Claim: Mangaldan already existed in 1591 as an independent municipality and owns the distinction as the third town in Batangas to be founded by the Dominican missionaries.
Evidence: It is known to have already been a Spanish encomienda by 1591. The encomienda (Spanish pronunciation: [eŋkoˈmjenda (listen)) was a Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of particular groups of conquered non-Christian people.