Dasol, Pangasinan

Dasol
Municipality
Seal
Map of Pangasinan showing the location of Dasol
Dasol Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°59′23″N 119°52′50″E / 15.98972°N 119.88056°E / 15.98972; 119.88056Coordinates: 15°59′23″N 119°52′50″E / 15.98972°N 119.88056°E / 15.98972; 119.88056
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos (Region I)
Province	Pangasinan
District	1st district of Pangasinan
Founded	1911
Barangays	18
Government[1]
• Mayor	Noel A. Nacar
• Vice mayor	Manuel Balazon Rivera
Area[2]
• Total	166.60 km2 (64.32 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	26,991
• Density	160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2411
Dialing code	75
Income class	3rd class; rural
Website	www.dasol.gov.ph

Dasol is a third class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 26,991 people.^[3]

Dasol is a popular town for the production of commercial salts. Seawater is fed into large ponds and water is drawn out through natural evaporation which allows the salt to be harvested. Dasol Bay occupies the whole coastline of Dasol and it is where the town gets its saltwater.

Dasol is a small town in western Pangasinan, situated in a plateau. It is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Burgos and Mabini, the mineral-rich Zambales mountains in the east, the municipality of Infanta on the south, and the vast South China Sea on the west. It has an area of about 230 square kilometers.

Traversed by the fully paved Pangasinan-Zambales Highway, Dasol is 288 kilometres (179 mi) north from Manila via Camiling, Tarlac, and 88 kilometres (55 mi) from Dagupan City. Taking the opposite direction via Subic and Olongapo City, Dasol is about 310 kilometres (190 mi) from Manila. Dasol can be reached by bus or jeepney trips from Alaminos and Santa Cruz. Notable bus companies include Victory Liner, Five Star Bus Company, and Philippine Rabbit.

History

Dasol landmark

The town got its name from the medicinal herb "dosol" which abound in the locality during the Spanish period. The leaves of this herbal plant are greenish and oval in shape. It is a tuber relatively very low in height. It was commonly used to cure infected wounds, but was found to have the unusual characteristic of miraculously disappearing (abandoning its post) for unknown reason never to be located again. Its name was frequently mispronounced as Dasol by the Spaniards, so that when the place was established as municipality in the 19th Century, Dasol became its official name.

Secession from Zambales and other towns

On November 7, 1903, the northern part of Zambales was annexed to the Province of Pangasinan. The municipalities ceded were Alaminos, Bolinao, Anda, San Isidro de Putot, Bani, Pangasinan, Agno, and Infanta. Townsfolk cited alleged lack of concern for the towns' interest and welfare by the Zambales provincial government and was encouraged to join Pangasinan province. However, for allegedly the same reason, there was a movement to rejoin Zambales, which clamor was aroused by the incumbency of then President Ramon Magasaysay, a Zambales born president in the middle of the 1950s. This proposal was wiped out completely when Governor Aguedo Agbayani of Pangasinan became the governor.

As early as 1878, Dasol was not as a municipality as it is now, but was part of San Isidro de Putot municipality which also include the present municipalities of Mabini (at that time was named as Barrio Balincaguin), and Burgos. At that time, there were few people lived in Dasol. Balincaguin was the most thickly populated barrio and later became an independent municipality. The people, in their desire for better living conditions, moved to the south-west. They found good fishing grounds and they decided to stay along the coast in the barrio of Uli, Dasol. In 1911, by virtue of Executive Order No. 25, Dasol seceded from San Isidro de Putot, San Isidro de Putot was renamed as Burgos (in honor of José Apolonio Burgos) and Balincaguin was renamed as Mabini (in honor of Apolinario Mabini).

Boundary issues

Ever since its creation, the boundaries of Dasol with the municipalities of Burgos, Mabini and Infanta remain vague, for what the leaders of Dasol had claimed to be the boundaries then agreed upon and as allegedly borne out by records, are no longer respected by the respective officials of said adjoining municipalities. Instead, they have encroached into Dasol's domain. During the incumbency of Mayor Liceralde, he made an attempt to settle Dasol's boundary with Mabini, but even after two separate conferences between the officials of the two towns were already had, each group was adamant in its own version. Considering that there was no visible sign of a probability for an amicable settlement of the dispute, the idea was abandoned so as to give way to court battle. He allegedly said that it was time-consuming to gather relevant documentary evidence (parol evidence no longer available due to the death of reliable witnesses) that would clinch the case for Dasol. The same appears to be true with respect to the other boundary conflicts.

Dasol War History

Philippine Revolution

A revolutionary group was organized in the Central Luzon on January 14, 1898 under General Francisco Macabulos. The Pangasinan sub-group was headed by Vicente del Prado, who together with Daniel Maramba reached an understanding to launch an attack on Spanish situations. On March 7, 1898, a simultaneous attack was suddenly made upon convents in number of towns of western Pangasinan (then as northern Zambales). Areas of San Isidro Potot, Dasol (proper), and Eguia were among attacked. The small Spanish detachments in these towns and around fifty Spanish friars were defeated.

World War II

Dasol bay has been witness to several naval battles in World War II. On August 23, 1944, while searching for new targets, USS Harder and USS Hake were attacked by Kaibokan CD-22 and PB-102 (ex-USS Stewart (DD-224)). Thinking that it was just a Japanese minesweeper and a three-stack Siamese destroyer Phra Ruang, the Japanese vessel operated in consort with the anti-submarine vessel attacked and sank USS Harder thru a technique known as depth charge attack. USS Hake is also attacked but escaped and arrived at Fremantle Harbor, Australia on September 24, 1944.

On November 6, 1944, while guarding convoy Ma-Ta 31, Japanese cruiser Kumano was attacked by a US submarine wolf-pack consisting of the Batfish, Guitarro, Bream, Raton and the Ray. In all, the American submarines launched 23 torpedoes towards the convoy, two of which struck the Kumano. The first hit destroyed the ship's recently replaced bow, and the second damaged its starboard engine room. Kamano escaped and was towed to Dasol Bay by the cargo ship Doryo Maru, and from there the ship was moved to the beach and underwent repairs. On November 25, 1944, Kumano came under aerial attack by aircraft launched by the USS Ticonderoga. Five torpedoes and four 500 pound bombs struck the ship, and rolled over and sank in about 31 m (100 ft) of water.

Political History

Dasol Municipal Hall

No record has been found regarding the reign of a governardorcillo in this municipality but records show that there was already an organized government, with Santos Jimenez, Vicente Liceralde, Gaspar Estrada and Pedro Estrada as early capitan municipáles.

Cornelio Estrada was the capitan municipál from 1898 until 1900. At the height of the Katipunan resistance against the Americans, Francisco Bernal was the capitan municipál.

During the time San Isidro Putot was established, the town had been under three rulers, who ruled in different terms, namely: Lucas Bonilla (1899–1901), Nazario Nacar (1901–1903), and Paulino Mendoza (1904–1908).

When Dasol municipality was created, Apolonio Casipit was its first president. He was succeeded by Leandro Cristobal from 1912-1916. Calixto Tobias was the municipal president from 1916. In 1918, Tobias was assassinated by an unknown assailant. His unexpired term was served by his vice mayor, Severino delos Reyes. In the following election, Apolonio Casipit won and served his second term from 1918 to 1920. Succeeding him was Pedro dela Rosa from 1921 to 1925.

In the years 1925 to 1932, Marcelo Jimenez was elected and served for two consecutive terms. In the following election, Flaviano Cristobal served as the last Municipal President from 1932-1935. He was elevated as Dasol's first Municipal Mayor, when the Commonwealth Government was established. He was followed by Juan Castro (1937–1939). Mayor Castro failed to serve the entire period of his term due to health conditions making his vice mayor, Emiliana R. Jimenez as Acting Municipal Mayor for the unexpired term (1940). In the next election, Flaviano Cristobal ran again and won, making him as the Municipal Mayor of Dasol at the outbreak of the second world war. He was forced to vacate the office in 1944 when he joined guerilla movement intervention. His vice mayor, Teodoro Milgar served as acting mayor for the unexpired term. When Philippine Independence came in 1946, Marcelo A. Jimenez was appointed by President Roxas as Acting Municipal Mayor. Like Mayor Castro, Mayor Jimenez failed to serve the entire period of his term in the same year.

Isidro Bustria served the unexpired term of Marcelo A. Jimenez from 1946 until 1948. In the 1948 election, Damaso E. Rivera won and served as municipal mayor. In 1950, Rivera failed to finish his term and his vice mayor, Segundo Basuel, served his unexpired term. In 1952, Cristino R. Jimenez won and served for four consecutive terms (1952–1967), winning three re-elections. In 1968, Ramon G. Liceralde won as mayor. 1976 local elections was suspended due to the existence of martial law. Liceralde, was so far the only lawyer-mayor of Dasol. In 1978, Benjamin Ochotorena was appointed Municipal Mayor until 1980. Ludovico R. Espinosa was elected and served as mayor from July 1980 until the government reorganization on June 10, 1986 by President Corazon Aquino. Manuel Bunao was appointed OIC Mayor from June 16, 1986 to November 17, 1986. Espinosa appealed and he was reinstalled on November 18, 1986. In June 1988, he was elected and served a new mandate. In the May 11, 1992 elections, Espinosa was defeated by Sergio N. Jimenez. Jimenez also defeated Espinosa in two successive elections (1995,1998). Due to term limits set by the Philippine Local Government Code of 1991, Sergio Jimenez gave way to his wife, Angelita Ocampo-Jimenez to run for the 2001 elections. Mrs. Jimenez won beating Vice Mayor Moises Alejos. In the 2004 elections, Mrs. Jimenez won her second term unchallenged. In the 2007 elections, Councilor Noel Nacar challenged Jimenez and won as new mayor of Dasol.

Peace and order

The town, however, suffered a black eye in the matter of peace and order. In the 1950s, insurgency surfaced, the first of its kind. The HUKBALAHAP made a surprise when it raid the municipal hall on August 25, 1950 and burned it into ashes. At the same the Mayor's residence was raided causing him to leave the remainder of his term to his vice-mayor. The so-called revolutionary taxes were being exacted and secretly collected from residents that the collectors presumed to be well-to-do. Rallies and meetings of activists waving red flaglets were held time and again in the public plazas castigating the municipal and provincial officials and its established government. Paved roads, plaza concrete fences, even school fences were painted in red thee emblem of communism and painted in black the human skull just below the word “DEMOCRACY”.

Certain residents including some public officials were actively involved. At long last, the military came to encamp so that the rallies were quelled and vandalism stopped. But secret activities of the insurgent civilians perpetrated anywhere in populated places or inside private dwellings. It would seem that insurgency was not all to blame. Common criminality and vindictiveness could have motivated some or many of the killings. No less than twenty fresh human lives (civilians, police and military) perished with their assailants unknown one of it was the killing of a retired us major bonus who's attackers are unknown. Ambuscades were staged along highways and other roadways one of the most famous was the ambush of seven people and keep it alongside of a paved road. Even private residences were invaded fearlessly to insure the killing of the intended victim. Even Mayor Espinosa at that time was not spared when about ten of his cows inside their "koral" one evening were gunned simultaneously.

Dasol today

Since 1992, the tension and violence has subsided and all of its residents, what ever its party affiliation are working hand in hand in developing the economy of the municipality. Dasol today with the help of Mayor Noel Nacar is such a good place to start family. Reasonable taxes and friendly municipal officers. The road from Bobonot to Tambobong which was before rough road has now becoming a concrete road. Since the Jimenez gone in position as mayor, Mayor Noel Nacar proves that there's something good to happen in Dasol Pangasinan, which is on going since his first term as mayor.

Barangays

Political Divisions in Dasol

Dasol is politically subdivided into 18 barangays.^[2]

Dasol had seven barrios (now called barangay) when it was created. These were Tambobong, Tanobong, Uli, Malacapas, Bongalon, Alilao and Poblacion. Eguia was then part of Infanta and was annexed to Dasol in 1925. As years went by and due to its increasing population, two more barrios were created. Eguia was divided to form other three barangays namely Macalang, Viga and Tambac. Then came the time when Tambobong was to create Magsaysay and Tanobong (Malimpin) was divided to create San Vicente. Later, Bongalon (Hermosa) was divided to create Petal out of its two sitios Penec and Espital and from Alilao, two more barangays were formed now known as Amalbalan and Gais-Guipe. The sitios of Macalang, Pantol, Tapac and Pagdagaan were constituted into a barrio of Macalang by virtue of Republic Act 1707.

* - Association of Barangay Captains President

Demographics

Climate

Economy

Salt Evaporation Pond Industry

The basic livelihood of the town includes salt making, small scale fishing, bagoong making, charcoal making, fruitwine making, and farming (mostly rice crops).

An average family raises only PhP 5,561.67 and spends PhP 4,506.58 mostly for basic needs.

Majority of Dasol's income came from commercial salt making, with 14 major salt producers in the municipality.

Dasol is rich in non-metallic resources. It has 360,230,000 m³ of limestone and 5,245 metric tons of guano.

About 0.5 km² of Dasol is used for commercial crops mostly for rice and vegetable production. The municipality have several coconut and mango plantations. Since it lie on the Zambales Mountain Range, the municipality have 6,513 mango fruit bearing trees. One of the plantations is the Carolina Farm and Mango Orchard owned by Menardo Jimenez, former GMA Network president.

Most of Dasol's livestock includes poultry, swine, cattle, goats, and carabaos with 6,370 livestock raisers all across the municipality.

Mining Areas

• Barangay Tambac
• Barangay Viga

Registered Mining Operators:

• A & P Mineral Trading

Festivals

Dasol celebrates the annual feast of its Catholic patron Saint Vincent Ferrer every first Friday of Lent (after Ash Wednesday). Dasol follows the tradition of every Filipino fiesta. At sunrise, a thanksgiving mass is rendered simultaneously in all Roman Catholic Church and Philippine Independent Church locations in Dasol. at 9:00 AM, a parade of all public officials and government employees are held at Barangay Poblacion public roads. In the afternoon, an open sports tournament sponsored by the Youth Council are held in the municipal hall compound. By the evening, senior citizen organizations and Filipino-American organizations celebrate a cocktail party at the municipal auditorium. Most of the attendants do ballroom dancing.

During the months of April and May barangay-based feasts were celebrated.

Tourist destinations

• Colibra Island (also known as Snake Island, Pulo Camaso): For hardened sun-lovers, the island’s beach has no shade. Excellent shoreline, good for snorkeling and diving. It is also good place for sea snake sightseeing.
• Tambobong Beach: An entire fishing village at your feet, very clear water. Good for sailing. White beach.
• Osmeña Beach
• Macalang Beach
• Salabusuban Falls
• Cequiro Cave, Pot-tot Cave, Ilang Cave, Simmimbaan Cave, and other unexplored caves at Barangay Amalbalan, Alilao, Petal and Osmena
• Dasoland (Carolina's Farm)

Churches

• Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Roman Catholic Church
• Philippine Independent Church
• Iglesia ni Cristo
• United Methodist Church
• Assembly of God
• Pentecostal
• Seventh Day Adventist
• Iglesia Mistica De Dios
• Jesus is Lord
• Lord of the Harvests

Gallery

• 

  Dasol Bay sunset

• 

  White Beaches in Dasol

• 

  Dasol Public Market

• 

  "Old Town"

See also

• Salt evaporation pond
• USS Harder (SS-257), a US submarine submerged in the Battle of Dasol Bay, World War II
• USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), US aircraft carrier
• Japanese cruiser Kumano, a Japanese cruiser

References

• Dasol Fiesta Souvenir - Published by the Municipal Government of Dasol (no ISBN Code)
• Island, beach, bridge, and sunset photos taken by Bill Lovelock, La Hermosa Beach Resort

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dasol, Pangasinan.

• Republic Act 1707: Act creating Barrio Macalang.
• Travel Guide: Dasol, Pangasinan
• Dasol, Pangasinan
• Salt business in Pangasinan
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

		Burgos
	South China Sea		Mabini
		Dasol
	Dasol Bay	Infanta

Province of Pangasinan Lingayen (capital) Municipalities Agno Aguilar Alcala Anda Asingan Balungao Bani Basista Bautista Bayambang Binalonan Binmaley Bolinao Bugallon Burgos Calasiao Dasol Infanta Labrador Laoac Lingayen Mabini Malasiqui Manaoag Mangaldan Mangatarem Mapandan Natividad Pozorrubio Rosales San Fabian San Jacinto San Manuel San Nicolas San Quintin Santa Barbara Santa Maria Santo Tomas Sison Sual Tayug Umingan Urbiztondo Villasis Component cities Alaminos San Carlos Urdaneta Independent component city Dagupan (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Pangasinan by the National Statistics Office) Barangays See: List of barangays in Pangasinan

Local Government Units of One Pangasinan Alliance Alaminos Agno Anda Bani Bolinao Burgos Dasol Infanta Mabini Sual