By: Johnny Pascua
Dr. Federico Lubrin’s favorite quotation…"the present is the repository of the past, the springboard of the uncertain future"…is a fitting starting point to recollect the past, present, and expectations of Asingan. The town of Asingan in the province of Pangasinan has indeed significant history and overwhelming successes. What it is now can only prove beyond expectations of a small grown up town.
Asingan was founded in 1669. It was believed to have come from the work "naasing" meaning hostile. Is it that the people are "naasing"? True or not, no Asinganians agree to the assumption that he is "naasing". In fact, he is more friendly and hospitable than anyone would think. In the provincial revolt in 1762 to 1764, Asingan remained loyal to Spain and became the refuge for the Dominican Friars who were ordered to flee for fear of their lives. They hailed Asingan as a noble and most loyal town.
Asingan has 21 barangays (barrios). The latest barangay is Palaris. It was formerly called Bolo, a sitio of Toboy. The following "puroks", Camagsingalan, Calukbanan, Cabugaoan comprise Palaris. To date, there are nineteen elementary schools, five barangay high schools, a trade high school, a private high school, and a college, the Pangasinan State University of Arts and Technology College.
There were several changes as far as the schools are concerned. They are the following: Asingan South Central Elementary School is now Narciso Ramos Elementary School and Asingan High School in now called Dona Angela Valdez Ramos High School, named after Dona Elang, the wife of former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Narciso Ramos. Rizal Junior College is now known as Rizal Academy, formerly known as Asingan Institute and was founded by the late Luis Eleazar and family. It is referred to as one of the oldest private schools in Pangasinan. Asingan School of Arts and Trade is now called Luciano Millan Memorial School of Arts and Trade (LMMSAT). The Coldit Community School is now Don Hermenigildo Velasco Community School, in honor of Don Velasco, a town mayor from 1916 to 1919. The elementary school in Macalong is now called Don Teodorico Bauzon Elementary School named after the donor of the school lot. Palaris Elementary School was formerly the Bolo-Camagsingalan Primary School. Mr. Felecisimo Palaris and family donated the school lot. Other generous donors were Teodorico Padilla and family who donated the lot to Ariston Este Elementary School.
Asingan is known as the "Vegetable Basket of Pangasinan", due to the abundance of its extra large eggplants. The biggest are grown in Ariston Este, Ariston Oeste, Bantog, Baro, Sanchez, and Cabalitian. Oversized and juicy calamansi fruits are grown in Toboy, Coldit, Bobonan, Palaris and Calepaan. Calepaan is also noted for its cold and refreshing turnips while Domanpot is locally known for its sweet sugar canes.
Asingan is also a town of monuments. The monument of great Filipino heroes such as Fr. Jose Rizal, General Antonio Luna, Father Jose Burgos, Andres Bonifacio and the Unknown Soldier are spread around the town plaza. Traces of Spanish occupation are evident in the presence of buildings made out of red bricks, stones and selected hardwoods, Examples of these can be found in the residences of Don Doroy, the Salcedos, the Costeses, and the Suratos. The Roman Catholic Church, convent and cemetery are also testimonials of Dominican Friars who fled to Asingan. These buildings have survived in spite of the catastrophes that Asingan has gone through and still look like they would last for some time in the future. Unfortunately, the church was heavily damaged by earthquake in 1990.
The name Don Placido Ramos rose to history in politics in the early 1900’s. He was first politician of the Ramos clan. He became the President of Municipality of Asingan from 1901-1903 and again in 1907-1909. Out of five sons, three became politicians. The first of these politically minded sons was the late Narciso Ramos who served as a congressman for many years, appointed ambassador to several different countries and became the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. "Apo Nachong" and "Dona Elang" as they were popularly known were blessed with three successful children. Fidel Ramos, former PC Chief, Secretary of Defense and became the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines. Letecia Ramos Shahani is a two term Philippines Senator and mother of Ranjit Ramos Shahani who is a former Vice Governor of Pangasinan and a two term Congressman of the 6th District of Pangasinan. Gloria Ramos Da Roda is the former Consul General of the Philippine Consulate in California.
The second son to rise in politics was the late Jose (Eping) R. Ramos, who was the Municipal Mayor of Asingan in 1956-1959. The youngest son was Felixberto (Berting) Ramos who was a retired elementary school principal and was elected mayor in1980-1986.
Asingan has successful sons and daughters in different distinctive offices locally and on national and international levels. To name a few: Gen Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. is currently the Army Chief of Staff for Operation, Armed Forces of the Philippines. Ambassador Rodolfo Dumapias served as consul General to various countries and became Ambassador to Mexico. Atty. Rapael Colet is a former Governor of Pangasinan from 1986-1992. Manuel Casaclang is a former Directror of Department of Interior and Local Government and Pascasio Banaria is a former Chairman of Comission on Audit. The late Fiscal Dalmacio Guillermo was a retired provincial fiscal of Pangasinan. He was also a Mayor of Asingan from 1937-1940. Dr. Eufrosina N. Millan, wife of the late Congressman Luciano Millan, Sr., is a retired Professor of Education at the Philippines Normal College Graduate School and Philippine Women’s University. Their son Atty. Luciano Millan, Jr. became a Deputy Commissioner of Bureau of Customs. Former Mayor of Asingan Dario Navarro (1972-1975) had his term extended under Presidential Decree up to 1980; the late Judge Inocencio Ventura was a former teacher who became an attorney and later a municipal judge of Asingan and San Manuel until his retirement; Bishop Paterno C. Piso was the first Asinganian to become the Bishop of Philippine Independent Catholic Church for Eastern Pangasinan; Former Mayor Leonardo Carbonell has the most number of years serving as head of town (1964-1971), three terms altogether; former Mayor Roman Palisoc (vice mayor from1926-1928) and was Municipal Mayor from 1945 to 1947. Former Mayor Silveriano Alejo (1941-1943) preferred martyrdom at the hands of the Japanese soldiers rather than to identify the guerillas for them. Retired Colonel Mariano Agsalud was the first Asinganian to become chief of police of Baguio City and the late Brig. General Romeo Daranciang of Philippine Marines had a legendary exploits in Mindanao.
Asingan also produced the most number of Congressmen who represented the current 6th Congressional District of Pangasinan, also giving Asingan the nickname of the town of Congressmen. Among them were Hon. Ranjit Ramos Shahani and the late Congressmen Hon
Juan Millan, Hon. Narciso Ramos (father of former president Fidel Ramos), Hon. Justino Z. Benito, and Hon. Luciano Milllan Sr.
Asingan is the 10th among the earliest municipalities incorporated in Pangasinan preceded by San Carlos which was incorporated in 1572, Calasiao in 1580, Bolinao in 1593, Magaldan in 1600, San Jacinto in 1601, Manaoag in 1605, Agno in 1610, Binmaley in 1613, and Lingayen in 1614.
While Cebuanos are proud of the Osmenas, Batangenians of the Laurels, Leytenians of the Romualdezes, Capiz of the Villareals, Northern Luzon of the Singsons, Ortegas, Cases and Valdezes; Pangasinanses are very proud of the Ramoses, especially of ex-President Fidel V. Ramos, "Anak ti Asingan".
Indeed, Asingan has come a long way in short time….Growing quickly and easily, rising among the ranks and greatly proving its competence of the rest of the nation. Its great past and overwhelming successes of its people are far reaching.
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