# Villasis

Villasis, officially the Municipality of Villasis (Pangasinan: Baley na Villasis; Ilocano: Ili ti Villasis; Tagalog: Bayan ng Villasis), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 65,047 people.

## Geography

Villasis is a farming town situated along the Agno River. On its borders are the towns of Malasiqui (to the west), Urdaneta City (to the north), Asingan (to the east), and Rosales and Santo Tomas (to the south). Hemmed between two bustling areas, Urdaneta City and Rosales, Villasis is one of the fastest developing towns in the province. It also thrives on its rice, corn, and tobacco plantations. Its hilly barangays situated along the Malasiqui boundary is an ideal place for resort developers and agri-businessmen.
Villasis is 174 kilometres (108 mi) from Manila and is 67 kilometres (42 mi) from the provincial capital, Lingayen.

### Barangays

Villasis is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Amamperez
* Bacag
* Barangobong
* Barraca
* Capulaan
* Caramutan
* La Paz
* Labit
* Lipay
* Lomboy
* Piaz (Plaza)
* Zone V (Poblacion)
* Zone I (Poblacion)
* Zone II (Poblacion)
* Zone III (Poblacion)
* Zone IV (Poblacion)
* Puelay
* San Blas
* San Nicolas
* Tombod
* Unzad

### Climate

Climate data for Villasis, Pangasinan :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 29 (84) | 31 (88) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 127.5 (5.02) | 115.8 (4.56) | 129.7 (5.11) | 141.1 (5.56) | 248.2 (9.77) | 165 (6.5) | 185.3 (7.30) | 161.9 (6.37) | 221.4 (8.72) | 299.5 (11.79) | 199 (7.8) | 188.7 (7.43) | 2,183.1 (85.93) |
| Average rainy days | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 221 |
| Source: World Weather Online ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### Religion
#### Saint Anthony the Abbot Parish Church

The heritage Saint Anthony the Abbot Parish Church, built in 1763, is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urdaneta (from the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan). Feast Day: January 17; Parish Priest: Father Arturo F. Aquino & Parochial Vicar: Father Dionisio B. Luzano.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Villasis
* 5
* 10
* 15
* 20
* 25
* 30
* 2000 22.86
* 2003 18.18
* 2006 19.40
* 2009 17.00
* 2012 14.42
* 2015 10.17
* 2018 11.77
* 2021 17.81
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
The town's accessibility to all kinds of land transportation has made Villasis a bustling center of trade and commerce. It is intersected by the Manila North Road from north to south, allowing all major bus lines plying the Manila-Region I CAR route to pass through the town 24-hours a day. The main agricultural crops of the town are rice, corn, cassava, and varieties of vegetables and fruits. Raising livestock is another livelihood of the townspeople who raise poultry, swine, goat and cattle.
There are 56 registered small to medium-sized industries in Villasis. These include rice mills, metalcraft industries, cement production, poultry raising and piggeries and an ice-plant.

## Government
### Local government

Villasis is part of the fifth congressional district of the province of Pangasinan. It 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 | Ramon V. Guico III |
| Mayor | Nonato S. Abrenica |
| Vice-Mayor | Cheryll Z. Tan |
| Councilors | Judith M. Morden |
| Councilors | Centenielo Ramon R. Costales Jr. |
| Councilors | Mario Cesar M. Racadio |
| Councilors | Domingo R. Rafanan |
| Councilors | Rolando B. Morden |
| Councilors | Richie V. Cacapit |
| Councilors | Chrisanto Asenafe D. Balila |
| Councilors | Felix Ferdinand R. Sison |

## Culture

The town holds an annual fiesta in honor of its patron saint, San Antonio de Abad (Saint Anthony the Abbot).

### Talong festival

On January 18, 2008, Mayor Nonato Abrenica announced that hundreds of balikbayans joined the annual fiesta celebration, highlighted by the Talong Festival / fastest talong eater contest (boiled skin removed eggplant, long-purple casino type), in Villasis, Pangasinan. 12 of 21 villages / barangays are engaged in eggplant production with total of 3.35 km$^2$ planted by 600 residents. It is usually celebrated during the second week of January.

## Gallery

* Aerial view of Villasis, circa 1930s
* Saint Anthony the Abbot Parish Church
* Public Auditorium
* Rizal Park
* Villasis Public Market and Bagsakan Center
* Bagsakan stores
* The vegetable and fruit stores