Pangasinan is a province in Ilocos Region of in northern Luzon, the chief island of the Philippines. The capital of Pangasinan is Lingayen. Being in a somewhat fertile plain, the area is known for agricultural products like corn crops carabao milk, duhat wine, nipa hut roofings, tuba and other products.
The name "Pangasinan" can be ambiguous; it can refer also to the people and the language.
Pangasinan's name derives from the word for "place of salt", with the root word "asin" (salt). Salt production is the main source of income, but the local economy has since diversified. It is the richest province among the four in Ilocos Region.
The local people are of the same name, Pangasinan (also called Pangasinense or Panggalatok, the latter they consider to be derogatory), but the province has been heavily settled by Ilocanos from the north, which still some natives resent. Other ethnic groups are the indigenous Sambal peoples, who live in western Pangasinan.
While historically linked to Central Luzon, Pangasinan is rather lumped up as part of Ilocos Region as a relic of the Marcos era. As a result, native Pangasinan object to calling Ilocos Region as simply Ilocos.
Victory Liner runs buses every hour from Manila to Alaminos, Lingayen or Dagupan (and vice versa), with stopovers at Dau and Tarlac City; some buses continue onward to Baguio through MacArthur Highway/Manila North Road (Route 2). Five Star, Victory's sister bus line, also serve the same destination pairs, but they also have a trip from Santiago in Isabela with an ordinary (non-air-conditioned) bus.
Pangasinan is served by the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway since 2015, shortening travel time from Manila. Taxis can take you to the province, but are expensive
There is no airport in Pangasinan with commercial flights, and the two only airports, in Lingayen and Binalonan, are mostly used by general aviation and flying schools. The nearest major airport is in Angeles. There are plans to build a new airport at Alaminos, but construction is stalled by political debate.
The best way to get around Pangasinan is by provincial bus, with frequent connections across key cities and towns. Major operators are Victory Liner and Five Star, Pangasinan Solid North and Dagupan Bus Line.
Highways are of a decent standard, but most will be two- to four-lane roads with homes and businesses at both sides, and lots of slow traffic and obstacles.
Jeepneys are the primary mode of local public transport around Dagupan and surroundings. On most other places, tricycles are more common, and jeepneys primarily used to service nearby towns, but are less comfortable than buses.
For a fishy experience, try the fish market in Dagupan.
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