Umingan Pangasinan

To begin writing the history of Umingan is to recall the "vibrating voice" of a beautiful maiden which was heard about three centuries ago. It resounded, "Omega". This was the beginning of how Umingan got its name. "Omega" is a Greek word signifying the "end" or the "last". Geographically, the municipality is situated in the eastern "end" of the province. And so, its name reflects its geographical location.

But the story of the yearly journey of traders from the central towns of the province, gave more significant account on how Umingan was named. It had been said that before Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo undertook their northward expeditions in 1571-1572, people from the "Kingdom of Luyag na Caboloan" came to the eastern regions to barter their products. This trade between the central towns and eastern communities of the province continued even after the Malong Rebellion in 1662.

People from Binalatongan, now San Carlos, Calasiao, Mangaldan and Manaoag traded their goods in big quantities with the people of east Pangasinan. The historical account stated that whenever the traders reached the small rivulet, the streamlet that still flows to this day, crossing the town south of the present public market, they always stopped to "end" their long journey at the point.

The first business caravans during their encampment, saw a beautiful woman bathing in the tiny river. They asked her the name of the rivulet. She replied in "resounding rustic voice" that the stream was "Umingan." From that time on, the people had been calling the place by that term. When the community was organized into a municipality, after it was separated from the town of Lupao, Nueve Ecija, it was named "Umingan."