Mangaldan, Pangasinan

Mangaldan was founded by the Spanish Friar Juan Martinez in 1600. From 1600 up to 1879, local government was run by the church, and all government officials were appointed by the friars.

Beginning 1727, the Chief Executive of the town was given to Filipinos with Don Santiago Senan as Capitan Basal, a title similar to Alcalde or Mayor. Mapandan is those days was a part of Mangaldan.

As to how the town got its name, there are three version namely:

1st version - One day, as one related, a Spanish missionary happened to ask from one inhabitant about the name of the place in the Spanish language. Thinking that the missionary was asking for a glass of water to drink, the inhabitant said, "manga-alay Adan," meaning Adan is getting.

2nd version - The second version states that Mangaldan got its name from the first native chief of the town, named 'Babaldan," a brother of the founder of the town of San Carlos.

3rd version - The third version says that just at the middle of the plaza was a big mango tree laden with fruits. It was customary that anyone was free to gather the fruits but it resulted to quarreling among themselves. The meaning of "quarrel" in the dialect is "manga-gal galan."

Of the three versions above, either sone seems to justify the legendary origin of the town and, therefore, "manga-alay Adan," "Babaldan," and "manga-gal-galan," when stated in plain word, Mangaldan came out.