Asingan, officially the Municipality of Asingan (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
It was the hometown of President Fidel V. Ramos, the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992–1998.
Etymology According to historian Francisco Malala, the name of Asingan originated from an early encounter where visitors exclaimed "Naasing kayo," an Ilocano phrase meaning "you are hostile," referring yo locals who resisted outsiders in the area.
History Asingan traces its origins to the Spanish colonial period through early Dominican missionary efforts in the Caboloan (present-day Pangasinan). Around 1600, missionaries founded the San Bartolome de Agno mission in 1687 near present-day San Manuel, followed by the San Luis Beltran de Sinapog mission in 1698 in the area that is now Asingan along the Sinapog River. Following a 1719 attack on the San Bartolome mission by mountain residents, survivors and friars sought refuge at San Luis Beltran. The establishment of a town was granted by the Governor-General in 1733, and the settlement eventually became Asingan in 1802. During the 1762 revolts against Spain, Asingan and Binmaley remained loyal, serving as a sanctuary for endangered Dominican friars and earning the town the title of "Most Noble and Most Loyal Asingan."
Central to the town's history is the Asingan Catholic Church, which has withstood numerous calamities, insurrections, and earthquakes over the centuries. On March 16, 1892, an earthquake left the structure with horizontal cracks, though it remained functional for worship. During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, revolutionary forces under General Francisco Makabulos captured the area, during which the local convent, then considered as the largest in eastern Pangasinan, was burned down by a Katipunero named Agustin Alejo.
On October 8, 1903, during the subsequent American colonial period, the town of San Manuel and barrio San Andres in Tayug were annexed to Asingan, by virtue of Act No. 931. San Manuel was later separated as a re-established municipality on October 31, 1906.
A powerful earthquake on July 16, 1990 struck the municipality, causing damage especially to the church.
Geography Asingan is situated from the provincial capital Lingayen, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays Asingan is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Ariston East Ariston West Bantog Baro Bobonan Cabalitian Calepaan Carosucan Norte Carosucan Sur Coldit Domanpot Dupac Macalong Palaris Poblacion East Poblacion West San Vicente Este San Vicente Weste Sanchez Sobol Toboy
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Government Local government
Asingan is part of the sixth 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
The composition of the Municipal Government of Asingan as of June 30, 2025 ++Municipal Government of AsinganPositionNameYear ElectedTerm No.Representative (6th District)Marlyn L. Primicias Agabas20225MayorEngr. Carlos F. Lopez Jr.20193Vice MayorHeidee L. Ganigan-Chua20193CouncilorAthena Ira G. Chua20193CouncilorJoselito V. Viray20193CouncilorJohnny Mar A. Carig20193CouncilorChristian Benedict D.C. Robeniol20251CouncilorMelchor O. Cardinez, Jr. 20251CouncilorVirgilio I. Amistad20225CouncilorMark E. Abella20254CouncilorGilbert S. Piso20251Councilor(ex-officio member)ABC PresidentHerminio C. Alcantara, Jr. 2023 1Councilor(ex-officio member)SK PresidentNapthali Magiting P. Bernabe20231
Culture Kankanen Festival On April 13, 2024, Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr. led the town's annual "Kankanen Festival" with the 21 barangays serving 464 bilaos of rice cakes made from glutinous rice.
Education There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public elementary and high schools. These are Asingan I Schools District Office, and Asingan II Schools District Office.
Primary and elementary schools
Ariston Este Elementary School Ariston-Bantog Elementary School Bobonan Elementary School Carosucan Adventist Multigrade School Carosucan East Elementary School Carosucan Norte Elementary School Carosucan Sur Elementary School Domanpot Elementary School Don H. Velasco Community School Don Teodorico Bauzon Elementary School Lightbearers Learning Center Narciso R. Ramos Elementary School SPED Center North Central School Palaris Elementary School San Vicente Este Elementary School Sanchez-Cabalitian Elementary School Sir Mosesnar School Sobol Elementary School Teofilo Gante Elementary School Toboy Elementary School
Secondary schools
Angela Valdez Ramos National High School Ariston-Bantog National High School Calepaan Integrated School Carosucan Norte National High School Carosucan Sur National High School Luciano Millan National High School San Vicente West Integrated School Toboy National High School
Notable personalities Fidel V. Ramos – 12th President of the Philippines (1992–1998) Leticia Ramos Shahani – Senator of the Philippines (1987–1998) Narciso Ramos – diplomat and father of President Fidel V. Ramos and Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani. Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs during Marcos presidency, Filipino Founding Father of ASEAN Retired General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. – retired general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Corazon C. Aquino and President Fidel V. Ramos. AFP Chief of Staff (2004–2009) under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Present Secretary of National Security Council under President Rodrigo Duterte. Colonel Vicente S. Santos Jr – founding president of Kapatiran ng mga Kawal na Makawikang Pilipino (KAKAMPI) and author of numerous military books and publications. Jhong Hilario- well-known sample king TV personality of ABS-CBN and dancer. Current Councilor of the First District of Makati (1st District) Columbia 'Coco' Diaz- community organizer for domestic workers and caregivers in Canada
References
External links
Asingan Profile at PhilAtlas.com Municipal Profile at the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines Asingan at the Pangasinan Government Website Local Governance Performance Management System [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information