Mapandan, officially the Municipality of Mapandan (Pangasinan: Baley na Mapandan; Ilocano: Ili ti Mapandan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Mapandan), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 38,228 people.
The town is known for its yearly PandanFestival.
Etymology
Mapandan (meaning plenty of pandan) got its name from “pandan”, a native palm which grew in abundance in the place at that time. The leaves of the pandan add aroma to the cooked rice if cooked with it. The leaves are also stripped and woven into mats.
History
Mapandan was a former mere barrio part of Municipality of Mangaldan. It was also once called “balon baley” which means new town in the local vernacular.
Mapandan was first established as a “pueblo” by virtue of Direction General No. 39 Administration Civil No. 169-C signed by Governor General Emilio Bravo on December 28, 1887. The town originally comprised the southernmost barrios of the town of Mangaldan namely: Payapay, Baloling, Apaya, and Amanoaoac
The idea of organizing a separate town from its mother town Mangaldan was first conceived by some ten (10) local leaders in the persons of Antonio Morales, Sabino Prado, Andres Bongato, Ambrosio Calimlim, Valeriano Tamondong, Tomas Aquino, Fulgencio Nato, Filomeno Sarmiento, Jose Lalas and Florencio Datuin. It later came into fruition when Philippine Commission Act No. 332 was enacted on January 21, 1902, excising barrios Mapandan, Amanwawak, Apaya, Balolin, Luyan, and Nilimbot from Mangaldan to form the new municipality.
The town was first centered in present-day barangay Torres. Due to its remoteness, the same was transferred to its present location, which was formerly a sitio of Apaya. The lands in the present location of the Poblacion were predominantly owned by the illustrious Aquino clan. It was Leon Hilario Aquino who encouraged the people to flock to the place by subdividing the land of the Poblacion into a lot of uniform sixes and offering these for three to each family head.
Mapandan was temporarily returned to its mother town Mangaldan on October 8, 1903, by virtue of Act No. 931. In 1905, an the outbreak of an epidemic greatly depleted its population and finances. In 1908, Mapandan was again reorganized and officially re-established as a town.
This community is located alongside the nearby municipalities of Manaoag, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, and Santa Barbara.
In year 2002, Mapandan was elevated as a third (3rd) class municipality through the efforts and leadership of Hon. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr., who spearheaded strategies on income and revenue generation.
Mapandan is a Hall of Famer for having the Pangasinan's cleanest, safest and greenest municipality (Category B). Mapandan was also awarded the Pangasinan's Healthiest Municipality for having the fewest malnourished children.
Geography
Mapandan is located in rastern-ventral part of Pangasinan. Bordered by Mangaldan to the north, Manaoag to the east, and Santa Barbara to the west and southern part. It is landlocked, however, it is not too far from nearby coastal areas of Dagupan, Binmaley and Mangaldan. Mapandan is a central hilly area, having several mountains nearby.
Mapandan is situated 29 kilometers (18mi) from the provincial capital Lingayen, and 205.42 kilometers (127.64mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.
The Map of all Barangays in Mapandan, Pangasinan
Barangays
Mapandan is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Most populous barangay in the Population census year
Barangay
Population census of Mapandan by Barangay
2024
2020
2015
2010
2007
2000
1990
Amanoaoac
1,656
1,636
2,678
1,642
1,604
1,593
1,357
Apaya
1,650
1,467
1,362
1,496
1,332
1,289
994
Aserda
1,414
1,108
1,178
1,167
1,062
949
805
Baloling
4,238
4,393
3,835
3,755
3,727
3,446
2,866
Coral
1,405
1,389
1,374
1,303
1,222
1,208
912
Golden
1,432
1,399
1,425
1,370
1,314
1,214
1,040
Jimenez
2,008
1,995
1,831
1,666
1,715
1,527
1,230
Lambayan
1,682
1,756
1,616
1,560
1,477
1,641
1,434
Luyan
3,344
3,730
3,225
2,957
2,938
2,432
2,061
Nilombot
4,199
4,411
4,215
4,075
4,837
3,574
2,765
Pias
4,827
4,699
4,619
4,297
2,813
3,463
2,755
Poblacion
3,509
3,622
3,714
3,360
3,388
3,416
3,173
Primicias
2,218
2,071
1,904
1,818
1,819
1,683
1,411
Santa Maria
1,585
1,270
1,305
1,175
1,249
1,037
911
Torres
3,061
3,112
2,778
2,798
2,408
2,303
1,908
Total
38,228
38,058
37,059
34,439
32,905
30,775
25,622
Languages
Pangasinan and Ilocano are the two main spoken languages in Mapandan. Tagalog is also widely spoken in the town.
Ethnic Groups
Ethnic Pangasinenses make up more than 90% of Mapandan's Population followed by Ethnic Ilocanos and Tagalogs. Notably, Barangay Santa Maria houses a significant% of Ethnic Ilocanos relative to the% of Mapandan's ethnic groups.
Roman Catholicism is the major Religion in Mapandan, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, and it is annexed by different religions around.
Mapandan is practically rural in terms of its area. It is composed of farming areas and cattle ranch farms. It has a little part of Bued river in northern part and an irrigation project also known as Payas irrigation project, which aims for a standard irrigation for farming areas in the municipality.
Mapandan is part of the third 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.
Education
The Mapandan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public elementary and high schools.
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