The Minor Basilica of Saint Dominic

The patron saint of the city is Saint Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers; he is credited for performing miracles in the city, among them is the minimal damage to the city caused by the return of the Americans to the islands aided by Filipino troops and local guerrillas during the close of World War II. The parish church built in his honour was once the biggest in Luzon. Meanwhile, the Dominican missionaries, who succeeded the ousted Augustinians, continued the evangelization of the natives, then onto the founding of town and St. Dominic Church.

The 430year old Saint Dominic de Guzman Parish Church (F-1587) is part of the Vicariate of St. Dominic, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan with catholic population of 114,392; ergo, it is the oldest parish in Pangasinan. However, the Patron Feast of St. Dominic Parish is August 8. The Team of Ministers are Rev. Msgr. Alberto T. Arenos, Rev. Fr. Alberto Taminaya, Fr. Reynaldo V. Romero, Rev. Fr. Winston A. Estrada, and Rev. Fr. Jimmy F. Quinto, Jr.

San Carlos, as Binalatogan, became a vicariate in 1588 when its first pastor, Padre Bernardo Navarro de Santa Catalina, O.P., was appointed. He became the first Vicar (with Fr. Juan de Castro, OP, Fr. Marcos de San Antonio, and Bro. Juan Deza, OP, as his assistants) of Binalatongan, a vicariate of the Dominican Order in its First Provincial Chapter.

On August 4, 1718, Juan Caragay burned the modest church and convent. "Abagbagan" near the San Juan River became the new site of the Church. In 1763, however, Juan Palaris of Binalatongan destroyed the convent and the church of St. Dominic. The King of Spain, Charles III issued a Decree transferring the site to "Lucban."

Poblacion, the town's "cabecera," became close to the Church which has small chapels, the "visitas" or missions attached therewith. Binalatongan or San Carlos became the "Mother-house of the Province" of Pangasinan.

In 1770-1773, Padre Cristobal Ausina constructed the Church from ladrillo es Ladrillo (massive brick, tiles of "apalit"). The present site is where Binalatongan was transferred (1754). The biggest Church in the Philippines those days, but the 1789, 1796, and 1799 massive earthquakes destroyed the Church. Rebuilt in 1803, it measured 89 yards long and 22 yards wide. Padre Alvarez Carrozal erected the Belfry and initiated the Church rehabilitation (1878–90). In August 8, 1989 (NHI Marker), with the ecclesiastical benefice Archbishop Federico G. Limon, it was unveiled by Dona Consuelo S. Perez and Gov. Rafael M. Colet with Mayor Douglas D. Soriano).

St. Dominic Parish celebrated its 425th Jubilee of Father Celebration (the celebration had been practicing since the Dominican Missionaries arrived in Pangasinan in September 1587). In its celebration, the theme “Galang tan Dayew (ed Dios) ed Ando lan Ando”, (Dn. 3:52) prompted for the Golden (50th) Jubilee Celebration of Lingayen-Dagupan as an Archdiocese in 2013. A year back, the canonical erection of the New St. Joseph Parish in barangay Malacañang, San Carlos City was held on the 19th of March 2012, with Socrates B. Villegas as main celebrant and blessed the St. Dominic Parish New Adoration Chapel, (Map 51).

Declared by Pope Francis as the Minor Basilica of Saint Dominic on July 6, 2022 and solemnly proclaimed on January 14, 2023, the Church in San Carlos has a very rich history beginning in 1587 when the Dominicans arrived in Binalatongan (renamed San Carlos in 1764). The current site of the church is its third location, completed in 1773 and was destroyed several times by earthquakes. The Church used to be the biggest in the Philippines. Sto. Domingo Ybañez de Erquicia and San Francisco Gil de Federich were both former vicars (pastors) of this Church.

The Mango-Bamboo Festival

Mango-Bamboo Festival is a cultural and fruit festival in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines every last Saturday of April. The fest is mounted as promotion to the city’s mangoes and bamboo products, a thanksgiving of multiple harvests, and a means for collective recognition of the invaluable work of farmers. It is participated by component barangays of the city.

Mango-Bamboo Festival was launched by then Mayor Julian Resuello in 2001. He expanded what was formerly Mango Festival. The fest was mounted as a way to recognize the mango industry and the ubiquity of bamboo in the town, a means to market these products and improve income of the people whose livelihood depend on them. In 2002, the local government invited the regional office of the Department of Tourism to grace the events.

San Carlos City is known as the center of trading of mango and bamboo products in the province of Pangasinan. Products include nipa huts, hand-woven items such as baskets, furnitures, cabinets, lamp shades, etc. The fest had become an opportunity for producers and traders to establish connections for business endeavors.

In 2008, it was reported that the city had over 127,000 fruit-bearing mango trees. The city is also known for carabao mangoes and other cultivars of the fruit.

One of the mainstays of the week-long fest is the float parade.    Floats are adorned with various mango and bamboo decorations. The street dancing competition is also a must-see where contingents from barangays compete in giving out all-out performances.   One other highlight is the Miss San Carlos City, a prestigious beauty pageant. Filling the calendar of eventts include various culinary contests and presentations, mango pie showcase, bamboo-craft competition, variety shows, entertainment, native sports olympics called Laro ng Lahi, etc.

San Carlos City, Pangasinan set a world record when its mango pie became the world’s largest mango pie in 2011. The mango pie, measuring 100-square-meter and two inches thick, was subdivided into 400 pieces of mango pie, each weighing 10 kilos with a total cost of Php. 400,000.

The giant mango pie was made of 2,000 kilos of ripe mangoes, flour, condensed milk, vanilla, and sugar. It was prepared by the residents of the 86 barangays of the city under the direction of the San Carlos City Bakers Association.

The huge mango pie was displayed for public viewing in the city plaza on April 26, 2011. After public viewing, it was shared to more than 1,200 residents of the city.

The bid for the World's Largest Mango Pie was one of the highlights of San Carlos City's Mango-Bamboo Festival in 2011. Mango is one of the major agricultural products of the city.