Urdaneta City Charter Day is held in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Philippines every March 21. It remembers the historic transformation of Urdaneta from a municipality to a city in 1998.
History of Urdaneta City
It is said that in the past, Urdaneta City was called Organita that means a “small unit.” It was inhabited by people who migrated from Ilocos and cleared the forested and landlocked area.
During the colonial era, its people petitioned the government to create an independent pueblo. Its jurisdiction was carved out of the barrios from neighboring towns of Asingan, Villasis, Malasiqui, Sta. Barbara, Mangaldan, Manaoag, and Binalonan.
On January 8, 1858, it was officially created into a town. The petitioners also moved to rename the town Soldevilla after Manuel Buotelon y Soldevilla who was the alcalde mayor of the province. The initiative did not prosper, and the parish priest Fr. Nicolas Manrique Alonzo recommended the name Urdaneta, the Augustinian friar who accompanied the Philippine-bound Spanish expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. From that time on, the town was called Urdaneta.
The conversion of Urdaneta to a city was made through House Bill No. 8254 that was authored by Representative Amadeo R. Perez Jr. Thus, Republic Act No. 8480, otherwise known as “An Act Converting the Municipality of Urdaneta in the Province of Pangasinan into a Component City to be Known as the City of Urdaneta,” was approved on February 10, 1998.
The law was ratified through a plebiscite on March 21 of the same year, and this is the date that is commemorated as Urdaneta City Charter Day every year.
In 2023, in time for the 25th Charter Day, the city government launched the 1st Pinnaglakwan Festival.
Urdaneta City Charter Day Activities
Events of city charter celebration, also known as Pinnaglakawan Festival since 2023, include motorcade, fun run, party, presentations, health and wellness activities, socio-civic projects such as bloodletting activity and job fair, fireworks display, street party, music festival, and food festival.
How to reach Urdaneta City
Take a ride from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Cubao. From Cubao, take a bus going to Pangasinan.
References
- Virgilio Sar. Maganes. Urdaneta celebrates 11th Charter Day. Northern Watch. March 17, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2024
- Virgilio Sar. Maganes. Urdaneta City celebrates 19th Charter Day. March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2024
- Urdaneta City. Provincial Government of Pangasinan. Retrieved March 15, 2024
- The History of Urdaneta. Balinkbayan. Retrieved March 15, 2024
- REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8480, February 10, 1998. Supreme Court of the Philippines E-Library. Retrieved March 15, 2024
Urdaneta City Charter Day Summary
Name Urdaneta City Charter Day Celebration Charter Day Country Philippines Date March 21 Email urdanetacitytourism@gmail.com Facebook www.facebook.com Location Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Organizer City Government of Urdaneta Other Names Pinnaglakwan Festival
| Name | Urdaneta City Charter Day |
|---|---|
| Celebration | Charter Day |
| Country | Philippines |
| Date | March 21 |
| urdanetacitytourism@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Location | Urdaneta City, Pangasinan |
| Organizer | City Government of Urdaneta |
| Other Names | Pinnaglakwan Festival |