Bautista, Pangasinan

The Boletín Ecclesiástico de Filipinas published that the Dominicans founded the towns of Binalatongan (now San Carlos), 1588; Calasiao, 1588; Mangaldán, 1600; Manaoag, 1608; Lingayén, 1614; Dagupan, 1614; and, Telbang (now Bautista), 1614 in Pangasinan. Historian Rosario Cortez however wrote that Bautista has been in existence since 1686, but was removed from the Parish of Bayambang.

The so-called "Rebirth of Bautista" as a municipality came about in 1900. Don Ramón Reynado became the first town executive, along with other notable founders: Guillermo Agcaoile, Francisco Gonzales, Felipe Ramos, Dionisio Galvan, Teodoro Carungay, Claudio and Antonio Galsim, Marciano Guzman, Nicolas Galsim, Marcelino Villanueva and Eleno Cayabyab.

Bautista was dubbed "mercancia" or "Melting Pot" (where cargoes bound for Camiling, Tarlac were traded via the Agno River or by train). The municipality was truly a melting pot, with the diversity of the ethnicities and languages of its residents - Pangasinenses, Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pampangos, Chinese, and Spanish. The people of Nibaliw, Baluyot and Cabuaan are mostly Pangasinenses. The people of Nandacan, Villanueva, Poponto, Primicias, Artacho and Pogo are predominantly Ilocanos. Within the Poblacion, one would be able to meet a number of people with different persuasions, ideals and expression in varied dialects and language.

Bautista natives' livelihoods are farming, broom making (fiber, tanobong and midribs), dressmaking, sawali making, buro making, building construction, auto mechanics, basketry, bag making, blacksmithing, pottery, ceramics and hollow blocks making and rattan crafts. The residents also have clay, cattle, poultry, bamboo, rattan, anahaw, abiang, fishes, sugar, basi, vinegar and coconut, including watermelon and onion, its principal product.

1907 to 1920 was its golden years until San Quintin-Paniqui rail road line was opened, thus Bautista lost to Rosales, Tayug and San Quintin. The big floods of 1934 and 1972 almost annihilated the flood-prone town.^[8]

The Alcala December 5, 2012 "March to Righteousness" was launched to have joined the Ombudsman of the Philippines observance of December 9 International Anti-Corruption Day United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). Recently, Alcala held its Incident Command System Training, the Bautista LGU-Pangasinan, the Malacanang & Google hold MapUp Session, the 23rd National Statistics Month (NSM) and Philippine Civil Service Anniversary 2012.^[9]

The Municipality of Bautista is part of Pangasinan's Fifth Congressional District with a land area of 8,213 hectares. It is bounded by Alcala to the north, Bayambang to the south, and Agno River and Moncada, Tarlac to the east.^[6]

Bautista is situated 40.52 kilometres (25.18 mi) from the provincial capital Lingayen, and 189.76 kilometres (117.91 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Bautista is politically subdivided into 18 barangays:^[10] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Barangay Poblacion West is the site where the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem were written, and it is known as the "Home of the Philippine National Anthem". In 1899, Jose Palma wrote his poem "Filipinas" which became the Anthem's lyrics.^[11]

Poverty incidence of Bautista

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]}

Bautista, 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.

The official seal of Bautista has "BAYAN NG BAUTISTA" amid the green color (agricultural area, the gear, farming developments, the carabao).^[26]

Members of the Municipal Council (2019–2022):^[27]

• Congressman: Ramon Guico Jr.
• Mayor: Rosemarie G. Gacutan
• Vice-Mayor: Joren Aaron C. Espino
• Councilors:
  • Joseph G. Espino
  • Alex S. Tagulao
  • Alfredo P. Laguardia
  • Simplicio I. Petinez III
  • Johnny S. Junio
  • Zamboy Alfaro
  • Bernabe Pasana Jr.
  • Mylene De Leon

Bautista celebrates Philippine Eagle Week from June 4, 2012, to June 10, 2012 (Presidential Proclamation No. 79).^[28]

In the "Parada Na Dayew", a festivals of Pangasinan towns in the 432nd anniversary of April 11, 2012, Bautista Float Entry "Lupang Hinirang" claimed the 1st runner-up trophy with a cash of P 75, 000 and trophy.^[29]

• Maekrisanne Resort, Bautista Police Building, Bautista Municipal Park, Bautista Municipal Auditorium, Rural Bank of Bautista (Pangasinan), Inc. and Jose Palma Historic Place
• 2nd Buntis Congress was held at Bautista^[30] (August 15, 2012, at Maekrisanne Garden Resort attended by 134 participants).^[31]

Bautista derived its name from Saint John the Baptist ("Voice of the Wilderness and the Precursor of the Lord"), hence its town fiesta on June 23 and 24, the nativity of St. John, the Baptist.^[32]

The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist (F-1723), Poblacion East, Bautista, 2424 Pangasinan has a population of 19,547 Catholics with Parish Priests, Rev. Rafael Mesa and Rev. Rolando A. Fernandez.^[33] It is a part of the Vicariate IV: Queen of Peace,^[34] under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.^[35][36][37] Its Vicar Forane is Rev. Fr. Alberto T. Arenos.^[34][38][39]

The Bautista 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.^[40]

• Baluyot National High School
• Bautista National High School
• Coloscaoayan National High School