el toro bumingo 2: My First Time Trip to Bolinao, Pangasinan

On my 2^nd day in Pangasinan last August 31, 2019 I travelled from Urdaneta City to Alaminos City. After touring the Poblacion and taking pictures of the old houses of Alaminos, I rode a mini-bus (Bolinao Express) to the resort time of Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The municipal hall of Bolinao, Pangasinan

There are so many resorts and natural wonders in Bolinao but I have a limited budget, so I just focused on touring the town center. I was impressed by the St James The Great Parish Church. There are paintings all over the interior of the church. It’s also an old church dating back to 1594.

I was amazed at how St Joseph Drug transformed and repurposed an old house into a pharmacy. I noticed that St Joseph Drug is all over Pangasinan. I guess it’s their equivalent of Mercury Drug.

Off all the towns I visited in Pangasinan – in my 2 days journey – it’s only here in Bolinao that I find a unique kakanin (rice product). It’s called binunguey or bamboo cake. It’s something that I don’t normally see in Metro Manila.

I saw two bus companies that have terminals here in Bolinao – 5 Star and Dagupan Bus. Since I’m planning to drop by Lingayen, I rode the Bolinao Express mini-bus again. I was able to take some pictures of Bani and Sual towns on the way to the capital of Pangasinan province -- Lingayen.

Here are some quick facts about Bolinao, Pangasinan from the Pangasinan Province Website:

Historians have no exact record on the date Bolinao was created. It was presumed that the town was created by virtue of a Royal Decree of Spain. Records show that it was the year 1575 when Spanish Captain Pedro Lombi founded the first settlement with more or less 100 settlers. The Municipal Council of Bolinao, by virtue of its Resolution No. 104 dated September 19, 1988 adopted July 25, 1575 as the Foundation Day of Bolinao in honor of the Patron Saint of the town, St. James the Great.

Bolinao was made a part of the Province of Pangasinan upon the enactment of Public Act No. 1004 dated November 30, 1903 of the Philippine Commission.

There are three (3) versions where the name Bolinao came from. The name of the town could have been derived from the “Pamulinawen” tree which grew in abundance along the beaches. The second story claims that the name of the municipality came from the fish species “monamon” commonly called “Bolinao” by the Tagalogs, Bicolanos and Visayans. The third one is associated with the couple Bolido and Anao. The combination of their names created the name Bolinao, which is the name of the town.

MAYOR:   ALFONSO DF. CELESTE

VICE MAYOR:   RICHARD C. CELESTE

LAND AREA:    19,722 hectares

POPULATION:    82,084

NO. OF BARANGAYS:    30

CLASSIFICATION:    1st class

PAROCHIAL FIESTA:    July 25 (adopted as Bolinao Foundation Day)

FESTIVAL:    Mangunguna Festival (April 24)

MAJOR SOURCES OF INCOME/LIVELIHOOD:
Farming, fishing as a major supplier of bangus to Navotas
and Malbon small-scale and cottage industries, salt making,
rope making, shellcraft, bagoong making, buri mat weaving,
dried fish making, charcoal making, bamboo and woodcrafts

HISTORICAL SITES AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
Enchanted Cave
Bolinao Museum
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
UPMSI (Marine Laboratory) Pacific Farms, Inc.
Bolinao Falls
Tara Falls
Balingasay River Patar Beach
St. Claire Monastery
St. James the Fortress Parish (1609)