BAYAMBANG
Through the years it has been 400
years since the founding of Bayambang in 1614. Known then as Malunguey, the
town was flourishing settlement of native inhabitants. It was and still is an
agricultural town, and has a survived the ravanges of time: from the economic
and cultural impact of colonization to natural and man-made destruction of
modern times. But it should not be forgotten that in spite of such influences,
some unique cultural practices which make Bayambang district remain to be it’s
charm – a vibrant town that embraces change but cherishes it’s heritage.
Bayambang is now 422 years where the best thing happened.
TIMELINE
1614
Bayambang,
known then as Malunguey/Balonguey, become a visita (a settlement of families
under the jurisdiction of the motherhouse regularly visited by a religious
functionary for its religious needs) of the Vicar of Binalatongan (now City of
San Carlos).
1619
Malunguey
was accepted as one of the vicariates of the Dominican Order at the Provincial
Chapter of 1619 under the patronage of Saint Vincent Ferrer: It become
independent from its matrix Binalatongan.
1660
In October, an uprising in Malunguey occurred
through this was immediately quelled by Spanish forces. When the Malong revolt
broke out two months later; the people of Malunguey joined Andres Malong in
their disgust over the excesses of the Spanish authorities. Malunguey, along
with Binalatongan, were the two remaining rebel towns at the end of the revolt.
Telbang,
a native settlement was placed under the jurisdiction of Malunguey.
1741
The
church and convent in Malunguey were transferred to a place called Bayambang.
1763
On
March 1, rebel under the command of Juan Dela Cruz Palaris, the leader of the
Palaris revolt which is started on 1762, mounted captured cannon in a bridge in
bayambang towards the direction of the Spaniards. In the said battle, the
Spanish forces were able to capture the staff of rebels. However, they didn’t
pursue the rebels but instead to returned to their home base on Bacolor,
Pampanga.
1813
The construction
of the church and the convent, made of bricks and stone, started this year.
1834
The
Alcalde Mayor of Pangasinan submitted a petition to acquire two big boats for
use in the transport of mail between Bayambang and Paniqui in Tarlac, and for
use during floods.
1838
Camiling
become independent of Bayambang.
1855
Domingo
Junio Dela Cruz, then the town’s gobernadorcillo or mayor, submitted a petition
to construct a new town hall to the office of Alcalde Mayor of Pangasinan. He
was supported by the town’s parish priest, Fr. Raymundo Barcelo.
1865
The
first Pangasinan-Spanish dictionary produced by Father Lorenzo Fernandez
Cosgaya was compiled in Bayambang.
1875
On May 25, Catalina De Seña led a petition
where the people of Bario Hermoza requests to separate from Bayabang due to its
immense distance to the town center. The petition forwarded to the Alcalde
Mayor of Pangasinan.
A
petition from the people of Dangla, a barrio of Bayambang to become separate town
was granted with (11) cabecerias or barrios composing the new town which was
later named Alcala.
1880
On
March 6, the Alcalde Mayor of Pangasinan elevated to the office of the Governor
General the request of Doña
Modesta Leonarda Mendoza to operate public school for girls.
One of
the first three rice mills in Pangasinan was installed and operated in
Bayambang in British firm Smith, Bell and Company.
1896
On
April 6, Fr. Feliciano Martin started the construction of the first
stone-fenced cemetery, which was completed under the leadership of secular
priest Fr. Frangno Fernandez.
On June
1, in the midst of the ongoing revolution against Spain, an inventory of church
properties was conducted with the intent that whatever result the uncertain
times may bring, the properties were properly accounted for.
1899
In
June, General Antonio Luna had his brief encampment in Bayambang to prepare the
defense of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Here, he receive a telegram from General
Aguinaldo order him to report to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija to see the General.
Jose
Palma, a staff member of Revolutionary Government’s newspaper “La
Independencia,” wrote a poem that become the lyrics of “Marcha Nacional
Filipina,” now the Philippine National Anthem. He penned the poem in Bautista,
then a barrio of Bayambang.
On
November 12, Bayambang become the 5th Capital of the short lived
Philippine Republic when General Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the
Philippine Republic, transferred the seat of Governments here. At the same
time, the regular army was disbanded and the revolutionaries resorted to
guerrilla warfare in dealing with the Americans.
1908
The Philippine
Postal Savings Bank opened a branch in the Bayambang two years after it opened
for business in 1906.
1922
Gabaldon,
building were erected at the Bayambang Central School and Pangasinan State
University Bayambang Campus. The Bayambang Normal School started operated to
produce much-needed public school teachers until it was temporarily closed in
1935.
1926
Farmacia
San Rafael, Bayambang’s first drug store, was established.
1935
Mary
helps of Christians Institution, Bayambang’s first private Catholic school, was
founded under the administrative of RVM sisters. It is now known as Saint
Vincent Catholic School.
1945
On
January 7, the Pangasinan Normal School (formerly Bayambang Normal School)
started operations with 293 students.
1950
The
Bayambang Municipal Library was established and operated under the Mayor’s
Office thru the assistance of the United States Information Service.
1952
On
October 23 to 25 Bayambang hosted the solemn celebration of the grant feast of
Christ the King in the whole Pangasinan, Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.
1954
On
June 17, Bayambang become the first pilot town in the Far East when the
Pangasinan Normal School (PNS) was chosen to be the seat of the Philippines-UNESCO
National Community Training Center (PUNCTC) by virtue of Republic act No. 1142.
1955
The
first Child Study Center in the country was put at PNS in Bayambang. The Center
made initial studies on the Filipino child
in
order for the country to have its own data about Filipino children.
1956
Opportunity
class was organized at PNS Bayambang ahead of any other school in the country
to pay attention to exceptional children. The first kindergarten was also
established at Pangasinan Normal Laboratory School to provide a working
laboratory for the Child Study Center.
1958
Bayambang’s
first optical clinic and store was established by the Urbi Family.
On
July 5 to August 3, Bayambang was the venue of the First National Institute in
Physical Education and Recreation in the Philippines, being the seat of PUNCTC.
1970
On
February 15, the town’s first community paper called “Bayambang Post” started
operations under Geruncio Lacuesta as Publisher.
1974
On
April 5, the towering belfry beside the church was blessed and inaugurated. It
houses the old bells.
1976
The
[Central] Pangasinan Electric Cooperative Inc. (CENPELCO), a non-stock electric
cooperative, started its operations and extended services to Bayambang.
1980
Bayambang
Water District (NAWASA) started its operations, and DIGITEL installed its first
telephone system in Bayambang and constructed a building for its office.
On
July 16, the Bayambang Emergency Hospital opened its doors to the public. It
was temporarily House at the Municipal Annex Building.
1985
On
July 1, the Bayambang District Hospital, build at Brgy. Bical Norte opened for
medical services, with dr. Ernesto Matabang as its first director. The lot on
which it was built was donated by the family of Teofilo Matabang.
1988
Dr. Orlando de
Guzman was appointed Provincial Board Member, the first time a Bayambangueño
held a position in the provincial Board. He was in the position from November
17, 1987 to February 1988.
1989
Mayor
Calixto Camacho cut the ceremonial ribbon for the formal opening of a mini
Bayambang Museum established a joint venture of the municipality and the
Pangasinan State University Bayambang Campus. The Museum was House at the
former Municipal Jail.
1997
Rehabilitation
of the Bayambang Town Plaza started.
1998
Bayambang
inaugurated its Municipal Abattior with bio-gas system located at Brgy. Telbang
The
town hade the 8th highest revenue collected among 48 municipalities
in Pangasinan during an 8-month period.
1999
Bayambang
held a month-long “Sentenaryong Pagdiriwang” from October to November to
commemorate its being once the capital of the Philippines.
Activities
included unveiling of a historical marker at the municipal grounds by Dr. Pablo
S. Trillana III, then director of the National Historical Institute.
2003
In
March, Hands of Heaven, the first private memorial park in Bayambang, started
operations.
On
April 4, several buildings were opened in time for the annual town fiesta: the
Philippine National Police building, the Bayambang Sports Complex, and the
Bayambang Commercial Center.
2005
Bayambang
become first-class municipality under the term of Mayor Leocadio de Vera.
2009
In
April, distinct and unique festival called “malangsi Fish-tival” was launched
to celebrate harvest of fresh water fishes locally grown in Bayambang.
On June
30, Bayambang inked the sisterhood pact with Guam, USA through the joint
efforts of Mayor Ricardo Camacho and businessman Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao.
2010
Bayambang
was awarded the “Model LGU with Best Practices in Solid Waste Management” by
the Environmental Management Bureau under the Regional Office I of the
Department of Environment and natural Resources in San Fernando City, La Union.
On
August 9, the Sangguniang Bayan of Bayambang passed a resolution creation a
Research and study Committee to
determine the exact date of the foundation of the municipality.
2011
On
March 14, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines formally
established 5 April 1614 as Bayambang’s foundation date.
On
November 3, the Municipality of Bayambang adopted a new Corporate Seal
(Official Seal) as endorsed by the Sangguniang Bayan and recommended by the
National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
2012
On
February 27, Mayor Ric Camacho formally organized a committee in charge of
Bayambang’s Quadricentennial Celebration
.
2013
On
November 29, a bronze statue of former Philippine president Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
was unveiled in from of the Municipals building, witnesses by Pangasinan
Governor Amado T. Espino Jr., together with the relatives of Gen Aguinaldo and
municipal health officials from Kawit, Cavite. A sisterhood pack with the said
town was also signed.
2014
On
April 5, Bayambang was declared the new holder of the Guinness World of Record
for Longest Barbeque, mounting 8,000 grill and 50,000 kilogram of fish spanning
8.16 kilo.
2016
Successful
businessman and philanthropist Cezar T. Quiambao goes home from abroad, runs
for Mayor, and win. He introduces new politics in town, with the battle cry,
“No to political dynasty, corruption, poverty and criminality.” His reign is
marked by many first: CCTV Command Center, Emergency Hotline Number, St.
Vincent Dialysis Center, Air-Conditioned Event Center with rubberized flooring,
Paskuhan sa Bayambang Animated Christmas Display, free Community Service Card,
Operation Birthright,
Satellite
Market in eight Barangays, Comprehensive Feeding Program for Malnourished
Children, among many other projects. He also initiated the fight to reclaim
Bayambang Central School and the sale of government land in Magsaysay to
long-time occupants.
2017
Mayor
Cezar T. Quiambao, to continue bring Bayambang to greater heights with the
following feast: traffic lights installation, expansion drainage in Poblacion,
Municipal canteen, RHU 3 and 4, eight police precincts, etc.
Tricycle
Terminals;
2018
Declaration
of Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan; Library has its own building; ANCOP Ville;
RHU III; PSU; DOST I; FIC.
2019
SVFPP
Bishop Fidelis; LGU Ville; RHU 4; RHU 5; Farm Modernization.
2020
Bayambang
Commercials Strip; Annex Building.
2021
Mangabul
Land Commission bill in Senate, Beauty and the Beast Show.
2022
E-Agro
Ecosystem, Agri Warehouses, a first: 2 women elected as Mayor and Vice-Mayor
