Mabini, officially the Municipality of Mabini (; ; ), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,454 people.
The municipality was formerly called Balincaguin.
History
The Municipality of Mabini used to be a part of the Province of Zambales and was surrounded by mountains, forests, and valleys. It was originally called "Balincaguin" that was derived from the Zambal phrase "Bali Lan Caguin" which means "abode of bats". This name referred to the nocturnal mammals (bats) that inhabited the caves found in the hills and mountains between the municipality and Zambales in the west and Tarlac to the south-west.
The place may have been founded in 1610 by Spanish missionaries who were Augustinian Recollects, although this is uncertain. In 1800, Balincaquin became a town under Don Isidro Puzon who is believed to be the founder. Some of its population (770 families) were Ilocanos who moved to the municipality due to its agricultural health. The site where these settlers situated near the mountains used to be called "Conventa."
Good quality rice was then consistently produced and marketed to Manila and even to China. Other products such as corn, sugar cane, cotton and so forth were also demanded and consequently, distributed widely through numerous markets. Apart from agriculture, the industry of saddle-making, knapsack-making and hat-weaving existed. The residents also engaged in tending cattle, carabaos, horses and goats. At the same time, gradual increase of the number of bats compelled the residents to catch them. These mammals were suspected of flying through the nearby forests because of the catching that lasted until 1930.
In 1930, the town's name was changed to Mabini in honor of Apolinario Mabini, who was considered as "The Great Sublime Paralytic" and "Brains of the Revolution."
The municipality was merged with Alaminos, Bani, Anda, Dasol, Burgos, Bolinao and Infanta in 1904 and presently comprises the province's first district.
Geography
Barangays
Mabini is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Bacnit
Barlo
Caabiangan
Cabanaetan
Cabinuangan
Calzada
Caranglaan
De Guzman
Luna - formerly known as Balayang
Magalong
Nibaliw
Patar
Poblacion
San Pedro
Tagudin
Villacorta
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Government
Local government
Mabini, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Pangasinan, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
Elected officials
List of municipal mayors
The municipal heads from the time when it was founded up to the present.