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Manaoag

History of Manaoag:

The municipality of Manaoag is a four-century-old town that is known all over the country as the Pilgrims Center of Northern Philippines. Formerly known as “Sapang,” the land on which Manaoag sits had once been a small settlement in Cawili (now San Jacinto) in the 1600s. Today, Catholic devotees flock to the municipality, which is considered to be one of Pangasinan’s gems. 

The town’s name originated from a story of a hardworking farmer who saw a lady, believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary herself, carrying a child coated in white cloth that was thought to be the infant Jesus. The farmer had seen the image in a woody place called “Baloking Creek” above a molave tree. The lady and the child were covered with a blinding light, and the farmer heard a voice coming from the lady, saying, “Son, I want a church in my honor. My children shall receive many favors in this place.” After the encounter, the farmer knelt and spread the story of his experience throughout town.

From this story emerged the phrase to describe the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as “The Lady Who Calls”, which roughly translates to “Mantawag,” which was later translated to the Pangasinense and Ilokano language, “Manaoag,” which means “to call.”

Manaoag residents celebrate two annual festivals: the Galicayo Festival and the Parochial Fiesta, with the first celebrated every 2nd Sunday of December, and the latter every 1st Sunday of October. These festivals bind the people together, celebrating a part of their culture every year. Known products of the town include rice, mango, buri-rattan, basket wares, and candles. The town’s rich history as a pilgrimage location extends to its known tourism attractions, which include the Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag, and the Virgin’s well. 

The town’s total land area is approximately 5,595 hectares and with a population of 69,497 based on the last report.  The city consists of 26 barangays.

History of Manaoag:

The municipality of Manaoag is a four-century-old town that is known all over the country as the Pilgrims Center of Northern Philippines. Formerly known as “Sapang,” the land on which Manaoag sits had once been a small settlement in Cawili (now San Jacinto) in the 1600s. Today, Catholic devotees flock to the municipality, which is considered to be one of Pangasinan’s gems. 

The town’s name originated from a story of a hardworking farmer who saw a lady, believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary herself, carrying a child coated in white cloth that was thought to be the infant Jesus. The farmer had seen the image in a woody place called “Baloking Creek” above a molave tree. The lady and the child were covered with a blinding light, and the farmer heard a voice coming from the lady, saying, “Son, I want a church in my honor. My children shall receive many favors in this place.” After the encounter, the farmer knelt and spread the story of his experience throughout town.

From this story emerged the phrase to describe the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as “The Lady Who Calls”, which roughly translates to “Mantawag,” which was later translated to the Pangasinense and Ilokano language, “Manaoag,” which means “to call.”

Manaoag residents celebrate two annual festivals: the Galicayo Festival and the Parochial Fiesta, with the first celebrated every 2nd Sunday of December, and the latter every 1st Sunday of October. These festivals bind the people together, celebrating a part of their culture every year. Known products of the town include rice, mango, buri-rattan, basket wares, and candles. The town’s rich history as a pilgrimage location extends to its known tourism attractions, which include the Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag, and the Virgin’s well. 

The town’s total land area is approximately 5,595 hectares and with a population of 69,497 based on the last report.  The city consists of 26 barangays.

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