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| Kungkong |
Before the birth of the printed word, the form of communication in this town must have been through the local version of the umalohokan -- he who announced the news through loud proclamations while walking around. Through time, it must have evolved into the so-called bandillo, to refer to the person who announced the day's weather forecast and other information using a drum to catch the attention of residents.
There was also the use of the “kungkong,” an indigenous tool made of a bamboo node and used to call and gather residents when it was time to perform a communal task, as in alsa abong (lipat bahay or literally the lifting of a hut from one place to another), or to alert the community, as when a thief was caught or when it was time to flee (from flood or any emergency). The kungkong is a traditional symbol of bayanihan or the spirit of volunteerism in the community in the olden days.
Dasalan, Novenarios, Etc.
With the eventual advent of the printing press, it goes without saying that Bayambang had its own fair share of publications throughout its 400-plus history, documenting the life and times of the town and its people. The earliest publications must have been the prayer booklets from Spanish missionary priests, from dasalan to novenarios written in Pangasinan language. A typical old dasalan contained a Pangasinan version of the prayer hymn to the patron saint, called “Gozos nen San Vicente Ferrer.”
Pangasinan-Spanish Dictionary
A notable output in Bayambang is reportedly the compilation of Pangasinan words made by Fr. Lorenzo Fernandez Cosgaya de la Concepcion in the 1700s, when he came up with the first-ever Pangasinan-Spanish dictionary.
With the printing press evolving into one operating commercial runs, there emerged little by little the local newspapers, school organs, fiesta souvenir programs, books, university theses, and other such publications.
"Babasaey Ombaley" (1899-1900)
Historian Ricardo Jose wrote that, apart from "La Independencia" in Manila, "there were other local nationalistic papers" published between 1899 to 1900 in the Philippines. "Bayambang, Pangasinan had 'Babasaey Ombaley,' a bilingual paper in Pangasinan and Ilocano"...
"La Independencia" (September?-November 12 or 13?, 1899)
An equally historical event is the stealthy publication of an issue or issues of "La Independencia," the First Philippine Republic's newspaper, around the time when General Emilio Aguinaldo and company stopped by the town for rest and declared it as a temporary capital and, at the same time, disbanded the national army and turned its elements into guerrilla forces.
Originally edited by General Antonio Luna, this issue must have been edited by poet-soldier Jose Palma, himself the writer of "Filipinas," the lyrics of the Philippine national anthem in the original Spanish version. Luna had been assassinated earlier, in June of the same year.
Recounted Jose, "As the Americans advanced, the press moved northward (right inside the coach of the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan): to Angeles, Tarlac and finally to Bautista, Pangasinan."
"Due to the difficult conditions and shortage of printing materials, the size of the paper shrank and the number of pages dropped to two. Paper was never totally lacking, as loyal Filipinos somehow were able to maintain the supply of newsprint, but the difficulties of putting out the paper under siege conditions finally became so great that the press and its materials were buried near the final office of the paper. Palma and his compatriots then escaped to Camiling, Tarlac."
An account of General Elwell Stephen Otis would reveal that the American Army was eventually able to retrieve the buried printing press. How they were able to learn about the secret publication and locate the printing press in its place of concealment is a mystery.
“Kurang na Bayambang”
From 1957 and up to at least 1958, Julian Mejia (who was or would become dean at what would become PSU-Bayambang) edited a local newspaper titled “Kurang na Bayambang,” reports Dr. Clarita DG. Jimenez. Little is known about this publication.
"Bayambang-Bautista Post"/"Bayambang Post"
Atty. Geruncio 'Gerry' Lacuesta pioneered not just bicycle tours in the Philippines. Being a media man, he also pioneered Bayambang's first community newspaper, "Bayambang Post," which first came out on February 15, 1970. Domingo Tagulao, a former school teacher, was the editor-in chief of "Bayambang-Bautista Post."
Lacuesta also became the editor of "Katas," the Philippine version of "Reader's Digest." Ferdinand L Quintos, then a law student, was the managing editor.
Parish Newsletter/Missalette
Worthy mentioning is the St. Vincent Parish Bulletin, with the late Jaime Paningbatan, Clarita Jimenez, Alice Contreras, Jo Donato, Clarita Tagab, Sr. Naty Parin, Peregrino Larang, Annie Fernandez, and Manolita Ochotorena, as members of the editorial staff. The parish also published the missalette, "Parish Wings."
"Bayambang @ 400 Years" Fiesta Souvenir Program (2014)
The "Bayambang @ 400 Years" fiesta souvenir program (2014) is a special publication, as far as this town is concerned, because it contains a most valuable timeline summarizing the most significant milestones in the history of Bayambang. It was the result of the research work and writing of a special team of volunteers mobilized by the town officials under then Mayor Ricardo Camacho.
Reportedly, there have been much earlier attempts to write the history of Bayambang, but these failed to see completion for the following reasons: the research materials were destroyed by flood (as in the case of Emiliano R. Santos's efforts at the National Library) and the untimely demise of the author (as in the case of a certain Atty. Felixberto (?) Mataban). Incidentally, according to Santos's findings, the town of Bayambang was originally situated in what is now Brgy. Inirangan.
With "Bayambang @ 400 Years," there is at least a timeline with which future historians can restart the herculean task.
The fiesta souvenir programs, in a way, serve as the town's yearbook. The Bayambang Municipal Library has copies of the annual fiesta souvenir programs starting from the year 1993.
"Down Memory Lane" (2014)
A yet to be published coffee table book on Bayambang was written by Pangasinan State University-Bayambang college dean, Dr. Clarita D.G. Jimenez, with fellow PSU professors, Dr. Annie Manalang and Dr. Anecita Gloria, as collaborators. As the title suggests, the monograph is a slice of history (meaning not a comprehensive one) of Bayambang town and some of its pioneers. Copies can be found at the Municipal Tourism, Information and Cultural Affairs Office (Annex Building) and the Municipal Library.
"Subol na Pananisia" (2019): Bayambang’s First Coffee-table Book
Bayambang's first coffee-table book has been published, as part of the 400th year celebration of the town’s parish church. Its title is "Parokya nen San Vicente Ferrer: Subol na Pananisia."
The book is again authored by Dr. Clarita D.G. Jimenez, together with several collaborators.
“Subol” details the history of the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church from the time it was founded in 1619. Included in the book is the history of the adjoining school, the St. Vincent Catholic School, the town's first private school; the respective histories of the daughter parishes of Barangays Wawa, Carungay, and Sapang; and a list of priests and nuns hailing from the town, most notable of whom is Sr. Mary John Mananzan.
Copies of the book were deposited at the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Office and sold at PhP1,500 each, with the proceeds going to the church.
This book project was 100% privately funded, with who else but Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao leading the list of sponsors.
Theses
Thankfully, scholarly materials on the cultural life of this town have been written, though yet to be published as books, and unfortunately can only be accessed in libraries outside of town or in private holdings.
There was Dr. Perla Samson Nelmida's "Pangasinan Folk Literature." Though this PhD dissertation was successfully defended at the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 1982, Dr. Nelmida at the time was a professor at PSU and reportedly gathered the folk songs and folk tales from the parents and grandparents of her and fellow professors' students as sources.
There were also reportedly similar works from other PSU professors. Prof. Elsa Quinto came out with a separate compilation of folk songs, while Prof. Januario Cuchapin did research work on local dances, including binasuan and siwi-siwi. Through this research, he discovered that Bayambang has a local version of the popular sayaw ed tapew na bangko.
Other retired PSU professors have donated other theses in their field of specialization to the Municipal Library.
School Organs
In the 50’s and 60’s, Pangasinan Normal School came out with "The Hilltop" as school publication. In 1948, Bayambang National High School came out with its own publication, "The Torch," with Felipe Santillan as editor-in-chief.
In the '80s and up to the present time, BNHS would publish “The Leader,” while PSU-Bayambang had its “Reflector” for college students and “Banyuhay” for high school students. Prof. Ben O. Romero founded “Banyuhay” around 1983.
In the '80s and '90s, teachers also came out with their own publications. Bayambang District I had "In the Moulder's Eye," while Bayambang District II had "Horizon."
Municipal Publications in the
An earlier attempt of coming up with an official newsletter by a previous administration is evident in this online page: bayambangnewsletter.blogspot.com. It was around this time that a Wikipedia post detailing the history of the town appeared, particularly the succession of leaders, together with an official web page, but these contents are now missing. The site lists Atty. Ferdinand L. Quintos as editor-in-chief, with Armando E. Espino, Gerenerio Q. Rosales, Emma I. Mula, and Pacifico G. Duque as contributing editors.
At the tail-end of 2016, the new administration of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao and Vice-Mayor Raul R. Sabangan launched the official newsletter of the Local Government Unit of Bayambang to document the LGU’s accomplishments and other events of importance to the town where there was considerable local government involvement. With a team of reporters, it was published under the guidance of retired PSU Professor, Dr. Leticia B. Ursua, and formerly Manila-based (but Bayambang-bred) freelance writer Resty S. Odon. The maiden issue covered the period of September-December 2016 and was titled "Umalahokan," but succeeding issues were renamed "Balon Bayambang" and issued on a monthly basis. The newsletter was originally in English, but eventually written in Tagalog (Filipino) as per the Vice-Mayor's request, with the Mayor's approval. The contents of the newsletter are regularly gathered from the news items that were first reported on the LGU’s official Facebook page (Balon Bayambang) and official website (bayambang.gov.ph). The website also includes an abbreviated history of Bayambang based on pre-existing materials as well as ordinances and resolutions that the Sangguniang Bayan passed.
Another publication followed suit on a regular basis: the State of the Municipality Address or SOMA, which summarizes the administration's accomplishments for one whole year, usually from May of the previous year to May of the current year.
The tradition of coming up with the annual fiesta souvenir program was continued, except during the time when the COVID-19 pandemic struck hard (2020-2021). The 2018 souvenir program is particularly notable, for it compiles the existing barangay histories, though much incomplete, taken from the Municipal Library as part of an earlier Department of the Interior and Local Government's order of some sort. These souvenir programs are, strictly speaking, not government publications, for they are routinely funded by private sponsors -- a form of public-private collaboration, i.e., the municipal government in cooperation with the parish church, parishioners, even expats.
Other significant publications include the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Plan 2018-2028, the Quiambao-Sabangan administration's comprehensive 'bible' for its anti-poverty efforts. In 2021, the entire content of the Restructured Community-Based Monitoring System (essentially a database) was printed out, to serve as an evidence-based guide in planning and implementing development projects in every barangay.
Mayor Quiambao also made possible the publication of an updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a government-mandated plan, with technical assistance from the world-renowned urban planner, Palafox and Associates. The updated CLUP contains extensive data on Bayambang, including demographics, topography, built structures and other data pertinent to planning and development. Copies of this were distributed to the different offices.
In 2022, the Bayambang Culture Mapping Project book is slated to be published detailing the major cultural markers of the town. This output was based on the joint effort between Christopher Gozum, together with his fellow teacher- and student-collaborators from Bayambang National High School, the municipal government through its Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, and the Center for Pangasinan Studies under the provincial government.
An unintentional, if serendipitous offshoot – and expansion – of the project is the birth of all sorts of glossaries and articles on Bayambang’s, and by extension, Pangasinan’s cultural life, with active participation of and contributions from Bayambangueños from all walks of life from all corners of the world. The outputs are continually being compiled into a book by the Public Information Office.
The Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, under Rafael L. Saygo, has produced, or has caused the production of, a number of tourism-related brochures, videos, and advertisements.
The major publications mentioned were all printed outside of town, as Bayambang has no available printing press.
The Public Information Office, with creative guidance from Dr. Saygo, eventually ventured into untried territory: Facebook Live!, YouTube, and TikTok, following where the vast majority of the new media consumers (i.e., the millennials) converged.
Online Body of Work
Another notable writer the town has produced is the late Atty. Ferdinand Quintos, who in the '80s became the editor-in-chief of a Davao City newspaper, "Peryodiko Dabaw," the forerunner of Sun.Star Davao. He also happened to be a self-published poet who has left a body of work online.
Each of these efforts contribute a page or two or even a chapter in the town’s narrative, that in historical terms, quickly turns into collective memory – and eventually into a legacy for generations to come, something to look back on with pride and reflect upon as a source of inspiration.
References:
Santiago Villafania, Salaysay ed Litiratura na Pangasinan, Balon Silew Magazine; http://aropangasinan.blogspot.com/.../salaysay-ed... (March 20, 2006)
filipinokastila.tripod.com/revpres.html:
Emiliano
Santos' granddaughter Jocelyn S. Espejo
Ben
O. Romero’s daughter Melanie R. Junio
Report,
September 1, 1899 to May 5, 1900. Maj. Gen. E. S. Otis, United States Army,
Philippine Islands Military Governor, 1898-1900. Washington: Government
Printing Office. 1900.
Joey
Ferrer
Clarita
F. Tagab
Perfecto
Beltran
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/12176/former-peryodiko-dabaw-chief-editor-writes-30
