Urdaneta, Pangasinan


', officially the ', is a of the Philippines| in the province of,. According to the, it has a population of people.
It has a land area of 12,100 hectares. As Gateway to Northern Philippines, the city's strategic location is on the central part of eastern Pangasinan. Urdaneta is among the most progressive cities in Northern Luzon in annual regular income beating all cities in Region 1. It is among the region's cleanest, greenest and most livable cities.
Urdaneta is from Manila, from Dagupan and is from the provincial capital, Lingayen.

History

The first settlers of the area were Pangasinenses, followed by a migration of Ilocanos who settled in outlying areas. These settlers petitioned the Spanish government to allow them to form a separate pueblo for greater ties and stronger unity. Their petition was granted and Urdaneta was formally founded as a pueblo on January 8, 1858. There is uncertainty if it was named after Andrés de Urdaneta, Miguel de Urdaneta, or Simon de Urdaneta.

Creation of the city

Urdaneta became a city through Republic Act 8480, otherwise known as "An Act Converting the Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan into a Component City to be known as the City of Urdaneta". This was signed on January 10, 1998 and was voted affirmatively by the people of Urdaneta City on March 21, 1998.

City government

The incumbent elected officials are Mayor Amadeo "Bobom" G.E. Perez IV, Vice Mayor Julio F. Parayno, III, and the 10 Sangguniang Panglungsod Members or Councilors.
Sangguniang Panlungsod of Urdaneta
Urdaneta City is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.

Demographics

Climate

Economy

Urdaneta produces rice, vegetables and noodles.
SM Prime Holdings will put up an SM Supermall to be called SM City Urdaneta Central, currently under construction and scheduled to open second half of 2017. The largest cattle market in Northern Luzon is Urdaneta's Livestock Market. The city has numerous financial and banking institutions which make it among the most vibrant economies in Pangasinan and the whole Ilocos Region.

Tourism

Attractions include Museo de Urdaneta, Cabaruan, Sugcong and Oltama Rolling Hills, inter alia. The Sanctuary I.T. Building houses the first two call centers: FFG Telemarketing and EIE Inc..
Trading hub of Pangasinan, its “Bagsakan” is a drop-off point for fruits and vegetables in front of the Cathedral.
Urdaneta City University is here.

Festivals

Urdaneta City celebrates Dumayo Festival annually March 18–March 31: Basbas ng Pag-iisang Dibdib, bloodletting activity, tree planting for environment preservation, jobs fair and fun run for a cause.
The city celebrates fiesta every month of December. This is in remembrance of the city patron, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Festivities are held 1–8 December. Activities include a parade, drum and lyre competition, teachers' night, balikbayan night, ABC-SK night, ballroom, Miss Urdaneta City coronation night and many more events. A carnival is put up every December as a part of the event.
In the 2012 yearly City Fiesta celebration, Fifth District Representative Kimi S. Cojuangco formally opened the agro-industrial fair where “bahay kubo” booths of the city's barangays showcased their products at the Urdaneta City Cultural and Sports Complex. Cojuangco was assisted by Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chair Amadeo R. Perez Jr., Mayor Amadeo Gregorio “Bobom” Perez IV and members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Onofre C. Gorospe.

Religion

Roman Catholicism

The Urdaneta Cathedral or the 1858 Immaculate Conception Cathedral
It is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Roman Catholic Diocese of Urdaneta.
Founded on January 8, 1858, the Parish as Vicariate, was accepted by the Dominicans in 1863, under Kura Paroko Padre Nicolas Manrique Alonzo. Fr. Rafael Cano built the old church on March 4, 1884: 77.10 meters long and 23.30 meters wide with 3 naves. It was destroyed by the American bombings in January 1945.
Diocesan Officials of the Ordinary of Urdaneta Diocese are led by Bishop Jacinto Agcaoili Jose, JCL, DD. His installation as Third Bishop of the Diocese of Urdaneta took place on Dec. 30, 2005. He serves as vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission of Social Communications and Mass Media and member of the Episcopal commission on Youth.

Previous Ordinaries were Bishop Jesus Castro Galang† and Bishop Pedro G. Magugat, M.S.C.†. Other Diocesan Officials hold office at the Bishop's Residence and Chancery of Obispado de Urdaneta Building, Dr. Jose Aruego Street, Urdaneta City, 2428 Pangasinan, Philippines. The Vicar General is Msgr. Lazaro P. Hortaleza and Chancellor, Father Teofilo L. Calicdan.

Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayan Church

The Aglipay Central Theological Seminary in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan is the regional seminary of the church dedicated to serve the North-Central and South-Central Luzon Dioceses. ACTS offers a Bachelor of Theology and Divinity Programs for those who aspire to enter the ordained ministry in the Church. It is a four-year study program with a curriculum focused on biblical, theological, historical and pastoral studies with reference to parish management and development and wider cultural and social context. Members of the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayans has the second most members in the city.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Urdaneta has been selected as the site of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, the third temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built in the Philippines.

Notable natives