# Bugallon

Bugallon, officially the Municipality of Bugallon (Pangasinan: Baley na Bugallon; Ilocano: Ili ti Bugallon; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bugallon), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 74,962 people.
Bugallon is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Lingayen and 198 kilometres (123 mi) from Manila.

## History

The Municipality of Bugallon was formerly called "Salasa" (meaning floor joist in Pangasinense, a part of a wooden house where the floor is attached to). In the Spanish colonial era, the Spanish authorities established the town center in Poblacion (now Barangay Salasa).
Father Antonio Perez founded Salasa in 1720, with the poblacion then located in the property of Don Francisco Valencerina in what is now Barangay Polong. The town center was later transferred to Baranggay Salasa on January 24, 1734, by Father Fernando Garcia. The plaza, presidencia, the church, and the convent were engineered in a grid pattern by the clergy at the time.
Massive flooding in 1914 drove the transfer of the town center to Barrio Anagao (now Barangay Poblacion); but the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church - one of the oldest churches in the country - remained in the old town center as the transfer could not be effected. Thus, a new Catholic church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, was constructed in the new Poblacion. Later on in 1935, Doña Milagros Klar, wife of then manager of Pantranco (Philtranco) donated a statue of the Our Lady of Lourdes to the Salasa Shrine.
In 1921, the town of Salasa was renamed to Bugallon in honor of Major Jose Torres Bugallon, who fought together with General Antonio Luna during the Philippine–American War in 1899. Notably at the Battle of La Loma that took place in February 5, 1899, Bugallon faced Gen. Arthur MacArthur. Bugallon was shot during the battle. Later that day, in the arms of Antonio Luna, Bugallon died from excessive loss of blood.
Mr. Canullas founded the Jose Torres Bugallon Association and a monument was erected in the plaza to commemorate his place in history. The remains of Major Bugallon were interred in the monument on January 12, 1958.
The act of changing Salasa an old town to a new one, Bugallon, required a congressional approval sponsored by the Congressman Mauro Navarro, first district of Pangasinan, and obtained congressional approval in changing Salasa to Bugallon. Hence, Salasa became a mere barangay but remains the seat of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (11 barangays) and the other is Bugallon's St. Andrew the Apostle (14 barangay).

## Geography
### Barangays

Bugallon is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Angarian
* Asinan
* Bañaga
* Bacabac
* Bolaoen
* Buenlag
* Cabayaoasan
* Cayanga
* Gueset
* Hacienda
* Laguit Centro
* Laguit Padilla
* Magtaking
* Pangascasan
* Pantal
* Poblacion
* Polong
* Portic
* Salasa
* Salomague Norte
* Salomague Sur
* Samat
* San Francisco
* Umanday

### Climate

Climate data for Bugallon, Pangasinan :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 5.1 (0.20) | 11.6 (0.46) | 21.1 (0.83) | 27.7 (1.09) | 232.9 (9.17) | 350.8 (13.81) | 679.8 (26.76) | 733.1 (28.86) | 505 (19.9) | 176.6 (6.95) | 67.2 (2.65) | 17.7 (0.70) | 2,828.6 (111.38) |
| Average rainy days | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 142 |
| Source: World Weather Online ||||||||||||||

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Bugallon
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 2000 48.68
* 2003 27.57
* 2006 30.10
* 2009 24.75
* 2012 15.15
* 2015 14.68
* 2018 15.28
* 2021 19.45
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

### Energy

The Bugallon Solar Power Project is a 550-megawatt (MW) of alternating current power station in Barangays Cayanga, Salomague Sur and Norte, covering 590 hectares. With a cost of p 31.9 B (US$565.9 Million), the joint venture construction contract was signed in August 2024, between Singaporean firm Vena Energy and MGen Renewable Energy Inc., the Renewable energy subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), under 3 Barracuda Energy Corporation.

## Government
### Local government

Bugallon, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Pangasinan, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

### Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council (2019–2022) :
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Jumel Anthony I. Espino |
| Mayor | Priscilla I. Espino |
| Vice-Mayor | Winston P. Tandoc |
| Councilors | Rogelio M. Madriguera |
| Councilors | Aislinn L. De Guzman |
| Councilors | Marlon Y. Cuison |
| Councilors | Ernesto Agbisit |
| Councilors | Ramie T. Ocsan |
| Councilors | Gemma C. Hipol |
| Councilors | Bernardo F. De Vera |
| Councilors | Rolando A. Manaoat |

## Tourism

Bugallon's interesting points, destinations and products, events, include:
* Freedom Park, Town Hall, Church of Christ Philippine Theological College, Sangguniang Bayan Hall, Mt. Zion Pilgrim Mountain and Retreat House, United Methodist Church, National Building and Library, Senior Juan Farm Resort, Municipal Auditorium, Gymmasium and Coop Canteen, Concrete Water Tank in Laguit Padilla, Laguit Padilla Falls, Iglesia Ni Kristo, Hanging Bridge, Bubunga Dam, Gabion Type Dike, Lema Canal, Bugallon Supermarket, Community Hospital,Eco-Tourism Park, High Value Crop Organic Farm, Major Jose Torres Bugallon Park and Agricultural, Carabao Landmark.
* Le Dilla Duhat Wine is a Fruit Wine of Duhat Wine Enterprises, Laguit Padilla Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the One-Town-One-Product of Bugallon, Pangasinan, the Best Beverage Award (wine category) of the 7th Agraryo Trade Fair of June 4–8, 2008, Megatrade Hall 2, 5th Level Building B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong
* Rice, mango, antique home furnishings, vinegar, sawali products.
* Shrine of the Our Lady of Lourdes/Salasa Church (1720), Busay Waterfalls, Mt. Zion Pilgrim's Site, Biak-na-Bato Falls, Gen. Torres Bugallon Park.
* Carabao Festival -January 13, 2012 - 24 carabaos; "palengkera ang kalabaw" wasBarangay Cabayaoasan.
* The cascading waters of brooks and streams located in Barangays Cayanga, Portic, Hacienda, Laguit Padilla, Laguit Centro, San Francisco, Salomague Sur, Salomague Norte, Umanday and Gueset coming from the fresh water sources in the Zambales mountain slopes.
* SOFIA'S Mountain Home Resort, Barangay Portic (owned by ex-Judge and ex-Vice Mayor Eliseo Versoza.
* San Jose Hillside Farm, Barangay Laguit Padilla (owned by Atty. Agerico V. Guiang & Mrs. Nieves V. Guiang).
* Swimming pool, Sampaguita (formerly Primicias Farm, Barangay Portic).
* Nipa swamps, vinegar, and wine making industry from "tuba" (Barangays Salasa, Bañaga, Pantal, Asinan and Magtaking)
* Dam structures (NIA, Barangays Cayanga and Portic)
* Pangasinan State University Tissue Culture Project ( Congressman Amado Espino, Jr. farm, Barangay Portic.
* Monastery of the contemplative Hermits of the Living Word or Hermit sisters, Barangay Portic
* Agno River Flood Control River, Barangays Salasa and Bañaga, zigzagging bridge (Philippine-Japanese financed project)
* Vinegar industry of Barangays Asinan, Magtaking and Bañaga, Sawali making in Barangays Magtaking, Gueset and Laguit Padilla, Mango puree production, Candle making Factory, Barangay Pangascasan (Catro's) and in Poblacion (Tuliao's Candle Making Cottage Industry).
* Salasa Parish Church
* Bugallon Ecological Park is Governor Ramon Guico III's Green Canopy program of 20-hectare mountain area reforestation in Barangay Cayanga vis-à-vis decades of deforestation caused by illegal logging. The tourist attraction includes a 2.71-hectare botanical garden, an organic production area, a 3.81-hectare orchard, a swimming pool, a view deck, and a campsite.

### St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church

The 1920 St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church (Poblacion, Bugallon, 2416 Pangasinan) is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Roman Catholic Diocese of Alaminos. The church has impressive inspired-baroque type of altar for the saints.
Its Feast Day is November 30 with Parish Priest, Fr. Dominador Mendoza, Jr., Population of 57,445. It is part of the Vicariate of Our Lady of Lourdes, under Vicar Forane, Father Raymond R. Oligane
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish was originally erected at Salasa (founded by the Dominicans in the 18th century). When the town site was transferred, the seat of the parish was also transferred as a consequence brought about by natural calamities that battered the area.
The 1914 Salasa floods destroyed crops, properties, buildings, the church and convent. Poblacion was transferred to Barangay Anagao (Bugallon), under Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Andrew the Apostle remained the patron Saint in July 1920 with 1st Parish Priest, Fr. Eustaquio Ocampo, then, Fr. Montano Domingo on November 29, 1921, and in June 1928, Fr Emeterio Domagas succeeded.
On May 23, 1929, Pangasinan was created as a new Diocese and Msgr. Cesar Maria Guerrero became Pangasinan's First Bishop on May 23, 1929. In 1930, Franciscan Capuchin appointed Fr. Cesario of Legario and Fr. Fernando of Erasum to Bugallon and Salasa, respectively on September 17, 1930. The Salasa Church, one of the biggest in Philippines, 100 meters long was completely destroyed and despoiled by Bugallon natives. Fr. Benjamin of Ilarduya became Kura Paroko from October 16, 1933, to June 27, 1941. The church brick-structure and the old façade were built. During World War II, Fr. Hipolito of Azcoita parish priest of Labrador, was transferred to Bugallon. Father Fidel Lekamania added the convent, while Father Pedro V. Sison finished the rehabilitationof the Church.
St. Joseph is the Principal Patron of the Diocese of Alaminos, Suffragan of Lingayen-Dagupan, Created and Erected: January 12, 1985, under Bishop Marlo M. Peralta, D.D. 2404 Alaminos, Pangasinan and Bishop-Emeritus Jesus A.Cabrera, D.D.

## Incidents

Bugallon Mayor Rodrigo Orduña and Barangay Chairman Fernando Alimagno filed on December 14, 2012, at the Ombudsman of the Philippines plunder case against Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, Jr. Orduña alleged that he was Espino's jueteng collector since 2001, and that Espino earned P900 million from gambling operators.
Pangasinan police director and chief, Senior Supt. Mariano Luis Verzosa had been removed and transferred to the main PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, allegedly due to conflict of interest since his daughter, Lingayen City Councilor Maan Versoza, is running for 2013 reelection. But the Nationalist People’s Coalition supported Espino.

## Gallery

* Town center
* Town Hall
* Major José Torres Bugallón Park
* National Building and Library
* Old house (Generosa Espino)
* Heritage house (Generosa Espino)