Bugallon, Pangasinan

History

The municipality of Bugallon was formerly called "Salasa" (meaning floor joist in the dialect, a part of a wooden house where the floor is attached to). In the Spanish colonial era, the Spanish authorities established the town center in Poblacion (now Barangay Salasa). Because of the 1914 massive flooding and erosion, the town center was later transferred to Barrio Anagao (became Barangay Poblacion) but the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, one of the oldest churches in the country, could not be transferred (every time someone attempts, he dies). A new Catholic church was created in the Poblacion, the Saint Andrew Catholic Church. This is the reason why Bugallon has two Catholic Churches (one in Salasa and the other in Anagao).

Fr. Antonio Perez. founded Salasa (1714-1747) In 1720, Poblacion was in Barangay Polong's Don Francisco Valencerina yard, later transferred later to Baranggay Salasa on January 24, 1734 by Fr. Fernando Garcia. The Plaza, Presedencia, the church and convent, were engineered by the Frayle (surrounded by parallel calles). Doña Milagros Klar, wife of the late manager of Pantranco (Philtranco) donated in 1935, the Our Lady of Lourdes statue to Salasa Shrine.

The town was named after the town's hero Major Jose Torres Bugallon who fought together with Gen. Antonio Luna during the Philippine–American War in 1899. February 5, 1899, at the Battle of La Loma, Bugallon faced Gen. Arthur MacArthur. Bugallon suffered a shot to the thigh during the battle. Later that day, in the arms of Antonio Luna, Bugallon died from excessive loss of blood.

In 1921, the town of Salasa was renamed to Bugallon. Mr. Antonio S. Canullas founded the Jose Torres Bugallonas association and a monument was erected in the plaza, wherein the bones of General Bugallon were interred thereat on January 12, 1958.

The act of changing Salasa an old town to a new one, Bugallon, required a congressional approval sponsored by the Congressman Mauro Navarro, first district of Pangasinan, and obtained congressional approval in changing Salasa to Bugallon. Hence, Salasa became a mere barangay but remains the seat of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (11 barangays) and the other is Bugallon's St. Andrew the Apostle (14 barangay).

Local government

Bugallon's Chief Executives are Mayor Jumel Anthony Ignacio Espino and Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Macaraeg Orduña (succeeding Rodrigo Orduña and Bernardo F. De Vera Sr. respectively in the 2013 elections) and elected officials include 8 Sangguniang Bayan Councilors or Members holding office at the Town hall's Legislative Building, where the Sesson Hall is located.

Barangays

Bugallon is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

Tourism

Bugallon's interesting points, destinations and products, events, include:

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church

The 1920 St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church (Poblacion, Bugallon, 2416 Pangasinan) is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Roman Catholic Diocese of Alaminos. The church has impressive inspired-baroque type of altar for the saints.

Its Feast Day is November 30 with Parish Priest, Fr. Dominador Mendoza, Jr., Population of 57,445. It is part of the Vicariate of Our Lady of Lourdes, under Vicar Forane, Father Raymond R. Oligane

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish was originally erected at Salasa (founded by the Dominicans in the 18th century). When the town site was transferred, the seat of the parish was also transferred as a consequence brought about by natural calamities that battered the area.

The 1914 Salasa floods destroyed crops, properties, buildings, the church and convent. Poblacion was transferred to Barangay Anagao (Bugallon), under Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Andrew the Apostle remained the patron Saint in July 1920 with 1st Parish Priest, Fr. Eustaquio Ocampo, then, Fr. Montano Domingo on November 29, 1921 and on June 1928, Fr Emeterio Domagas succeeded.

On May 23, 1929, Pangasinan was created as a new Diocese and Msgr. Cesar Maria Guerrero became Pangasinan's First Bishop onn May 23, 1929. In 1930, Franciscan Capuchin appointed Fr. Cesario of Legario and Fr. Fernando of Erasum to Bugallon and Salasa, respectively on September 17, 1930. The Salasa Church, one of the biggest in Philippines, 100 meters long was completely destroyed and despoiled by Bugallon natives. Fr. Benjamin of Ilarduya became Kura Paroko from October 16, 1933 to June 27, 1941. The church brick-structure and the old façade were built. During World War II, Fr. Hipolito of Azcoita parish priest of Labrador, was transferred to Bugallon. Father Fidel Lekamania added the convent, while Father Pedro V. Sison finished the rehabilitationof the Church.

St. Joseph is the Principal Patron of the Diocese of Alaminos, Suffragan of Lingayen-Dagupan, Created and Erected: January 12, 1985, under Bishop Marlo M. Peralta, D.D. 2404 Alaminos, Pangasinan and Bishop-Emeritus Jesus A.Cabrera, D.D.

Incidents

Bugallon Mayor Rodrigo Orduña and Brgy. Chairman Fernando Alimagno filed on December 14, 2012, at the Ombudsman of the Philippines plunder case against Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, Jr.. Orduña alleged that he was Espino’s jueteng collector since 2001, and that Espino earned P900 million from gambling operators.

Pangasinan police director and chief, Senior Supt. Mariano Luis Verzosa had been removed and transferred to the main PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, allegedly due to conflict of interest since his daughter, Lingayen City Councilor Maan Versoza, is running for 2013 reelection. But the Nationalist People’s Coalition supported Espino.