Manaoag, officially the Municipality of Manaoag ([mɐˈnaʊag]; Pangasinan: Baley na Manaoag; Ilocano: Ili ti Manaoag; Tagalog: Bayan ng Manaoag), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 76,606 people.
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Etymology
Manaoag came from the Pangasinan word "Mantaoag" which means "to call".
History
Manaoag as a settlement was used to be part of present-day San Jacinto in the early 1600s. Later, the Augustinians established a mission as Mission of Sta. Monica, while Dominicans also served the area.
On October 8, 1903, Manaoag absorbed the municipality of San Jacinto within its jurisdiction by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 931. San Jacinto was later separated as a re-established municipality on October 31, 1906.
In 1972, Republic Act No. 6485 was enacted wherein twenty barrios were organized as a separate municipality and the province's newest, named Laoac; however, it took long before the establishment was formalized in 1980.
Geography
The Municipality of Manaoag is bordered by Pozorrubio in the north, Urdaneta City and Mapandan in the south, Laoac in the east, and San Jacinto in the west.
Manaoag is situated 34.19 kilometres (21.24 mi) from the provincial capital Lingayen, and 200.66 kilometres (124.68 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays
Manaoag is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Demographics
Languages
Pangasinan is the primary dialect of Manaoag. Ilocano is also spoken and understood by the population.
Economy
Poverty incidence of Manaoag (%)
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Government
Local government
Manaoag is part of the fourth 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.
Culture
Our Lady of Manaoag
The town is a popular local pilgrimage site as it enshrines a 17th-century ivory statue of St Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manaoag ("Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag"). Legend has it that an unnamed man had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who told him to have the shrine built. Famous souvenirs include candles, rosaries, and ampullae of blessed oil with flowers (which supposedly has healing properties), as well as less religious ones such as bagoóng monamon and tupig.
Education
The Manaoag 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.