Pangilinan Family History

Pangilinan Family History

One tradition says that the Pangilinans were related to the priestly clan from Satsuma in Southern Japan, notably the Imibe clan. Before the Spaniards came, they managed to settle in the Betis Region of Luzon Empire, now known as Betis. Another story was that the Pangilinans were originally from Luzon and settled in Chaozhou, Southern China and returned to Betis during the Spanish occupation. Well, neither of these two is confirmed. But in Kapampangan folklore, the ancient rulers Panginuan (those who are worshipped) or Anakbanua (Children of Heaven) were classified as either Pamintuan (those who are to be obeyed) and Pangilinan (those who are kept sacred).

During the Spanish era, the Pamintuans were the military rulers and leaders and the Pangilinans were the spiritual rulers, serving as priests, teachers or doctors. The official history of the municipality of Guagua, Pampanga has records that the Pangilinans were the traditional rulers of the Paglalabuan River, now Sta. Ursula, in Betis.

The Paglalabuan River was a major crossroad between Guagua, Minalin and Macabebe, towns with well-established Pangilinan families who were boat makers, priests, teachers, doctors, and lawyers. The family name was spread throughout Apalit, Bacolor, Candaba, Mexico and Sto. Tomas. From their established roots in Pampanga, the Pangilinans are now across the country and the world as a prolific and successful clan.

In the Philippines, the family name appeared in history as early as 1605: Luciano Santiago (1600s), Don Thomas Pangilinan (1605), Jesus Pangilinan (1650-1700s), and Don Nicolas Pangilinan who became mayor of Minalin in 1757. Other Pangilinans served as mayor of this town: Don Andres Pangilinan (1758), Don Marcos Pangilinan (1760), Don Juan Pangilinan (1784) and Don Jose Pangilinan (1794). Bachiller Don Miguel Pangilinan (1755-1820) of Minalin, a native priest and son of Don Nicholas Pangiliinan, was the parish priest of Calapan, Mindoro for 15 years, Apalit for 7 years, and Mexico for 12 years in the 1800s. Other notable Pangilinans include: Don Macario Pangilinan (1800-1850) of Betis, first native translator of the Via Crucis; Don Mariano Pangilinan, gobernadorcillo of Betis in 1893, a morally upright man as a song about how he reprimanded the youth against elopement was written; and Don Martin Pangilinan of Betis, renowned school teacher from 1893 -1898.

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