rice, assorted) that have attracted a health-conscious clientele.

 

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Bayambang: What's in a Name?

(A quick look into the town name's etymology)

by Resty S. Odon

Where exactly did the name Bayambang come from? The answer depends on who or which reference is consulted.

 

Old residents and reference materials routinely claim that the name of the Bayambang town in the province of Pangasinan came from the colibangbang o culibangbang tree which used to thrive in the area.

 

Research has shown that this name refers to a certain species of Bauhinia, B. acuminata or B. malabarica, or what is called alibangbang parang in Tagalog. What causes some confusion is that there are other species of Bauhinia that are referred to as alibangbang in Tagalog and other languages and are also called culibangbang in Pangasinan: for instance, B. purpurea and B. variegata. (Note that Bauhinia species have been reportedly renamed Piliostigma.)

 

For the sake of clarity and precision, B. acuminata or B. malabarica is the one being referred to as culibangbang by Bayambangueños, as it is the one being traditionally used as panselar or pangsigang (souring agent), specifically its flowers and shoots, which taste sour. What distinguishes it from the other culibangbang species is its simple white little flower, red stalks, and a leaf shape that is rounder and less butterfly-shaped than that of B. purpurea. In contrast, the latter has a pink, orchid-like flower and reportedly inedible shoots, and is of foreign origin and believed to have been planted in the '70s or earlier for ornamental purposes then later spread throughout the town.

 

The problem with the term "culibangbang," however, is that it doesn't quite exactly account for the word "bayambang," as local observers point out. Culibangbang is indeed anomalous because it is an Ilocano word meaning butterfly, and butterfly in Pangasinan is kumpapey. The Ilocano people were not in Pangasinan until they came migrating en masse during the Spanish regime. Moreover, the word bayambang in fact existed as an old term per se, referring either to three different plants and to something else.

 

First of all, bayambang, it turns out, used to be the Tagalog name for an entirely another plant, Amaranthus spinosus (Linn.) or uray or kulitis, and then another, Celosia or Deeringia polysperma, an ornamental amaranth species. Notably, "bayangbang" is also a Tagalog term for the sword fern or Nephrolepis hirsutula.

 

Secondly, in Pangasinan, the word bayambang is a native word that refers to a place that is madanom (Pangasinan word for matubig or waterlogged), which exactly describes some flood-prone barangays of the town today lying along Agno River. In fact, one barangay is named Paragos ("literally, a place where water flows," but actually means "irrigation"), while another is Managos ("flowing"). This probably explains why a barangay in Infanta, a town in western Pangasinan, is named Bayambang as well.

 

Another claim is that there are awarans (ancient narratives) that mention "balangabang" as the precursor to the name Bayambang, balangabang being the true indigenous term for the native species of culibangbang or alibangbang. This hunch, of course, is not far-fetched at all, as it is more commonsensical and thus far more plausible.

 

The official website of the Pangasinan provincial government has a slightly different version, though: "The name of the town, according to the legend, came from the name of a plant called 'balangbang.'" To locals, however, "balangbang" is the native term for "hip," although it could also be a variant of balangabang.

 

What complicates this origin story further is another theory that Bayambang might have come from bayangbayang, an old native term for scarecrow.

 

In the absence of solid documentary evidence, it is hard to establish with definitive certainty where the town's name came from, but balangabang, balangbang, and bayangbayang are a lot more plausible than culibangbang, but the mere existence of the term bayambang itself should be of foremost consideration, given that it is the same exact word as the name of the town.