EDITORYAL - Aro: Wika ng Pag-ibig

 

📰 EDITORYAL

Aro: Wika ng Pag-ibig

Sa bawat bayan, may mga salitang higit pa sa kahulugan—mga salitang sumasalamin sa puso ng isang kultura. Sa Bayambang at sa buong Pangasinan, isa sa mga salitang ito ang “aro.”

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na ang salitang Pangasinan na aro ay may dalawang pakahulugan, tulad ng “ibig” sa Tagalog: maaari itong mangahulugang love o friend. Ang kaaro ay kaibigan, samantalang ang inaro ay tumutukoy sa minamahal o love interest. Sa iisang salita pa lamang, makikita na ang lalim at lawak ng pagpapahalaga ng mga Pangasinense sa ugnayan—pagkakaibigan man o pag-ibig.

Kapansin-pansin din na napakayaman ng mga idiomatic expressions ng Pangasinan pagdating sa aro. Sa usapin ng pagkakaibigan, may mga pahayag tulad ng “Bali-bali’y aroan da,” na tumutukoy sa maganda at matatag na samahan. Ang “Malmalet ya kaaro” ay matibay at subok na kaibigan, habang ang “Singa nansuldungay pait da” ay naglalarawan ng dalawang taong tila magkadugtong ang bituka—bosom friends, kung baga.

Sa larangan naman ng pag-ibig, lalong nagiging makulay ang wika. Ang “Abangles ya panangaro” ay pagmamahal na hindi naipagtapat. Ang “Aroa’y pato” ay yaong relasyong away-bati. Ang “Aro’y bakes” ay paalala sa salawahang puso. Mayroon ding “Agto nabitla’y agat,” na tumutukoy sa sobrang torpe, at “Singa no aso’y San Roque,” para sa taong laging naghahabol. Kapag naman sinabing “Singa no ra nagigilata,” malinaw na ang tinutukoy ay magkasintahang kay sweet.

Mayroon ding mga nakakatuwang idioms para sa mga malapit nang ikasal—mga pahayag na karaniwang iniuugnay sa handaan at masayang pagsasalo: “Makak-ka-bawang la,” “Asingger tilan makailop na digo,” “Natabaan lamet so bibil,” at “Wala’y andukey ya lamisaan.” Sa mga salitang ito, dama ang saya ng komunidad sa tuwing may nabubuong pamilya.

Hindi rin maikakaila ang ambag ng mga manunulat sa pagpapanatili ng kayamanang ito. Ayon sa makatang Pangasinense na si Santiago Villafania, may pitong matalinghagang salitang ginagamit noon kaugnay ng pag-ibig: aro, pabli, piaet, gunaet, tindek, pilalek, at tamitam. Ang mga ito ay hindi lamang bokabularyo; ito ay mga salitang may lalim ng damdamin at lawak ng pananaw sa pag-ibig at pangarap.

Sa isang awiting tulad ng Lawas Kan Pinabli, patuloy na binibigyang-buhay ang lambing at talinghaga ng sariling wika—patunay na ang pag-ibig sa Pangasinan ay hindi lamang nararamdaman, ito ay inaawit, ipinapahayag, at ipinagmamalaki.

Sa huli, ang kayamanan ng ating wikang Pangasinan ay repleksiyon ng lalim ng ating puso bilang mga Pangasinense. Sa bawat aro, naroon ang pagkakaibigan. Sa bawat pabli, naroon ang pagpapahalaga. At sa bawat idyomang minana natin sa ating mga ninuno, naroon ang ating identidad.

Bayambang, ito ay hindi lamang kaalaman—ito ay pamana. At ito ay dapat nating ipagmalaki.

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo - Pangasinan Words and Expressions for Love

 Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo - Pangasinan Words and Expressions for Love

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na ang salitang love sa Pangasinan na aro ay dalawa ang pakahulugan, tulad ng salitang ibig sa Tagalog: love at friend.

 

Kaaro means friend, at inaro means love interest.

 

Bayambang, alam mo ba na marami tayong idiomatic expressions sa salitang Pangasinan pagdating sa aro, love, o pag-ibig?

 

Dumako muna tayo sa friendship:

 

Bali-bali'y aroan da (they have beautiful loving relationship) - they have a good relationship

 

Malmalet ya kaaro (sturdy friend, matibay na kaibigan) - die-hard, trusted, or close friend

 

Singa nansuldungay pait da. (looks like their intestines are connected) - malapit na magkaibigan; bosom friend

 

Pagdating naman sa love:

 

Abangles ya panangaro (spoiled love) - pagmamahal na di naipagtapat

 

Aroa’y pato (duck love) - away-bati; love-hate relationship

 

Aro'y bakes (monkey love) - salawahang puso

 

Agto nabitla'y agat (can’t pronounce 'ginger') - sobrang torpe

 

Singa no aso'y San Roque (like St. Roch's dog) - palaging naghahabol

 

Singa no ra nagigilata. (Para silang nilalanggam.) - Ang sweet-sweet nila.

 

Mayroon naman tayong at least apat na nakakatuwang idioms para sa malapit nang ikasal:

 

Makak-ka-bawang la. (The aroma of garlic is in the air.)

Asingger tilan makailop na digo. (Malapit na tayong makahigop ng sabaw.)

Natabaan lamet so bibil. (Mamamantikaan na naman ang labi.)

Wala'y andukey ya lamisaan. (May mahabang hapag-kainan.)

 

Kayo, ano pa ba ang idioms na alam niyo patungkol sa love?

 

***

 

Samantala, ayon sa manunulang Pangasinense na si Santiago Villafania, mayroong pitong matalinghaga na salitang Pangasinan na ginagamit noon pagdating sa pag-ibig:

 

1. aro (love, admiration, attraction; also used to mean "friend")

2. pabli (dear; pinabli, beloved; pablien, give due respect)

3. piaet (ambition, wish, desire, hope)

4. gunaet (dream, illusion, vision)

5. tindek (aspiration)

6. pilalek (ambition, wish, desire)

7. tamitam (desire, urge, hope)

 

Ang mga ito ay sumasalamin lamang sa kung gaano kayaman ng ating sariling wikang Pangasinan, at kung gaano kalalim at kalawak umibig at magmahal ang mga Pangasinense.

 

[ANDREW: play a clip from the song “Lawas Kan Pinabli.”]

 

Ang lahat ng ito, Bayambang, ay dapat alam mo!

 

OUTRO:

 

[SMILE, VOLUME, ENERGY!]

 

EDITORIAL - February 2026 - Pinadaling Pagnenegosyo

 

📰 EDITORYAL

Pinadaling Pagnenegosyo

Sa panahon kung kailan ang bilis at episyensiya ang sukatan ng maayos na pamamahala, isang mahalagang hakbang ang isinagawa ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Bayambang sa pagpapabilis ng pagkuha ng Business o Mayor’s Permit at Special Permit.

Sa pamamagitan ng ordinansang ipinasa ng Sangguniang Bayan, pinasimple at in-streamline ang mga kinakailangang requirements para sa mga negosyante at ambulant vendor. Ang repormang ito ay nakaangkla sa mga probisyon ng Republic Act No. 7160 o Local Government Code of 1991, na nagtataguyod ng pangkalahatang kapakanan at kaunlarang pang-ekonomiya sa mga lokal na pamahalaan. Kaakibat din nito ang Republic Act No. 11032 o Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Services Delivery Act of 2018, na layong bawasan ang red tape sa mga transaksyon sa gobyerno.

Hindi simpleng pagbabawas ng papeles ang hakbang na ito. Ito ay malinaw na pahayag: ang Bayambang ay bukas sa negosyo.

Para sa mga bagong negosyo, nananatili ang mahahalagang rekisito tulad ng rehistro mula sa Department of Trade and Industry para sa sole proprietorship, Securities and Exchange Commission para sa partnership at korporasyon, at Cooperative Development Authority para sa mga kooperatiba. Gayunpaman, malinaw at mas sistematiko na ngayon ang listahan ng requirements. Para sa renewal, pinagaan ang proseso at nakatuon na lamang sa updated clearances at deklarasyon ng gross sales—isang malaking ginhawa para sa maliliit na negosyante.

Isang makabuluhang probisyon ang pagpapahintulot na ma-isyu ang permit kahit may kulang pang ilang dokumento tulad ng sanitary o occupancy permit, basta’t may Affidavit of Undertaking ang aplikante. Ibig sabihin, hindi na kailangang tumigil ang operasyon habang inaayos ang mga natitirang papeles. Ito ang uri ng pamamahalang may malasakit—hindi pabigat, kundi katuwang ng mamamayan.

Hindi rin nakaligtaan ang sektor ng maliliit na nagtitinda. Nilinaw ng ordinansa ang patakaran para sa Special Permit ng mga ambulant vendor—mula peddler hanggang transient vendor. Sa pamamagitan ng malinaw na kategorya, rehistro, medical examination, at natatanging registry number, mas magiging maayos ang sistema. Hindi lamang ito para sa regulasyon, kundi para sa proteksyon ng publiko at ng mismong mga vendor. Ang kaayusan sa kalye ay kaayusan sa komunidad.

Bagama’t pinasimple ang proseso, hindi isinantabi ang regulasyon sa mga sensitibong industriya. Ang mga negosyong kabilang sa regulated sectors ay kinakailangan pa ring kumuha ng clearance mula sa mga ahensyang tulad ng Food and Drug Administration para sa mga botika at produktong pangkalusugan, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas para sa lending institutions, at National Telecommunications Commission para sa telecommunications firms. Ipinapakita nito na ang layunin ay hindi basta pagpapabilis lamang, kundi responsableng pagpapalago ng ekonomiya.

Sa pagsisimula ng implementasyon nito sa 2026, malinaw ang mensahe ng Bayambang: handa tayong umunlad. Handa tayong magbukas ng pinto para sa mga negosyanteng nais mamuhunan. Handa tayong maging bayan na mabilis and pag-unlad sa maayos at makabagong paraan.

Higit pa sa administrative reform, ang pagpapasimple ng proseso ay isang investment din sa tiwala ng mamamayan.

 

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo! - Bayambang, Women-Empowered Town!

 

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo!

 

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na ang ating bayan ay isang woman-friendly town o bayan na kung saan namamayagpag ang mga kababaihang lider!

 

Alam ba ninyo na 50% ng mga permanent at casual employees ng LGU-Bayambang ay binubuo ng kababaihan?

 

 

===========================================

 

[ANDREW: FLASH ONSCREEN]

 

LGU-Bayambang Employees as of February 2026               

	Male	Female
Permanent – 335	167	168
Casual – 118	59	59
Job Order – 505	342	163
Consultant – 13	9	4

                   

===========================================

 

At alam ba ninyo na mahigit 50% sa mga kasalukuyang LGU unit at department heads at iba't ibang agency heads sa Bayambang ay babae?

 

Sinu-sino ang mga ito?

 

Bukod sa tayo ay pinamumunuan ngayon ng pinakaunang babaeng mayor, vice-mayor, at municipal administrator na ating kasaysayan, halos lahat ng departamento at ahensya ay napamunuan na o pinamumunuan ng isang babae. Kabilang dito ang lahat ng mabibigat na responsibilidad na dati-rati ay inaasa lamang sa mga kalalakihan.

 

===========================================

[ROLL/SCROLL UP THE LIST ONSCREEN]

 

Hon. Niña Jose-Quiambao - Municipal Mayor      

Hon. Ian Camille Sabangan - Municipal Vice Mayor           

Hon. Jocelyn Espejo - Municipal Councilor            

Maria Concepcion Carmela A. Santillan - Executive Assistant         

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - Municipal Administrator

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - BPRAT Chairperson

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - Agriculture            

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - Bayambang Public Safety Office

Editha Soriano - MLGOO              

SInsp. Carol Joy Palchan - BFP                    

Reina Corazon S. Ferrer  - COMELEC         

Thelma Ramos - PhilPost              

Ma. Dolores Soliven - OIC Chief, Land Transportation Office

DepEd Bayambang II - Dr. Candra Penoliar

Engr. Bernadette Mangande - Municipal Engineer              

Charmaine C. Bulalakaw - OIC Municipal Treasurer            

Dr. Paz F. Vallo - RHU I    

Dr. Adrienne A. Estrada - RHU II 

Genevieve N. Uy - MDRRMO       

Christine Bautista - Budget Officer           

Chinita S. de Vera - GSO

Ma-Lene S. Torio - ESWMO          

Kimberly P. Basco - MSWDO        

Veronica Gellido - Internal Auditor            

Gernalyn J. Santos - PESO            

Atty. Melinda Rose Fernandez - HRMO

Atty. Melinda Rose Fernandez - MCDO

Atty. Melinda Rose Fernandez - Library

Stephany J. Caragan - BAC Secretariat     

Josie Niverba - MAC       

Venus M. Bueno - Nutrition         

Atty. Mary Grace Agas - BPLO     

Luz B. Cayabyab - Slaughterhouse             

Dr. Leticia B. Ursua - Media Affairs            

Erlinda S. Alvarez - Action Desk Officer for SEE    

Resie M. Castillo - Agriculture and Fishery Concerns         

Mary Rose R. Aquino - OIC Accountant for Barangay Financial Affairs

Kimberly Martinez - DTI

 

 

***

 

Samantala, ayon sa datos ng LCR, as of 2020, 49.35% ng ating populasyon ay kababaihan, kaya't di nalalayo sa bilang ng mga kalalakihan.

 

 

===========================================

 

[ANDREW: FLASH ONSCREEN]

 

Official Male-Female Distribution (Latest Census with Sex Data as of 2020)

 

Males: 65,327

Females: 63,664

 

Total (2020 census): 129,011

 

===========================================

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na malinaw na ang ating bayan ay hindi lamang woman-friendly — ito ay woman-empowered.

 

Ang kababaihan ay hindi lang katuwang sa pag-unlad — sila ay nasa unahan ng pamumuno, paglilingkod, at pagbabago.

 

Samakatwid, ang lakas ng kababaihan ay lakas ng ating bayan.

 

Ang lahat ng ito Bayambang ay...dapat alam mo!

 

Monday Report - March 2, 2026

 

Monday Report - March 2, 2026

 

[INTRO]

 

[ENERGY, VOLUME, SMILE]

 

NEWSCASTER 1: Masantos ya kabwasan, Bayambang! Ako po si Bhernardine Calaus.

 

NEWSCASTER 2: Ako naman po si Danny Ventura, at kami po ay mula sa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

 

NEWSCASTER 1: Kami ang inyong mga tagapaghatid ng tama, tapat, at napapanahong balita.

 

NEWSCASTER 2: Mula sa bayang ang malasakit ay hindi salita kundi gawa...

 

SABAY: Ito ang...BayambangueNews.

 

***

 

[ENERGY, VOLUME, SMILE]

 

[MEMORIZE THE HEADLINES ONLY]

 

1.      GSO ng Calasiao, Nagbenchmarking sa GSO-Bayambang

 

Bumisita ang GSO ng Calasiao sa GSO-Bayambang para sa isang benchmarking activity na naglalayong matutunan ang mga polisiya, sistema, at best practices sa procurement, property management, at asset inventory. Sa pangunguna ng kanilang mga opisyal, nagkaroon ng makabuluhang talakayan hinggil sa  mga polisiya, workflow procedures, at digital innovations upang higit pang mapahusay ang serbisyong pangkalahatan ng kanilang tanggapan.

 

 

2.      Orally Fit Children, Pinarangalan

 

Kinilala ang mga batang may pinaka-malulusog na ngipin, sa ginanap na awarding ceremony para sa Orally-Fit Child 2026 bilang culminating activity ng Oral Health Month noong February 25. Ito ay upang itaguyod ang tamang pangangalaga sa oral health. Ang aktibidad ay pinangunahan ng RHU sa pakikipagtulungan ng Philippine Dental Association – Pangasinan Chapter, kasama ang suporta ng mga guro, magulang, at health workers.

 

 

3.      Joint LCPC, LCAT-VAWC, at MAC Meeting, Ginanap

 

Sa pinagsanib na 4th quarter meeting ng LCPC, LCAT-VAWC, at MAC, mas pinaigting ang koordinasyon ng iba’t ibang ahensya at sektor sa pamamagitan ng pagtalakay sa pagpapahusay ng case management system, paghahanda para sa CFLGA at LCPC Functionality Assessment, at pagrerepaso ng accomplishment reports. Tinalakay din ang mga update sa implementasyon ng 4Ps at Sustainable Livelihood Program, at iba pang programa, proyekto, at aktibidad upang matiyak ang mas maayos at epektibong serbisyo para sa mga kabataan, kababaihan, at pamilyang 4Ps sa Bayambang.

 

4.      SK Budget Hearing, Nagpatuloy

 

Nagpatuloy ang Sangguniang Bayan sa pagdinig para sa Annual Budget Hearing ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan mula sa iba’t ibang barangay. Inilahad ng mga SK leader ang kanilang mga panukalang programa at proyekto para sa 2026, na nakatuon sa kapakanan ng kabataan at komunidad, habang binigyang-diin ang maayos na pagpaplano, transparency, at responsableng paggamit ng pondo.

 

5.      Mobile Info Drive ng LCR, Nagpatuloy sa Beleng

 

Idinaos sa Brgy. Beleng noong February 24 ang programang “Your Name, Your Right” ng LCRO, na naghatid ng kaalaman at agarang serbisyong may kinalaman sa civil registry at legal na pagkakakilanlan sa mga residente. At sa pamamagitan ng mobile services kabilang ang data capture para sa upgraded Community Service Card, mas napabilis ang pagproseso ng dokumento at pati na magiging pag-access sa mga benepisyo ng pamahalaan.

 

 

6.      Info Drive Kontra Teenage Pregnancy at Suicide, Inilunsad ng RHU II

 

Isang information drive kontra teenage pregnancy at suicide ang muling inilunsad ng RHU II noong February 24 at 25 sa A.P. Guevarra Integrated School at Ambayat Integrated School. Ito ay dinaluhan ng 630 na mag-aaral mula Grades 7to 12. Layunin ng programa na mapigilan ang pagtaas ng kaso ng teenage pregnancy at suicide sa bayan, matapos maitala ang 27 cases ng maagang pagbubuntis at 5 na kaso ng suicide noong nakaraang Enero.

 

7.      UPLB, Muling Naghatid ng Biotech Program sa Bayambang

 

Muling dinala ng UPLB-BIOTECH ang BEACONS Program nito sa Bayambang upang palakasin ang sustainable agriculture sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng biotechnology-based products. Kabilang dito ang biofertilizers, plant growth regulators, at biostimulants na nagpapabuti at nagpapataas ng ani at nagpapababa ng gastos sa pagsasaka. Sila ay nagsagawa ng mga site visit, technical consultation, at lecture-demonstration para sa mga magsasaka at farmer organizations.

 

===============================

 

FOR VO

 

8.      Unang Araw ng GAD Training Workshop, Ginanap

 

Noong February 23, ginanap ang unang araw ng 3-day Training-Workshop ukol sa Integrated Planning, Budgeting, and Implementation ng Gender and Development, para sa mas inklusibo at gender-responsive na pamamahala. Tinalakay ni OIC MPDC Ricky Bulalakaw ang ukol sa Integrated Planning, at ni MSWD Officer Kimberly Basco ang Mainstreaming Gender in LGU Plan and Budget.

 

9.      BPSO, Patuloy ang Agarang Pagresponde sa Road Incidents

Patuloy ang masigasig na pagtugon ng Bayambang Public Safety Office (BPSO) sa iba’t ibang insidente ng aksidente sa daan at dagliang pangangailangan ng mga Bayambangueño. Nitong mga nakaraang linggo, ang BPSO ay agarang rumisponde sa ilang naaksidenteng motorista at pasahero. Patuloy din itong nagbibigay ng suporta sa mga pasyenteng may energency cases sa pamamagitan ng dagliang paghatid sa pagamutan upang masiguro ang kanilang kaligtasan at matiyak ang maayos na kalagayan.

 

10.  LCR, Nagpatuloy ng Info Drive at Mobile Services sa Tamaro

 

Noong February 26, nagpatuloy ang LCR sa Brgy. Tamaro upang tiyakin ang paghatid ng mga impormasyon ukol sa civil registration at legal na pagkakakilanlan, kasabay ng mobile services ng tanggapan. Tampok din ang data capture ng 41 na residente para sa upgraded Community Service Card.

 

11.  Slaughterhouse, Pinulong ang Meat Vendors at Butchers

 

Pinulong ng Municipal Slaughterhouse ang mga lokal na meat vendors at butchers noong February 26 upang palakasin ang kanilang kaalaman sa food safety, wastong paghawak ng karne, at pagsunod sa mga umiiral na pamantayan ng meat inspection sa tulong ng NMIS RTOC 1. Sa pamamagitan ng information-education campaign, higit na napaigting ang koordinasyon at kamalayan ng mga meat handlers para matiyak ang ligtas at dekalidad na karne para sa mga Bayambangueño.

 

 

12.  MDRRMC, Nagconduct ng Rescue Operations para sa Insidente ng Pagkalunod

 

Noong February 26 at 27, ang MDRRM Council, sa pangunguna ng MDRRMO, ay agad na nag-activate ng WASAR Team at para sa mabilis na search and retrieval operations kaugnay ng insidente ng pagkalunod sa Brgy. Caturay. Bukod sa agarang pagresponde at pagdadala sa survivor sa ospital, patuloy ring silang nagbibigay ng psychological first aid at iba pang kinakailangang tulong sa mga survivor at naulilang pamilya habang ipinagpapatuloy ang paghahanap sa huling nawawala.

 

 

===============================

 

 

13.  Bayambang, 4th Runner-up sa DSWD Video Contest

 

Nagwagi bilang 4th Runner-up ang entry ng LGU-Bayambang out of 41 entries ng lalawigan sa “Juana Malakas: Stories of Women Empowerment Advocacy Video” ng DSWD, bilang bahagi ng National Women’s Month celebration. Ang entry ay base sa inspiring na kwentong buhay ni Christien P. Garcia, isang winning Barangay Nutrition Scholar at graduating 4Ps member mula sa Brgy. Zone 6.

 

14.   PESO, Umani ng 3 Parangal!

 

Pinarangalan ang PESO-Bayambang ng tatlong pagkilala sa 2026 Regional PESO Congress, kabilang ang

Regional Winner – Job Fair Excellence Award at dalawang Special Citation para sa digitalization ng serbisyo at maayos na pagsusumite ng ulat para sa CY 2025. Patunay ito ng epektibong pagpapatupad ng mga programang pang-empleyo ng Pamahalaang Bayan sa ilalim ni SLEO Gernalyn Santos at sa pamumuno ni Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao.

 

 

***

 

[ENERGY, VOLUME, SMILE]

 

Presenter: Shinley Roldan

 

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo!

 

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na ang ating bayan ay isang woman-friendly town o bayan na kung saan namamayagpag ang mga kababaihang lider!

 

Alam ba ninyo na 50% ng mga permanent at casual employees ng LGU-Bayambang ay binubuo ng kababaihan?

 

 

===========================================

 

[ANDREW: FLASH ONSCREEN]

 

LGU-Bayambang Employees as of February 2026               

	Male	Female
Permanent – 335	167	168
Casual – 118	59	59
Job Order – 505	342	163
Consultant – 13	9	4

                   

===========================================

 

At alam ba ninyo na mahigit 50% sa mga kasalukuyang LGU unit at department heads at iba't ibang agency heads sa Bayambang ay babae?

 

Sinu-sino ang mga ito?

 

Bukod sa tayo ay pinamumunuan ngayon ng pinakaunang babaeng mayor, vice-mayor, at municipal administrator na ating kasaysayan, halos lahat ng departamento at ahensya ay napamunuan na o pinamumunuan ng isang babae. Kabilang dito ang lahat ng mabibigat na responsibilidad na dati-rati ay inaasa lamang sa mga kalalakihan.

 

===========================================

[ROLL/SCROLL UP THE LIST ONSCREEN]

 

Hon. Niña Jose-Quiambao - Municipal Mayor      

Hon. Ian Camille Sabangan - Municipal Vice Mayor           

Hon. Jocelyn Espejo - Municipal Councilor            

Maria Concepcion Carmela A. Santillan - Executive Assistant         

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - Municipal Administrator

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - BPRAT Chairperson

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - Agriculture            

Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad - Bayambang Public Safety Office

Editha Soriano - MLGOO              

SInsp. Carol Joy Palchan - BFP                    

Reina Corazon S. Ferrer  - COMELEC         

Thelma Ramos - PhilPost              

Ma. Dolores Soliven - OIC Chief, Land Transportation Office

DepEd Bayambang II - Dr. Candra Penoliar

Engr. Bernadette Mangande - Municipal Engineer              

Charmaine C. Bulalakaw - OIC Municipal Treasurer            

Dr. Paz F. Vallo - RHU I    

Dr. Adrienne A. Estrada - RHU II 

Genevieve N. Uy - MDRRMO       

Christine Bautista - Budget Officer           

Chinita S. de Vera - GSO

Ma-Lene S. Torio - ESWMO          

Kimberly P. Basco - MSWDO        

Veronica Gellido - Internal Auditor            

Gernalyn J. Santos - PESO            

Atty. Melinda Rose Fernandez - HRMO

Atty. Melinda Rose Fernandez - MCDO

Atty. Melinda Rose Fernandez - Library

Stephany J. Caragan - BAC Secretariat     

Josie Niverba - MAC       

Venus M. Bueno - Nutrition         

Atty. Mary Grace Agas - BPLO     

Luz B. Cayabyab - Slaughterhouse             

Dr. Leticia B. Ursua - Media Affairs            

Erlinda S. Alvarez - Action Desk Officer for SEE    

Resie M. Castillo - Agriculture and Fishery Concerns         

Mary Rose R. Aquino - OIC Accountant for Barangay Financial Affairs

Kimberly Martinez - DTI

 

 

***

 

Samantala, ayon sa datos ng LCR, as of 2020, 49.35% ng ating populasyon ay kababaihan, kaya't di nalalayo sa bilang ng mga kalalakihan.

 

 

===========================================

 

[ANDREW: FLASH ONSCREEN]

 

Official Male-Female Distribution (Latest Census with Sex Data as of 2020)

 

Males: 65,327

Females: 63,664

 

Total (2020 census): 129,011

 

===========================================

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na malinaw na ang ating bayan ay hindi lamang woman-friendly — ito ay woman-empowered.

 

Ang kababaihan ay hindi lang katuwang sa pag-unlad — sila ay nasa unahan ng pamumuno, paglilingkod, at pagbabago.

 

Samakatwid, ang lakas ng kababaihan ay lakas ng ating bayan.

 

Ang lahat ng ito Bayambang ay...dapat alam mo!

 

[***

 

[OUTRO]

 

[ENERGY, VOLUME, SMILE]

 

NEWSCASTER 1: At iyan po ang mga balitang nagbibigay-inspirasyon at pag-asa sa ating bayan. Muli, ako po si Bhernardine Calaus.

NEWSCASTER 2: At ako po si Danny Ventura, at kami ay mula sa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

NEWSCASTER 1: Kaisa ninyo sa serbisyong tunay at may puso.

NEWSCASTER 2: Kasama ninyo sa pagsulong ng magandang kinabukasan ng bayan.

 

SABAY: Ito ang... BayambangueNews!

 

Sweet Heritage of Brgy. Ligue: The Kanen Makers of Bayambang

 Sweet Heritage of Brgy. Ligue: The Kanen Makers of Bayambang

In the quiet mornings of Barangay Ligue, before the first tricycle revs its engine and before the market stalls fully wake, the air is already thick with the scent of steamed rice, caramelized coconut, and brown sugar melting into syrup.

Here, in this humble village of Bayambang, Pangasinan, kanen—known elsewhere as kakanin—is not merely food. It is livelihood. It is inheritance. It is pride.

A Craft Passed Down in Steam and Fire

For decades, families in Ligue have quietly perfected the art of making traditional Pangasinense delicacies:

Puto lasong (or lanson) – soft, subtly sweet steamed rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves

Latik – sticky rice squares (biko) glazed with rich coconut caramel

Inlubi – toasted glutinous rice (deremen) delicacy simmered in coconut milk and sugar with coconut strips

Pinais ya suman – ground cassava- or malagkit-based kakanin infused with coconut cream

Tapong/Puton belas – dense rice cake with a distinct earthy sweetness

Kundandit – a ground cassava and/or toasted corn delicacy, delicate yet filling

Tikoy 

Pichi-pichi - sweet cassava balls in various versions

Unday-unday -

Bitso-bitso - 

The list goes on—each recipe slightly different from one household to another, each guarded like a family heirloom.

The Women Behind the Warmth

Take, for instance, **Aling Rosa Mendoza**, 62, who began helping her mother wrap puto lason in banana leaves at the age of nine. Today, her small backyard kitchen produces nearly 800 pieces of puto lason every market day.

“We don’t rush the soaking,” she says, gently lifting the lid of a steaming bilao. “If the rice isn’t prepared right, the texture won’t forgive you.”

Her puto lasong is known for its softness—never crumbly, never too dense. Buyers from neighboring barangays reserve trays in advance, especially during fiestas and town celebrations.

A few houses away is **Mang Lito Garcia**, one of the few male deremen makers in Ligue. Formerly a farmhand, he turned to kakanin-making when unpredictable harvests could no longer sustain his family. His deremen is slow-cooked over wood fire for hours, allowing the coconut milk to thicken naturally.

“Quality first,” he insists. “If you use thin gata, you’ll taste the difference.”

Then there is **Marites Villanueva**, 38, who modernized without compromising tradition. She packages latik and inlubi in neat boxes with labels bearing “Ligue’s Pride.” Through social media resellers and word-of-mouth marketing, her products now reach customers in Dagupan, Urdaneta, and even balikbayans requesting delivery to Manila.

From Backyard Kitchens to Regional Tables

What once began as small-scale backyard production has grown into a micro-industry quietly fueling Barangay Ligue’s economy.

On ordinary days, kanen from Ligue are sold in the Bayambang Public Market, neighboring towns across Pangasinan, including San Carlos City, and special orders for birthdays, weddings, and town fiestas.

During peak seasons—Christmas, Holy Week, fiesta months—the demand doubles, sometimes triples. Some makers report sending bulk orders as far as Tarlac and Metro Manila through bus cargo services.

Despite their growth, the methods remain largely traditional, except for the use of electric machines in place of stone grinders to turn glutinous rice into galapong (rice batter): freshly squeezed coconut milk, banana leaves instead of plastic liners, wood-fired steaming for that distinct aroma.

It is this commitment to authenticity that sets Ligue’s kanen apart. Buyers often remark that the taste “brings them back to childhood.”

More Than Livelihood

For the people of Barangay Ligue, kanen-making is more than income. It has sent children to college. It has repaired roofs after typhoons. It has kept generations rooted in their hometown instead of seeking uncertain work elsewhere.

Challenges remain—rising sugar prices, fluctuating coconut supply, competition from commercialized versions. Yet the makers adapt, pooling resources, sharing tips, even lending ingredients during shortages.

There is no formal cooperative yet, but there is community, mostly comprised of a compound of families related to one another.

A Sweet Future Ahead

As Bayambang continues to grow, so too does recognition of local heritage products. Many believe that with the right support—packaging training, branding assistance, and wider market access—Ligue’s kanen could become one of Pangasinan’s culinary signatures.

But for now, before the sun fully rises, the steam still lifts quietly from aluminum steamers in backyard kitchens of Barangay Ligue.

Panagbaliw: Crossing the River that Remembers

Panagbaliw: Crossing the River that Remembers

Along the quiet waterways of Brgy. Amancosiling Sur, where the river bends like a patient arm around fields of green, an ancient routine once governed the day: the soft scrape of bamboo pole against current, the steady push of wood against water, and the call of a boatman ready to ferry neighbors across.

This is panagbaliw—with the boatman also known as managbaliw or managbaluto—a traditional way of water transportation that has carried not only passengers but generations of memory in Bayambang.

A Craft Born of River and Need

Since time immemorial, panagbaliw has served as a living bridge between the barrios of Amancosiling Sur, San Gabriel, and Manambong. Long before paved roads and motor vehicles reshaped the landscape, the river was both boundary and passageway. Farmers, traders, and families relied on the baluto—a slender wooden vessel roughly three meters long—to cross swiftly and affordably.

The baluto was simple yet ingenious: Wood and bamboo formed its narrow body. The begsay (sagwan), a wooden paddle, steered against strong currents during high tide. Teken or tukor, a longer kawayan (bamboo) pole, tipped with metal, pushed firmly against the riverbed during low tide.

Each crossing required balance, timing, and intimate knowledge of water depth and current. The boatman read the river as others read weathered pages—every ripple a sentence, every tide a warning or welcome.

The Boatman’s Life

Among its practitioners was Peter Fernandez Pinto, a retired managbaliw from Amancosiling Sur. For ten years, he guided passengers across the river—farmers on their way to fields, children clutching school bags, vendors carrying woven baskets of produce.

He learned the craft from his elders, inheriting not only technique but responsibility. In turn, he passed the knowledge to younger relatives, sustaining a lineage of river wisdom. Panagbaliw was never merely a livelihood; it was stewardship—of safety, of skill, of community trust.

More than Transportation

Panagbaliw’s significance flows in many directions. Historically, perhaps for over a century, it connected communities long before infrastructure made travel convenient. Across its tranquil waters in Bayambang, it was said that national hero Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal once made his quiet crossing—journeying over its gentle current on his way to visit his cousin, childhood sweetheart, and secret lover Leonor Rivera in Dagupan. Economically, it offered farmers an affordable and direct route to their land, sparing them the longer journey through town. For boatmen, it was a modest but vital source of income. Socially speaking, each crossing became a space of exchange—stories shared midstream, friendships renewed on narrow planks of bamboo.

In its quiet way, panagbaliw through the baluto fostered commerce, kinship, and continuity.

A Tradition at the Water’s Edge

Today, the hum of engines has largely replaced the hush of poles dipping into water. Improved roads and popular motor vehicles have made river crossings less practical. Panagbaliw survives, but not as commonly as before.

Yet its story endures. The pioneers continue to teach younger kin how to balance the baluto, how to push against the current, how to respect the river’s temperament. Transmission—through family memory and lived demonstration—remains its strongest safeguard.

The River That Carries Memory

Panagbaliw is a form of subsistence technology shaped by ecology—born from rainforest and bamboo groves, guided by river tides, and sustained by human adaptability.

In Amancosiling Sur, the river still flows. And though fewer baluto glide across its surface, the tradition remains etched in community consciousness—a testament to how culture moves, quite literally, with the current.

More than a means of crossing water, panagbaliw is a way of crossing time.

(Original mapper: Jaira Farrales, BNHS student)

Draft List: Judges from Bayambang

Draft List: Judges from Bayambang

~Late 1950s - Onofre Abalos was the first Court of First Instance judge from Bayambang.

? (no estimated date) Atty. Guillermo Aguirre became the first municipal judge from Bayambang.

Judge Felipe Abalos, son of Onofre

Judge Salvador T. Mananzan

Judge Teofilo Junio (?)

Judge Fernando T. Sagun, Jr. 

Judge Cynthia Martinez-Florendo 

Judge Charina Imelda A. Casingal-Sazon

Judge Charina Sabangan Ambat 

Judge Irene May Junio Velasco

HISTORY OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

HISTORY OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Jul 31, 2014

SPANISH REGIME • Started formally in grade one with Christian Doctrine • Predominantly religious utilized certain textbooks as cartilla and pagina de la Infancia (contains alphabet and prayers) • Young Filipinos mostly coming from the “bourgeois’ ilustrado class

Preschooling was unorganized • The more educated adults in the community became lawful “preschool teachers” • Usually handled on one to one basis and lasting for no less than 30 minutes per session • (Estolaz & Nunez,1974)

The regular schooling in the cartilla lasted for 3 to 6 months depending upon the child’s capacity to learn • This particular schooling facilitated the entry of the child into grade one although it was not necessarily a requirement

INITIAL ATTEMPTS • In 1924, the opening of kindergarten education at Harris Memorial School Manila ( Harris Memorial College) pioneered preschool education • Under directorship of Miss Mary A. Evans

A class was established by Mrs. Brigida Fernando after her training at Columbia University Teachers College

Interest in kindergarten movement was picked up by other private schools and grew succeedingly well among the religious schools both Catholic and Protestant • Similar interest motivated civic groups to help children

In 1935 The NATIONAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S CLUB( NFWC) became the forerunner of nursery education • The process of getting government recognition didn’t come after 16 years.

In 1940, The Bureau of Private Schools had authorized 129 kindergarten classes getting an enrolment of 6,449. • The World War II disrupted the growth of the program to the point of closing almost all schools.

POSTWAR INTERESTS • The year immediately ensuing liberation had demonstrated a renewed interest in preschool education • Out 129 government recognized kindergarten schools in 1940, a total of 61 schools with 3,172 enrolment started in operation in 1945-1946

Private individuals had shortly joined this bold start • The NFWC continued to have its nursery classes one in Sampaloc and in Tondo Manila

In 1948, HARRIS MEMORIAL SCHOOL initiated another big step by obtaining a government recognition to confer the degree of JUNIOR TEACHER’S CERTIFICATE to Graduate in kindergarten education

This was the first recognized course in kindergarten education offered in the Philippines • Other colleges and universities attempt to emphasize kindergarten teaching by giving special training on the area, either part and parcel of B.S. in Education or in Home Economics

Preschool education in the country has almost remained to be associated with Bureau of Private Schools, specially with the religious groups.

BREAKTHROUGH IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS • 1950’s through the effort of Dr. Miguela M. Solis, then the Superintendent of Teacher education in Bureau of Public Schools, preschool education started in the government regional –training schools • Pangasinan Normal School was the first to take advantage

Followed by Zamboanga Normal School • In 1964, a year after establishment of National Coordinating Center for the Study and Development of Filipino Children and Youth ( NCCSDFCY) which Dr. Solis was the director, the Children’s Village was opened to admit kindergarten children, marking another milestone in the public sector.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: A JOINT CONCERN • The growth of Philippine preschool education had been so slow when this is compared to those of the other countries • Though slow, the regular yearly increment in kindergarten enrolment in both private and public schools had increased

The major portion of preschool children were consistently in the private schools with its yearly increase remaining constant • Until that there are too many children for every teacher. • Sending pre-school aged children to private kindergarten is expensive • The need for nursery schools that could cater to the lower income families was then felt

A number of national offices and civic organizations have responded to the need to extend appropriate education • The NFWC who has started only with two schools has expanded to 251 classes mostly located in the less chance areas like Tondo, Sampaloc, Paco and others

In 1956, the Manila Health Department introduced the concept of modern preschool “ play centers” in Manila • It was Dr, Demetrio Belmonte the assistant city health officer who had a trip from different countries like Europe and USA and observed the operation of modern and scientific preschool

With the assistance of Dr. Evangeline G. Suva, returning grantee on programming preschool play centers and Mrs.Isabel Santos, a social worker of the Ladies’ • Association worked hand in hand to put up the first modern fully equipped play centers at the KAPITAN ISIDRO MENDOZA HEALTH CENTER

Meanwhile various civic organization have similarly taken bold steps in support of the program. • Some of them are Young Ladies Association of Charity, The Rural Improvement Clubs, The Philippine Women’s Medical Association • In mid 1960’s the Department of Social Welfare had started the inclusion of nursery and kindergarten education in its program.

1970’s to 1980’s – The government’s intensified interest in the welfare of the Filipino child resulted in the signing of P.D 603 • PD 603- known as CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE CODE in 1974” • 1979- UNESCO( United nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization) declared as the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD

1977 to 1987 • The Philippines declared DECADE OF THE FILIPINO CHILD • This marked the increased of number of preschool children and also the establishments both in private and public schools

1978 to 1989- DECS encouraged the operation of preschools in public elementary schools with MEC Order No. 24 s 1978 and DECS Order No. 107, s.1989 ( Soliven et.al,1997) • 1993 to 1994- There were 1,892 DECS- recognizes and registered private schools in the country with 416,894 enrolled preschoolers

1995 to 2000- Three reform programs were initiated in response to the need of rising numbers of preschoolers: • EDUCATION FOR ALL • CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON EDUCATION • Implementation of LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE

Eloisa Gelito-Bautista MA. ECE

 

History of the Applied Nutrition Program (ANP) in Bayambang, Pangasinan

Did You Know?

Did you know that Bayambang used to host the National Applied Nutrition Training Centre, aside from being the pilot site for UNESCO's Applied Nutrition Program in the Philippines?

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History of the Applied Nutrition Program (ANP) in Bayambang, Pangasinan

The Applied Nutrition Program (ANP) in Bayambang, Pangasinan, is historically significant as the pioneer pilot site for national nutrition initiatives in the Philippines, dating back to the 1960s.

Supreme Court E-Library

Historical Foundations (1960s – 1970s)

• The Pilot Project (1964): The Philippines Applied Nutrition Program (PANP) began in 1964 in four pilot communities around Bayambang. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving international agencies like UNICEF, FAO, and WHO.
• National Training Hub (1967): In 1967, Bayambang hosted the first national six-week training session for nutrition supervisors. By 1969, the town was officially designated as the permanent site for the National Applied Nutrition Training Centre.
• Early Innovations:
• • Demonstration Farms: The program established farms to promote "miracle rice" (IR-8) and hybrid corn, alongside breeding ponds for tilapia and carp.
  • Supplementary Feeding: By the 1968-1969 school year, 45 schools in the Bayambang/Bautista division were conducting regular feeding programs.
  • Academic Integration: The Pangasinan Normal School (now Pangasinan State University) integrated nutrition education into its curriculum as early as 1967. Supreme Court E-Library +1

Modern Revitalization (2016 – Present)

After decades of development, the spirit of the program somewhat lives on in the massive resurgence under the Local Government of Bayambang:

• Anti-Malnutrition Campaign (2016): Facing high malnutrition rates (ranked #1 in the region in early 2016), the LGU launched a massive campaign that successfully delisted the town from the "top malnourishment" list within a year.
• Institutionalization: The Municipal Nutrition Action Office (MNAO) was institutionalized to manage long-term services, including the 90-Day Dietary Supplementation Program and cow milk distribution from the Bayambang Dairy Farm.
• Recent Awards: In 2025, Bayambang was recognized by the National Nutrition Council with the CROWN or Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition Award in the presence of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.

In January 2026, Bayambang was awarded First Prize for the 2024 Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Pangasinan, reflecting its continued leadership in community health. Municipality of Bayambang +4

Key Components

• Tutok Kainan Program: A National Nutrition Council initiative targeting at-risk pregnant women.
• Barangay Nutrition Support Group (NSG): Bayambang was the first municipality in Region I to establish these groups to support the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project.
• Nutrition Ordinances: Recent local laws have established a comprehensive nutrition program with dedicated funding to ensure sustainability. Municipality of Bayambang +4