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The Pangasinan people (Pangasinan: Totoon Pangasinan), also known as Pangasinenses are the eighth largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines, numbering about 1.50 million. They live mainly in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Tarlac, as well as Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Nueva Vizcaya.
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Etymology
The name Pangasinan means "land of salt" or "place of salt-making". It is derived from asin, the word for "salt" in Pangasinan. The Pangasinan people are referred as Pangasinense or Pangalatok. The term Pangasinan can also refer to the indigenous speakers of the Pangasinan language or people of Pangasinan heritage.
Demographics
The estimated population of the Pangasinan people in the province of Pangasinan is 2.5 million. The Pangasinan people are also living in the neighboring provinces of Tarlac and La Union (which used to be parts of Pangasinan Province), Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Nueva Vizcaya; as well as in Pangasinan communities in the Philippines and overseas.
Notable individuals
Urduja was a legendary woman warrior who is regarded as a heroine in Pangasinan. Malong and Palaris fought for independence from Spanish rule. Other prominent people of Pangasinan descent include Fidel Ramos, born in Lingayen, he served in the Cabinet of President Corazón Aquino, first as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and later on, as Secretary of National Defense from 1986 to 1991 before becoming the Philippine's 12th president. Tania Dawson whose mother hails from Santa Maria, Pangasinan, lawmaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., who was born in Dagupan City, Pangasinan; and actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., whose father was from San Carlos City, Pangasinan. Other notable Pangasinans are Victorio C. Edades, Angela Perez Baraquio, Ambrosio Padilla, Cheryl Cosim (reporter) and Ric Segreto. Notable Pangasinan actresses include Donita Rose, Marlou Aquino, Lolita Rodriguez, Barbara Perez, Gloria Romero, Carmen Rosales, Nova Villa, Nova Villa, Jhong Hilario, Liza Soberano and Mocha Uson.