The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

Scripture: Luke 1: 26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin
betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at
the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb
and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most
High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house
of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this
be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son
of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the
sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said,
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to your word.” And the angel departed
from her.

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Rosario, La Union

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Coordinates: 16°14′N 120°29′E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rosario
Municipality
Municipality of Rosario

Rosario town center

Flag

Seal
Map of La Union with Rosario highlighted
OpenStreetMap

Rosario
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°14′N 120°29′E
Country Philippines
Region Ilocos Region
Province La Union
District 2nd district
Founded 1869
Barangays 33 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]

• Type Sangguniang Bayan

• Mayor Bellarmin A. Flores II
 • Vice Mayor Bellarmin C. Flores III
• Representative Dante S. Garcia
• Municipal Council Members
• Electorate 36,528 voters (2022)
Area
[2]

• Total 73.98 km2 (28.56 sq mi)

Elevation 202 m (663 ft)
Highest elevation 945 m (3,100 ft)
Lowest elevation 28 m (92 ft)
Population
(2020 census)[3]
• Total 60,278
• Density 810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
• Households 14,433
Economy
• Income class 1st municipal income class
3.55
• Poverty incidence
% (2018)[4]
• Revenue ₱ 261.7 million (2020)
• Assets ₱ 522.2 million (2020)
• Expenditure ₱ 175.3 million (2020)
• Liabilities ₱ 141.4 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 2506
PSGC 013313000
IDD : area code +63 (0)72
Ilocano
Native languages Pangasinan
Tagalog

Rosario, officially the Municipality of Rosario (Ilocano: Ili ti Rosario; Pangasinan: Baley na
Rosario; Filipino: Bayan ng Rosario), is a 1st class municipality in the province of La Union,
Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,278 people.[3]

The Kennon Road starts from this town and ends in Baguio. It is accessible via the MacArthur
Highway, or via the NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) and TPLEX (Tarlac–Pangasinan–La
Union Expressway), which will have its terminus in this town.

Etymology
 Aerial view of Rosario, 1932

There are several legends that explain how Rosario first got its name. The best known says that
the name "Rosario" came from the phrase “rosas del rio,” a reference to the beautiful landscape
of the area when it was first discovered by Spaniards, with narrow valleys, wild animals, birds,
rivers, brooks, dense forest, and the riverscape.

Another version or story suggests that name was a reference to the long range of foothills visible
to the west of the Poblacion, which appear like big Rosary beads, forming a long, rocky, giant
rosary.

Yet another legend first documented in 1887[5] associates the name of the town with a legendary
creature called a Marukos (spelled "manrukos" in the 1887 text). In the legend, a group of youths
were playing around and being noisy while loitering around near the floodplains of the Bued
River between Rosario and Sison on a Sunday. They were then confronted by an old man in
white garb, whose flesh looked like a corpse - the Marukos. The creature accused them of
engaging in leisure activities on a holy day and put a curse on them, causing them to lose their
sense of direction. As a result, they failed to notice that they were about to be swept away by one
of the flash floods that often plagued the river. In the end, only a young girl survived the
encounter with the Marukos, by clinging to a "Balingkawanay" (Pittosporum pentandrum) tree.[5]
According to the account, some stories claim that the girl had survived by praying the Rosary,
while other stories say that her name was Rosario. Either way, the story of the Marukos became
closely associated with the etymology of the town of Rosario, which used to be part of
Pangasinan.[6]

History
Rosario was formerly a part of Santo Tomas and became a municipality in 1869 by a decree.
Natives of Rosario emanated from Santo Tomas and Magsingal (Ilocos Sur), and also from
Agoo, Tubao, Aringay, San Fernando and Bacnotan.

It was Don Mariano Posadas, Don Mariano Narcelles and Don Gavino Ordoña, who filed a
petition with the authorities for the conversion of Rosario to a town from sitio or barangay. In
1869, the Spanish Provincial Governor created Rosario town and appointed Don Agustin Isidro
de Guzman as its first Capitan Municipal.

Geography
Rosario is the southernmost town of La Union, so it is referred to as the “Gateway to Ilocandia”.
Rosario's national highway passes along a mountain at barangay Agat (of Sison, Pangasinan),
then into the Bued bridge (the boundary marker between La Union and Pangasinan).

Rosario is 215 kilometres (134 mi) away from Metro Manila and 54 kilometres (34 mi) from San
Fernando, the provincial capital. The flight distance between Manila and Rosario is 189
kilometres (117 mi).[7]

Climate

Climate data for Rosario, La Union

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
30 31 32 33 32 30 29 29 29 30 30 30 30
Average high °C (°F)
(86) (88) (90) (91) (90) (86) (84) (84) (84) (86) (86) (86) (87)
19 20 21 23 24 24 24 24 24 23 21 20 22
Average low °C (°F)
(66) (68) (70) (73) (75) (75) (75) (75) (75) (73) (70) (68) (72)
Average precipitation 15 16 24 33 102 121 177 165 144 170 56 23 1,046
mm (inches) (0.6) (0.6) (0.9) (1.3) (4.0) (4.8) (7.0) (6.5) (5.7) (6.7) (2.2) (0.9) (41.2)
Average rainy days 6.3 6.6 9.5 12.8 20.6 23.5 25.4 23.4 23.2 21.4 14.0 8.2 194.9
Source: Meteoblue[8]

Barangays

Rosario is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. [9] Each barangay consists of puroks and
some have sitios.

 Alipang
 Ambangonan
 Amlang
 Bacani
 Bangar
 Bani
 Benteng-Sapilang
 Cadumanian
 Camp One
 Carunuan East
 Carunuan West
 Casilagan
 Cataguingtingan
 Concepcion
 Damortis
 Gumot-Nagcolaran
 Inabaan Norte
 Inabaan Sur
 Nagtagaan
  Nangcamotian
 Parasapas
 Poblacion East
 Poblacion West
 Puzon
 Rabon
 San Jose
 Marcos
 Subusub
 Tabtabungao
 Tanglag
 Tay-ac
 Udiao
 Vila

Demographics

Population census of Rosario

Year Pop. ±% p.a.

1903 3,028 —

1918 6,806 +5.55%

1939 11,280 +2.44%

1948 12,869 +1.48%

1960 18,045 +2.86%

1970 22,118 +2.05%

1975 25,354 +2.78%

1980 29,331 +2.96%

1990 35,010 +1.79%

1995 38,376 +1.73%

2000 43,497 +2.72%

2007 49,025 +1.66%

 2010 52,679 +2.65%

2015 55,458 +0.98%

2020 60,278 +1.65%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Rosario, La Union, was 60,278 people,[3] with a density of
810 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy
Poverty Incidence of Rosario
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15]
[16][17][18][19][20]

Government
Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Just as the national government, the municipal government of Rosario, is divided into three
branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the
Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative
branches.

The executive branch is composed of the mayor and the barangay captain for the barangays.

The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly), Sangguniang
Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at
the RosarioTown hall. The Sangguniang Bayan is the center of legislation, stationed in Rosario
Legislative Building or Town hall.[21]

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council

 (2019–2022)[22]
Position Name
Congressman Sandra Y. Eriguel
Mayor Bellarmin A. Flores II
Vice-Mayor Bellarmin C. Flores III
Joseph S. Heruela
Jan Michael G. Viray
Allan S. Sabangan
Cesario T. Licos
Councilors
Apolinario T. Albay Jr.
Felix T. Madriaga
Rose Lily S. Fuentes
Raul C. Flores

Tourism
Rosario has the following landmark attractions:

 Beach resorts
 Zoo
 The Queen of Peace Priory
 The Tree House
 World War II Vintage Canons located at the Town Plaza
 The Rosario Nature Park is hectares of lush green (La Union’s biggest camping site. It is
the venue of the Boys and Girls Scouts of the Philippines' Jamborees. It is also the
meeting place of Air Soft Enthusiasts' War Games.
 Agoo–Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape
 Public Market (near the Rosario-Pugo Junction Road and a new Slaughter House which,
unlike its predecessor, was built away from residential areas.
 Yearly, on December 8, the Feast of Immaculate Concepcion, the town celebrates its
fiesta. But it centers on the Linubian Festival (local cassava and banana cake) held from
April 17 to 19. Rosario holds an Agri Trade Fair, showcasing its harvests topped by
street-dancing competitions.[23]

La Union Welcome Arch at Rosario

 

Municipal hall

Public market

Rosario intersection

Rosario rural landscape

1869 Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church

The Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church was canonically erected in 1869. It is under the
jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Fernando de La Union (Dioecesis
Ferdinandopolitana ab Unione, Suffragan of Lingayen – Dagupan, which was created on January
19, 1970, and erected on April 11, 1970, comprising the Civil Province of La Union, under the
Titular, St. William the Hermit, February 10). The Church is under a diocese of the Latin Church
of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines from the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

The Rosario Church is under the Vicariate of St. Francis Xavier with Vicar Forane, Fr. Joel
Angelo Licos.[24][25] Its Parish Priestis Fr. Raul S. Panay.

The church is located on the eastern side fronting the National Highway and the Municipal
Building. It has an access road to the Rosario-Pugo-Baguio Road.

Church facade

Church gate

Convent and Parish rectory

 

Interior and choir

References
1.

 Municipality of Rosario | (DILG)

  "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population
Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016.
ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  Census of Population (2020). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province,
City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine
Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  de los Reyes, Isabelo. (1887) Ilocandias.
  Demetrio, Francisco R., Ed. (1991) Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Customs
Volume II. Cagayan de Oro: Xavier University Press
  189 Km – Flight distance between Manila and Rosario – La Union Philippines
  "Rosario: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics
Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province,
City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)" (PDF). Total
Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved
29 June 2016.
  Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population
Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National
Statistics Office.
  "Province of La Union". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities
Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29
November 2005.
  "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority.
23 March 2009.
  "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine
Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority.
31 May 2016.
  "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015".
Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine
Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  Local Government Units: Municipality of Rosario-Government - Province of La Union ::
Official Website
  "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March
6, 2022.
  Local Government Units: Municipality of Rosario - Province of La Union :: Official
Website
  "Diocese of San Fernando de La Union". Claretian Publications. Retrieved 28 September
2014.

25.  "Diocese of San Fernando de La Union". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 28 September

2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rosario, La Union.

 Rosario, La Union Website

 Philippine Standard Geographic Code
 Philippine Census Information
 Local Governance Performance Management System

Places adjacent to Rosario, La Union

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Province of La Union
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