Rosales, Pangasinan

Rosales ([ɾɔˈsalɛs]), officially the Municipality of Rosales (Pangasinan: Baley na Rosales; Ilocano: Ili ti Rosales; Tagalog: Bayan ng Rosales), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,711 people.^[3]

Rosales
Municipality
Municipality of Rosales
Robert Estrella Stadium
Flag Seal
Map of Pangasinan with Rosales highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Rosales Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°53′40″N 120°37′58″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Pangasinan
District	6th district
Founded	March 16, 1852
Barangays	37 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	William S. Cezar
• Vice Mayor	Susan P. Casareno
• Representative	Tyrone D. Agabas
• Municipal Council	Members William S. Cezar Romulo E. Tagalicud Manolo D. Quiambao Patrick V. Revita Antonio P. Muya Dominador F. Leal Jr. Leon C. Licudo Jr. Reymond Niño R. Yu
• Electorate	47,656 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	66.39 km2 (25.63 sq mi)
Elevation	39 m (128 ft)
Highest elevation	251 m (823 ft)
Lowest elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	66,711
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
• Households	16,862
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	15.98 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 349.2 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 1,203 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 286.3 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 183.7 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Pangasinan 3 Electric Cooperative (PANELCO 3)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2441
PSGC	0105531000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)75
Native languages	Pangasinan Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.rosales.gov.ph

It is sometimes called Carmen, based on its prominent barangay of the same name (now split into two barangays).

Etymology

It is widely believed that the name Rosales came from the word rosal which is a name of a flower that was known to be abundant in the area. However, Spanish records revealed that Rosales was originally a ranchera founded by a pioneering Filipino named Nicolas Bañez. It was declared a pueblo in 1852. The place was named in honor of Don Antonio Rosales Liberal, a man noted for his rectitude, industry, and learning. He is also an Order of the Royal Audiencia in Manila and a Consejero de Filipinas en el Ministro de Ultramar (Secretary of Foreign Affairs) during that time.

History

Aerial view of Rosales, circa 1930s

Rosales was created as a separate municipality through a Royal Decree in 1852.

Geography

The Municipality of Rosales is a junction town for those travelling between the provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the other towns of Pangasinan. It is accessible via Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), or via the MacArthur Highway. The town itself is dotted with ancestral houses and heritage structures deemed important cultural sites via the National Cultural Heritage Act.

Rosales is situated 56.53 kilometres (35.13 mi) from the provincial capital Lingayen, and 173.17 kilometres (107.60 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Rosales is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Acop
• Bakit-Bakit
• Balincanaway
• Cabalaoangan Norte
• Cabalaoangan Sur
• Camangaan
• Capitan Tomas
• Carmay East
• Carmay West
• Carmen East
• Carmen West
• Casanicolasan
• Coliling
• Calanutan (Don Felix Coloma)
• Don Antonio Village
• Guiling
• Palakipak
• Pangaoan
• Rabago
• Rizal
• Salvacion
• San Antonio
• San Bartolome
• San Isidro
• San Luis
• San Pedro East
• San Pedro West
• San Vicente
• San Angel
• Station District
• Tumana East
• Tumana West
• Zone I (Poblacion)
• Zone IV (Poblacion)
• Zone II (Poblacion)
• Zone III (Poblacion)
• Zone V (Poblacion)

Climate

Climate data for Rosales, Pangasinan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	32 (90)	33 (91)	33 (91)	33 (91)	33 (91)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	29 (84)	31 (88)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	21 (70)	21 (70)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	127.5 (5.02)	115.8 (4.56)	129.7 (5.11)	141.1 (5.56)	248.2 (9.77)	165 (6.5)	185.3 (7.30)	161.9 (6.37)	221.4 (8.72)	299.5 (11.79)	199 (7.8)	188.7 (7.43)	2,183.1 (85.93)
Average rainy days	17	17	17	15	20	19	19	20	21	20	17	19	221
Source: World Weather Online[5]

Demographics

Population census of Rosales

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 8,562 —     1918 12,806 +2.72% 1939 15,837 +1.02% 1948 19,851 +2.54% 1960 24,347 +1.72% 1970 29,530 +1.95% 1975 34,355 +3.08% 1980 36,582 +1.26%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 45,275 +2.16% 1995 47,616 +0.95% 2000 52,086 +1.94% 2007 57,702 +1.42% 2010 59,687 +1.24% 2015 63,081 +1.06% 2020 66,711 +1.11%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8][9]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Rosales

10 20 30 40 2000 30.87 2003 22.83 2006 26.40 2009 17.90 2012 8.76 2015 13.30 2018 11.84 2021 15.98 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Livelihood and products

• Chopping Board Industry (Acop)
• Charcoal (Acop)
• Tupig & Tinapa (Smoked Fish) (Carmen)
• Patupat (Balincanaway)
• Rice/Palay Producer

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Presidencia (town hall)

Rosales is part of the sixth congressional district of the province of Pangasinan. It 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.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022-2025)^[18]

Position	Name
Congressman	Len Primicias-Agabas (PDP-Laban)
Mayor	Liam Cezar (NPC)
Vice-Mayor	Susan Casareno (NPC)
Councilors	Anafeil Cruz (NPC)
	Dickio Cosue(NPC)
	Lito Cariño (NPC)
	Toper Coloma (NPC)
	Enwil Monje (API)
	Alvin Bince (API)
	Harry Bernabe (KBL)
	Edita Quiambao (NPC)

Presidencia

The Presidencia (Town hall) is located in front of the Robert B. Estrella Stadium, Poblacion. In 1924, the construction of the Presidencia building (Municipal Town Hall) was completed and became the seat of the municipal government. The heritage building was renovated in 2004-2007 under the administration of Mayor Ricardo V. Revita with his Revitalize Rosales banner.

Tourism

Landmarks

St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church

• Robert B. Estrella Stadium
• Ramon Magsaysay Monument
• Tomb of The Unknown Soldiers
• Presidencia

Nature and Adventure

• Acop Dam
• Don Feliciano Salim Forest and Dam
• Salvacion Dam
• Acop Cold Springs and Waterfall
• Rosales Aviary/Mini Zoo
• Eco-Tourism Site of Rosales
• Ibtor Challenge (Sports) Festival of Rosales

St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church

St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urdaneta (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan), at Rosales. Through a decree of the Vicar-General of the Archbishopric Authority of Manila, the Catholic Church was restored on February 15, 1915. A modest shed-like barong-barung was built at the present site of the church. Fr. Nicasio Mabanta was the first Parish Priest.

Within 3 years, a much sturdier building with GI sheets as roofing and sawali walls was constructed. Father Antonio Salindong was assigned, with longest tenure ever, continued the improvement with construction of concrete wall and facade with the image of St. Anthony. In 1946, a strong tornado tore off the GI sheet roof of the Church. Conrado Estrella, Sr. restored the roof with donations of the residents.

During the term of Fr. Primo Garcia (1979-1986), the church was expanded in its east and west wings, the beginning of the construction of the parish center, and fencing of the whole premises. Msgr. Geronimo Marcelino begun the renovations of the Parish Rectory and completed by Fr. Diomedes Laguerta.

Our Lady of Rosales Grotto

The Grotto, which is located at Station District, is regularly visited by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (for spiritual atonement and guidance) and local and foreign tourists.

Ancient dugout

Centuries-old unfinished dugout boat

A centuries-old unfinished dugout, a big banca (five tons, measuring 8 by 2 by 1.5 meters), was accidentally retrieved in November 2010 by Mayor Ricardo Revita at Barangay Casanicolasan in the Lagasit River, near the Agno River.^[19] It was display in front of the Presidencia or Municipal Town Hall but later remove during renovation of Presidencia (town hall).

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[20] These are Rosales I Schools District Office, and Rosales II Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

• Acop Elementary School
• Bakit-Bakit Elementary School
• Balincanaway Elementary School
• Cabalaoangan Elementary School
• Calanutan Elementary School
• Camangaan Elementary School
• Capitan Tomas Pine Elementary School
• Carmay Elementary School
• Carmen Elementary School
• Casanicolasan Elementary School
• Escuela de San Antonio
• Guiling-Coliling Elementary School
• IFI Christian Home & Institute of Learning & Development
• Li Seng Giap Elementary School
• Palakipak Elementary School
• Pangaoan Elementary School
• Rabago Elementary School
• Rizal Elementary School
• Rosales North Central School
• Rosales South Central School
• Salvacion Elementary School
• San Angel Elementary School
• San Antonio Elementary School
• San Bartolome Elementary School
• San Isidro Elementary School
• San Luis Elementary School
• San Pedro East Elementary School
• San Pedro West Elementary School
• San Vicente Elementary School
• Sitio Baong Elementary School
• Tomana Elementary School SPED Center

Secondary schools

• Divine Grace Montessori and High School of Rosales
• Guiling-Coliling National High School
• Robert B. Estrella Memorial National High School
• Rosales National High School
• San Luis National High School

Notable personalities

• Carmen Rosales - Filipino actress and World War II guerilla fighter. 2 barangays were named after her.
• Francisco Sionil José - National Artist of the Philippines for Literature and internationally renowned novelist, he has set a monument to the town he grew up in with his five-novels-series The Rosales Saga.

Sister towns

Rosales currently has no legally-declared townhood/cityhood relationships, however, it has good economic and tourist ties with Guimba, Nueva Ecija and Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.

Gallery

• 
  Rosales: The Gateway of Pangasinan and Ilocos Region
• 
  Pablo Lim Sim Memorial Building
• 
  Rosales Public Market
• 
  The center of business at night (SM City Rosales)
• 
  Unknown Soldier Monument
• 
  Rizal Park