San Quintin, Pangasinan

San Quintin : Don Quintin Lictawa

Innumerable and countless years before 1864, the municipality of San Quintin was called Lango-lango, a distant barrio belonging to the municipality of Umingan, part of Nueva Ecija before, Pangasinan now.

Don Quintin Lictawa, a wood cutter, in quest for greener pastures, quinched his thirst and set foot on this barrio. Armed with an axe and a bolo, he began clearing the site which abounds with huge trees. Day in and day out, he braved the scorching heat of the sun during the dry season and dared thunder and lightning during the rainy season, amidst back-breaking toil, in order that his children and his children's children maybe able to live a life of comfort. Due to his industry however, he died clearing the place. In view of the thickness of the once-upon-a-time wilderness, his death was not a bit noticed by the immediate members of his family because it was his custom to stay out in the jungle thickness as long as he feels like staying so.

In 1864, when the Spaniards came across the place and begun to organize the municipality, a body which was in the state of decomposition was discovered. It was later ascertained that the body was that of Don Quintin Lictawa which was identified by his axe. A lot of praise was said about Don Quintin Lictawa in view of his "saintly" ideas, the Spaniards baptized the place as SAN QUINTIN in honor of Don Quintin Lictawa. Don Anatalio Lictawa, a near kin of Don Quintin Lictawa, was appointed the first executive of the town in 1864.