THE MANGALDANES IN THE REVOLTS OF THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the people of Mangaldan figured in a number of revolts against the Spanish Government. It is said that in 1660-1661, the town became the seat of the rebel kingdom of Andres Malong, a native of Binalatongan who, inflamed by some elements in Pampanga that had risen in arms against the Spanish authorities in the mountains of Bataan, led a group of rebels in Pangasinan into an uprising. Their revolt which began on December 15, 1660 did not last for long.
But a hundred years later, in the middle of the 18th century, a more catastrophic revolt broke out in the province. It began on November 3, 1762, during the British invasion of Manila, with the rebels following the audacious lead of Juan de la Cruz “Palaris”, a native of Binalatongan which was the center of the bloody rebellion.
In the widespread commotion that ensued through Palaris’ initiative, the province was literally at the mercy of the rebels who perpetrated every conceivable sort of crime and violence, particularly, by those of the three towns of Mangaldan, Calasiao and Binalatongan who were the most atrocious in this obstinate revolt.
The inhabitants of Mangaldan as well as those of other towns fled to the mountains to save their lives while the equally scared Spanish friars tool refuge in Asingan which alone, of all the towns of Pangasinan, remained loyal to Spain. It tool almost three years for the forces of Governor General Simon de Anda y Salazar (1762-64, 1770-1776) and a great measure of exhortations from the Spanish friars to quench the fire of he revolution. During those troubled years, the ravage of war left Mangaldan in ruins, sharing largely with the great number of lives that the revolt had claimed.
After the pacification of the province in 1765, the people of the different towns of Pangasinan went to Asingan to look for their respective curates and take them home. But Fr. Fonseca and Fr. Suarez are one in saying that the people of Mangaldan (and of Calasiao) were the only ones who did not go to bring their priests back. When asked why they refused to go, they were said to have answered contentedly: “Since they went there of their own accord, let them return of their own accord”.( Pues que ellos se han marchado por se gusto, que vuelvan ellos si quieren).
(Mangaldan:1600-1898. Rev. Fr. Rafael S. Magno, Jr. Maramba Press. Dagupan City. 1981. pp. 30-33).
A CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN THE 18TH CENTURY
Fr. Suarez mentions other significant events that happened in Mangaldan during the 18th century, although not in a detailed manner. He states that in 1751, the town of Mangaldan filed a lawsuit against Alcalde Cozonado. He does not state the reason why.
In 1757, during the term of Fr. Tomas Albendea, the Christians of Mangaldan together with other Christians from eastern Pangasinan engaged the infidel Igorrotes in a fierce encounter.
In 1775, much against the will of the Mangaldanes, Fr. Jose Quiros began the construction of the road from Mangaldan to Santa Barabara and in 1776, he started to cement the tribunal of the town.
In 1779, there was a bug typhoon; there was ala a general empadronmiento (census).
In 1874, the Tobacco Monopoly was imposed. As a result, during this year, there were lawsuits and litigations “everywhere, in all towns”. The following year, Don Jose Basco arrived and made a trip to Vigan.
In 1786, there was a distribution of rice fields to peasants; the planting of coconuts was made obligatory.
In 1791, under the administration of Fr. Dalmacio Moner, the construction of the town’s parochial school began. In the same year, there was a lawsuit against the Guardias and an uprising of a battalion of soldiers.
In 1798, under the supervision of FR. Gabriel de la Riva, the first ditch of the town’s irrigation system was opened in the south. The work on the irrigation was continued by Fr. Jose Rodriguez in 1799 when it reached the northern part of the town, in the vicinity of the plaza. I 1800, the construction of the kitchen of the tribunal began.
(Mangaldan:1600-1898. Rev. Fr. Rafael S. Magno, Jr. Maramba Press. Dagupan City. 1981. pp. 68-69)
