The founding of Manaoag, a four-century old municipality of Pangasinan which is often referred as the Catholic Mecca in this part of Luzon is closely linked with the activities of the early Christian Missionaries who arrived in the Province in 1574.

Early historical records tell us that the place began as a small settlement of Cawili, now the town of San Jacinto, by the banks of Baloquing Creek in early 1600.

Some years later, a Christian Mission was established by the Augustinian Fathers, which was originated and regarded as the Mission of Sta. Monica with Fr. Tomas Jimenez, O.P. as the first resident Priest.

This first Christian settlement was often subjected to the depredations of enemy mountain tribes lying waste the settlement whenever they attacked. Moved by this concern for the safety of the setters, Fr. Jimenez transferred settlements across the river to what is now believed to be the present site of the Poblacion.

Being devout advocate of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Dominican Fathers who succeded the Augustinians placed the settlements under title "QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY." Accordingly, Fr. Jimenez began building a chapel made of light materials for the relocated community and its altar, placed the image of the Lady of Manaoag.

Traditiona tells us that not long after, the Holy  Blessed Mother showed herself to a middle-age farmer and gave him the message on where she wanted her church to be located. The meeting was dramatic. She showed herself to a farmer on a low tree amidst the glow of a heavenly light. It is said the man was on his way home from a grueling day in his farm. Foremost in his mind of course, was his family.

He worried about his home and his crops, which he knew, would be held laid waste anytime the raiders came for another depredation. Faced with his hopeless prospect, he sorted to the wellspring of his faith. He had full trust and faith in the goodness and mercy of God and in the protection offer by the Heavenly Mother. These thoughts came to him. He signed resignedly to the Virgin Mary and somehow his fears vanished as he continued his slow pace homeward. As he followed the path from the hill in the deepening dusk, he became aware of the mysterious light coming from somewhere. He turned his gaze to the glowing tree nearby. Instantly, he recognized the radiant face of a woman holding an infant in her arms. Unable to grasp the significance of the Phenomenon and overcome by superstitions, he wanted to run. In a moment of hesitation, he heard a sweet voice calling out his name, stood transfixed at the smiling face of the mysterious lady continued in her singularly sweet voice. "Son I want a church here in my honor. My children shall receive many favors in this place." It could be surmised that such joy from that extraordinary experience would not remain locked for long in  the breast of the man, but would overflow to others. Concievably upon arriving home he related the story to his family, his friends and neighbors. The story spread like wild forestfore and not long thereafter, droves of people began going to the place to verify to the story of the "Virgin Mary who calls." Pilgrimages to the Lady became regular activity to curius peole who came to offer their devotion and for the reasons. Upon their return back home happy and satisfied, they were asked on their way where they came from, and answered "Dimad Apo Ya Mantatawag." The expression when translated into English means "From the Lady Who Calls."

In time, the rest of the words in the phrase were dropped and the word "MANAOAG" which was then derived remained the name of the town. The derivation both in Pangasinan and Ilocano "Manaoag" means "to call."

THE MUNICIPAL SEAL

The seal of the municipality shows the centuries old Church,

stablished in 1600; the Cottage Industries prevalent in most of

its barangays; the first mechanized Hind Sugar Central; the various

Agricultural Products; and the Camp Lt. Tito B. Abat - all these

signify the many facets that contribute to the progress and

religiosity of the municipality.

The following is a chronological succession of municipal presidents of Manaoag with the important events and achievements under each administration.

1900 – 1901 - Don Domingo Vinuya (appointed by the U.S. Military authorities) San Jacinto and Manaoag were combined into one but were separated in 1903. American schools were established.

1901 – 1904 - Don Domingo Vinuya was elected Municipal President - Beginnings of the

Sugar industry, appointment of Filipino teachers.

1904 – 1907 - Don Domingo Vinuya was re-elected Municipal President.  Construction of the Central School building.

1907 - 1910 - Don Nazario Soriano was elected Municipal President.  Establishement of San Luis Oriental Factory.

1910 - 1913 - Don Miguel Castro was elected Municipal President.  School construction program was continued.

1913 – 1916 – Don Pablo Tiong was elected Municipal President.  The public market was constructed. Swarms of locusts destroyed crops especially rice and the people turned out in masse to exterminate the pests and save crops.  Also a cholera epidemic occurred, and a decrease in school enrollment was noted.

1916 – 1919 - Don Pedro Garcia Estil was elected Municipal President.  The influenza epidemic occurred.

1919 – 1922 - Don Rosendo Soriano was elected municipal president.  The municipal cemetery was constructed.

1922 – 1925 - Don Mariano Armas was elected Municipal President.  Inbormales (culverts), pump wells, feeder roads were constructed.

1925 – 1928 - Don Pedro Garcia Estil was again elected Municipal President.  The School construction program was continued – the concrete building additional rooms for the intermediate building, the home economics building, and other public improvements.

1928 – 1931 - Don Vicente Bautista was elected Municipal President.  He constructed the balcony of the municipal hall.

1931 – 1934 - Don Lorenzo Guico was elected Municipal President.  He constructed irrigation ditches and stall in the market place.

1934 – 1937 - Don Mariano Armas was again elected Municipal President.  Additional stalls along the road were constructed.

1937 – 1940 - Don Nemesio Tiong was elected Municipal President.  His election was considered unanimous, as he had no opponent.  An able administrator, he accomplished many public improvements especially in the plaza, the Rizal monument, the fountain and fence on the monuments of Padre Burgos and Mabini; fifteen pump wells and free flowing wells, irrigation dams and canals as well as the repair of old irrigation ditches, construction of the so-called Tiong’s Dam (Tangal).

The election of 1940 was a three-concerned fight, Don Nemesio Tiongs Party was beset by  party troubles resulting in the running of two candidates.  The other party the Soriano Party had one candidate, Mr. Maximo Soriano, against Mr. Nemesio Tiong and Mr. Ignacio Galaban of the same party.  Mr. Galaban came out victorious inspite of the party split.

1942 – 1944 - Don Ignacio B. Galaban -The Japanese Occupation.

1947 – 1951 - Atty. Tomas L. Aquino, then a promising law practitioner won over his four rivals.  Hehad the school grounds of the Manaoag High School bulldozed preparatory to further beautification and improvement.

1952 – 1955 - Atty. Bernardo F. Mendoza was elected mayor.  He constructed the Tebuel – Pugaro Dam and opened several barrio schools.

1956 – 1959 - Atty. Bernardo Aquino was elected mayor.  His term was characterized with the new construction of the new and now the present municipal hall, and opening of barrio feeder roads.  His term marked the beginning of the beautification of the public plaza having the “People’s Gate” erected and fenced with hollow blocks.

1960 – 1963 - Atty. Fidel Sor Mangonon was elected.  He ordered the demolition  of the old municipal hall and transferred the seat of the local government to the present municipal hall.  He was responsible for the cementing of the Sodalidad Road.  He also constructed two box culverts in the barrios of Oraan and Poblacion-Pugaro.

1964 – 1967 - Atty. Bernardo F. Mendoza was elected for the second time.  He began construction of the municipal building annex.

1968 – 1971 - In a four-cornered fight, Don Westrimundo Tabayoyong was elected mayor.  He is the first true son from the rurals areas to be elevated to mayorship.  His term is characterized by massive construction and paving of the barrio roads.  Not one of the present forty-seven (47) barrios is left with its feeder roads unattended.  The widening of narrow barrio roads is undertaken in full scale.

His deep concern in education is punctuated by the construction of no less than (20) pre-fabricated Marcos Type school houses that now dot the countryside.

He constructed during his first two years in office, health clinic, dams and flowing wells, waiting sheds, multi-purpose pavements, footbridges, overflows and culverts.  These kinds of public projects are now common in the barrios.   Running true to form that he is the mayor of all, he initiated in rapid succession as the asphalting of municipal streets within the Poblacion like the Marfe, Progreso, Garcia, Porvenir and Libertad streets.

Along with the introduction of new projects, he also prosecuted all- out repairs of old and dilapidated school buildings, enhancing in the process the beautification of school campuses.

He instituted peace where it was wanting, he gave meaning to the rule of law and order by having all concerned comply with the provisions of municipal ordinances and resolutions especially those concerning the sale of liquor during the days when it is prohibited.  This resulted in the improvement of peace and order situation.

Through his efforts new school sites were acquired either by direct purchases as in Lelemaan or donation as in the case in Sta. Ines.

The public plaza is in a metamorphosis of beautification; the present municipal building is undergoing a thorough face-lifting, involving ten of thousands of pesos as it was never done before.

Don Westrimundo Tabayoyong was elected three times.  His last year of service was the year 1979.

Note that in the year 1980 Manaoag was separated from Laoac with a forty-seven (47) barrios it was split.  Manaoag got twenty six (26) barangays while Laoac got the twenty (20) barangays.

1980 – 1985 - Dr. Quintin C. Sim was elected mayor in the year 1980 and he had served as mayor for five years. Atty. Ramon J. Veloria was his vice-mayor during this period.

1986 –1988 - In these year Atty. Pedro N. Sales was the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) together with Don Jesus B. Guico as (OIC) vice-mayor.

1988 – Atty. Agerico B. Rosario the former board member and once (OIC) Governor of Pangasinan was appointed mayor (OIC) in this year. Together with Atty. Nuelino B. Ranchez (OIC) as his vice-mayor.

1988 – 1995 - Atty. Pedro N. Sales was elected two times succesively.  With different vice-mayors in the persons of Engr. Wilfredo Soriano, and Don Jose Q. Quevedo Jr.  In the early months of 1995, Atty. Pedro N. Sales withdrew from his post due to health problem. From May 20  - June 30, 1995 Engr. Ma. Isabel C. Villacorta who at that time is a municipal councilor took the post together with Don Eleuterio Sc. Sison in an acting capacity that is also a municipal councilor.

1995- 2004 - Atty. Pedrito A. Garcia came out victorious in a three-concerned fight.  He accomplished many projects/programs such as the purchase of garbage truck, the improvement of barangay roads, the beautification of the Rizal Park, the demolition of the Balikbayan restaurant and the like.  He also implemented the Clean and Green Program, which is now being implemented up to this present situation.  Because of this Manaoag was one of the Cleanest and Greenest municipality in Pangasinan.  At the start of the year 1997 priority was given to vital infrastructure projects and economic services such as concreting and maintenance of barangay roads, farm-to-market roads for better mobility, school buildings equipped with facilities to enhanced learning atmosphere, proper market sanitation that encourages agricultural production for business and influx of commercial activities to generate more income for the municipality, better drainage system and provisions of capital assistance for small-scale livelihood projects.  Various health and medical facilities, sports facitlities and socio-cultural activities for Social Welfare and Development were likewise provided.  We may mention the Manaoag Park Development, which is in full implementation of the development plan a project in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT). The Construction and completion of Manaoag Livestock Market, the New Slaughterhouse, the completion of Commercial Stalls at Rizal Park , Beside the Church and In front of Manaoag Central School.

2004 – to present Dr. Napoleon D. Sales – he was elected in one on one fight. He accomplished projects such as the Manaoag Park Development Phase I & II (fountain and landscaping), Perimeter Fencing of Municipal Parking Area beside Manaoag Central Elementary School, Improvement of the Office of the Municipal Mayor & Office of the Municipal Vice Mayor, Fabrication/Installation of Municipal Public Market Drainage Steel Cover, and many various projects located in barangays. PNP station, Petron, Chowking. Magic Mall, Manaoag Tourism Building.