History of Cuyapo, Part 1

CUYAPO comes from the Pangasinan word “kuyapo”, “kiapo” or “quiapo” in Tagalog; “lul-luan”, in Ilocano; (Pistia Stratiocis Linn), a water plant that looks like a flower. According to the Kulantong, or Cronologia written by the late Cirilo R. Sumangil, a native of Cuyapo, who, for over forty years, was the Parish Priest of the Philippine Independent Church of Cuyapo. Said aquatic plant was so abundant particularly in a place which is now owned by the Monteros, situated along Rizal Street near the Municipal Cemetery. It was at this place that lured cow tenders from Paniqui, Tarlac to pasture their herds or flocks.
 
Early Beginnings
Pangasinenses from Paniqui, Tarlac who used to pasture their cattle, foresters from Sta. Maria, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Paoay and Batac in Ilocos Norte; and Pangasinenses from Calasiao and San Carlos, Pangasinan, settled in great number in the town. It is said that the exodus, particularly from Ilocos Sur, was due to the forced labor enforced by the Spaniards in the construction of the Catholic Church in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur. Cuyapo was declared a Barrio of Rosales on September 25, 1849, with Senior Santiago Vergara as its first Teniente del Barrio. Rosales was then a part of Nueva Ecija. It was in 1901 during the American Civil Commission that Rosales, together with Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin , were segregated from Nueva Ecija and became parts of Pangasinan.

Creation of the Town
On October 29,1859, Cuyapo was separated from Rosales and made a full-fledged town with Don Juan Pangalilingan as the first Gobernadorcillo. It was during his term that the first Catholic Church and convent was constructed. The old road to Guimba, passing through what is now Barangay Maycaban was constructed. On October 29, 1959, Cuyapo celebrated the centennial of its creation as a town.

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Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

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