Historical Background

Monday, February 9, 2009

During the early part of the nineteenth century, the uninhabited island of Cabarruyan was discovered by Andres dela Cruz-Cacho fondly known as Andales Kulayo. Mainly seafarers used back then Island as refuge during heavy rains and storm. Kulayo discovered that the island was suitable for grazing and agriculture and so in 1842 he brought his family from the town of Bolinao to the island.

In time, others followed and settled in Cabarruyan and after seven years, their population was large enough to form a municipality. The leaders of the island filed a petition for the creation of a new town. They sent copies of their petition to the Archbishop of Manila and to Don Jose Sanchez, Alcalde of Iba Zambales. Their request was granted on May 26, 1849. On January 1850, the site for the plaza, church, convent, cemetery, streets and town hall were laid out. On July 1850, the new town was inaugurated. In 1853 Don Domingo Cacho-Valerio, the Teniete Absoluto of the town, filed a petition to change the name of Cabarruyan to Anda in honor of Governor General Simon De Anda. The separation of Anda as an independent town drew an unfavorable political consequence.

The Municipality of Bolinao, of which Anda was once a district, assert‘ed for the reversion of the decision of Anda’s separation; arguing that the town’s population was inadequate to form a separate municipality. Therefore, for about five years Anda remained the barrio of Bolinao. Nevertheless, political leaders of Anda continued lobbying for the creation of Anda as a separate town. The three Cacho brothers: Don Sixto, Don Gregorio and Don Domingo invited people from La Union and other neighboring town to migrate in Anda. Confident that they have the numbers the three brothers once again petitioned the creation of separate municipality.

On May 10, 1859, Don Miguel Ruiz-Perez, the new Alcalde of Iba Zambales arrived in town and proclaimed Anda as an independent municipality to be governed by a Capitan. The first municipal center was established in Sigat (now Brgy, Namgbagan) but moved to Sirungan Baka. It was inaugurated on June 1867. In 1903, Anda and towns of Alaminos, Bolinao, San Isidro (now Burgos), Infanta, Bani and Agno became part of the province of Pangasinan.

Reference:
www.anda.gov.ph