# Alaminos, Pangasinan

Alaminos, officially the City of Alaminos (Pangasinan: Siyudad na Alaminos; Ilocano: Siudad ti Alaminos; Sambal: Babali nin Alaminos; Filipino: Lungsod ng Alaminos), is a component city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines, and is known for being the home of the Hundred Islands National Park, which is composed of 124 islands and is located off the coast of Barangay Lucap. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 99,397 people. The city is named after Juan Alaminos y de Vivar, a former governor-general of the Philippines.
In 2009, it was announced that Alaminos Airport would be built near the city as a commercial airport for Pangasinan province. However, the timeline for construction of the airport has repeatedly come and gone. As of 2015, the project remains to be in its pendency.

## Etymology

Alaminos is named after the Spanish general Juan Alaminos y Vivar, who served as Governor-General of the Philippines from 1873 to 1874 and was much loved by locals as he visited the then-town in 1860. Previously named Sarapsap, it was renamed in his honor in 1872.

## History

Alaminos was formerly part of Bolinao. It traces its roots to a barrio named Casborran (present-day barangay Baleyadaan), formerly part of Zambales. It eventually grew when people from Suyang (present-day barangay Zaragosa in Bolinao) relocated to the area in 1737.
In 1747, Casborran became an independent town. In 1758, it was razed by fire due to a political and economic conflict. In 1764, inhabitants tried to rebuild the town, but another conflict happened, making them leave for Nansangaan (present-day Barangay Inerangan). Two years later, they found refuge at a plateau in what is now the poblacion of Alaminos and renamed it Sarapsap. Ilocano settlers from Paoay, Ilocos Norte moved and stayed in the town, increasing the small population of the town in 1830.
It was renamed Alaminos in 1872, 12 years after the visit of the future Governor-General Juan Alaminos y Vivar, who was well loved by residents, to the thriving town. In 1903, Alaminos was annexed by Pangasinan by virtue of Act No. 1004.
The Communist Party of the Philippines was founded by Jose Maria Sison in the remote barangay of Dulacac on December 26, 1968.

### Cityhood

By virtue of Republic Act 9025, signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 5, 2001, Alaminos was converted into a city after 85% of the voters favored the ratification in a plebiscite held on March 28, 2001.

### Contemporary era

Alaminos was badly hit in May 2009 by Typhoon Emong which damaged many houses in the city, including the roof of the main church. Due to this, several organizations had requested donations and aid to help in restoring the town back to its former self.

## Geography

Alaminos City is 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Lingayen and 248 kilometres (154 mi) from Manila.

### Barangays

Alaminos City is politically subdivided into 39 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Alos
* Amandiego
* Amangbangan
* Balangobong
* Balayang
* Bisocol
* Bolaney
* Baleyadaan
* Bued
* Cabatuan
* Cayucay
* Dulacac
* Inerangan
* Landoc
* Linmansangan
* Lucap
* Maawi
* Macatiw
* Magsaysay
* Mona
* Palamis
* Pandan
* Pangapisan
* Poblacion
* Pocal-Pocal
* Pogo
* Polo
* Quibuar
* Sabangan
* San Antonio
* San Jose
* San Roque
* San Vicente
* Santa Maria
* Tanaytay
* Tangcarang
* Tawintawin
* Telbang
* Victoria

### Climate

Climate data for Alaminos :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °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) |
| Mean daily minimum °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 (20.9) | 364.4 (14.35) | 182.5 (7.19) | 56.3 (2.22) | 24.4 (0.96) | 2,091.2 (82.3) |
| Average rainy days | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 134 |
| Source: World Weather Online (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1903 | 11,834 | — |
| 1918 | 14,353 | +1.29% |
| 1939 | 19,960 | +1.58% |
| 1948 | 26,240 | +3.09% |
| 1960 | 30,250 | +1.19% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1970 | 38,773 | +2.51% |
| 1975 | 42,496 | +1.86% |
| 1980 | 47,715 | +2.34% |
| 1990 | 59,363 | +2.21% |
| 1995 | 65,130 | +1.75% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2000 | 73,448 | +2.61% |
| 2007 | 79,788 | +1.15% |
| 2010 | 85,025 | +2.34% |
| 2015 | 89,708 | +1.03% |
| 2020 | 99,397 | +2.04% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :

### Languages

Pangasinan and Ilocano are the main dialects of Alaminos.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Alaminos
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 2000 35.26
* 2003 20.76
* 2006 24.80
* 2009 19.86
* 2012 8.61
* 2015 12.39
* 2018 7.75
* 2021 17.53
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Local government

Alaminos, belonging to the first 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 Alaminos City Council (2019–2022):
* District Representative (1st Legislative District the Province of Pangasinan): Arnold F. Celeste
* Chief Executive: Arth Bryan C. Celeste
* Presiding Officer (Vice Mayor): Jose Antonio M. Yatco
* Councilors:
** Apple Joy D. Bacay
** Carolyn D. Sison
** Michelle S. Segundera
** Joselito D. Fontelera
** Cirilo B. Radoc
** Verna S. Rabago
** Oscar A. Boling
** Froebel A. Ranoy
** Dahlia M. De Leon
** Alfred Feliz E. De Castro

## Festivals

The Galila Hundred Islands Festival is held from March 16 to 21 every year. Galila means “come” in the vernacular, and the festival includes the 100 Islands Adventure Race.

## Transportation

Accredited Transport Cooperative as of January 2021:
* Alaminos, Bani, Agno, Anda, Bolinao Operators and Drivers Transport Service Cooperative (ABAABOD TSC)

## Media

AM Stations:
* DZIN 801 (Vanguard Radio Network)
* DZWM Radyo Totoo 864 (Catholic Media Network)
FM Stations:
* 99.3 Spirit FM (Catholic Media Network)
* 100.1 Radyo Natin (Manila Broadcasting Company)
* 102.7 Big Sound FM (Vanguard Radio Network)
Cable & Satellite TV Providers
* Pangasinan Educational Cable TV (PECTV)
* USATV
* Cignal TV
* G Sat

## Sister cities

* Marikina, Metro Manila