Manaoag

Manaoag, officially the Municipality of Manaoag ([mɐˈnaʊag]; Pangasinan: Baley na Manaoag; Ilocano: Ili ti Manaoag; Tagalog: Bayan ng Manaoag), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 76,045 people.

Etymology

Manaoag came from the Pangasinan word "Mantaoag" which means "to call".

History

Manaoag as a settlement was used to be part of present-day San Jacinto in the early 1600s. Later, the Augustinians established a mission as Mission of Sta. Monica, while Dominicans also served the area.

In 1972, Republic Act No. 6485 was enacted wherein twenty barrios were organized as a separate municipality and the province's newest, named Laoac; however, it took long before the establishment was formalized in 1980.

Geography

Manaoag is bordered by Pozorrubio in the north, Urdaneta City and Mapandan in the south, Laoac in the east, and San Jacinto in the west.

Manaoag is 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Lingayen and 201 kilometres (125 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Manaoag is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Languages

Pangasinan is the primary dialect of Manaoag. Ilocano is also spoken and understood by the population.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Manaoag

Government

Local government

Manaoag is part of the fourth 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

Culture

Our Lady of Manaoag

The town is a popular local pilgrimage site as it enshrines a 17th-century ivory statue of St Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manaoag ("Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag"). Legend has it that an unnamed man had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who told him to have the shrine built. Famous souvenirs include candles, rosaries, and ampullae of blessed oil with flowers (which supposedly has healing properties), as well as less religious ones such as bagoóng monamon and tupig.