Jovelle F.

Diaz

My Travel Log in Pangasinan

The town of Aguilar had its early beginning as a cattle ranch. It was
then a part of Binalatongan (now San Carlos City). The present
Poblacion was then covered with verdant forest and tall grasses where
deer and other wild animals roamed freely day and night. And the name
Calasiao came from the native word “lasi” which means a place of
lightning. Founded by the Dominicans in 1588, Calasiao is the second
oldest town in Pangasinan. Calasiao is also home to the only NCCA-
acknowledged cultural treasure in the Province, the St. Peter & Paul
Parish Church. (Aguilar Municipal, 2018)

When we visited Aguilar Pangasinan there’s a lot of pamahiin or beliefs

by, I remember it was a funeral of my grandmother, it was morning
when we got in that place. I rested for a while and decided to help my
aunties with the house chores, but they refused and said it was a
pamahiin there that a visitor doesn’t need to help in any house chores
even if it is a blood relative. They speak “pangalatok” language where
I only understand a few words, that is why when they are trying to
communicate with me, they are required to speak in Tagalog language
in order for us to understand each other. (Municipality of Pangasinan,
2018)

Aguilar Pangasinan is one of the towns located in Pangasinan. We

stayed at Barangay Manlocbo which is almost a walking distance from
the capitol. That first day we arrived we decided to visit the Rice fields
near in the backyard together with my siblings, the surroundings filled
with a green rice plants. I looked up and I saw a lot of birds known as “
Maya” dancing in the sky. I was amazed by the scenery especially when
I saw a black and white eagle smoothly flying in the rice fields. That
night we decided to visit the Capitol of Aguilar, there is a park and we
decided to buy street food while walking around the park. I bought fries
and shakes because I am not familiar with other food they sell. When
we are walking around the park, I saw St. Joseph Church in front of
capitol it looks like it was built from a renaissance period.
In the Second day, in afternoon we passed by in the Aguilar Public
market to buy some necessity. The market was small compared to our
market, it closed at 5pm according to vendors. It was quite shocking
for me because in sampol, even at midnight there is an open stall. After
that, we passed by a milk tea shop. The third day of our stay in
Pangasinan, it was also the day of Interment of our grandmother sister.
We attend mass on St. Joseph Church that also serve as a mass for our
grandmother. After the interment, we already said goodbye to our
relatives there. We traveled to Calasiao, another town in Pangasinan
where my father’s mother lives. We passed by in St. Peter and St. Paul
church to attend some mass before going to our grandmother house.
After that, we passed by Pasalubong corner in Calasiao capitol and
bought pasalubong. We only stayed there for 1 day, before we went
home, we decided to have some bonding in Lingayen beach together
with my Aunties and Cousins. And after a stay, we already say goodbye
and it's time to go home.

I realize that it is important to take a break or to be away from the

stress of life in the meantime, it is important that you give enough time
for yourself to relax, and it is not bad. It was quite nice living in
province like pangasinan, the peace and the air free from the pollution.
But still, it will be hard living there especially if you don’t have
sakahan or rice fields and business. The opportunity there is less
compared to our city. In visiting Pangasinan, expect that their market
close early. Transportation like buses, jeeps and tricycles don’t always
pass by and expect lots of rice fields and beaches. Furthermore, make
sure you already bring your necessities, especially medicines, before
visiting the hospital was far away from the town, and there is no mall,
only Robinson that also closed early.