Located on Lingayen Gulf on the northwest-central part of Luzon, Dagupan is a major commercial and financial center north of Manila. Also, the city is one of the centers of modern medical services, education, media and communication in North-Central Luzon. The NEDA-Regional Development Council officially establishes Dagupan as a regional center.[10]
The city is situated within the fertile Agno River Valley and is in turn a part of the larger Central Luzon plain.
The city is among the top producers of milkfish (locally known as bangus) in the province. From 2001 to 2003, Dagupan's milkfish production totaled to 35,560.1 metric tons (MT), contributing 16.8 percent to the total provincial production. Of its total production in the past three years, 78.5 percent grew in fish pens/cages while the rest grew in brackish waterfishponds.[11]
Dagupan is administratively and politically independent from the provincial government of Pangasinan and is only represented by the province's legislative district. And also, it is the second most-populous city in that province and in Ilocos Region after San Carlos City.
The city's name was derived from the local Pangasinan word pandaragupan which means gathering place as the city has been a regional market center for centuries. The root word is dagop, Pangasinan term of gather.
By the 15th century, Pangasinan was an ancient coastal region composed of various settlements, whose paramount leaders sent emissaries to China in 1406–1411.[13]
Spanish period
The area that is now known as Dagupan was described as marshland thickly covered with mangrove and nipa palm trees.[14] The natives lived along the shoreline and riverbanks of Calmay, Pantal, and Bonuan. But there were also communities in Malued, Lasip, Pogo, and Bacayao. The natives called the area Bacnotan which would later be incorporated into the encomienda of Lingayen that was established in 1583.[15]
The first long distance railroad in the Philippines connecting Manila and Dagupan was opened on November 24, 1892.
Japanese occupation
The Japanese planes bombed in Dagupan in December 1941; Dagupan was occupied by Japanese forces starting in 1942.[16] The city also served as a wartime capital of Pangasinan.
Allied liberation
General Douglas MacArthur Landing at Luzon, Philippines, 1945. "Blue Beach", Dagupan
On January 8–9, 1945, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur landed his amphibious liberation force in the city's "Blue Beach" section in Bonuan Gueset along the shores of Lingayen Gulf.[17][18] From his beachhead in Dagupan, along with those in neighboring towns Lingayen, Binmaley and San Fabian, MacArthur's forces under General Walter Krueger together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops under the Philippine Army and Philippine Constabulary units were able to penetrate Japanese defenses in Luzon island and liberate Filipino and allied prisoners of war near Cabanatuan in the province of Nueva Ecija, and in Manila's University of Santo Tomas, among others.
Dagupan became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 170, authored by House Speaker Eugenio Pérez. It was signed into law by President Manuel Roxas on June 20, 1947.[19]
Contemporary history
The westward expansion of the city went as far as Lucao, which was also swampland. Local historian Restituto Basa surmised that the name Lucao may have been derived from the shellfish called lukan that used to abound in the swampy area. [citation needed]
In June 1962, Dagupan was shaken by a series of strong earthquakes which occurred at irregular intervals for about three weeks. The quakes toppled the belfry of the Roman Catholic church. Many people from Calmay, Carael and island barrios evacuated to other towns. [citation needed]
In 1968, the national government agencies opened offices in Dagupan and other key cities across the country. The daytime population increased substantially, causing congestion in the city that began to see the appearance of public utility tricycles and other modes of transportation.
On July 16, 1990, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck northern Luzon, causing liquefaction, which made buildings tilt and sink due to their heavy weight and the looseness of the ground, which turned into sediment-rich mud. The Magsaysay Bridge, one of the two bridges especially spanning the Pantal River, collapsed, delaying people from crossing to the other banks and vice versa. Major damage caused businesses to be permanently transferred to the neighbouring towns of Mangaldan and Calasiao, but somehow, Dagupan and its inhabitants managed to recover from the earthquake.[20]
At the turn of the millennium, seeking to promote the thriving milkfish industry that harnessed the city as the milkfish capital of the country, The Bangus Festival was formally launched in 2002 by then-Mayor Benjamin Lim. The city earned the World's Longest Barbecue record from the Guinness World Records in 2003 during the holding of the Kalutan ed Dalan where 10,000 pieces of bangus were grilled on the longest barbecue grill measuring 1,007.56 meters long.[21]
Geography
Dagupan covers a total land area of 4,447.10 hectares (10,989.0 acres), bounded by Lingayen Gulf in the north, San Fabian in the northeast, Mangaldan in the east, Calasiao in the south and Binmaley in the west. Land use is primarily for agriculture with 35.98% of the total land area, fishpond, cropland, residential with 22.88%; others uses are commercial, industrial, institutional, government private, parks and roads.
Dagupan is 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) from Lingayen, the capital of Pangasinan, and 220 kilometers (140 mi) from Manila.
Panoramic view of Dagupan river
Barangays
Dagupan is politically subdivided into 31 barangays.[22] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Dagupan has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification: Am). It is in Type I climate zone in the Modified Coronas' Climate Classification, with a pronounced dry season from November to April.
In Dagupan, the Pangasinans are the predominant people and a minority of residents are dominantly Ilocanos.[29][30] Number of Registered Voters (2016): 105,183[22]
Languages
Pangasinan is predominantly used in the city and environs, followed by Tagalog and English, as well as Ilocano, mainly in Calmay and Pantal.
Dagupan is the economic center of Pangasinan.[39] As a major regional hub, many people in Pangasinan and nearby provinces commute to the city during the day; this causes the city's daytime population to rise and cause traffic in parts of the city, especially the downtown area. The city is a vital financial center housing numerous banks, non-bank financial institutions, headquarters of corporations and offices of major government departments and agencies.
Milkfish, locally known as bangus
Historically, Dagupan was a center for salt making in numerous salt evaporator beds in the low-lying swampy areas close to Lingayen Gulf. Beginning in the 19th century, some of the salt making operations gave way to pond culture of fish, most prominently, the milkfish (locally known as bangus), for which the city has become famous. Fisheries, aquaculture and processed fisheries products are an important mainstay of the city's economy.[40]
SM Center Dagupan along MH Del Pilar and Herrero Perez Streets
Manila-based developers have set up shop in Dagupan due to its strategic location and growing population. These include
Santa Lucia Land Inc. (Almeria Verde Subdivision),[41] SM Prime Holdings,[41] and Filinvest.[42]
As of June 2020, Dagupan is one of the 25 cities in the Philippines identified as an area with "high-potential in IT-BPM industry" for transformation into "digital cities" by 2025.[43]Sitel, a global business process outsourcing (BPO) firm, has opened in 2020 its first Sitel MAXhub in Dagupan.[44]
The motor vehicle industry of Dagupan is centered around Caranglaan and Lucao districts.[45] Many well-known automotive companies have a dealership in the city's metropolitan area.
Tourism
Tondaligan Beach sunset
Dagupan is a historic city that boasts numerous historical, cultural heritage, recreational, ecotourism, business, and culinary tourism of national importance.[46]
Being at the center of trade in the north for centuries blessed with a geography crisscrossed by several rivers and sandy beaches, Dagupan has naturally become a multifaceted city in terms of tourism. Also, as the transportation hub of Pangasinan, the city is easily accessible to the public, whether coming from within or outside of the province.[47]
Since the Spanish colonial times, the colonial government had put a great emphasis on the importance of the city due to being at the strategic center of the province and its accessibility to the sea for trading and transport. The first Philippine railroad system, the Manila-Dagupan railway, had its terminus in the city.[48] Remnant of the historic rail transport locomotive can be seen displayed in front of the city museum.[49]
During World War 2, Dagupan also served as the wartime capital of Pangasinan. The shores of Bonuan Gueset was a silent witness to the historic landing of Gen. MacArthur that eventually became one of the key historic points in the country's liberation.[50] To immortalize this important feat in the city's history, a MacArthur Landing Park was built to stand by the shore of Tondaligan Beach, adjacent to Filipino-Japanese Peace Park.
More structures and landmarks of historic importance still dot the city, some of which are already listed as heritage sites by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).[51] These include:
• Home Economics/Gabaldon Building at West Central Elementary School
• Old City Hall and Water Tower
• Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John
• Philippine National Railways Tracks and Station
• Remnants of Franklin Bridge
• Lighthouse in Bonuan
Food Tourism
Aside from Bangus, Dagupan is well known for its Pigar-Pigar (right) and Kaleskes (left)
Aside from being the Bangus Capital of the Philippines, the city is also known as the Kitchen of the North. Many popular culinary traditions have originated in the city, including Pigar-Pigar, Kaleskes, and Bonuan Boneless Bangus. Plato Wraps, a contemporary food innovation that's now popularly sold in major shopping malls also hails from the city.[52][53]
Dagupan is home to popular homegrown restaurants that branched out in many parts of Luzon.[54]
Food Hubs:
• Metro Plaza (International and national food and resto chains)[55]
• Galvan Street (The center for local Dagupan cuisines such as Pigar-Pigar, Kaleskes and other native dishes)[56]
• Tondaligan Food Hub (Alfresco dining by the beach hosting native delicacies, street foods and selected food kiosks)[57]
• Dagupan City Growth Center-Lucao (A modern lifestyle center and food hub by the river hosting popular restaurants & cafes)
• Plaza Del Carmen (Hosts traditional and innovative cafes, bars and restaurants)
• Royal Rays Food Hub (A hub for Filipino and Asian dining)
Ecotourism
A welcoming beach landmark along the baywalk of Tondaligan
Dagupan, being surrounded by rivers and sea, offers extensive ecotourism activities for recreation, relaxation and adventure.[58]
Tondaligan Beach is an urban beach park complex with numerous amenities. The extensive Tondaligan baywalk, dubbed as the longest in the region, is a prominent feature along the Bonuan shore wherein cyclists can enjoy biking and savor Lingayen Gulf's picturesque view.[59]
Tondaligan Beach Park also hosts many historical landmark of national importance such as:
Gen. MacArthur Landing Park
Filipino-Japanese Friendship Garden
Tondaligan Grand Amphitheater
Other interesting spots and landmarks in the city that can be visited are as follows:
Dawel River Cruise
BFAR – NIFTDC
Pugaro Beach
Bonuan Golf Course
Leisure Coast Resort
Festivities
Bangus Festival – Gilon Gilon ed Baley Street Dance Competition
As the Bangus (Milkfish) Capital of the Philippines, Dagupan has been celebrating its well-renowned produce through Bangus Festival which started in 2002. It's a yearly month-long celebration in the month of April.
The festival features the famous bangusine (bangus cuisine) which is one of the main highlights of the event, street dancing where competing barangays parade in the city's main avenue wearing colorful Bangus Festival costumes, bangus grilling, deboning, variety shows, trade fairs, beauty pageants, sports fest, cooking show, medical mission, visual arts, band concerts, sports activities, dog show, fluvial parade, drum and lyre parade, and street party. The festival concludes every April 30 with main events: Kalutan ed Dalan in the daytime and Bangusan Street Party concerts in the nighttime.[60]
Pista'y Dayat (Festival of the Sea) is held the day after the conclusion of Bangus Festival. It is a simultaneously celebrated festivity together with the neighboring towns in the Lingayen Gulf area. It serves as a thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and abundant fishing from the sea in the province of Pangasinan.[61]
Dagupan City Fiesta is a month-long celebration held every December with a Catholic fiesta mass and Procession at St. John Cathedral in honor of St. John the Evangelist, the patron saint of Dagupan and of fishermen.
Christmas tree in front of Dagupan City Museum
Since it coincides with the Christmas festivities, Christmas decoration-building, nativity scene displays and Christmas tree using indigenous materials has become a permanent fixture in the Dagupan City Fiesta.
On The Edades Day, events such as Arts and Painting Contests are held on December 23, honoring national artist on Modern Arts Victorio Edades, a Dagupeño from Barangay Bolosan. Other events such Miss Dagupan pageant, job fairs, NGO, Organizations, & Barangay Nights, various alumni homecoming Nights, Battle of Bands, and Hip Hop Dance Contest, among others are usually parts of the festivities. The Dagupan City fiesta ends on Rizal Day at the Dagupan City Plaza.[62]
Dagupan, belonging to the fourth 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.
Members of the Dagupan City Council (2022–2025):[63]
District Representative (4th Legislative District the province of Pangasinan): Christopher George Martin P. de Venecia
Chief Executive: Belen T. Fernandez
Presiding Officer: Dean Bryan "BK" L. Kua
Councillors:
Maria Librada Fe M. Reyna
Jeslito C. Seen
Alvin T. Coquia
Celia C. Lim
Maria Lourdes S. Fernandez
Alipio Serafin D. Fernandez
Redford Christian P. Erfe-Mejia
Dennis C. Canto
Victoria Czarinna C. Lim-Acosta
Michael B. Fernandez
Association of Barangay Captains President: Marcelino D. Fernandez (Lucao)
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President: Bradley Claude C. Benavides (Caranglaan)
Transportation
Road and railway systems
Remnant of Dagupan Class as displayed at Dagupan City Museum
Dagupan is connected with other cities by networks of national roads. Romulo Highway and Pangasinan–La Union Road (N55) and Urdaneta-Dagupan Road (N57) are the principal highways that serve the city.
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) once served Dagupan through Dagupan station, that went defunct in the late 1980s. The first railroad in the Philippines, the Manila-Dagupan Railway, terminated at the city.
Bus
Intercity/interprovincial buses from Manila serve the city, and are usually operated by Dagupan Bus Company, Victory Liner, Five Star, and Pangasinan Solid North. Jeepneys provide intracity travel, as well as for towns and cities of close proximities.
Taxi service
Taxi service in Dagupan. The first in Pangasinan and Region 1
Since 2019, taxi service becomes available as the newest transportation mode in the city.[64] It is the first ever taxi operation in Region 1 and is authorized to serve Pangasinan and the entire Region 1. Dagupan was chosen as the launching area being the center of business and education in North Central Luzon.[65]
Modern jeepney
Modern PUVs, more commonly known as modern jeepneys, now ply different parts of the city as part of the nationwide PUJ modernization campaign. They are equipped with CCTV cameras, air conditioning, a television, and equipment to comply with the government's health and safety protocols against COVID-19.[66]
Healthcare
Medical and health service centers abound in Dagupan. Out of 51 hospitals in Pangasinan, 12 are located in the city. The largest of these is the Region 1 Medical Center with hospital bed capacity of 1000. Other notable hospitals are Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital, Nazareth General Hospital, and The Medical City Pangasinan.
Dagupan is home to regional broadcasting stations and television networks. Twenty radio broadcasting stations (9 AM and 11 FM), at least seventeen local newspapers and three cable television companies operate in the city. Daily flagship regional news over free TV is served by One North Central Luzon (formerly Balitang Amianan) via GMA Dagupan Station.
^"Dagupan City". Official Website of the Province of Pangasinan and its People. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
^"New Metropolis Rising in Pangasinan". Wow Dagupan Today. January 7, 2011. Dagupan Metropolitan Area or Metro Dagupan (DMA) is a metropolitan area in north central Luzon.
^"Dagupan City". Philippine Islands. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
^"The July 16 Luzon Earthquake: Dagupan City, A Case Study". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved July 27, 2019. In 1590, the house clusters were resettled into compact communities and converted into a town named initially as Bacnotan and renamed later in 1720 as Dagupan.
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