Sison Tomas Pangasinan
The present barangays that composed Sison were once independent tribes
from one another, organized by migrating tribes.
Etymology and Creation of the Municipality
The mother town of Sison was San Fabian. Bolaoen was formerly a big barrio of
San Fabian in its eastern part. This barrio became a municipality named Alava in
1862 as a result of the petition of its residents dated December 15, 1862.
“Alava” was formerly a vast eastern part of the municipality of San Fabian,
which became an independent municipality from 1862-1918. The name “Alava” was
given by a high Spanish military official in memory of his home province named
Alava on the northern part of Spain, which coincidentally, is also in the
northern part of Pangasinan. The Alava town was formerly composed of the barrios
of Cabuanan, Camangaan, Bolaoen, Binmeckeg, Cabaritan, Cauringan, Amagbagan and
Asan and several sitios as Overbiong, Pugo, Batakil, Paldit, Macoco and Reriet.
During the tribal years, several “ranchereas” were organized on the north and
east portions of the town of Alava by migrating people seeking rich soil for
subsistence. There were the defunct “ranchereas of Colisao (now part of San
Fabian), Pinmilapil, Esperanza, Dungon, Agat, Sagunto and Bila. These ranchereas
were grouped into one to form the township of Esperanza and made Esperanza the
site of its government office under the Special or Insular Government from 1900
to 1907.
On the other hand, there were also ranchereas on the east of the Aloragat River,
namely: Inmalog, Labayug, Calunetan, Alibeng, Bacayao, Casilagan and San Andres.
These ranchereas were grouped into one township. Labayug was the center of
Special or Insular Government from 1900 to 1907.
From 1907 to 1918, Labayug and Esperanza were fused together and formed a big
township. It was named after the Provincial Government of Artacho who initiated
the fusion.
After some years, the Municipality of Alava planned to widen its territories to
be able to add revenue collections and maintain its government. On the other
hand, the Municipality of Artacho, also on the move to become a regular
municipality, offered Alava to fuse with her. Alava had no alternative and
agreed to fuse with the town of Artacho in order to become a big regular
municipality with sufficient revenue to maintain its goverment.
On May 11, 1918, a bill sponsored by then Senator Pedro Maria Sison was approved
in Congress effecting the fusion of the townships of Artacho and Alava as
decreed by then Governor General Leonard Wood. The town was named SISON in honor
of then Senator, Don Pedro Maria Sison.
From then on, the Municipality of Sison became an independent town.
Source: http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/history.htm
