"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 neighboring 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 nowadays, 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 the 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."
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AAsingan,_Pangasinan
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