What to do in Pangasinan

By Alberto Quintero

Pangasinan is located 250 kilometers north of Manila and is bordered by Zambales and Tarlac to the south, Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija to the east, La Union in the north and by the Lingayen Gulf to the west. This versatile province is a large producer of rice, milkfish, bamboo handicrafts and mangoes. It is due to the infinite salt making industry in Pangasinan gained its name, pangasinan is the word for “asin” or salt.

In recent years Pangasinan has become known for its famous tourist attraction the Hundred Islands National Park. The park is made up of a cluster of more than a hundred islands off of the town of Alaminos on the Lingayen Gulf. The biggest of these islands is Quezon. Most of the other islands are uninhabited and small; these typically only get visitors during the day by tourists. The larger islands have beaches for frolicking in the sun and picnics.

On the downside only a few of the islands have facilities. The only islands that do offer them are: the Governor’s Island has accommodation facilities for anyone that wants to stay there, the Children’s Island has bathrooms, camping, and sleeping areas, and Quezon Island is equipped with viewing decks, toilets and picnic sheds.

For visitors to the Hundred Islands that are more interested in water sports there is jet skiing, kayaking, windsurfing, parasailing, big game fishing, and snorkeling. The Lucap Waterfront is a facility that offers these activities and rents out accommodations.