CHAPTER I
PROFILE OF THE MUNICIPALITY
THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
Spanish Regime and Early Settlement
In 1752, the nephew of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Juan de Salcedo was sent up
north and reached the now called City of San Fernando.
The Birth of Pindangan and San Fernando
Around 1759, Augustinian friar, Padre José Torres fused these 2 settlements to
Pindangan. It was in the year of 1762 that Pindangan was born, a church dedicated to
San Guillermo the Hermit was. This church is now the Cathedral of St. William the Hermit.
The massive 1860's earthquake destroyed the church which was later rebuilt. The term
Pindangan was derived from the Ilocano word Pindang, which means dried fish, thus
Pindangan, means the place where one dries fish.
During 1764, Don Santiago Olarte was appointed as Pindangan's first
Gobernadorcillo, a position equivalent to present day Mayor.
May 6, 1786, Pinadangan was founded as Ministerio de San Fernando in Honor of
King Ferdinand of Spain by Fr. Fernando Rey. Construction of the Church, employing
forced labor of the population, was finished and symbolized the Union of San Vicente de
Balanac and San Guillermo de Dalangdang.
In 1786, San Fernando named after Saint Ferdinand III of Castile. The city's original
settlements, San Vicente de Balanac and San Guillermo de Dalangdang. The union of
two sitios is for mutual protection against maraunding pirates from the sea and
headhunters from the mountain.
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In 1831 father Juan Soralla, was became the first resident priest of Pindangan (San
Fernando). In 1850, the down was declared as the cabecera or provincial capital of La
Union province.
The Philippine Revolution in San Fernando
From 1896 until 1898, during the Philippine Revolution, the Spanish garrison of San
Fernando was attacked by Filipino insurgents under Manuel Tinio y Bundoc and Mauro
Ortiz. The Spaniards were finally ousted.
In the Second World War, the last battle of San Fernando was fought during the
Japanese occupation at Barangay Bacsil. The Bacsil Ridge Monument was built on the
site in the city, the north-eastern portion of the town plaza. The victory enabled the
establishment of the United States Army Base at Poro Point (a buildup area for the Japan
invasion). The town was liberated in 1945.
San Fernando City in the 20th Century
The City of San Fernando, La Union serves as the gateway to trade and commerce
to the North and the Commerce to the North and the Culture and heritage of Ilocandia.
It is also the regional and administrative capital of Region I, hosting regional offices of
national government agencies as well as being home to some of the region’s best
educational and medical institutions and facilities. The city is a bustling commercial and
administrative hub located in the geographical center of the Province of La Union which
links the province of Pangasinan to Ilocos Norte in Region I. It is truly regional hub that
connects all of Northern Luzon.
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BACKGROUND OF THE MUNICIPALITY
The City of San Fernando, siudad ti San Fernando, is a 3rd class component city in
the province of La Union, Philippines. The city is bounded by San Juan to the
north, Bauang to the south, Bagulin and Naguilian to the east, and the South China
Sea to the west. It has a land area of 10, 526 hectares (25,380 acres). San Fernando is the
financial, industrial and political center of the province, as well as the regional center of
the Ilocos Region (Region I) in the Philippines. San Fernando became a city by virtue
of Republic Act 8509 signed into law on February 13, 1998 and ratified on March 20, 1998
by a plebiscite. San Fernando is 269 kilometers (167 mi) from Metro Manila.
Annual community events
The city has a yearly fiesta, celebrated from January 28 to February 15, where a
trade fair is opened near the city hall. The following events happen annually: Annual City
Fiesta, February 10; Bacsil Ridge Celebration, March 19; Pindangan Festival, March 20;
Ma-tzu Festival, September 16.
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BASIC CITY PROFILE (FACTS AND FIGURES as of 2015)
Region I, Northern Luzon
Province La Union
Congressional District First District
Language Ilocano
Total No. of Barangay 59
Total Population 121,912
Total Land Area 10, 526 has.
Urban Land Area 2, 488 has. (24 barangays)
Rural Land Area (residential, agricultural, forest)
8, 038 has. (35 barangays)
Climate Wet Season
Dry season
Agricultural Products Rice, Corn, Legumes, Tobaco
Percentage barangays served by La Union 100%
Electric Company
Number of Health Facilities 1 Regional Hospital, 4 Privately Owned
Hospital
1 health Center (24/7 operation),
5 Lying-in Clinics under City Health
Office
Financial Systems 30 Commercial/ Thrift Banks
2 Rural Banks
Sources of Income Agriculture,
Manufacturing,
Commerce & Trade,
Tourism
Sources:
www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph
Datas from San Fernando City Information and Tourism Section
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