Dagupan City

Dagupan City was originally named Bacnotan by the Augustinian missionaries a few years after the establishment of the Spanish encomienda in Pangasinan in 1583. In 1660, Andres Malong, a local chieftain, led a revolt against the Spaniards for imposing forced labor. After the revolt, the people rebuilt the town. To commemorate the gathering forces under Malong, the place was renamed to “Nandaragupan” which means “where people meet”. In 1780, the name of the town was simplified to Dagupan, followed by the end of Spanish rule in July 23, 1898 when the Spanish troops surrendered to the Katipunan leader, General Francisco Makabulos.

The first civil government was established in February 16, 1901 with the holding of the first elections through “viva voce”.

Dagupan became a city on June 20, 1947 by virtue of Republic Act No. 170, a law known as the City Charter of Dagupan.

Home of the tastiest milkfish in the world and Birthplace of Philippine Modern Art & National Artist "VICTORIO EDADES”

Photo of General Douglas Mac Arthur addressing Dagupenos from his General Headquarters (now West Central Home Economics building).
On January 9, 1945, American troops landed in Luzon between the towns of Lingayen and Dagupan. That afternoon, General MacArthur himself waded ashore south of San Fabian. On January 13th, MacArthur moved his General Headquarters to Dagupan. Addressing the residents of Dagupan from this building, MacArthur said: "I am happy to have returned. Thank you and God bless you."

Dagupan City covers a total land area of 3,723 hectares (9,200 acres), bounded by the Lingayen Gulf in the north, San Fabian in the northeast, Mangaldan in the east, Calasiao in the south and Binmaley in the west. Land use is primarily for agriculture with 35.98% of the total land area, fishpond, cropland, residential with 22.88%; others uses are commercial, industrial, institutional, government private, parks, and roads.

Pictures in different places in Dagupan:

Quintos Bridge at night

Christmas Lights at Quintos Bridge

Bonuan Tondaligan Breakwater

Sunset at Pantal River

Dawel River Cruise

The Old Crab Restaurant

ST. JOHN CATHEDRAL (1947)
This photo shows devotees streaming out of the "renovated" St. John Cathedral which, together with the convent adjacent to it, were bombed out during World War II. That war had ended two years earlier.
Photo by Marcial S. Valenzuela

The Historic St. John the Evangelist Cathedral (now Sanctuario de San Juan Evangelista) and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist (formerly St. John the Evangelist Parish) on the background. Photo by Alistair Gonzales

Here is a video of Dagupan City:

video presentation made by: dagupancitygov

Dagupan, less than an hour's drive east of Lingayen, is the Philippines' capital of fish culture. One-fifth of the city's total area consists of fishponds for culturing bangus (milkfish), prawns, shrimps, crabs and mussels. This is also where they make much of the nation's bagoong (fermented fish paste).

In honour of its fishy culture, Dagupan stages the Bangus Festival every April, the centerpiece of which is a street party featuring live performances on eight outdoor stages and bangus cooked on a giant barbecue grill, said to be one of the longest in the world.

Every Filipino festival has street dancing competition in this case participants dressed up in bangus or other unique costumes and perform the intricate steps of traditional dance called Gilon! Gilon!

Here are some photos: