1. ETYMOLOGY

There are four (4) versions as to how Mangaldan got its name.  The first version relates that one day a Spanish missionary inquired from one inhabitant about the name of the place in the Spanish language.  Thinking that the missionary was asking for water, the inhabitant replied “MANGA-ALAY-ADAN”, which means “Adan is fetching”.

The second version states that Mangaldan got its name from the first native chief of the town named “BABALDAN”.  The third version says that just at the middle of the plaza was a big mango tree laden with fruits.  It was customary that anyone of the town’s inhabitants was free to gather the fruits but it resulted in quarreling among themselves.  The meaning of the quarrel in the dialect is ‘MAN-NGA-NGAL-NGALAN”.  Of these versions, anyone seems to justify the legendary origin of the name and therefore,  “MANGA-ALAY-ADAN”, “BABALDAN” and “MAN-NGA-NGAL-NGALAN” when stated in plain word gave rise to “MANGALDAN”.

The fourth version of how Mangaldan got its name is attributed to Fr. Raymundo Suarez, OP.  In his more than a century year old manuscript “Apuntes Cureosos de Pangasinan”, it was stated that “MANGALDAN” was derived from the root word “ALAR” or “ALAD” which is interposed between the particles “MANG” and “AN”.  In the Pangasinan dialect, “ALAR” or ‘ALAD” signifies a fence made of bamboo or of any similar material.  However, the word is syncopated by suppressing the penultimate “A” and what remains alone is “MANGALDAN”.  Mangaldan existed as a ranch in its beginning and the presence of bamboo fences in the place would have given rise to the town’s appellation which accordingly justifies Fr. Suarez’s version.  (The preceding etymology of the name of Mangaldan was taken from Rev. Fr. Rafael Magno’s Historical Retrospect on the Town of Mangaldan, Pangasinan, 1600-1898).

2. CREATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY

Mangaldan was formerly a cattle ranch.  It gradually became populated by emigrants who divided the ranch among themselves.  It was an encomienda in 1591.   Its early settlers were noted for their looms, salakots and campilans.

During the Spanish colonial administration, both civil and ecclesiastical community, were established.  Secular administration was carried out through a hierarchy headed by the Governor-General and below him the Alcalde Mayor (governor) of every province, and the Gobernadorcillo (petty governor or municipal mayor) of every town.  Ecclesiastical authority was exercised by the Archbishop of Manila at the apex and the bishoprics and parishes scattered all over the islands.  The parishes were manned by priests or friars representing the five religious orders then participating in the evangelization of the Philippines.

The administration of the towns was left almost entirely in the hands of the friars.  Civil authorities in Manila could not provide enough Spaniards to serve as Municipal Mayors so the friars often served concurrently as parish priest and Mayor. Central government authorities were interested in the towns only as a source of tax revenue, tributes and conscripted labor.

Mangaldan displays a characteristic morphology of a typical town which the Spaniards established out of their mission fields or oversized villages which included a central plaza.  On one side of the plaza stood the Catholic church and on another the municipal hall.  A few large residences owned by wealthy families, a market place, rectangular residential blocks where the native principalia and other landowners resided made up the urban area called Poblacion.  Encircling this Zone which consisted of dispersed houses belonging to the landless tenants constituted the rural hinterland.  The rural dwellers were advised by Spanish law to reside near the church due to the importance of the church in the lives of the people.

The town of Mangaldan is one of the oldest towns in the province of Pangasinan.  Historical documents relate that it was actually the third parish  (after Binalatongan and Calasiao) founded by the Domican Missionaries.  The founding of Mangaldan as a parish  was attributed to Fr. Juan Sto. Domingo, although the exact date remains uncertain.  It could be deduced, however, from historical documents that it was founded in June, 1600 when Mangaldan was accepted as a new parish in the vicariate of the Dominican Provincial Chapter.  Placed under the patronage of one of the Dominican Order’s greatest glories, St. Thomas Aquinas, it became one of the Archdiocese’s most important parish.  It became the first Vatican Parish in the province in 1947 when one of its former parish priests, Fr. Juan C. Sison was appointed by then Pope Pious XII as the titular bishop of Limata and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

3. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

The people of  Mangaldan figured actively in several revolts against Spain.  Sometime, in 1660-1661, Mangaldan became the seat of the rebel kingdom of Andres Malong after Binalatongan fell in the hands of the Spanish forces.  In 1762, the inhabitants participated in the revolt led by Juan dela Cruz Palaris.  Again when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many joined the forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

The political evolution of Mangaldan has been greatly shaped by Spaniards who ran the affairs of the town.  In 1727 Mangaldan was a Spanish pueblo and Mapandan was annexed to it as a Barrio from 1903-1908.  It was also in 1727 when a decree was issued by the Spanish Authorities, which allowed Filipinos a hand in running the affairs of the local governments.  Don Santiago Senen was appointed chief executive with the title of “Kapitan Basal” or town executive. 

From 1727 – 1896, a period of 170 years, there were 152 Capitan Basal who got their appointments from 62 Padre Curas.  Each Capitan Basal served only for a term of one year and then reappointed, if found good.  From  1877 to 1896, the term of office was increased to two years without reappointment.  By 1897,  the Spanish rule in Mangaldan ended due to the Revolution that broke out.

The town has its distinguished sons in the field of politics in the persons of:

the late Atty. Bernabe Aquino
Provincial Governor of Pangasinan 1928-1931
CFI Judge of Tarlac, 1960s

the late Dr. Jose L. de Guzman
Congressman of the 3rd District 1950-1953
Member, Provincial Board 1946-1949
Delegate, Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935

the late Atty. Eugenio Estayo
Member, Provincial Board 1922-1925

the late Atty. Emiliano L. Abalos
Member, Provincial Board
Delegate, Philippine Constitutional Convention of
1970-1971
the late Atty. Teofilo Cabrera
Member, Provincial Board 1952 – 1954.
the late Atty. Adriatico Golea
Member, Provincial Board 1959-1963
the late Atty. Luis E. Serafica, Sr.
Member, Provincial Board 1984-1987; 1988-1992
Atty. Manuel D. Ancheta
Member, Provincial Board 2001-2004; 2004-2007

The following are the chief executives of the town:
Reign – Capitan Basal (1727 – 1821)

Liberation Period                                                     
1945 – 1946:   Don Daniel Frianeza                                              

Republic of the Philippines
July 1946:                                             Don Pedro de Guzman
1947:                                                      Don Guillermo Visperas
1948 – 1957:                                        Don Adriatico Golea
1957 – 1959:                                        Don Jose Duyala                                
1960 – 1963:                                        Don Abelardo Biala
1964 – 1980:                                        Don Macario G. Ydia
1980 – 1984:                                        Don Pedrito G. Presto
May 6, 1984 – June 1, 1986:             Doña Consorcia  F. Golea
June 2, 1986 – November 1987:      Don Benigno M. Gubatan

It was after the declaration of martial law and the 1986 EDSA revolution that the town experienced an unprecedented growth in its income.  This may be brought about by the enactment of legislation which made the local government units a shot in the arm.  Among these regulations are: Presidential Decree No. 231 as amended known as the Local Tax Code providing for the local government units to create/levy taxes subject to the limitations set by law; Presidential Decree No. 464 otherwise known as the Real Property Tax Code; and Presidential Decree No. 477 known as Local Fiscal Administration Code.  These laws were intended to enable the local governments develop into self-reliant communities and able partners of the national government in development. 

In 1973, the town was classified as a third class municipality and became 2nd Class with an average income of P2 Million in 1982.  In the 1996 reclassification of municipalities, Mangaldan attained a 2nd class stature, having attained an annual average income of P18million from 1992 to 1995 as contained in the Department of Finance Department Order No. 24-97.  Its growth may be attributed to the able leaders/officials who are dedicated to make the municipality a premier town of Pangasinan. 

4. SOCIO-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Based on historical accounts of the municipality, the Spanish Friars had a hard time convincing and converting the inhabitants of Mangaldan to the Christian Faith.  Once converted however, they became ardent followers of the faith until today.

Mangaldan had its best years in the field of arts and music in the early 1900’s when several of its sons and daughters were famous Zarzuela producers and performers.  Juan Biason , a noted playwright and businessman, produced a number of  zarzuelas reflecting the existing conditions of the times and  were staged in the province and the neighboring provinces of Tarlac and Pampanga.  His writings however were destroyed when his house was burned down in the 1930’s.  Another Mangaldanian in the person of Claudio Gonzales wrote and composed zarzuela music.  One of his famous works was the translation of the Pambansang Awit into the Pangasinan dialect. 

Mangaldan excelled in having among its inhabitants creative composers, conductors and famous musicians that in the 1900’s up to the 30s in the persons of Mariano Evangelista, Tranquilino Caballero, Claudio Gonzales, Juan Aquino and Mariano Aquino.  Two well known Orchestras came about, the “Orchestra Biason” and “Orchestra Biagtan”.  Both were in demand as far as the Ilocos and the southern provinces.  In the 1950’s these were succeeded by the Blue Eagle Orchestra of Domingo Lomibao and the Loyal Orchestra of Don Filomeno Billote which were no less in great demand and popularity.  The Blue Eagle later became the Blue Eagle Swingsters with Melecio Cabrera, Domingo Rivera, Lorenzo Cachola and Edie Montes as successive conductors.

Mangaldan is one of the very few towns of Pangasinan with a patriotic song of its own.  Rafael Magno composed the Loyalty Song, “Logor ed Baley’ based on the English lyrics written by Ernesto Serote, which was one of the pieces winning a major prize in a songwriting contest sponsored by the Municipal Council in 1974 in Commemoration of the 375th foundation anniversary of Mangaldan as a parish.

Demetrio Gonzales, a son of composer Claudio Gonzales and a creative music lover, composed both the music and lyrics in English and Pangasinan, the Mangaldan March, “Abante Mangaldan” which won first prize. A Municipal Council resolution was passed requiring the singing of these songs at the close of any program or occasion undertaken in the municipality.

Mangaldan continuously supports the promotion of arts and culture through various activities.  For the past 20 years, the Municipality of Mangaldan has continuously sponsored the conduct of “UGNAYAN SA PASKO” held at the Public Auditorium which serves as a training ground for amateur talents especially in the field of singing.  This annual gathering has become a venue of economic activities among vendors who have practically increased in number.

The administration of the town was left almost entirely in the hands of the friars. Civil authorities in Manila could not provide enough Spaniards to serve as Municipal Mayors so the friars often served concurrently as parish priest and Mayor.