Calasiao, officially the Municipality of Calasiao, (Pangasinan: Baley na Calasiao; Ilokano: Ili ti

Calasiao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Calasiao), is a 1st class municipality in

the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 95,154
people.[3]
The name Calasiao was derived from the native word Kalasian, which means "a place where
lightning frequently occurs", from the root word lasi, meaning "lightning". Upon the arrival of the
Spaniards, they called the place "Lugar de Rayos", a literal Spanish translation of the word Kalasian.
It was named as such because it is said that Calasiao back in the day was always frequented by this
natural phenomenon. Today, Calasiao is known as a First Class Municipality and is located at the
very heart of Pangasinan. It governs 24 barangays and 31 sitios in a total land area of 4,836
hectares.[6] Calasiao's flagship product is the native rice cake known as Puto Calasiao.

BRIEF HISTORY

Three hundred sixty-one (367) years ago, “Calasiao” was founded by the Dominican
Missionaries. Next to town of San Carlos City, formerly “Binalatongan”, N.P. Domingo
de Gabon advocated it. Its first vicar was Father Juan Maldonado de San Pedro Martyr.
Because of the controversy between the said missionaries and N.P. Sto. Domingo de
Gabon then, the missionaries placed a barrier between the barrios of Gabon and
Dinalaoan, the place where the Roman Catholic Church is now standing. According to
the version of the missionaries, this town was named “Calasiao”. This word “Calasiao”
was designated as “Lugar de Rayos” in Spanish language. At the time the missionaries
left this place, N.P. Sto. Domingo de Gabon moved to the said place and a temporary
church was built and advocated by him as the house of N.P. Sto. Domingo de Gabon de
“Calasiao” (alias Gabon). One hundred forty-five (145) years later, the very first Roman
Catholic Church was constructed by the followers of N.P. Sto. Domingo de Gabon and
designated the patron saints “San Pedro Y san Pablo de Calasiao”, as advocated by
Padre Mis Condullo. Later on, a destructive earthquake ruined the church. A few
months passed and it was rebuilt. In 1736, a group led by Palaries of Binalatongan (now
San Carlos City), burned the church.

After a few years, Padre Daimu reconstructed the church with strong materials, bricks
and hard timbers with iron roof. It is 88-30 meters long, 25 meters wide and 27.30
meters high. Construction begun in 1735 and ended in 1758. It has three (3) bodies
(naves). Its convent is seventy-five (75) meters long and twenty-five (25) meters wide,
with two (2) churchyards at the left side and front of the church. The tower is a t the right
side of the church and is made of bricks and the floors and the stairs are made of hard
timber. It is thirty (30) meters high, more or less. The church convent and the tower are
considered the second to the best buildings in the province of Pangasinan.
 MEANING OF MUNICIPAL SEAL

Rice Field or Farmland (Yellow Green) – signifies that Calasiao is a vast land with flat
terrain, which could be developed into residential, commercial or other functional areas.
As farm areas, they can be easily irrigated.

Coconut Tree – signifies the abundance of coconut trees and other fruit trees in the
area.

Hat (Brown) – stands for hat-making, one of the leading cottage industries in the
municipality.

Pile of Bamboo (Green) – symbolizes the raw materials used in cottage industries in
the municipality.

Anvil and Mallet (Gray) – represent blacksmithing, primary industries of the town
residents.

Vat / Pan (Black and Gray) – symbolize puto-making, a leading occupation of the
townspeople.

Fish (White) – stands for the five (5) big and wide-fishing grounds of the municipality,
namely: Basasong, Anolid, Marusay, San Vicente and Bayaoas