BEACHES AND CHURCHES: THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan is composed of two cities and 15 municipalities of the central part of Pangasinan: Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Basista, Bautista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Calasiao, Laoac, Lingayen, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mapandan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Santa Barbara and Urbiztondo. Since I have already visited Dagupan and Manaoag, during the Holy Week of 2024 I went to all the other towns under the archdiocese. On Holy Tuesday on my way to Bolinao, I passed by the towns of Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, San Carlos, Calasiao and Binmaley. The following day on my way back to Urdaneta, I passed by Urbiztondo, Basista, Bayambang and Bautista. On Holy Thursday right after the Chrism mass in Urdaneta, together with my student in Canon Law Fr. Dan Philip Soriano, we visited the last towns of Pangasinan that I haven’t been to which were all under the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan: Mapandan, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, San Fabian and Laoac. We were back in Urdaneta just in time for the mass of the Evening of the Lord’s Supper.

Holy Family Parish
Santa Barbara, Pangasinan

Originally under the patroness, Saint Barbara, the town of Santa Barbara became an independent vicaria from Calasiao between 1742 and 1745. It was placed under the patronage of the Holy Family in 1963-1965.

St. Ildephonse Parish
Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Founded in 1655 as a visita of Binalatongan (the original name of San Carlos, Pangasinan), it was established as a vicarage by the Dominicans in 1678.

St. Dominic Parish
San Carlos City, Pangasinan

Formerly known as Binalatongan, San Carlos is the first town founded by the Dominicans in the Philippines in 1587.

Sts. Peter & Paul Parish
Calasiao, Pangasinan

Founded in 1588 by the Dominicans, it was the site of the Synod of Calasiao in 1773. The Synod tried to prohibit the custom of circumcision among young boys which they were not successful. The parish church was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum on Sept. 29, 2001.

Revisited Calasiao two weeks after my holy week visit. This time the altar retablo was already uncovered.

Our Lady of the Purification Parish
Binmaley, Pangasinan

The town of Binmaley was founded by the Dominicans independent from Lingayen in 1627.

One the few churches in Pangasinan with the altar retablos remaining uncovered for the Holy Week.

Epiphany of the Lord Co-Cathedral
Lingayen, Pangasinan

Lingayen was founded on April 25, 1587 by the Augustinians with Bagnotan and Manaoag as visitas. It was the seat of the Diocese of Lingayen from 1928-1954. Formerly under the patronage of the Three Kings, it was changed to the Epiphany of the Lord by Abp. Oscar Cruz.

I got to revisit Lingayen and some other towns of Pangasinan two weeks after the Holy Week when I had to solemnize a wedding in Dagupan. This time all the altar retablos could be seen in their glorious splendor.