PANGASINAN - The Province of Pangasinan which hosts the Hundred Islands Nature and Recreational Park , off the coast of Lucap in Alaminos . These islands and islets look like giant turtles and on many points between the islets the waters are shallow ideal for swimming and snorkeling . It is also the home of the Church of St. James Fortress ,which was built by the Agustinians in 1609.

Pangasinan was one of the early provinces into which the island of Luzon was divided after the arrival of the Spaniards. Etymologically, the term Pangasinan means the "place where salt is made", owing to the rich and fine salt beds which were the prime source of livelihood for the province's coastal towns.The local product that has become synonymous with Pangasinan is bagoong, or fermented fish sauce. Salt of course, is the prime ingredient. Mud-colored with a strong smell, bagoong has captured the national palate. Native cuisine, mostly Ilocano in origin, owes its authenticity to the lowly bagoong. Taking from the spare and starkly humble lifestyle of the Pangasinense with his dependence on the sea and rivers and the land, bagoong lends itself well to the local diet. Mixed with plain fresh vegetables like okra, squash and eggplant in an invigorating broth or as a dip for grilled catfish or Bonuan bangus, bagoong brings out the true flavor of the land's origins .