Malasiqui

Malasiqui, officially the Municipality of Malasiqui (Pangasinan: Baley na Malasiqui; Ilocano: Ili ti Malasiqui; Tagalog: Bayan ng Malasiqui), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 143,094 people.^[5]

Malasiqui
Municipality
Municipality of Malasiqui
Panoramic
Flag Seal
Map of Pangasinan with Malasiqui highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Malasiqui Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°55′N 120°25′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Pangasinan
District	3rd district
Founded	January 22, 1671 (354 years ago) (1671-01-22)
Barangays	73 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Alfe M. Soriano
• Vice Mayor	Daria Dolores M. Mamaril
• Representative	Maria Rachel J. Arenas
• Municipal Council	Members Vincent Nathaniel S. Arenas Norman S. Espinoza Jessica V. Gueco Alexis V. Mamaril Janice D. Pinlac Ronorick D. Ballesteros John Phillip A. Domantay Brian Dave R. Austria
• Electorate	89,906 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	131.37 km2 (50.72 sq mi)
Elevation	21 m (69 ft)
Highest elevation	87 m (285 ft)
Lowest elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	144,344
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
• Households	34,428
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	19.33 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 542.8 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 973.4 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 436.4 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 973.4 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2421
PSGC	0105524000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)75
Native languages	Pangasinan Ilocano Tagalog
Website	malasiqui.gov.ph

Etymology

The word Malasiqui originates from the Pangasinense root word lasi meaning lightning. With prefix ma indicating high degree and suffix qui indicating place - Malasiqui means "place full of lightning".

Another story about the town's etymology goes to talk about three Spanish priests who, while conducting ocular during those days, were so pissed off with the condition of the road which was muddy. The first priest said "mala" which means bad. The second priest responded "si" which means yes. The third one apparently not paying attention asked "que?" or "what". The local folk who overheard the conversation mistook it as if they are naming the town. And so it came to be known as Mala Si Que? or the current name spelled as Malasiqui.

History

The socio-political history of the municipality parallels that of the Pangasinan province and the country in general. Its history is punctuated by periods of foreign domination first by the Spanish, then by the United States and briefly by the Japanese during the 2nd World War.

There were no organized communities in the area before the Spaniards arrived. Attempts to group families into a settlement may have started as early as 1665. The present site was then heavily forested with small family groups scattered along banks of small rivers and creeks.

The municipality proper traces its origins during the middle of the 17th century when Spanish friars opened a mission intended to convert the native population into Catholicism. The most probable founding year was 1671 when Spanish civil authorities in Manila gave the license for the creation of the town. The population participated heavily in some of the bloodiest rebellions during the Spanish period. Catholicism and other Christian sects dominate the religious life of the people.

Ethnically, it is one of the few places in the province of Pangasinan which did not experience in-migration from other regions of the country. Consequently, Pangasinanse is the dominant ethnic group with almost no other ethnic groups mixing into the locality.

Today, the poblacion or town center, has recently been experiencing high commercial growth spurred mainly by high consumer spending generated by increase in family incomes attributable to earnings of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). The estimate of OFW population as a percentage of adult labor force is as much as 22% - one of the highest rates in the Philippines. The OFW phenomenon is so significant that almost all households have at least one member working outside of the country.^[6]

Geography

Malasiqui is situated 27.97 kilometres (17.38 mi) from the provincial capital Lingayen, and 195.76 kilometres (121.64 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Malasiqui is politically subdivided into 73 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Abonagan
• Agdao
• Alacan
• Aliaga
• Amacalan
• Anolid
• Apaya
• Asin Este
• Asin Weste
• Bacundao Este
• Bacundao Weste
• Bakitiw
• Balite
• Banawang
• Barang
• Bawer
• Binalay
• Bobon
• Bolaoit
• Bongar
• Butao
• Cabatling
• Cabueldatan
• Calbueg
• Canan Norte
• Canan Sur
• Cawayan Bogtong
• Don Pedro
• Gatang
• Goliman
• Gomez
• Guilig
• Ican
• Ingalagala
• Lareg-lareg
• Lasip
• Lepa
• Loqueb Este
• Loqueb Norte
• Loqueb Sur
• Lunec
• Mabulitec
• Malimpec
• Manggan-Dampay
• Nancapian
• Nalsian Norte
• Nalsian Sur
• Nansangaan
• Olea
• Pacuan
• Palapar Norte
• Palapar Sur
• Palong
• Pamaranum
• Pasima
• Payar
• Poblacion
• Polong Norte
• Polong Sur
• Potiocan
• San Julian
• Tabo-Sili
• Tobor
• Talospatang
• Taloy
• Taloyan
• Tambac
• Tolonguat
• Tomling
• Umando
• Viado
• Waig
• Warey

Climate

Climate data for Malasiqui, Pangasinan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	33 (91)	32 (90)	32 (90)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	21 (70)	21 (70)	22 (72)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	22 (72)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	5.1 (0.20)	11.6 (0.46)	21.1 (0.83)	27.7 (1.09)	232.9 (9.17)	350.8 (13.81)	679.8 (26.76)	733.1 (28.86)	505 (19.9)	176.6 (6.95)	67.2 (2.65)	17.7 (0.70)	2,828.6 (111.38)
Average rainy days	3	3	3	4	14	18	23	25	22	15	8	4	142
Source: World Weather Online (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[7]

Demographics

Population census of Malasiqui

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 14,550 —     1918 22,747 +3.02% 1939 33,660 +1.88% 1948 40,786 +2.16% 1960 50,730 +1.83% 1970 61,423 +1.93%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 67,489 +1.91% 1980 70,905 +0.99% 1990 92,053 +2.65% 1995 101,056 +1.76% 2000 113,190 +2.46% 2007 122,820 +1.13%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 123,566 +0.22% 2015 130,275 +1.01% 2020 143,094 +2.00% 2024 144,344 +0.21%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

Economy

Public Market

Poverty incidence of Malasiqui

10 20 30 40 50 2000 42.27 2003 34.39 2006 28.20 2009 24.45 2012 19.10 2015 12.27 2018 13.29 2021 19.33 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

It is mainly an agricultural municipality with rice, corn and tropical lowland vegetables as main crops. It is also famous for its mango fruits having one of the largest concentration of mango tree population in the Philippines.

Government

Town hall

Local government

See also: Sangguniang Bayan

Malasiqui, belonging to the third 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.

Elected officials of the Municipal Council (2025–2028):^[21]

• Congressman: Maria Rachel J. Arenas
• Mayor: Alfe M. Soriano
• Vice-Mayor: Daria Dolores M. Mamaril
• Councilors:
  • Vincent Nathaniel S. Arenas
  • Norman S. Espinoza
  • Jessica V. Gueco
  • Alexis V. Mamaril
  • Janice D. Pinlac
  • Ronorick D. Ballesteros
  • John Phillip A. Domantay
  • Brian Dave R. Austria

Tourism

Public Park and Plaza

The Town Fiesta is celebrated January 17 thru 22 every year.^[22] Points of interests include:

• Malasiqui Agno Valley College
• Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan
• Harvest Festival
• Assembly of God
• Rep. Rachel "Baby" Arenas farm
• Monastery of the Poor Clares of St. James the Apostle
• Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan's first cloistered monastery
• Malasiqui Central School^[23]
• Centeno Farm Resort and Ecohills Resort
• Barangay Lareg-Lareg and the Arenas Civic Center
• Magic Mall
• St. Ildephonse of Seville Parish Church (Malasiqui)

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. The schools district offices oversee the management and operations of all private and public elementary and high schools.^[24] These are Malasiqui I Schools District Office, and Malasiqui II Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

• Abonagan - Bobon Elementary School
• Alacan-Guilig Elementary School
• Aliaga Elementary School
• Apaya Elementary School
• Asin Este Elementary School
• Bacundao East Elementary School
• Bacundao Elementary School
• Bakitiw Elementary School
• Balite Elementary School
• Barang Elementary School
• Bernabe Q. Jimenez E/S
• Biba Elementary School
• Binalay Elementary School
• Bogtong Elementary School
• Bolaoit Elementary School
• Bongar Elementary School
• Cabatling Elementary School
• Cabeldatan Elementary School
• Calbeg Elementary School
• Canan Elementary School
• Don Pedro Elementary School
• Gatang Elementary School
• Genaro Armas Elementary School
• Goliman Elementary School
• Iba Elementary School
• Ican Elementary School
• J.C. Macaranas Elementary School
• Jorge C. De Vera Elementary School
• Kingsville Advanced School of Malasiqui
• Lepa Elementary School
• Lokeb Este Elementary School
• Lokeb Norte Elementary School
• Lokeb Sur Elementary School
• Lunec Elementary School
• Malasiqui Adventist School
• Malasiqui Catholic School
• Malasiqui I Central School
• Malimpec Elementary School
• Mangan Dampay Elementary School
• Marian Educational Center of Malasiqui
• Mendoza Memorial Elementary School
• Nalsian-Tomling Elementary School
• Olea Elementary School
• Pacuan Elementary School
• Palapar Elementary School
• Palapar Norte Elementary School
• Palong Elementary School
• Pamaranum Elementary School
• Pasima Elementary School
• Payar-Gomez Elementary School
• Polong Elementary School
• Potiocan Elementary School
• San Julian Central School
• Seed School of San Francisco
• Tabo-Sili Elementary School
• Talospatang Elementary School
• Tobor Elementary School
• Tolonguat Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Aliaga National High School
• Calbeg National High School
• CananNational High School
• Catalino D. Cerezo National High School
• Clemente Cristobal National High School
• Domingo P. Boquiren National High School
• Don Pedro National High School
• Lareglareg National High School
• Lokeb Norte National High School
• Lokeb Sur National High School
• Lunec National High School
• Mabulitec Integrated School
• Malasiqui National High School
• Nalsian-Tomling National High School
• Nancapian National High School
• Olea National High School
• Palapar National High School
• Talospatang National High School
• Tobor National High School
• San Julian National High School

Higher educational institutions

• Malasiqui Agno Valley College
• Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan