St.

Louis bertrand
ASINGAN PANGASINAN
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ASINGAN, PANGASINAN AND
ST. LOUIS BERTRAND CHURCH

 As early as 1600, Dominican missionaries established religious missions in a

place called Caboloan ( said to be the first name of Pangasinan ). One was called
SAN BARTOLOME DE AGNO ( 1687 ) the first to be established near the
present site of San Manuel. Then another mission was put up in a neighbouring
area ( now the present site of Asingan ). This second mission is called SAN LUIS
BELTRAN DE SINAPOG (1698). In 1719 some Igorots from the nearby
mountains of San Manuel attacked the mission of San Bartolome and massacred
some inhabitants. The Dominican friars and some survivors fled to San Luis
Beltran mission for safety. In 1733, the Governor General granted a license to
establish a town in the San Luis Beltran mission. This town became Asingan in
1802 and up this day, it is still located beside the Sinapog river. ASINGAN got its
name from an early incident when some visitors cried "Naasing kayo" ( Ilocano
for "You are hostile" ) to some natives who did not want the visitors to hang
around.
 When the revolt against the Spaniards broke out, only Asingan and Binmaley did
not join the uprising. Asingan became the refuge of Dominican friars whose lives
were endangered; thus Asingan earned the title of "Most Noble and Most Loyal
Asingan.“
 If you visit Asingan now a days, you can see the Asingan Catholic Church in its
fully restored elegance. Like any church in Pangasinan, it has survived
earthquakes, insurrections and other man-made calamities. On March 16, 1892 an
earthquake left the church with some horizontal cracks. But the church was still
usable for worship. Then in 1898, General Makabulos of the KKK ( Kagalang
galangang, Kataastaasang Katipunan ) organized some secret groups in
Pangasinan.
 It is written that during this year, Binalonan, San Manuel and Asingan were
captured by the KKK. It must have been during this period that the Asingan
convent ( the biggest convent in Eastern Pangasinan at that time ) was razed to the
ground by a Katipunero named Agustin Alejo.

 In 1947, Rev. Jose Macaraeg renovated the church in preparation for the second
post war celebration of Christ the King in Pangasinan. Thus in October 1947, the
faithful from entire Pangasinan, and also the towns of Lupao and Cuyapo in
Nueva Ecija and other towns like Camiling and Gerona in Tarlac converged in
Asingan for a huge celebration. ( at that time, these towns are still part of the
Diocese of Lingayen.)
 On July 16, 1990, an intensity 8 earthquake rendered the church useless. Whole
walls came down. Masses were held outdoors. But Asinganians from all over the
world ( even those from other denominations ) pitched in their financial help for
the restoration of the church. Thus, on October 10, 1993, which is celebrated in
Asingan as the feast day of their Patron Saint St. Louis Beltran, the reconstructed
church was opened to all Asinganians for the first time. This first Mass was
concelebrated by Fr. Jesus Galang, D.D. Asingan Parish Priest Msgr. Marlo
Peralta and assistant Parish Priest Benjamin Mangonon.
 The parishioners were honored in April 23, 1995 when President Fidel Ramos
came to his hometown to see the new church . Msgr. Peralta acknowledged before
the congregation the presence of the former President of the Philippines.--#