Bolinao, Pangasinan

Bolinao, officially the Municipality of Bolinao (Pangasinan: Baley na Bolinao; Ilocano: Ili ti Bolinao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bolinao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 82,084 people.[3]

Bolinao
Municipality
Municipality of Bolinao
Seal
Motto(s): 
Bayan Ko
Map of Pangasinan with Bolinao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Bolinao
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°20′N 119°53′E
Country Philippines
RegionIlocos Region (Region I)
ProvincePangasinan
District1st district
FoundedJuly 25, 1575
Barangays30 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorAlfonso D. Celeste
 • Vice MayorRichard C. Celeste
 • CongressmanArnold D. Celeste
 • Electorate45,943 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total197.22 km2 (76.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total82,084
 • Density420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
 • Households
17,601
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence16.87% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)185,680,903.91 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2406
PSGC
015514000
IDD : area code +63 (0)75
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesBolinao
Pangasinan
Ilocano
Tagalog
Sambal

Sea urchins are regularly harvested at Isla Silaki, Bolinao.[5] The town, aside from being a fishing domain, is also a heritage site in the Philippines, possessing an olden church surrounded by heritage houses. The town is also the location of the cave where the gold-teeth Bolinao Skulls with fish scale designs were found. Scholars have been pushing for the town's cultural landscape into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Barangays

Bolinao is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.

  • Arnedo
  • Balingasay
  • Binabalian
  • Cabuyao
  • Catuday
  • Catungi
  • Concordia (Poblacion)
  • Culang
  • Dewey
  • Estanza
  • Germinal (Poblacion)
  • Goyoden
  • Ilog-Malino
  • Lambes
  • Liwa-liwa
  • Lucero
  • Luciente 1.0 (J.Celeste)
  • Luciente 2.0
  • Luna
  • Patar
  • Pilar
  • Salud
  • Samang Norte
  • Samang Sur
  • Sampaloc
  • San Roque
  • Tara
  • Tupa
  • Victory
  • Zaragoza

History

Folk etymology attributes the name "Bolinao" or this remote fishing enclave from the fish piece "monamon" but commonly called "Bolinao" by the Tagalogs, Bicolanos and the Visayans. A theory also points out that once upon a time "pamulinawen" trees grew luxuriantly along its shores, thus, the Ilocano migrants who crossed the Lingayen Gulf named it phonetically similar to the name of the tree. Nowadays, however, such tree does not exist anymore.

Unofficial records narrate the story of an Italian missionary named Blessed Odoric of Pordenone who said the first mass in Bolinao Bay, baptizing several locals while he was on his way to China. He took refuge in what is now known as Bolinao during a storm in 1324. Two centuries later, an account narrates the arrival of Juan de Salcedo and his crew reached Bolinao and chanced upon a Chinese Sampan who captured a native chieftain. Salcedo and his men liberated the natives and the latter immediately pledged vassalage to the King of Spain.[6]

According to oral history, the town of Bolinao used to be a small settlement in what is now Barrio Binabalian in Santiago Island, then having a population of just over a hundred families. It is said that Captain Pedro Lombi founded the town of Bolinao in 1575. A decade later, Dominican Friar Esteban Marin became the first Spanish missionary to evangelize the people of Bolinao. For two years he worked in Bolinao before he was assigned as prior in Batac, Ilocos Norte.[6]

The Dominicans ended their service in 1607 to be replaced by the Augustinian Recollects headed by Fr. Jeronimo de Cristo and Dr. Andres del Espiritu Santo. At this time, the old town of Bolinao was still located along the coast of Pangasinan. Due to pirate attacks, the town was transferred to the mainland in 1609.

This town formerly included the neighboring town of Anda, but Anda became an independent municipality on May 26, 1849.

Bolinao is also the home town of Emerita Romero, who now resides in Canada.

First Mass

On November 18, 2007, Bolinao challenged the belief that the first Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, at Limasawa in Southern Leyte. Memorial markers (donated by Italian priest Luigi Malamocco, 62, from Odorico's hometown of Friuli, Italy) were set in the town's church and on Santiago Island, claiming that in 1324, Franciscan missionaries led by an Italian priest named Odorico celebrated a thanksgiving Mass thereat and also baptized natives.[7]

Hard coal spill

Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste said the local government will file damage suit against Indonesian owners of the barge APOL 3003. The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) stated that the environmental damage was P 54.9 million ($1 =- P 40). The barge towed by a tug boat from Indonesia to the power plant in Sual, Pangasinan on November 27 when Typhoon "Mina" winds destroyed its anchor and rope, then hurled to Ilog Malino reef, spilling 95% of its coal cargo. The hard coal spill spread to 330,000 square metres of coral and sea grass areas.[8]

Bolinao Skull

The Bolinao Skull is a skull dated between the 14th and 15th centuries A.D. recovered in the Balingasay archeological site in Bolinao. The Bolinao Skull is the most well known artifact from the site, noted for the intricate gold ornamentation formed in the shape of scales on the surfaces of its teeth. However, 67 other skulls containing teeth with less extensive gold ornamentation were also found at the Balingasay site. The skull is now displayed within the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila.[9]

World War II

The Japanese Imperial forces were landed and occupied the town municipality of Bolinao on December 1941 and established of the military garrison of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. The joint military force of the United States, Australian and Philippine Commonwealth troops including the local resistance fighters liberated the town municipality of Bolinao on January 1945 due to retake in Luzon and aftermath in World War II.

Demographics
Population census of Bolinao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 6,075—    
1918 9,643+3.13%
1939 14,914+2.10%
1948 19,391+2.96%
1960 26,005+2.48%
1970 30,903+1.74%
1975 34,408+2.18%
1980 39,335+2.71%
1990 49,202+2.26%
1995 53,127+1.45%
2000 61,068+3.03%
2007 69,568+1.81%
2010 74,545+2.55%
2015 82,084+1.85%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][10][11][12]

Language
Main article: Bolinao language

The word Bolinao is a term used for the name of the town, the people, and the language.

The Bolinao people generally speak Pangasinan, Ilocano, Tagalog, and their own unique native language called Bolinao, which is also used in a nearby town, Anda --- former barangay of the Bolinao town. The Bolinao language is closely related to Sambalic. Bolinao was part of the province of Zambales from mid-18th and was turned over to Pangasinan in 1903. Most people generally understand and speak English because of the annual visit of local and foreign tourists in the different bodies of water in the town including beaches, falls, caves, river, and other protected sanctuaries which are prohibited areas for tourists.

The Mother Tongue Policy of the DepEd is enforced in the elementary schools of these barangays to empower the native languages in town.

Climate
Climate data for Bolinao, Pangasinan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 33
(91)		 34
(93)		 34
(93)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 24
(74)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 4.3
(0.17)		 19.1
(0.75)		 27.3
(1.07)		 45.2
(1.78)		 153.3
(6.04)		 271.3
(10.68)		 411.1
(16.19)		 532.0
(20.94)		 364.4
(14.35)		 182.5
(7.19)		 56.3
(2.22)		 24.4
(0.96)		 2,091.2
(82.34)
Average rainy days 3 2 3 5 14 17 22 23 21 13 7 4 134
Source: World Weather Online[13]

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

The Cape Bolinao Lighthouse at Patar rises 351 feet (107 m) above sea level atop Punta Piedra Point, a towering hill of solid rock which is the sharp point of Cape Bolinao itself. It was built by the Americans in 1903 on a 351 feet (107 m) high promontory at the western part of Cape Bolinao, the lighthouse still sends signals to vessels passing by the area.

The lighthouse provides a panoramic view of a portion of the 1,269 hectares Cape Bolinao Dendro Thermal Ipil-Ipil Plantation on a land area where archaeological excavations have revealed relics from the 14th to the 15th centuries. Filipino, British and American engineers constructed the lighthouse in 1905.

According to the Bureau of Geodetic Surveys, the land elevation is 250 feet (76 m). Visibility is 20 miles (32 km; 17 nmi) at midsea towards the lighthouse in Poro Point. The winding stairway has 6 platforms with 20 steps or rungs for a total of 120 steps plus 14 more to the illumination room, or an overall total of 134 steps.

Schools

Tertiary schools:

  • Bolinao Lighthouse School of Tourism and Learning Center Ilog-Malino Campus

Secondary schools:

  • Public
    • Arnedo National High School
    • Balingasay National High School
    • Binabalian National High School
    • Bolinao School of Fisheries
    • Catubig Integrated School
    • Catuday National High School
    • Dewey National High School
    • Ilog-Malino National High School
    • Liwa-liwa Integrated School
    • Luciente II National High School
    • Luna National High School
    • Pilar National High School
    • Sampaloc National High School
    • Tupa Integrated School
    • Zaragoza National High School
  • Private
    • Cape Bolinao High School

Elementary schools:

  • Public
    • Arnedo Elementary School
    • Balingasay Elementary School
    • Beda Elementary School
    • Binabalian Elementary School
    • Bolinao Integrated School (formerly Bolinao Central School)
    • Cabuyao Elementary School
    • Catubig Integrated School
    • Catuday Elementary School
    • Catungi Elementary School
    • Culang Elementary School
    • Dewey Elementary School
    • Estanza Elementary School
    • Gagaban Elementary School
    • Goyoden Elementary School
    • Ilog-Malino Elementary School
    • Lambes Elementary School
    • Liwa-liwa Integrated School
    • Lucero Elementary School
    • Luciente 1st Elementary School
    • Luciente 2nd Elementary School
    • Luna Elementary School
    • Patar Elementary School
    • Pilar Elementary School
    • Salud Elementary School
    • Samang Norte Elementary School
    • Samang Sur Elementary School
    • Sampaloc Elementary School
    • San Roque Elementary School
    • Tanobong Elementary School
    • Tara Elementary School
    • Tupa Integrated School
    • Victory Elementary School
    • Yabyaban Elementary School
    • Zaragoza Elementary School
  • Private
    • Senor Santiago Learning Center
    • Bolinao Christian School

Images
  • Sunny white beach at Rock Garden Resort, Bolinao
  • Patar White Beach, only walking distance to Cape Bolinao's Lighthouse
gollark: Right now it just pulls from a pastebin which optionally contains functions and stuff.
gollark: I should really launch an improved version of PotatoAd with excessive features nobody needs.
gollark: Oh hey, Opus does have a really good utility library, does it just do *everything* really well‽
gollark: I think Opus has that *too*, though.
gollark: Also a few minor things dealing with peripherals.

References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  2. "Province: Pangasinan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  5. "Sea creatures of Silaki". GMA News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  6. St. James the Great Parish, Bolinao, Pangasinan @405. Bolinao Church Parish Office. July 25, 2014.
  7. Inquirer.net, Bolinao stakes claim to Mass held in 1324 Archived March 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Inquirer.net, Bolinao to sue barge owners for coal spill Archived March 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "VCM". masterpieces.asemus.museum. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  10. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  11. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  12. "Province of Pangasinan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  13. "Bolinao, Philippines: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.