Malasiqui, officially the Municipality of Malasiqui (; ; ), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 143,094 people.
Malasiqui is from Lingayen and from Manila.
Etymology
The word Malasiqui originates from the Pangasinan root word lasi meaning lightning. With prefix ma indicating high degree and suffix qui indicating place - Malasiqui means "place full of lightning".
Another version was that of three Spanish priests while conducting ocular during those days, were so pissed off with the condition of the road which was muddy. The first priest said "mala" which means bad. The second priest responded "si" which means yes. The third one apparently not paying attention asked "que?" or "what". The local folk who overheard the conversation mistook it as if they are naming the town. And so it came to be known as Mala Si Que? or the current name spelled as Malasiqui.
History
The Municipality traces its origins during the middle of the 17th century when Spanish friars opened a mission intended to convert the native population to Catholicism. The most probable founding year was 1671 when Spanish civil authorities in Manila gave the license for the creation of the town. There were no organized communities in the area before the Spaniards arrived. Attempts to group families into a settlement may have started as early as 1665. The present site was then heavily forested with small family groups scattered along banks of small rivers and creeks. The socio-political history of the municipality parallels that of the Pangasinan province and the country in general. Its history is punctuated by periods of foreign domination first by the Spanish, then by the United States and briefly by the Japanese during the 2nd World War. The population participated heavily in some of the bloodiest rebellions during the Spanish period. Catholicism and other Christian sects dominate the religious life of the people. Ethnically, it is one of the few places in the province of Pangasinan which did not experience in-migration from other regions of the country. Consequently, Pangasinanse is the dominant ethnic group with almost no other ethnic groups mixing into the locality.
The poblacion or town center, is recently experiencing high commercial growth spurred mainly by high consumer spending generated by increase in family incomes attributable to earnings of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). The estimate of OFW population as a percentage of adult labor force is as much as 22% - one of the highest rates in the Philippines. The OFW phenomenon is so significant that almost all households have at least one member working outside of the country.
Geography
Barangays
Malasiqui is politically subdivided into 73 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Abonagan
Agdao
Alacan
Aliaga
Amacalan
Anolid
Apaya
Asin Este
Asin Weste
Bacundao Este
Bacundao Weste
Bakitiw
Balite
Banawang
Barang
Bawer
Binalay
Bobon
Bolaoit
Bongar
Butao
Cabatling
Cabueldatan
Calbueg
Canan Norte
Canan Sur
Cawayan Bogtong
Don Pedro
Gatang
Goliman
Gomez
Guilig
Ican
Ingalagala
Lareg-lareg
Lasip
Lepa
Loqueb Este
Loqueb Norte
Loqueb Sur
Lunec
Mabulitec
Malimpec
Manggan-Dampay
Nancapian
Nalsian Norte
Nalsian Sur
Nansangaan
Olea
Pacuan
Palapar Norte
Palapar Sur
Palong
Pamaranum
Pasima
Payar
Poblacion
Polong Norte
Polong Sur
Potiocan
San Julian
Tabo-Sili
Tobor
Talospatang
Taloy
Taloyan
Tambac
Tolonguat
Tomling
Umando
Viado
Waig
Warey
Climate
Demographics
Economy
It is mainly an agricultural municipality with rice, corn and tropical lowland vegetables as main crops. It is also famous for its mango fruits having one of the largest concentration of mango tree population in the Philippines.