Bani and Agno: Pangasinan Mapping Part 2

On Sunday, second day of our second time to map Pangasinan, buddy and I left our host's residence in Bolinao early. As agreed, we donned our costumes to at least look good in our photos. The househelp prodded us to at least eat breakfast before we leave. Such heartwarming gesture of hospitality extended to us by our hosts! Needless to say, I am deeply moved.

After breakfast, I ran to the side of St. James the Great Parish Church to buy binungey, a kakanin which resembles suman except this is cooked inside a bamboo. We would eat it later in Alaminos.

Immaculate Concepcion of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Church (credit: Wikicommons)

Our first stop for the day was Bani, a small town but with around 20 heritage structures. Their church has a rather irregular shape and was being renovated when we visited.

retablo of Bani Church (credit: Wikicommons)

Gabaldon Building (credit: Wikicommons)

Pangasinan State University (credit: Wikicommons)

 In the park across Bani Church we saw a historical marker erected on March 18, 1979 in memory of the 13 martyrs who died fighting against the Spanish soldiers on March 7, 1898. Now, who were these 13 martyrs? What were their background? What motivated them to fight?

After Bani, we headed to Agno where I was able to climb up the belfry. The view from the top of the church is always breathtaking and one imagines as if it were the olden times, how the belfry can also function as watchtower to see if there were advancing armies about to attack. Oh well, I am also into military stuff so pardon my wild imagination. :P

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church (credit: Wikicommons)

view from Agno Church choir loft (credit: Wikicommons)

 As in Bani, Agno also has a Gabaldon Building. We were also lucky to have found an old Spanish bridge except all that's left are the pillars. Locals say that on top of these were wooden boards. Anyway, a modern one runs parallel to this old bridge.

Gabaldon Building (credit: Wikicommons)

Don Angel Sison Bridge (credit: Wikicommons)

 Since these two towns are fairly small, we only spent a short time here. We then proceeded to Alaminos for lunch. Needless to say, I slept while in transit despite getting 5 hours of sleep the night before. We were still lucky because the weather in Western Pangasinan was not that hot.

Note: All the pics I took were uploaded to Wikicommons but am reusing them here anyway.

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