Binalonan, officially the Municipality of Binalonan (; ; ), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 56,382 people.
One of Binalonan's natives is the Filipino-American writer Carlos Bulosan, who wrote brief descriptions of the town's history and people in his semi-autobiographical novel entitled America is in the Heart. The town has a memorial and street named after him just north of the municipal hall and town market. It is also the hometown of Evangelina Guico Macaraeg Macapagal, spouse of 9th President Diosdado Macapagal, and mother of 14th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
History
According to historians, the town's name is an evolution of the Pangasinan Language term balon, which means "packed lunch", or in Tagalog, baon.
In a traditional story, which now plays an important role in the town's history, the area was originally owned by a Spaniard named Don Salvador. It was told that he instructed his men to put up crude wooden fences along the property to establish his ownership. During the course of their work, Don Salvador's men used to have their lunch and rest under Camachile trees located in the center of the land mainly due to its breezy shades.
Don Salvador offered his pastureland to several immigrants from Ilocos. When they asked Don Salcador how they were going to find the said land, the owner answered: "It is the place where people bring their balon to eat". Hence the term Binnalonan, which in Ilocano and Pangasinan means "a place where people bring and eat their baon", was born. At present, the town is called Binalonan while its people are known as Binalonians.
Ilocano herdsmen and laborers composed the first town which was founded in 1838, in San Felipe, which was later transferred to Santa Catalina, then returned to the present site.
Geography
Binalonan is located in the eastern part of the province of Pangasinan. The Municipality is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Pozorrubio and Sison, on the south by Urdaneta, on the east by San Manuel and Asingan and on the west by Laoac.
It is from Lingayen and from Manila.
Barangays
Binalonan is subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Balangobong
Bued
Bugayong
Camangaan
Canarvacanan
Capas
Cili
Dumayat
Linmansangan
Mangcasuy
Moreno
Pasileng Norte
Pasileng Sur
Poblacion
San Felipe Central
San Felipe Sur
San Pablo
Sta. Catalina
Sta. Maria Norte
Santiago
Sto. Niño
Sumabnit
Tabuyoc
Vacante
Climate
Land classification
The municipality's total land area, estimated at , is classified as alienable and disposable land.
Rivers
Binalonan has two major rivers: Aloragat River Tagamusing River
It also has minor rivers, including the San Pablo Creek, Tuboy River, Palma Creek, the Camambogan Creek and Balisa Creek.
Soil type
There are five types of soil which can be found in Binalonan: the San Manuel fine sandy loam, San Manuel loam, San Manuel sandy loam, San Manuel clay, and Umingan sandy loam.
Demographics
The urban population is recorded at 7,634 while the rural population is at 45,088. The urban-rural population ratio is estimated at 15/100. The male-to-female ratio is 1.029.
RELIGIONS in the MUNICIPALITY
Roman Catholic, IFI The Philippine Independent Church , IGLESIA NI CRISTO the increasing members throughout the municipality (3 locale chapels one biggest at Binalonan Crossing , at San Felipe Central , Sitio Riverside at Brgy.Sumabnit , one at Moreno and San Pablo ) and Other Protestant denominations
Economy
Government
Local government
Binalonan, belonging to the fifth congressional district of the province of Pangasinan, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
Municipal seal
The topmost structure depicted on the municipal seal is an image of the municipality's Municipal Hall. Below it on the left is a depiction of the antenna of Digital Communications, the center of communications for Regions I, II and CAR.