JJust l ike al l growing cit ies in the world, Alaminos City –Home of the Hundred Islands - is now opening its doorsto potential partners in investments, tourism-related ventures,

light industries and environmental conservation anchored on theuniversal concept of sustainable development.

Barely five years after its creation as a new city in westernPangasinan, it has metamorphosed into a thriving center of trade,agriculture and tourism in Northern Philippines. Not only that, it is wellon its way to achieving its collective vision of transforming Alaminosinto a metropolitan green city where two of its greatest assets andresources – its people and the Hundred Islands National Park – arenurtured and developed to achieve equitable growth.

Our collective aspiration as a people is to see Alaminos City as aplace where peace and harmony reign, where our God-given naturalresources are conserved and developed for the enjoyment of allpeople from all walks of life, where business opportunities are createdto help improve the well-being of our people, where good governancerather than patronage reigns in shaping the destiny of our city andwhere a sustainable, livable and vibrant green city contribute tonational development.

By the year 2015, we envision a peaceful city, well educated,healthy and God-centered citizens, sharing fully in a development,propelled by a competitive local economy anchored on ecotourism,agriculture, commerce and light industry, serving as the vibrant hubof Western Pangasinan and as a living showcase of a family oriented,environmentally-sensitive growth with equity.

As we open our doors and extend our hand of friendship topotential partners in good governance, sustainable development,tourism-related ventures and investments, we always keep in mindthe truism that ‘no man is an island.’ And as we share the wonders,the white sand beaches and magic of the Hundred Islands to theworld, our people and our city are equally excited to break newgrounds and forge new relations with global partners to build a betterand more developed Alaminos City.

The open invitation is for everyone to discover the City of Alaminos,to explore the magical charm and beauty of the Hundred Islands, tobefriend its people, to learn its rich culture, history and arts and tohelp link the islands of friendship, cooperation and opportunitiesamong its people and the world.

Mabuhay!

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza

ALAMINOS CITY NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS

As we open our doors and extendour hand of friendship to potential

partners in good governance,sustainable development, tourism-related ventures and investments,we always keep in mind the truism

that ‘no man is an island.’And as we share the wonders and

magic of the Hundred Islands to theworld, our people and our city are

equally excited to break newgrounds and forge new relations

with global partners to build a betterand more developed Alaminos City.

CITYHOOD SAGA

A journey to the City of Alaminos from Manila is a visual delight of lushgreen rice fields, a right mix of old and modern houses picture-framedby the foothills of Zambales Mountains and the blue waters of ChinaSea.

It is also a trip down memory lane as magnificent and centuries-oldchurches and plazas adorned the towns and cities that evoke a historicpast and reflect a lasting legacy of Spanish colonization and influence in thePhilippines.

Talk of Pangasinan and immediately, four famous places in the provinceare mentioned: Dagupan for its delectable ‘bangus’ (milkfish); Lingayen forits historic place in the Lingayen Gulf Landings of Gen. Douglas MacArthurwho liberated Northern Luzon from Japanese forces at the close of WorldWar II; Manaoag for its miraculous shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary;and, Alaminos City.

Pangasinan is famous for the Hundred Islands National Park. This is amarine park located off the coast of Alaminos City in the Lingayen Gulf andis composed of some 123 islands, most of which are quite small anduninhabited.

The City of Alaminos has grown to be the trade, commercial, culturaland educational center of Western Pangasinan but more popularly knownacross the world being the home of the Hundred Islands located in thenorthern reaches of the Philippines.

Its birth all began as a tiny village by the China Sea carved by settlersfrom the nearby province of Zambales in the early years of Spanish rule. Asthe little community grew, other families from Dagupan joined the originalsettlers. It was later recognized as a barrio of the town of Bolinao.

After three relocations, a chaotic episode and the settling of internalconflicts between mixed ethnic inhabitants, the cluster of villages close tothe world-renowned Hundred Islands was made a town only a few yearsbefore the Philippine Revolution of 1898 erupted.

Soon after its top tourist attraction, the Hundred Islands, was declaredby Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon as a national park, it servedas the melting pot in Western Pangasinan drawing people from all walks oflife – local tourists and foreigners alike – aside from being the commercialhub of that part of the province.

Capitalizing on its strategic location with the presence of the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park, and endowed with abundant naturalwealth, Alaminos proved to be one of the few ‘boom’ towns in the Ilocosregion. Entrepreneurs and traders were attracted like ants to honey. Inrecent years, investments propelled an economic boom.

With a booming economy reflected in leaps in local governmentrevenues, Alaminos was upgraded from fourth to third class town in July1991, the only one in the province and one of the five towns in the IlocosRegion to earn that score. Six years later, with continuous economic growth,Alaminos, got upgraded into a first class municipality.

The idea of converting it into a city was first broached by Mayor AlipioF. Fernandez Jr. in 1994 when he was chief executive of Dagupan City tospur the town’s economic growth. In July 1997, Mayor Rivera convened theMunicipal Council led by the then Vice Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera in thefirst official move to convert the booming town into a city. The town legislaturethrew overwhelming support to the cityhood proposal.

Rep. Hernani A. Braganza, then neophyte congressman representingthe First District of Pangasinan in the 10th Congress, supported the localgovernment initiative and filed House Bill No. 10275 in Congress.Unfortunately, the bill was not passed after it was overtaken by the 1998national elections.

In the 11th Congress, second termer Congressman Braganza filed HouseBill No. 4898, on October 21, 1998. At that time, the aspiring city had reachedall the minimum requirements of population density and annual income tomeet the minimum qualifications of a town to be made a component city ofits mother province.

Public hearings were called, the last one on October 21, 1991 at theDon Leopoldo Sison Auditorium in Alaminos where a huge crowd gatheredwhether in favor or against the cityhood movement.

And the rest is history. House Bill No. 4898 was approved by the Houseof Representatives during its third and final reading in December the sameyear. In February 8, 2001, House Bill No. 4898 and Senate Bill No. 2257 wereconsolidated into one version and passed into law by both Chambers ofCongress.

Subsequently Republic Act 9025, an Act Converting the Municipality ofAlaminos, Province of Pangasinan into a Component City to be known asthe City of Alaminos was signed into law by President Gloria MacapagalArroyo on March 5, 2001, at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang.

The law took force on March 28, 2001 shortly after more than 85% ofAlaminians voted a resounding “Yes” in a plebiscite making Alaminos asthe fourth city in the Province of Pangasinan.

MAP OFALAMINOS CITY

SETTLEMENT BARRIO1734 - Northern Zambal tribe founded a settlement named

Suyang (Now Zaragosa, Bolinao)1737 - People of Suyang resettled in a place they called Barrio

Casboran (Now Brgy. Baleyadaan, Alaminos City)

BARRIO TO PUEBLO (INDEPENDENT TOWN)1740 - Ilocano emigrants came by means of paraos (boat) and

helped in the building and the expansion of BarrioCasboran.

1744 - Casboran rapidly grew into a progressive community andalready established commercial relationships with Chinesemerchants and neighboring towns (Dagupan & Lingayen)

1747 - Casboran converted into an independent town fromBolinao.

1758 - Destruction of Casboran due to conflict of political andeconomic interests

1764 - Casboran was transferred and rebuilt in Sitio Nansangaan(now Barangay Inerangan, Alaminos City) and renamedthe place San Jose.

1766 - San Jose was transferred and renamed Barrio Sarapsap(now Barangay Poblacion, Alaminos City)

PUEBLO TO MUNICIPALITY1873 - Sarapsap was renamed Alaminos in honor of the Spanish

Governor General Juan Alaminos de Vivar who visitedthe place.

1903 - Don Francisco Reinoso served as the Municipal president,when Alaminos along the eight other towns of NorthernZambales, joined the province of Pangasinan.

MUNICIPALITY TO CITY1991 - Alaminos was reclassified from 4th to 3rd class municipality.

Its reclassification was based on its gross income amountingto P11.7M pursuant to the provisions of Executive OrderNo. 249 and Finance Department Order No. 79-91 datedJuly 1991.

1997 - Alaminos posted a 338.5% increase in its gross income,amounting to P 39.6 M. Alaminos leaped from 3rd classmunicipality into a 1st class munipality.

1998 - With its continuous economic growth, Alaminos grosseda remarkable 155% increase in income amounting to 61.4M that qualified the town for cityhood. A bill was filed byRep. Hernani A. Braganza.

2001 - House Bill No. 4898 principally sponsored byCongressman Braganza and Senate Bill No. 2257 wereseparately passed by both Houses of Congress. ThePhilippine Senate enacted on February 8, 2001 RepublicAct No. 9025, an Act Converting the Municipality ofAlaminos, Province of Pangasinan into a Component Cityto be known as the City of Alaminos.

2001 - A plebiscite was conducted on March 28, 2001 wherein85% Alaminians affirmatively voted for the conversion ofAlaminos into a Component City pursuant to R.A. 9025.

Timeline: ALAMINOS History

A

ALAMINOS CITY AT A GLANCEGEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Administrative Land Area: 166.23 sq. km.No. Of Barangays: 39Available Alienable and Disposable Land: 14,486.144Forest Lands: 555.955Fishpond Development: 1,581.300Length of Waterfront (km): 67.00Length of Roads (km): 291.298Road Density: 1.75 km/sq.km of Total Land Area

GEOGRAPHICAL ADVANTAGES

• Home of the World famous Hundred Islands• Strategically located in Western Pangasinan• Center of trade and commerce and the focal point in theeducational, political, religious and cultural movements inWestern Pangasinan

ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES

• Blessed with about 67 km waterfronts• Major milkfish (bangus) and fish producer and supplier inNorthern Luzon• Vast tracts of fertile land• Rich in historical, cultural, natural and other man-madetourism attractions• The 4th largest economy in the province of Pangasinan

PEACEFUL COMMUNITY

• With 56 ethnic groupings and 30 religious affiliations,Alaminos City is the melting pot of cultures

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Proximity to Fastest Growing Economies

• Pangasinan is one of the growth nodes of North GrowthQuadrangle (NORTHQUAD)• Alaminos City is a major tourism hub in the NORTHQUAD area• Site of Brgy. Alos Industrial Zone (Proton Car Assembly Plant)

RELATIVE DISTANCES FROM ALAMINOS CITY (KM)

Subic International Airport / Seaport 200Clark International Airport 125Laoag International Airport 295San Fernando International Airport 123Manila 257Baguio City 136

FLYING TIME FROM MANILA TOMAJOR CITIES OF THE ASIA PACIFIC

Melbourne 11 hrs 10 minsSydney 10 hrs 40 minsBrisbane 10 hrs 55 minsSingapore 3 hrs 10 minsJakarta 4 hrs 40 minsKuala Lumpur 3 hrs 55 minsBangkok 4 hrsTaipei 2 hrs

T he young city of Alaminos offers a great escape from the frenzy, heat, stress and perpetual motion of urban living.In fact, it offers more than the usual tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Talk of the white sand beaches of Boracay, Aklan and El Nido, Palawan, the City of Alaminos has more thanits fair share of white sand beaches in the various islands and islets at the Hundred Islands National Park. Addedbonus is its fast emerging tourist attraction, the Bolo Beach located along the coastline of the historic LingayenGulf facing the China Sea.

Escape to a Green City

It is an emerging green city where environmentalprotection, marine ecosystem conservation orsimply keeping one’s surrounding clean are readilyembraced by its people who have come togetheras one in preserving their God-given natural wealth,the Hundred Islands National Park.

It is a peaceful, vibrant and caring city thattakes care of its resources and people who areunited in their collective vision to build an edifice ofpeace, progress and economic stability in WesternPangasinan in Northern Philippines.

Its bullish march to progress is anchored onthe city’s 10-point agenda that integrates innovativeagricultural development and modernization, tourismrevival, environmental conservation and coastalresources management, provision of improved basicservices, public order and safety, human resourcesdevelopment and city government modernization.

By embracing the basic principles of goodgovernance, growth with equity and providingopportunities through innovative programs andprojects, the City of Alaminos is now fast becominga model for sustainable development.

Thus, visiting Alaminos City is not just anadventure trip to escape urban life. It is in itself ajourney to many discoveries. In fact, Korean andAmerican nationals, who register the highestnumber of foreign tourists visiting the HundredIslands, will readily attest to their memorableexperiences of fun and adventure in Pangasinan’sbest-known tourism attraction.

Getting to Alaminos City is about five-hour busride from Metro Manila and three-hour trip fromBaguio City. Land travel from Manila to AlaminosCity is 250 kilometers or a four-hour trip by carfrom Manila via Camiling, Tarlac.

Today, public bus lines regularly ply the Manila-Pangasinan route, some of which pass throughAlaminos City on the way to the capital town ofLingayen or the commercial city of Dagupanthrough Camiling, Tarlac. Buses have regular tripsbetween Alaminos and Baguio via Dagupan.

Recent developments in Central Luzon havebrought the place closer to travelers. Theabandoned Clark military base was converted intoa special economic zone, luring in foreign locators.Its huge airfield got named the DiosdadoMacapagal International Airport, upgraded anddesigned to be the 21st century alternative to theinternational airport in Manila. The airport ispositioned to be the logistic hub of East Asia,transhipment center for air cargo.

And more recently, the frenzied constructionof the Subic Freeport-Clark-Tarlac superhighway,timed to be opened in 2007, is seen to shortentravel time from the booming Subic-Clark economiccorridor to Alaminos City and its Hundreds Islandsin just an hour or less by car.

Soon, two 12-seater, single engine U.S. madeamphibian aircrafts will start ferrying tourists andvisitors in a 45-minute flight from Metro Manila toAlaminos City.

T

AAlaminos is a city of settlers.True to its historical rootsof having been bui l t by

settlers from Zambales and Dagupan,the city is home to 56 ethnic groupsincluding Musl im migrants fromMindanao who have found peace andharmony in one community.

The Alaminians are a warm andhospitable people, keen at giving theirbest when dealing with guests. Raisedin a place that nature has carved for restand recreation, creating one’s simplejoys like instant parties, quick picnicsat the beach, drinking sessions at thecorner store, or just a twilight stroll —to its people is second nature.

For first-time visitors, one findscomfort in the ease of getting accepted.And if the guest opts for a longer stay,he would soon discover the warmth anddepth of his welcome. It comes in theform of sharing a glass of their localbrews, tasting their favorite delicacies,exchanging pleasantries or singing withthem in a corner bar.

Many Religions

Reflective of its wide mix of ethnicgroups and a culture of tolerance themixture spawned, the ci ty hosts

DIVERSE & FRIENDLYCity Folks

practically all religious sects and theirchurches, Christ ians, Musl ims,Shintoists, and Mormons. Catholismremains the dominant religion, the St.Joseph Cathedral, its living symbol.

Predominantly Christian, the towncelebrates the most importantreligious festivities, a long Christmasfestival of merry making, gift giving,partying, and fireworks that begins onDecember 24 while waiting for thebirthday of the Christ Jesus and endson New Year’s day the following yearto greet new beginnings.

The Lenten Season is the secondof the city’s main Christian festivals.In contrast to the long and happycelebration of Christ’s birthday, thepassion and crucifixion of Christ ismarked with solemn prayers,mourning songs and reenactment ofhis last days of Christ unt i l h isresurrection.

Linguists All

Each resident speaks at leastthree languages, Pilipino, the nationallanguage, Engl ish, the secondnational language and his nat ivetongue. Many speak more dialects asthe two most dominant groups are the

Pangasinense with roots in CentralPangasinan and Ilocanos who tracetheir roots to the Ilocos provinces upnorth. Other residents often learn bothlanguages.

With their mixed languages, theyhave brought along their native songs,many of which have become localclassics, sang during festivals, barriofiestas, weddings and parties.

Economic Preferences

Ethnic beginnings cascade toeconomic act iv i t ies. Those withPangasinense roots, especially thosefrom the trading city of Dagupan, tendto become entrepreneurs and traders,competing with zest with the localChinese and Muslims.

Those with Ilocano roots prefer theprofessions. They teach their childrento become lawyers, accountants,nurses and doctors. Of course, otherparents also send their children tocollege, if they can, for like most Filipinofamilies, education is valued very highin Alaminos City. The Ilocanos areadept at farming and raised to tacklethe hard work i t demands. ThePangasinenses, having a kindship withthe sea, tend to be in fish culture orare into sea fishing.

Arts and Crafts

The arts and crafts of the city reflect the influence of itsgeographic location, as well as its neighbors. One can browsethrough shops and be met by an array of furniture andornaments made of shells, bamboo, wood, marsh grass, clayand other native products. Traditional styles are still abundantbut artists and craftsmen are also steering towards freshdesigns and structures, a further manifestat ion of theadventurous and creative nature of the people of this city.

Delicacies

The city’s mixed roots also expresses itself in the diversityof their native delicacies. The seaside dwellers have broughtinto the local cuisine the many ways of cooking, the milkfish(bangus) from barbecue to sinigang, several variations of theIlocanos’ pinakbet, the many uses of the Lingayen fish sauceor bagoong and serving fresh seaweeds called arosip andcultured oyster named talaba.

They do have some other native preparations like the nativesausage called longganisa, rice cake called patupat, othernative cakes called suman, tinuroc, sumang latik, tupig, masicoyand bibingkang latik.Other delicacies include tambo-tambong,papaitan, dinakdakan, kilawen and binungey --- an ingeniousnative delicacy steamed in bamboo. Infused with the richness ofcoconut extract and heated evenly, the glutinous rice turns into atreat that oozes delectability and leaves you full and satisfied.The use of bamboo tubes adds to this delicacy's uniquely cleanaroma and taste, leaving you with possibilities of your own veryflavorful combinations.

Unity in Diversity

Family comes first, the clan second, the neighborhood orcommunity third in this city. With the friendly and cooperativenature of the people, the city is like one big family itself. Peoplework together in maintaining good relations with each otherand for the good of the community.

The Hundred Islands National ParkExplore

Sparkling like diamonds, the waters glisten as the sun’s golden rays touchthe pristine sea. The powdery blue sky casts a bright gleam beneath. The spreadof white sand shimmers against the stream that changes hue—from emeraldgreen to turquoise and azure—as the briny deep seems unfathomable.

How many islands? The count, even greater (actually 124 at low tide and123 at high tide), sums up the grouping of isles scattered incidentally alongLingayen Gulf, many of which are still unexplored.

Covering an area of 1,844 hectares, the islands are believed to be sometwo million years old. According to certain folklore, the islands were tears of aprimeval giant who lost his ladylove. Others tell of tall-tale of mermaids thatonce inhabited its seas.

Some other legends claim that the Hundred Islands are remnant tips of thelost continent of Lemuria, fabled as the Pacific continent at war with Atlantisbefore both advanced civilizations disappeared under the sea. Its legendarypast is attributed behind the frequent emergence of psychics and faith healersin the province of Pangasinan

How Hundred Islands was discovered, became a national park and alwaysconsidered as a priceless natural jewel. These are just but a few of the unansweredfacts about the world’s eight wonder which is now back in the caring hands ofAlaminians.

Below is a historical timeline of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).

1937. President Manuel Quezon visited Alaminos and appointed Dr. GonzaloMontemayor, then the provincial health office, to oversee the development ofthe Hundred Islands.1940. President Manuel L. Quezon issued Presidential Proclamation No. 667 onJanuary 18, 1940, declaring a group of islands in the Municipality of Alaminos,Pangasinan as the “Hundred Islands National Park” (HINP) for the benefit andenjoyment of the people of the Philippines.1962. President Diosdado Macapagal issued Republic Act No. 3655 on June 22,1962 that created the Hundred Islands Conservation and Development Authority(HICDA), for the conservation, development and management of HINP.1974. President Ferdinand E. Marcos transferred the HINP including Lucap Bayfrom HICDA to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) by virtue of Section 35 ofPresidential Decree No. 564.1982. President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 2183 on April 27, 1982 declaringthe HINP, including the Lucap Bay and its foreshore areas beginning from SitioTelbang in the east to Sitio Recudo in the west, as a Tourist Zone and MarineReserve under the control and administration of the PTA.1982. President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1282 on June 21, 1974 certainparcels of land reserve for Marine Fisheries Multi-Purpose Farm under werewithdrawn and placed under the control and supervision of the PTA fordevelopment purposes as provided for under Presidential Proclamation No.2237 dated November 06, 1982,1990. President Corazon C. Aquino signed Republic Act No. 7160, otherwiseknown as the Local Government Code of 1991, which encourages the transfer ofpower and authority from the national government to the local government units,in line with the government’s devolution program as mandated by the Constitution.1994. President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 145 on April 20,1994 creating the Lingayen Gulf Coastal Area Management Commission andplacing the entire stretch of 2,109 square kilometers, from the tip of Bolinao inSantiago Islands , the Hundred Islands up to the coastal barangays of San Juanin La Union, as endangered zone due to illegal fishing and wanton abuse of itsvast marine resources.1997. President Fidel Ramos issued Executive Order No. 450 creating the InterAgency Task Force on Coastal Environment Protection placing the PhilippineNational Police to dismantle over 3,000 lllegal fishpens and fishcages in theentire stretch of Lingayen Gulf and its inner tributaries.2001. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9025, otherwiseknown as “An Act Converting The Municipality of Alaminos, Pangasinan into aComponent City to be known as the City of Alaminos.” Principal author wasPangasinan First District Rep. Hernani A. Braganza of Alaminos.2004. Mayor Hernani A. Braganza initiated a serious move to ‘reclaim the HundredIslands National Park’ for the City of Alaminos.2005. President Arroyo signed on June 24, 2005 Executive Order No. 436transferring the management, administration and maintenance of the HINP fromthe Philippine Tourism Authority to the City of Alaminos.2005. The Philippine Tourism Authority headed by its General Manager DeanBarbers formally turned over the HINP to Alaminos City Mayor Hernani A.Braganza.Getting there

From downtown Alaminos City, a breezytricycle ride brings you to barangayLucap and The Don Gonzalo Montemayorwharf. At the wharf, one sees a few ofthe islands. The best way to get thereis by chartered boat. The port doublesas a parking lot for a fee. Outriggermotorized boats can be rented here toferry you to a cluster of islands andislets collectively known as the HundredIslands.

TTears of a giant. Tips of a lost continent. These are some of the many legends, surrounding the originsof the Hundred Islands National Park. For it was, still is, and will remain one of the few wonders in theworld carved by nature. Those pearls of islets and islands are millions of years old and may be there

a million years more.

The magic has always been there waiting for the next beholder.

Seeing the place from up close or steppingon the shore of one islet — is magic. It blowsone’s imagination. It reminds one of creation.

The magic is still there waiting to berediscovered. It is those white beaches in manyof the islands previous guests failed to see. Itis in the secret caverns of the many caveswaiting to be explored.

The magic pops up whenever dolphinsvisits the islands and frolic among them, in the

giant clams native to the place called Taklobos, whosegreenish shells are seen above waters, in themulticolored coral reefs where schools of fish movearound, the picture perfect coves and unspoiled Bolobeach.

A stroll along the beach ends up with a dip into thesoothing warm waters. Colorful schools of tropicalfish glide among coral gardens.

Out of the water, discover not only one isle but athrong of numerous islands ambling along each other.

Bolo Beach Hideaway

Ten kilometers from the city, Bolobeach has become a favorite weekendfamily hideaway. Highly accessible, itslong, horseshoe-shaped beach and shallowwaters offer playgrounds for children anda refreshing retreat for adults. The coarselyformed rock formations near the shore aregiven new looks by the local folk. Theytopped these rough, blank rocks withcolored, smaller rocks, creating works ofnatural art.

Fun seeking troops relax on the beach’swooden sheds and cottages, completewith picnic tables and videoke facilities.Or one may rent “rock sheds” carved outof protruding sandstones above water,slightly flattened and furnished withbenches, tables, and videoke, Bolo’ssignature floating huts.

Coral Reefs

The Hundred Islands National Park isrich with a wide variety of corals,

seaweeds and sea lives. Its alluringcerulean waters, strewn with 123 islets, isalso home to the fragile and diverse jewelsof the Philippine Sea – the Coral Reefs.They shelter, feed and protect a copiousnumber of sea creatures in the Park. Theyalso aid the 123 islets in protecting thecity’s coast from the onrush of giant waves.The hard and soft corals with awe-inspiringforms and interesting hues that glistenedmystically in the deep, create a magicalunderwater vista. Divers and snorkelershave the time of their lives gliding withthe many magnificent fishes and other seacreatures.

Undersea Caves

Extraordinary caves abound at theHundred Islands which many scientists seeas part of a continuing evolutionaryprocess that creates an aura of a breathingearth. Today, up to ten caves have beenidentified and some were named based onsome myths, legends and the stoneformations namely Alama Cave (Brgy.

Sabangan), Nalsoc Caves (Brgy. Sabanganand Brgy. Pandan), Simmimbahan Cave(Brgy. Sabangan), Milagrosa Cave(Milagrosa Island), Cuenco Cave (CuencoIsland), Cathedral Cave (Cathedral Island),Century Cave (Century Island), QuirinoCave (Quirino Island) and Virgin Cave(Virgin Island)

Giant Clams (Taklobos)

The Giant Clams, locally known astaklobos, are sea creatures regarded as theworld’s largest bivalve mollusks. Each clamhas a shell length extending over a meterand can weigh over 225 kg. It is the faithfulally of the coral reef in supporting themarine life in the Park. Its massive sizeand interesting hues that gleam underwaterprove to be a magnificent attraction,marveled at by visiting tourists who eitherdive or snorkel in the area. Its soft flesh iscoveted the world over for its delectability.

MAJOR EVENTS AND CULTURAL SHOWSMAJOR EVENTS AND CULTURAL SHOWSMAJOR EVENTS AND CULTURAL SHOWSMAJOR EVENTS AND CULTURAL SHOWSMAJOR EVENTS AND CULTURAL SHOWSHUNDRED ISLANDS FESTIVAL

The most anticipated and largest crowd-drawer event in Alaminos City. An annual festivalthat combines sports, adventure and agro-tourism aimed at enhancing environmental and culturalawareness. This is a unique event that can only be experienced in Alaminos City. Rolled into one– you can enjoy the summer youth camp, images of hundred islands, adventure race andhundred islands tour. Lavish celebration marks the Hundred Islands Festival. String of athleticand challenging pursuits like sky diving competition, skills Olympics or island adventure raceare among the activities that attract thrill-seeking foreign and local tourists. The best aqua productsare exhibited in the agro-trade fair while seafood cuisine takes center stage as restaurants showcasetheir best and most sumptuous menus. The most awaited spectacle is the fluvial parade,showcasing floats made of shells and other fabulous marine themes. Magnificent designs onlyget better at each competition. The streets come alive with the sound and beats of the streetdancing contests alongside a drum and lyre competition by different schools and an exhibitionby a professional drum and bugle group. Night glitters with the charming smiles from beautifulmuses vying for the Hundred Island maiden pageant. Young crowd flock the concerts featuringfamous bands or celebrities.

ADVENTURE HUNDRED ISLANDS

The Hundred Islands Adventure is an annual event primarily catered to the tourists andvisitors who take part in some of most breathtaking acitivities, fun and exciting adventures andunforgettable experiences such as parasailing (400-600 above sea level), bird and bat viewing,banana boat ride, sailing, tyrolean traverse, spelunking, kayaking, camping, snorkeling, scubadiving, jet ski, fishing, picnic, trekking and a lot more.

CITY AND BARANGAY FIESTAS

Festive, colorful and vibrant. Alaminos City celebrates a traditional Filipino fiesta. Theweeklong celebration usually starts on March 17 with events and fairs decorating the whole citybefore, during and after the actual date of the fiesta. Alaminians and visitors are treated to a galoreof concerts by famous artists, beauty pageants and sports competitions. Food and product fairsspice up the city fiesta showcasing the people’s ingenuity and various products of AlaminosCity. The action and spectacle continue until the wee hours of the evening highlighted by afireworks display.

Fiesta is incomplete without the carnival rides like the Ferris Wheel or Merry-Go-Round.Children especially enjoy going to the circus, chomping and gulping treats as their eyes silentlygape at trapeze artists, magicians and sword eaters.

A barangay fiesta in Alaminos City is a scaled version of the city fiesta. Local bands take theplace of famous recording groups. Pageants for ladies and gays and sometimes mini-fashionshows are staged in the evening. Basketball competition is a popular day event. Host familiesusually prepare sumptuous food intended for guests and friends from neighboring barangays.

MORO-MORO / ZARZUELA

Traditional musical plays center on the rich history or colorful origin of the place, thus isusually set before or during Spanish regime. Legends are sometimes given the stage, reintroducingto the people a part of their heritage.Zarzuela is often presented in different festivals and barangayfiestas. Contemporary versions are staged in big celebrations brought about by the remarkablecreativity of local literary artists. Most use the vernacular dialect but are now more inclined touse Filipino, to reach more audiences. The youth are often the active participants in theseundertakings. The adults readily share the art of living up the heart of the script of the musicalplay on stage to these young flames.

PASSION OF THE CHRIST

Senakulo is the most awaited spectacle during Lenten season in Alaminos City. It is areenactment and solemn parade of Christ’s passion and death. Households near the churchwait eagerly for the visit of acting Roman soldiers with their menacingly painted masks andarmors, pounding on doors to search for Jesus. At the day of Christ’s suffering and death, peoplegather at the church to witness the reenactment, the judgment of Jesus, the Crucifixion and HisSeven Last Words. The routine of the reenactment has not changed, but its presentation isinfused with a fresh flavor to reach the modern-world absorbed consciousness of the newgeneration.

FLORES DE MAYO

The traditional praying of the Novena for nine days, in honor of the Virgin Mary ushersin the festive Santacruzan in celebration of the Holy Cross. The loveliest ladies in the city areselected to participate in the late afternoon procession that often stretches into evening. Theywear elegantly designed and exquisitely embellished gowns, portraying characters in the storyof Queen Elena’s search and eventual find of the Holy Cross. Every barangay is well representedproviding different characters like the queens and other important biblical women like Esther,Judith, Veronica, and the Queen of Sheba. Others opt for the Marian characters like Reyna delas Flores (queen of flowers) and Reyna de las Estrellas (queen of stars). Other focus on therepresentation of moral characters like Reyna Hustisya (Justice; in the earlier celebrations, shewears a blindfold), Esperanza (the representation of hope), and Caridad (symbolizing charityand love), and still others, enjoy the combination of any or all of the three.

TALABA FESTIVAL

The talaba (oyster) is among+ the gems of seafood cooking in many of the city’s households,especially those near the sea. A festival is held to promote the oyster’s succulent taste. Peoplecheer contestants in an oyster-shucking contest and for their creative presentations of variousdelectable dishes in a cooking showdown.

AGRI-TRADE FAIR

The annual Agri Trade fair showcases the best of Alaminos City products as a result ofthe Agri-Volution, Ocho-Ocho and BIPSA programs of the city government. Exhibited delicaciesare the finest in the city, like the irresistible Alaminos longganisa, the grilled bangus belly, theunique ‘binungey’ and oyster nuggets.

Peoples around the world are reaping the wrath of a wounded MotherEarth for wanton destruction of the environment. But in developingcountries like the Philippines, despite suffering the fury of super-typhoons, killerquakes, volcanic eruptions and fatal mudslides, few of their leaders are slow atlearning nature’s lessons.

In a not so distant past, the City of Alaminos, home to the world famousHundred Islands National Park, suffered hard and long for abusing its rare naturalgem. Its desperate poor resorted to blasting out with dynamite or poisoning withcyanide the fishes left in near-shore waters of the Lingayen Gulf including thosearound the protected marine park.

The local officialdom, through either benign neglect or plain apathy, closedtheir eyes to the destruction. In only a few years, the unique beauty of thoseislands fell short of the demands for modern tourist destinations to bring in foreignguests. The million-year old islands lost their luster, their white beaches forgotten.

The multi-colored coral reefs were almost all dead. The fishes have escapedto safer waters. Few of the native giant clams were left, going the way of theextinct dodo.

The beachfronts got murky, used as garbage dumpsites and septic disposalground.

Like the scared sea creatures, foreign tourists disappeared. It hurt the townso hard, its economy suffered. Alaminos had lost its most stable source of dollarincome.

Meanwhile, less endowed beach areas in Thailand, Indonesia and Boracayin Aklan province, captured the imagination of the fun, comfort, and nature-lovinginternational tourists. In droves, they trooped to beach resorts that offered littlemore than contrived thrills, sun, sand and clear waters.

Returning from a whirlwind fling with Cabinet positions as Agrarian ReformSecretary, Press Secretary and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, AlaminosCity Mayor Hernani A Braganza saw his hometown, already a city, slowlychoking of its self-inflicted environment destruction.

“If the city is to regain its old glory as top beach resort and eco-tourismdestination in Luzon, it has to literally clean its backyard and heal the wounds ithad inflicted on its most precious natural wealth – its white beaches, the watersbetween those exotic islands and the decay on those islands,” Braganza declaredshortly after he assumed office on June 30, 2004.

Only on his first term as city chief executive, Mayor Braganza has put onthe ground an aggressive and comprehensive environment rehabilitation, renewaland protection program the city only saw today.

One the landmark initiatives of the Braganza administration was the enactmentof the Alaminos Coastal Resources Management and Fisheries Ordinance thatoutlined the city’s Five-Year (2006-2010) Coastal Resource Management (CRM)Plan.

Among the laudable CRM endeavors launched by the Braganza administrationinclude: the promotion of mariculture and medium enterprise development initiatives;reforestation of the vast mangroves areas in 10 coastal barangays; theestablishment of the Telbang Fish Sanctuary.

However, it was the historic transfer of the management, protection andadministration of the Hundred Island National Park from Philippine Tourism Authority

to the city government last September 29, 2005 that really sealed all theenvironmental, conservation and protection programs and initiatives started bythe Braganza administration.

“After 65 long years of dreaming, after 65 years of aspiring to have the 100islands as part of the city of Alaminos, finally Executive Order No. 436 wassigned, giving full authority, control and supervision of the 100 islands for thefirst time, not (only) to the city of Alaminos but to the people of Alaminos. Thisis a great honor for all of us but it goes with it big responsibility in exchange ofthe trust which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Tourism Secretary AceDurano, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor and PTA General ManagerDean Barbers and other officials who made possible the Alaminos dream areality,” said Mayor Braganza at the turn over rites.

For his part, PTA General Manager Barbers expressed elation over thetransfer that will give the people of Alaminos City the chance to prove to thewhole Philippines and to the whole world that they “can take care of their ownresources and natural treasure.”

President Arroyo signed Executive Order last June 22, transferring themanagement, administration and maintenance of the Hundred Islands NationalPark (HINP) from the PTA to the city government.

Just recently, the Alaminos City government and the Marine EnvironmentResources Foundation (MERF) through its president, Ma. Josefa R. Pante,signed the Conservation Partnership Agreement (CPA) calling for a cooperativeand collaborative to the effort and commitment for the utmost protection, conservationand management of the coastal resources of Alaminos through MERF’s “SAGIPLingayen Gulf Project.” MERF is the implementing arm of SAGIP from December2002 until November 2007, which is funded by the Netherlands Government andis multi-stakeholder cooperation and businesslike partnership.

“Working with MERF and Netherlands government will definitely boost ourconservation effort and we are very grateful that we have such partnersharmonizing their programs and sharing their resources and efforts to sustainthe management and protection of our coastal resources,” stressed Braganza.

Among the major components of the agreement include the Marine ProtectedArea Management, reseeding of High Value Invertebrates, MangroveManagement, Water Quality Management, Fisheries Law Enforcement and CRMPlanning and Reporting.

“The Alaminos City government is a perfect example of an LGU rising upabove the challenges and mandates on environmental protection,” noted MERFpresident Pante.

The scorecard of Alaminos City in vigorously pushing for a seriousenvironmental and marine conservation program did not escape the eyes ofmany. As a result, the city has received many coastal resources management-related awards and citations namely: 2006 Best Coastal LGU in MangroveDevelopment Initiative Awards; 2005 Cleanest Coastal LGU Award (GrandPrize); 2004 Best CRM Initiative Award, (2nd Prize); and, much earlier beforeBraganza’s term, the 2003 Cleanest Coastal LGU Award.

While the Philippines has enacted some of the strictest environment laws inthe world covering all dangers posed in the air, on land and in water. But few localgovernments enforce those laws. Alaminos used those laws, particularly the ban

P

on all forms of illegal fishing and poaching by the Bantay Dagat volunteersand Anti-Ilegal Fishing crack teams.

Setting an example, law enforcers caught a Taiwanese tourist harvestinga protected giant clam, eating its flesh and keeping its shell. The tourist wasquestioned and investigated but later released after paying an expensive finefor his offense. It stopped poaching of the rare giant clam which was close toextinction until marine scientists replanted in the park waters mother clamsfrom elsewhere in Pangasinan.

“Everybody makes mistakes, some even palpable, yet we in the citystand firm on our commitment and responsibility to impose the law more soif it concerns our marine environment,” Mayor Braganza said.

Braganza said the city government is not opposed to tourists takingpictures, snorkeling and holding the giant clams. “But we let them (tourists)know that they just cannot poach or hunt giant clams, collect corrals andgather bonsais at our city’s protected treasure.”

It can be recalled that the former President Fidel Ramos initiated theseeding of the giant clams at the Hundred Islands in mid 90’s, diving in thewaters to help plant the then baby clams. Braganza, who was a congressmanat that time, outlined a vision to make the park the Giant Clam Garden ofAsia.

The Giant Clam and Corral Garden near the Quezon Island is one of themain tourist attractions today at the national park. Some 7,000 giant clams atthe Hundred Islands are currently being protected by the city government’sBantay Dagat and the local police.

Where the coral reefs had died, the city government took pains inbuilding artificial reefs out of submersible junks like old cars. It re-establisheddepleted marine sanctuaries, reforested mangroves and deployed additionalpark guards and environment officers on the most frequented islands.

On land, the local government has intensified the cleaning of run-offcanals, the beaches and nearshore waters of solid wastes, especially non-degradable plastics. It further re-introduced the collection, segregation andsafe disposal of home, commercial and industrial wastes coupled with aninformation campaign on best practices in protecting and preserving a healthyenvironment.

The dividends are slowly coming in.Reef fishes have returned to their breeding grounds after the coral reefs

got installed in previously destroyed areas. Even dolphins have been seenand photographed by tourists. On clear days and clam waters, the distinctlygreen reflection of the giant clams are seen above water.

Migratory birds that shied away from the islands when these werefrequently invaded by predatory humans have returned, some of them tomate, nest and multiply. Bird watching has been added to a widening optionof treats for nature loving visitors.

Just recently, British Jonathan Hornbuckle, acclaimed as the world’s secondtop bird watcher, visited Hundred Islands and observed that Philippine birds,which are known to nest in other places, are now actually breeding and thrivingat the islands.

“This only means that the birds actually mate here, blend with other speciesand have been staying in the area for quite a long time now” said Hornbuckleadding that the islands are a perfect place for birds to grow and multiply.

Having identified more than 8, 000 species of birds across the globe foralmost three decades, Hornbuckle, had easily recognized close to 50 species ofPhilippine birds in three islands alone.

At Kamantilis island, which is few meters away from the coastal barangaysof Pandan and Sabangan, the group saw magpie robins, Philippine hooded pitta,blue tailed bee eaters, purple night herons, zebra dove, white collared kingfishers, black nape terns, greater and lesser sand plover and pompado greenpigeon to name a few.

Hornbuckle revealed that the first four species of migratory birds werealready seen at the city’s major river and mangrove areas. Thousands of migratorybirds are expected to arrive at Hundred Islands and at the city’s river banks andmangrove parks by the month of August until October.

At a courtesy call, Hornbuckle congratulated Mayor Braganza for theremarkable transformation of the Hundred Islands and for the conscientious effortsand commitment of the city government in protecting the wildlife particularly birdssince they are basically an indicator of good or healthy environment.

The protected park has yet to win back the fancy of a new generation oftourists.

But the islands’ generated exposure and the examples set by the four PBBsurvivors - Kim, Mikee, Clare and Gerald - of the Pinoy Big Brother, a phenomenalreality TV produced by ABS CBN, stayed at the Governor’s Island’s guesthouse, re-designed PBB style. Aired live on Channel 2, the PBB housematesgot acquainted with the city’s treasure, the Hundred Islands National Park,through their thrilling tasks, which included clam seeding and clean up,rope traversing in Quezon Island and a cave jump at Marcos Island.

Aside from PBB, other global networks such as CNN,Lonely Planet, and Living Asia and local TV programs likeRated K hosted by Korina Sanchez and Trip Na Trip banneredby Kartherine de Castro (daughter of Vice Noli de Castro),Franzen Fajardo, Uma Khuony and Jason Gaiza haverecently featured the environmental conservation andprotection programs being made at the Hundred IslandsNational Park.

And from all indications, people and visitors haveslowly realized and started to abide by nature’s law ofjustice, karma and rebirth.

GGood governance leads to sustained growthand development. In the past, the term‘sustainable development’ was a corporate

franchise of the non governmental organizations(NGOs). Today, local government executives havelearned to embrace it as a guidepost in servingtheir constituents and charting a road map for theirlocality.

Thus declared Alaminos City Mayor Hernani “Nani”Agsalud Braganza whose vast experience in governancefrom councilor, congressman, Agrarian Reform and PressSecretary and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs tocity mayor and coupled with his dynamic leadership andcorrect political sense, have remarkably pushed AlaminosCity to greater heights. It has been growing rapidly throughincrease in trade, commerce and tourism industry.

But Mayor Braganza wants to achieve more in termsof social and business progress. He envisions a growingcity with its people participating in social and economicactivities so that they themselves can benefit more fromgrowth and development. In perspective, Mayor Braganzadreams of Alaminos City as a competitive center forindustry, commerce and services, and a safe and humaneplace to live in.

“We are beginning to realize the kind of developmentwe aspire for. We are determined to make it happen. Wehope to succeed. So our people can benefit more. Andwe can contribute to the development of the whole country.This will be our legacy,” said Braganza.

Indeed, he is one good and hard working publicservant. His determination will certainly pave the way forthe economic boom of Alaminos City and its people.

Coming from a strong political clan in Pangasinan,noted for conscientious and dedicated public service, NaniBraganza is a nephew of former Pangasinan GovernorEnrique Braganza, former Mayor and Labor SecretaryAgapito Braganza and former Mayor Juan Braganza - allelder brothers of Dr. Pedro Braganza who also onceserved as municipal mayor. He is a nephew of formerPhilippine President Fidel V. Ramos. Nani’s mother, PuritaAgsalud, was the daughter of Pura Agsalud, youngersister of former Assemblyman, Foreign Affairs Secretaryand Ambassador Narciso Rueca Ramos, father ofPresident Ramos. In their respective times in publicservice, they have steered the province of Pangasinanand country forward with Nani continuing the remarkablelegacy bequathed by his elders.

Mayor Braganza is no new in public office. He wasa two-termer unopposed Congressman of the firstcongressional district of Pangasinan. Soon after, he wasappointed as Secretary of the Department of AgrarianReform (DAR) under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyoin 2001, and subsequently named Press Secretary andPresidential Adviser on Political Affairs before he returnedhome to Alaminos City and run for Mayor in May 2004.

During his term as Congressman, his district hostedthe US$2-billion 1,200 Megawatt coal-fired thermal plantin Sual town completed in 1997 under the term ofPresident Fidel Valdez Ramos.

Known for his pro-poor stance, then CongressmanBraganza launched the Bayanihan 2020 DevelopmentProgram for the first district of Pangasinan comprisingthe 10 towns in western Pangasinan, namely: Alaminos,Agno, Anda, Bani, Burgos, Bolinao, Dasol, Infanta,Mabini, and Sual.

Bayanihan 2020 is a development blueprint callingfor the harnessing of resources of the first district,which is noted for its rich natural resources andattributes, especially the world-famous Hundred Islands.He also launched a series of successful promotionaland marketing programs to promote his district andprovince such as the “One Pangasinan” Photo, Foodand Trade Festival in Metro Manila and the annualHundred Islands Festival.

He is one of the foremost advocates of the “OnePangasinan” Movement, a battle cry of the AssemblymanNarciso Ramos, who fought against the proposedfragmentation of the province into smaller provinces, toavoid the unfortunate experience of many“gerrymandered” provinces.

It is also in the spirit of Bayanihan that MayorBraganza enjoins his constituents to closely worktogether to bring back the old glory of Hundred Islands.

Admittedly, he said, in the past decade HundredIslands lost its glitter. Once the premier land and seatourism destination in the entire Luzon mainland, itsuffered setbacks due to the emergence of manyalternative destinations in the south, some boasting ofunparalleled beach quality. Worse, its marine life isthreatened due to proliferation of illegal fishing activities.

“But we are determined to bring back the magic ofthe Hundred Islands, and its underwater life. We haveput together a Coastal Resources ManagementProgram, which combines rehabilitation, conservation,protection, stewardship, responsible use and economicalternatives to restore the health of the marineecosystem,” Mayor Braganza said.

The city mayor has implemented some innovativemeasures to protect its natural resources. He envisionsa marine theme park, fish sanctuaries, inter-islandfloating “bridges,” a living Marine Institute, an “adopt-an-island” scheme so that the park will no longer bejust a sand and sea destination.

“It will also be an ecological theme park witheducational value. And adventure, too. It will be unique,and unparalleled once more. It is, after all, the largestmarine sanctuary in the Philippines,” he added.

In terms of agriculture, the city is bent on developingits farming industry through its Bayanihan IntegratedProgram for Sustainable Agriculture (BIPSA) or morepopularly known as Agri-Volution. The said program

has Ocho-Ocho, an innovative program which clusterssmall landholdings into farm management andenterprise units for crops, livestock, fisheries,capability and technology training, capital assistance,marketing, and environment management. This is anintegrated, people-oriented agricultural developmentand modernization program.

Braganza plans to do more in infrastructuredevelopment to improve access to power, safe waterservices and markets for their produce thereby makingAlaminos City a competitive center of industry,commerce and services.

In retrospect, Mayor Braganza has outlined a 10-point agenda for its city. These include: Tourism, BasicServices, Agriculture, Public Order, Environment,Infrastructure, Development, Investment and Marketing,Human Resource Development and Good Governance.

“We set the standards of service to our people toenable us to provide the quality of life we hope todeliver. We exert extra effort to help us achieve thegoals and the targets we set to do. We aspire to defineour governance in professional terms. We have adevelopment paradigm. Competitiveness, growth withequity, resource management and sustainable use,social services for all and safety nets for thevulnerable form the cornerstones of our developmentparadigm. We will respond to the developmentchallenges in Alaminos City guided by thisdevelopment paradigm. We are convinced we canmake it happen. We have the resolve, a new-founddynamism and a shared vision. And to top it all, wehave an able work force,” Braganza said.

“We are beginningto realize the kindof developmentwe aspire for. We

are determined tomake it happen.

We hope tosucceed. So our

people can benefitmore. And we cancontribute to thedevelopment of

the whole country.This will be our

legacy,”

“We are beginningto realize the kindof developmentwe aspire for. We

are determined tomake it happen.

We hope tosucceed. So our

people can benefitmore. And we cancontribute to thedevelopment of

the whole country.This will be our

legacy,”

I

No other city in the Philippines

other than Alaminos, and maybe few in

the world, holds the distinction of

having a globally known tourist spot,

the Hundred Islands.

No other city in the Philippines

other than Alaminos, and maybe few in

the world, holds the distinction of

having a globally known tourist spot,

the Hundred Islands.

In the mid-90s, Southern Luzon, popularized by the acronymCALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal) was successfullymarketed by the administration of former Philippine President

Fidel. V. Ramos as the Philippines investment location of choice inthe last decade. It now hosts a wide range of industries led byelectronics, semiconductors, machine parts, electric wirings andgarments, mostly focused on exports.

On one hand, the northern half of Luzon outside the congestedMetro Manila has been positioned to be the new century’s boomarea. These make up the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon ofwhich the province of Pangasinan is at its vortex and the biggest. Itwas dubbed as the North Quadrangle Development Area orNORTHQUAD

The new growth region is well prepared to assume that role. Itnow boasts of three international airports opened for cross-countrychartered passenger flights and unlimited cargo air shipments. Theseinclude the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at the formerClark Airbase in Pampanga being developed as the logistics hub ofEast Asia, the Subic International Airport inside the Subic Freeport inOlongapo City, Zambales and the Laoag International Airport in IlocosNorte.

Its two international seaports at the former American Naval Basesof Subic and Poro Point in San Fernando City, La Union canaccommodate large cargo ships including oil tankers. These will bejoined soon by Port Irene off Cagayan Province being developed asthe new international gateway to the Pacific side of Northern Luzon.

In recent years, two large and cost-competitive power plantswere built by the Ramos administration, a 1,200 megawatt coal plantin Sual close to the city of Alaminos, and the 350 megawatt SanRoque hydro-electric dam in the town of San Manuel, both inPangasinan.

As host province, Pangasinan, can assure investors reliable andcost-competitive wholesale power rates until the next decade.

The NORTHQUAD area has, since the nineties, a network ofthe best all-weather road network in the country. The network is setto be expanded and made more efficient with the scheduledcompletion of the Subic to Tarlac superhighway next year. It has amodern and expanding landline and mobile telecommunicationsfacilities practically covering all provinces.

These, plus and highly educated, easy to train labor force backedby a network of technical schools and public and private collegesand universities, provide the basic physical and human infrastructurenecessary to spur rapid development.

The new development zone took the identity as the NorthernQuadrangle Development Area or NORTHQUAD and positioned tobe linked up directly to the booming economies of East and SouthAsia led by Japan, China and India.

In the latest state-of-the-nation-address of President GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo, it has been dubbed as one of the five super-regions that enjoy top priority in the dispersal of industries to the lessdeveloped portions of the Philippine Islands.

An area made up of four administrative regions occupying halfof Luzon offers a smorgasbord of investment prospects from goldmining to sea farming and food processing. Each province has itsown strengths and potential niche in the investment market.

The main problem in the past was the dearth of information onwhat those provinces have to offer to local or foreign investors —big, medium and small.

The shortcoming is getting corrected as a cash-strappedgovernment hammers up partnerships with the private groups inevolving more focused investment promotions initiatives for thesuper-region.

One such initiative was the drawing up last year of a tourisminvestment program for the Ilocos - Cordillera tourist corridor thatincludes the province of Pangasinan, and its premier touristdestination the Hundred Islands of Alaminos City.

Why and where to invest in Alaminos City?No other city in the Philippines other than Alaminos, and maybe

few in the world, holds the distinction of having a globally knowntourist spot, the Hundred Islands, while the host city remains inrelative obscurity.

The city is dead set, however, to ride on its unique natural allureas its trademark in earning a bigger niche in the tourism trade. It is nowonder that the city government has been strongly pushing forinvestments anchored on eco-tourism.

It has succeeded in getting the services of Palafox Associates(see related story in the next page). Prior to Palafox, the city leadersfrom its first city mayor to the incumbent have evolved an investmentzoning plan that divides the city for focused investments based onthe strengths of clusters of villages or barangays.

The city has been divided into seven investment zones.Four coastal villages outside the protected area that covers the

Hundred Islands have been classified for aqua-marine-basedindustries.

A larger segment of the town made up of six other coastal villagesfronting the popular islands make up the tourism zone.

The rolling-hill barangays nearby of four villages have been setaside for commercial forest plantations, orchards, recreation andamusement parks.

Three barangays in the downtown area is the commercial center,and behind it, in two sparsely populated section of the city, lightindustries are to be built.

Still the widest section that make up the rest of the inland areaand suburbs, are devoted to agriculture, 26 barangays in all.

Sixteen of them flatland, both irrigated and rain-fed, are devotedto rice, corn and other high value farm crops while the rolling hillsare for livestock raising and orchards.

Out-of-the Box TourismThe city government gained direct management of the Hundred

Islands National Park from the Philippine Tourism Authority onSeptember 29, 2005 by virtue of Executive Order No. 436 issued byPresident Gloria Arroyo last June 24, 2005 transferring themanagement, administration and maintenance of the HINP toAlaminos City. The city government has focused on tourism as itsflagship investment area. It has expanded the tourist zone to includeBolo Beach, Telbang and Victoria for resorts, retirement villages andother nature-friendly investment projects fronting the island clusters.

It has poured in public resources for additional cottages on some of the islands, floating bridges acrosssome of the islands, renovated existing pavilions and upgraded other support facilities to add comfort tovisitors. It is also professionalizing services in the acquired hotel, restaurant and other facilities turned

over by the Philippine Tourism Authority.It has likewise lined up the building of the Lucap Wharf Boardwalk project that will serve as a viewing point,

promenade park and common eating place for tourists.The accent in the out-of-the-box tourism development for Alaminos City is in ecotourism.It has lined a plethora of water sports, old and new festivals, spelunking, bird watching and other fun-filled

and outdoor activities that are meant to attract a bigger number of daily foreign and local tourists at reasonablerates. Ongoing festivals include the City Fiesta and Homecoming, Hundred Island Summer Camp, Images of theHundred Islands, and Island Adventures.

As guests multiply, support services and micro and small industries have been anticipated and encouraged tomushroom. These include food, souvenir items, water sports paraphernalia and about every item or services toanswer the needs of guests.

The bigger ticket and medium investments would be in beach resorts, shopping and rental centers, recreationalfacilities, specialty restaurants, hotels, inns and vacation and retirement villages, tour and travel services, and otherinstitutional services to foreign and high-end local tourists.

The strategic investments lined up include: the Hundred Islands Underwater Marine Theme Park; the roll-on, roll-off seaport in Victoria; the Alaminos Regional Airport at Alos; a potable water project; expansion oftelecommunications facilities; real estate development catering to tourists and a growing and getting more affluentpopulation and world-class hotels and resorts.Commerce and Light Industries

The city government has drawn a plan for the construction of an integrated bus terminal and supermarket inpreparation to the influx of tourists as a result of the on-going tourism development program and projects.

The terminal and market would not only expand commerce and trade in the city but will be the unifyingeconomic activity that ties together all the investment zones. The market will serve as the wholesale outlet of thefarm and fishery sectors, the distribution center of consumer and other basic goods for satellite towns, a multi-sport gymnasium and information center for tourists, and the immediate outlet for slight industries that wouldlocate in the city.

The light industries have been envisioned to add value to the products and services of the farming and aqua-marine culture communities. Some are seen to engage in food processing and storage and other light industriesthat draw strengths from the resources and produce of the city and nearby towns. But also welcomed areknowledge-based industries like call centers and business process outsourcing outfits. Farm and Forestry

The city leaders have prepared its rural residents to the challenges of the new economic order by clusteringfarmers into groups of larger production units tilling eight hectares each employing modern and environment-friendly methods, and raising high value crops at economies of scale. This has prepared them for partnerships with established or new fresh and processedfood companies including restaurant chains and exporters.

Orchards and tree plantations are being pushed either to be developed for farming hobbyist to enjoy an active and fulfilling rural life in a tourist townwith the basic comforts of modern society, wood-based industries that are running out of wood and other forest-based raw materials and plain nature loverswho want to share, not only enjoy, a natural, safe and healthy habitat.

To complete the food self-sufficiency programs of the city and its satellite towns, its farming industry is enhanced through its Bayanihan IntegratedProgram for Sustainable Agriculture (BIPSA) or more popularly known as Agri-Volution aimed at creating a new green revolution and a vibrant livestock andpoultry industry which forms part of the integrated development plan. Investments could be small, home-based and family-owned, or medium, corporate orcontract farming with the big players.Fishery

The fishery resources are opened for the creative investors as the city fine-tunes its coastal management plan. The bottom line is the sustainability, people-oriented and environment friendliness of the investment project, be it a fishpond, a fish pen, a seaweed farm, a cultured pearl farm or storage or canningprojects.Good Governance

The city has been putting in place a system of governance that is investment and business friendly. It is a system of processingbusiness related permits and licenses that is cheap, fast and without hidden costs through the employment of informationtechnology and a pool of public servants trained to help make business prosper.

At the end of the day, excellent governance in any city or town equals progress with equity and sustainable development.The Road Ahead

Much of what have been planned at building a modern green city are still dreams, not yet on the ground. Thelogistical needs are enormous. City leaders realize that on their own, the people of Alaminos could

accomplish only so much. With partners in the rest of the Philippines and elsewhere, much morecan be done, and done fast.

The city leaders have therefore decided to seek partners among development institutions,believers, tourism entrepreneurs, developers, international hotel chains and

those who are convinced that investing in nature-friendly projectsis worth the risk, and a smart business decision to preserveundeniably the world’s eight greatest wonder, the HundredIslands.

As the crowd of guests drawn in multiply, support services and microand small industries have been anticipated and encouraged to mushroom.

Alaminos City Magazine is produced by Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. for the City of Alaminos (Office of Mayor Hernani Braganza)Overall Concept by Melandrew T. Velasco. Creative Design Concepts by Michelle M. Cabrera. Editorial by Abraham Belena and Donna G. Brazas.Layout Consultant Albert Agpalasin. Layout Artist George Agcanas. Printed by Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved October 2006

Make It Alaminos!

It’s not just one of the nicest places in the planet.

Alaminos is THE PLACE.

It is Home to the Hundred Islands National Park…Where one can swim on its azure blue waters…

Walk on its white sand beaches….Marvel at its natural wonders…

Reflect on God’s Perfect Creation…Commune in serenity with Mother Nature.

In Alaminos, one will be captivated by its rich array of seafood,native cakes and unique culinary dishes.

One will also be enamored by its strategic location, its combination of rustic andurban living and its people’s collective quest to preserve, protect and conserve its

rich natural resources.

Other than the 8th wonder of the world, the other greatest asset of Alaminos is itspeople - so far the warmest, friendliest and most hospitable human beings on this

part of the globe.

Its readiness to open again its doors to the world and its arms to potential partnersin progress and development is proof positive of its determined bid to make

Alaminos the new global tourist destination.

City of Alaminos, Philippines - Home of the Hundred Islands Quezon Avenue, Poblacion, Alaminos City, 2404 Pangasinan, Philippines

(63.75) 552.7777 | 551.2145 | 551.2146 | 551.2147www.alaminoscity.gov.phinfo@alaminoscity.gov.ph