Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

The people generally speak Ilocano and Panggalatok but they also have their own unique language called Bolinao, brought in by Sambal settlers during colonial rule. Most people generally understand and speak English.

On November 18, 2007, Bolinao challenged the historical fact that the first Mass was held on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, at Limasawa in Southern Leyte. Memorial markers (donated by Italian priest Luigi Malamocco, 62, from Odorico’s hometown of Friuli, Italy) were set in the town’s church and on Santiago Island, claiming that in 1324, Franciscan missionaries led by an Italian priest named Odorico celebrated a thanksgiving Mass thereat and also baptized natives.

Sea urchins or “uni“, (among the most expensive dishes in Japanese restaurants) are regularly harvested in Isla Silaki, Bolinao, Pangasinan. A sack costs only P 80 ($ 1 = P 40).

History

Bolinao was founded by Capt. Pedro Lombi in 1575, an island known as “Binabalian” meaning “old town” with few hundred settlers. However, it was transferred later to Bolinao mainland due to piratical molestation.

In 1585, Father Esteban Marinas, the first Augustinian priest, started the evangelization of the town. In 1607, a Roman Catholic Church was built. This Hispanic church building still remains intact and is presently considered as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is also one of the landmark and tourist attractions of Bolinao.

Bolinao and other western Pangasinan towns were once part of Zambales. It was the year 1903 when Bolinao and other western towns were transferred to Pangasinan due to its proximity to the capital town of Lingayen.

From the Official Pangasinan website:

Originally, Bolinao was a settlement composed of a little over a hundred families under Captain Pedro Lombi, established in 1575 at a point called Binabalian, on the northern coast of Santiago Island. The rampant attacks and raids of Moro pirates urged Capitan Lombi to transfer the town-site to the mainland and accordingly, with the aid of Fr. Geronimo de Casro, he finally founded the town in 1596 near Libsong where a clear spring of about two meters in diameter kept lumping.

By this spring grew a “boli-bolinao” tree of the molave family with luxuriant foliage from which was derived the present name of the town. Under this tree the affairs of the town were administered while stone walls were piled nearby as corner-stone of the Roman Catholic Church which was finally completed in 1609, thirteen years after the transfer of the town site.

Location

Bolinao is situated at the northwestern tip of Pangasinan and the Lingayen Gulf. It is bounded on the north and west by China Sea, on the south by the rolling hills and plateaus of Bani, and on the east by Kakiputan Channel; this body of water separates Bolinao from the only island town of Pangasinan — Anda — which is formerly part of Bolinao.

It is approximately 274 kilometers north of Manila via Camiling town of Tarlac, 79 kilometers away from the capital town of Lingayen, 98.5 kms. away from Dagupan City, 115 kms. away from San Carlos City and 125 kms. away from Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

Regular trips to the municipality are available with Dagupan Bus Co., Five Star, Victory Liner, Philippine Rabbit, and scores of mini-buses going from Bolinao to Dagupan and vice-versa. Jeepneys also ply the Alaminos-Bolinao routes while motorized bancas make trips between the island barangays. A one hour boat ride is also available from San Fernando, La Union to Bolinao.

Sport Fishing

Bolinao is also known as the fish basket of Pangasinan because of the 14 mile barrier reef located within its area at the mouth of the Lingayen Gulf. As such a variety of fishes are caught in the waters off Bolinao. Due to the diversity of marine life, Bolinao was chosen by the University of the Philippines to be the location for the UP Marine Station Institute.

These include monster 50++ kilo giant trevally (talakitok), blue marlin, sailfish (susay), barracuda, king mackerel (tanguigue), needlefish (batalay), yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), grey snapper and bluefish.

Due to its natural haven of these popular game fishes, two sport fishing association, the Philippine Game Fishing Foundation and the Philippine Sport Fishing Club based in Manila regularly hold its yearly heavy tackle tournament at Bolinao.

List of the 30 Barangays in Bolinao