Etymology

In 1587, before the coming of the Spaniards, Binalatongan (original name of San Carlos; means a place where mongos thrived luxuriantly along its riverbanks) was already doing brisk trading activities (barter system) with the Chinese, Japanese, and Indian traders along its riverside settlements like Brgy. Mabalbalino. Thereby, when the Spaniards came to Binalatongan they were surprised that the natives were wearing gold jewelleries and already had a well-developed system of agriculture and farming methods.

With its bountiful natural resources and active trading activities, Binalatongan soon became the center of development under the Spanish rule. The Spaniards introduced European culture particularly Spanish Culture which at the time was also being propagated in Europe, in America, and now in its most recent colony – the Philippine Islands. From the time of its founding up to the middle of the 19th century, Binalatongan was rung third of the current Pangasinan Province and was considered as a bastion of freedom fighters and a seat of movement against the Spanish Colonizers. Heroism was exemplified by native born heroes like Don Andres Malong in 1660 and Juan de la Cruz Palaris, who in 1762, drove out the Spaniards from the Province of Pangasinan albeit for two brief years only.

Deeply embarrassed by these rebellions, King Carlos III of Spain ordered the Spanish rulers to raze the town of Binalatongan to the ground and changed its name to San Carlos when they eventually move it to its present site. In like manner, another reference to the city’s name is said to be from Saint Charles Borromeo whose feast November 4, coincided with the final transfer of its Poblacion which took place on November 4, 1718.

Historical Development

Behind the creation of the town of Binalatongan were the Dominican missionaries who were, in fact, responsible for both the evangelization of the natives, for the founding of the town, and its monumental historical structure, the Saint Dominic church. Out of natives’ crude settlements, the Dominicans established a town which to this day exists, a thriving center of population and culture in the Province of Pangasinan. It was, in fact, the first town founded by the Dominicans in the Philippines, along with that of Bataan, shortly after their arrival in the islands in 1587. The mission of Binalatongan was officially accepted as a vicariate of the Dominican Order in its First Provincial Chapter in 1588, with Fr. Bernardo de Santa Catalina, OP, as its first Vicar (roughly equivalent to the office of the parish priest), together with Fr. Juan de Castro, OP, Fr. Marcos de San Antonio, and Bro. Juan Deza, OP as his assistants.

Binalatongan, at the height of its popularity, served as the center of their Provincial Chapter and because of this it was mistakenly referred to as the capital of Pangasinan. It had the largest church in the province which was equipped with the biggest and most sonorous church bell in the country. The pride and joy of Binalatongan belfry was irretrievably lost when the big raft carrying it to the new site staggered under its weight and sank to the bottom of the San Juan River. According to the local legend, the bell lies at the bottom of the river guarded by a mermaid.

The outset of a fascinating story during the Spanish period was the huge bell, which when rung could be heard throughout the Kasikis Kingdom and the neighbouring province. Old folks still recall the weird and ominous sound which had caused spontaneous abortions and numerous cases of miscarriages among the women-folk. It is believed by many that the huge bell got lost into the San Juan River when it was being transported by strong and sturdy men aboard in a makeshift bamboo barge. It has not been recovered since then. According to popular legend, as mentioned above, the giant bell is now being guarded by a mermaid living in the river.

The Creation and Founding of the City of San Carlos

San Carlos was formerly the seat of the vast native Kingdom of Ari Kasikis comprising the provinces of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, La Union, Mt. Province, and Pangasinan. San Carlos, the ancient and historical city of Pangasinan, prides itself of being 430 years old today (2017). Rich in both legend and historicity, this flourishing community was founded by Fr. Francisco dela Rama, an Augustinian friar in 1587. Juan de Salcedo, together with the Augustinian friars, landed in San Fabian on March 23, 1575. Upon hearing the Kasikis Kingdom, they proceeded at the foot of Zambales Mountains to see this Kingdom first hand. The friars and the Spaniards found the people of Kasikis with a highly-organized religious ritual wherein they practiced animism, a belief in spirits and the environment.

The Poblacion during the Hispanic period was also known under the term “cabecera,” which referred to the location of the church and of the compact village. The physical lay-out of the village followed a gridiron pattern with a central plaza or town square at the center, and some rectangular street blocks around it close to the church. To meet religious needs for far flung areas as ease of access, series of small chapels were built in the nearby environs which were then known as “visitas” or missions attached to the cabecera. These were regularly visited by the missionaries residing at the cabecera, and in time, several of them became the nuclei of new and independent towns. Of the former visitas of Binalatongan, the following became independent towns and vicariates of the Dominican Order:  Calasiao, Binmaley, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Aguilar, San Carlos City, Urbiztondo, and Basista. Truly then, Binalatongan or San Carlos deserves to be called “Mother-house of the Province”, as the Dominican annals would often describe it.

The San Carlenians (natives of San Carlos) were of Malayan extraction. They spoke the language called Cabuloan, the original Pangasinan dialect. They stood firm with their beliefs and practices, hence, there was frequent fighting between them and the Augustinian friars. Due to this constant clashes, the friars were forced to move out. But San Carlos City is destined to be a Christian Community. The Dominicans took over where the Augustinians failed. Among the city’s most significant historical luminaries are Andres Malong and Juan dela Cruz Palaris. The two were popularly known to have led significant uprising against Spain.

Juan Dela Cruz Palaris spearheaded the first Pangasinan Revolt circa 1660. He set the town aflame and practically brought infrastructures into ruins. Thereafter, the Poblacion was transferred east of San Juan River, approximately two and a half kilometer from the present heart of the city. The transfer took place on November 4, 1718, the feast of Saint Charles Borromeo, hence, the settlement was renamed to San Carlos Binalatongan until finally the last name was dropped. Similar references were also mentioned about King Charles III of Spain as the inspiration for the name of San Carlos City.

Significant Events

Palaris, (whose real name was Pantaleon Perez, but dubbed “Palaripar” or “Palasipas” because of his swiftness as a runner and his dexterity in native fencing, the “eskrima de mano”) who withstood against excessive tribute and forced labor, marched against the Spanish Authorities in 1762. He led a revolt which lasted for two years and spread practically throughout the whole province of Pangasinan. He established an independent government with its seat in Binalatongan comprising the towns of Basista, Urbiztondo, San Carlos City, Aguilar, the foothills of Zambales Mountains, and the present city of San Carlos. A third significant revolt was recorded to have been led by Juan Caragay between 1718 and 1719.

On August 4, 1718, the modest church building and its convent went up in flames during the minor uprising of the Pangasinan natives under Juan Caragay. The incident occasioned the transfer of the site for the third time in a place described by the Dominican annals as “Ambagbagan” near the San Juan River (within the barangay of San Juan), ruins of which have remained visible to this day. In 1763, the Pangasinan rebels led by Juan Palaris a native of Binalatongan, set on fire the convent and the church of Saint Dominic that promted the King of Spain, Charles III, to issue a decree that would transfer the site for the last time to a place then called “Lucban.” The town’s major involvement in the uprising was the reason for the royal mandate to rename the town after the Spanish monarch himself, thus, its present name San Carlos.

From the time of its foundation until 1764, the site of the Poblacion and the Church were transferred thrice, more or less, within the town’s present boundary. The first site was located on the western bank of Agno River near the Zambales Mountains (most probably within the town of Aguilar); later it was transferred to the eastern side of the river (within the present barangay Mabalbalino), which remained as its site through the second half of the 17th Century.

San Carlos considered, since Hispanic times, as the biggest and most populous town of Pangasinan. With the overwhelming ratification by the residents in January 1, 1966, it became a city by virtue of R.A. No. 4487 signed in June 19, 1966 which was sponsored by Congressman Angel B. Fernandez.