ALIGUAS MANGALDAN: Celebrating Life, History and Culture of Mangaldanians

History of Mangaldan

Former two-term municipal councilor Philip T. Fabia sent a suggestion about creating a segment in Aliguas about the history of Mangaldan. Here's an excerpt of his email:

"congratulations to the dynamic duo, kuya djoma and atchi marie...way to go! perhaps you would like to expand the website by containing items on mangaldan's history, its officials (then and now), its projects, its programs....ergo, MANGALDAN THRU THE YEARS....it might not be the major thrust of your website but i guess mangaldanians abroad would be happy to read about it as the official website of mangaldan that we were developing in its initial stages before hasnt really taken off that well. . .perhaps aliguas can be the town's unofficial website or its satellite website operated abroad....just a suggestion, wht do you think?? :)"

Yes, Philip! We would like to do that and with your help and our Kabaleyans participation, a documentary history of Mangaldan will unfold. To all our readers, send us your articles and pictures of Mangaldan.

As a source of pride, Mangaldan is one of the few towns in Pangasinan that has retained its native name, unlike the following:

San Carlos (formerly Binalatongan); Bugallon (formerly Salasa), Villasis used to known with a Pangasinan word that meant, "a place of many beehives", and many others.

By the way, our province is called Pangasinan, because it was a "place where you make salt (panag-asinnan). Old folks would say that when you enter Lingayen gulf, you could see many smoke billowing along the vast coastline, smoke coming from small fires where salt water is being boiled to make salt. Did you know that there is a town in Sumatra (Indonesia) named also as Pangasinan because it is a place where they make salt?

Here's a Google satellite locator of Mangaldan. Notice the U-shaped Lingayen gulf? It is a natural catch basin for the southwest monsoon winds that carried boats from south China with such historical legends as "Lim-Ah-Hong". Was Ling-A-Yen named after him? The word "son" means ship. And if your family name is Dizon, it comes from a derivative of "I am from the boat Di (Di-zon). Di is supposed to be number "2" in Chinese. I am not sure. There are other surnames:Biazon, Gozon....

Aliguas ranked 14th in Google

Today, January 17th is a time for great rejoicing and expression of gratitude. The interest and participation of our Kabaleyans in Aliguas Mangaldan has pushed the website to a top ranking in terms of niche viewer traffic. Using the search word: "Mangaldan" in Google, Aliguas has risen from its rank at 64th during its launch month last September 2006 to being 14th today. This has happened because our Kabaleyan are opting to use Aliguas as an online meeting place, a forum for collaboration, a window for reminiscing relationships.

From myself, Djoma, and our ever-energetic, supportive and active writer-publisher, Marie, we wish to thank you all!There are more exciting postings to come in the near future. Associations like MANYJER and MAONCA are celebrating the town fiesta. We hope to receive reports from them. Class reunions are scheduled from Feb to June and hopefully they would send us pictures to publish. I myself will be doing a week-long swing to the east coast in mid-March 2007 and take as much pictures with our Kabaleyan. Video clips will be featured more often in the site.

Salamat ed sicayon amin!

A view of the Burrard Bridge in downtown Vancouver. Photo taken from Granville Island (2006).

MANYJER Invitation 2007

The Mangaldan Association of New York/New Jersey Eastern Region will be celebrating the 2007 Mangaldan Town Fiesta on March 3, 2007 at Bamboo Grille, Bergenfield, New Jersey. Sil Moulic sent this flyer invitation.

They will also be celebrating the 70th birthday anniversary of Msgr. Oscar Aquino on February 10, 2007 at the Astoria Manor in New York City.

Bobit Rovillos & Family

Finally, after several follow-ups, Bobit Rovillos sent pictures of his family. I had a wonderful time staying with them for a weekend in their home at Elks Groove, Sacramento, California. Since then, Bobit has a standing invitation for me and my wife, Maridel, to visit and try their new swimming pool.

Bobit and Vilma (from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya) met in San Francisco during their first year as migrants. They have only one child, Jason, who now stays in South San Francisco, following the independent life style of many second generation Mangaldan migrants. He lives close enough though to have a frequent catch-up with Bobit and Vilma. In this third picture, Vilma poses with her mother and other siblings during a recent Christmas get together.

The next pair of pictures show the facade of the building Bobit has put up in their ancestral property at Ydia St. (back of public market). Mangaldan Migrants, like Bobit, continue to change the landscape of the town, investing their savings into the town and thus help push up its local economy.

MNHS Class '56

The Mangaldan National High School Class '56 sent the following pictures courtesy of Dr. Fely Soriano through Bobit Rovillos (Elks Groove, Sacramento, California). I had a chance to exchange a few words with Dr. Fely when she stayed with Bobit and Vilma last year during a tour of USA.

Photo taken last March 2006 at the town plaza. I could recognize (sitting) Dr. Fely, Dr. Fernandez (hiddeen) and Mayor Hermie Romero. Among those standing is Panfilo Salcedo, Susan Bauzon, Helen Aquino, Rose (?), Doming Arenas (in red shirt) who is the class reunion president. Doming is based in Cebu City. He treated me to a lavish breakfast at his sprawling residence in downtown Cebu. Unfortunately, our busy schedule at that time kept us from climbing to his mountain top resort to view his cut flower garden (mostly roses).

Class '56 hands over to Mayor Romero a check for P15,000 as donation for the beautification of the town plaza. 

Fred Maningding: Grassroot Entrepreneur

Sil Moulic from New Jersey sent me a sad note that Fred Maningding (Barangay Poblacion) passed away abruptly last week. I do not know the circumstances of the event. My family and I wish to send our sincerest condolences to Violy and children.

Fred used to teach in the town's public school system before he launched a second career in the trading of meat products. He became very successful by keeping the discipline of a grassroot entrepreneur, indefatigueable, almost never having enough time to sleep. He was very kind to many and would go out of his way to help those in need. He tried his hand in politics as a town councilor but narrowly lost his bid. He showed the way to many, provided a model to the young on how to make one's dreams and aspirations a reality.

Thank you for having met such a good man.

Arturo Aquino & Family

Arturo Aquino and family greets all Kabaleyans a Great and Prosperous New Year! He poses in this photo with wife, Apolonia (nee Ferrer, from Amansabina) and children, Katherine and Leo.

Leo is a cinema graduate of San Francisco State University (California) and currently works as a computer technician in one of the school districts in the valley. In this picture, Leo, at the lowest right corner, wearing eye glasses, is accompanied by his cousins to form the second generation Aquino.

It seems that there is a common pattern with Mangaldanian migrant families. Children stay with their parents even though they are professionals already. I recall that Pec Visperas in Sydney, Australia also reported that their grownup children are still staying with him and Tessie. There's no rush to run out of the house and the North American norm, "when you're 18, you're out of this house" does not apply.

Edwin Fabia & Family

Edwin Fabia arrived in June 2005 to join his wife, Lalaine (from Manaoag) and their children, here in Vancouver, BC. He is one of the elder children of incumbent Poblacion Barangay Captain, Alberto Leo "Art" Moulic-Fabia. Lalaine is a nurse and works at the Vancouver General Hospital. Edwin is an architect by profession and worked for several years in Saudi Arabia before returning to Mangaldan where he waited for his petition to be approved by the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship. Like most migrants, Edwin is going through the entry level jobs as he keeps his eyes focused on potential professional opportunities.

Edwin sent his family pictures (children: Heather & Sean) a few days ago to share in greeting our Kabaleyans a Happy New Year!