Urdaneta, Pangasinan
', officially the ' (; ; ), is a in the province of , . According to the , it has a population of people. History. The first settlers of the area were Pangasinenses, followed by a migration of Ilocanos who settled in outlying areas. These settlers petitioned the Spanish government to allow them to form a separate pueblo for greater ties and stronger unity. Their petition was granted and Urdaneta was formally founded as a pueblo on January 8, 1858. There is uncertainty if it was named after Andrés de Urdaneta, Miguel de Urdaneta, or Simon de Urdaneta. Cityhood. Urdaneta became a city through Republic  Act 8480, otherwise known as "An Act Converting the Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan into a Component City to be known as the City of Urdaneta". This was signed on January 10, 1998, and was voted affirmatively by the people of Urdaneta City on March 21, 1998. Geography. Urdaneta is from Manila, from Dagupan and is from the provincial capital, Lingayen. It has a land area of 12,100 hectares. Barangays. Urdaneta City is politically subdivided into 34 barangays. These barangays are headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. All are elected every  three years. Demographics. Religion. Roman Catholicism. The Urdaneta Cathedral or the 1858 Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Urdaneta is part of the Vicariate of Our Lady. Its vicar foranes are Rev. Fr. Alberto T. Arenos and Father Elpidio F. Silva Jr. Its feast day is December 8 and the rector is Msgr. Lazaro P. Hortaleza with VG Vice Rectors VF Father Alberto A. Viernes and Father Christopher R. Herreria. Its head is Bishop Jacinto Agcaoili Jose, JCL, DD. Founded on January 8, 1858, it is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Roman Catholic Diocese of Urdaneta . The diocese is led by Bishop Jacinto Jose (born on Oct. 29, 1950 in Mangato, Laoag City; ordained on June 29, 1975; Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Urdaneta on Sept. 21, 2005; on Nov. 26, 2005, he was ordained as bishop). His installation as Third Bishop of the Diocese of Urdaneta took place on Dec. 30, 2005. He serves as vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission of Social Communications and Mass Media and member of the Episcopal Commission on Youth. Previous ordinaries were Bishop Jesus Castro Galang† (Dec. 7, 1991-Sept.  16, 2004) and Bishop Pedro G. Magugat, M.S.C.† (April 22, 1985 – May 5, 1990). Other diocesan officials hold office at the Bishop's Residence and Chancery of Obispado de Urdaneta Building, Dr. Jose Aruego Street, Urdaneta, Pangasinan. The Vicar General is Msgr. Lazaro P. Hortaleza and Chancellor, Father Teofilo L. Calicdan. Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayan Church. The Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan is the regional seminary of the church dedicated to serve the North-Central and South-Central Luzon Dioceses. ACTS offers a Bachelor of Theology and Divinity Programs for those who aspire to enter  the ordained ministry in the Church. It is a four-year study program with a curriculum focused on biblical, theological, historical and pastoral studies with reference to parish management and development and wider cultural and social context. Members of the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayans has the second most members in the city. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Urdaneta has been selected as the site of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, the third temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built in the Philippines (the other two being in Manila and  Cebu City). Economy. As Gateway to Northern Philippines, the city's strategic location is on the central part of eastern Pangasinan. Urdaneta is among the most progressive cities in Northern Luzon in annual regular income beating all cities in Region 1. It is among the region's cleanest, greenest and most livable cities. Urdaneta produces rice, vegetables and noodles. As a trading hub of Pangasinan, it has a “Bagsakan” (trading post), a drop-off point for fruits and vegetables. SM Prime Holdings will put up an SM Supermall to be called SM City Urdaneta Central, currently under construction and scheduled  to open second half of 2017. The largest cattle market in Northern Luzon is Urdaneta's Livestock Market. The city has numerous financial and banking institutions which make it among the most vibrant economies in Pangasinan and the whole Ilocos Region. Tourism. Attractions include Museo de Urdaneta, Cabaruan, Sugcong and Oltama Rolling Hills, inter alia. The Sanctuary I.T. Building (Barangay Nancaysan, MacArthur Highway, the only Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) proclaimed I.T. Building in Pangasinan) houses the first two call centers: FFG Telemarketing (a Filipino-Canadian outbound call center) and EIE Inc. (Filipino-owned website services marketing firm). Government. Urdaneta , belonging to the fifth 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. Culture. Festivals. Urdaneta City celebrates Dumayo Festival annually March 18–March 31: Basbas ng Pag-iisang Dibdib (free mass wedding), bloodletting activity, tree planting for environment preservation, jobs fair and fun run for a cause. The city celebrates fiesta  every month of December. This is in remembrance of the city patron, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Festivities are held 1–8 December. Activities include a parade, drum and lyre competition, teachers' night, balikbayan night, ABC-SK night, ballroom, Miss Urdaneta City coronation night and many more events. A carnival is put up every December as a part of the event. In the 2012 yearly City Fiesta celebration (December 1–15), Fifth District Representative Kimi S. Cojuangco formally (December 1) opened the agro-industrial fair where “bahay kubo” booths of the city's barangays showcased their products at the Urdaneta City  Cultural and Sports Complex. Cojuangco was assisted by Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chair Amadeo R. Perez Jr., Mayor Amadeo Gregorio “Bobom” Perez IV and members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Onofre C. Gorospe.