BARANGAY TORRES
According to the old folks of this barangay, Torres was the first seat of Mapandan when the people chose to be separated from Mangaldan. It was then a big barrio with four with four sitios namely: Torres-Bonton, which is now barangay Primicias, Torres-Luyan, Torres-Lambayan and Torres-Jimenez which later separated from it to become independent barangays.
As revealed by these old folks, before the outbreak of World I, there was a Roman Catholic Church situated somewhere between the sitios of Torres-Bonton and Torres-Luyan. It was built under the supervision of the Spanish friars and Fr. Jose Torres was then the priest and so the place was named after him. It was also revealed that near the church was a small creek called “Tobor” which is surrounded by deep mud and full of unbelievable phenomenon occurred according to the old folks. It was also in this creek where pandan plants grew abundantly so the place was named Mapandan, meaning with many pandan plants.
This barrio converted into barangay when President Ferdinand Marcos took the reign of the government. It is about 1.5 km south of the town proper. Out of this land area about 69.98% is considered agricultural; 001% industrial; .001% commercial and 30% is residential. Most of the residents are pure Pangasinan speaking people.
One of the biggest schools in Mapandan District is Torres Elementary School which is on a lot donated by the late Rufino Guba and family. The first classes started in two temporary classrooms built of bamboo and cogon roof. The pioneer teachers were the late Miguel Guba who was the TIC, the late Isidro Duque and the late Victoriana Quinto. Classes were up to Grade III. The school site is more or less 1.2 hectares.
It was October 8, 1966 when Torres Barangay High School was established. It was first managed by the mother high school principal with the cooperation of the principal in the Elementary. In its early operation, there were only less than 100 students from 1st – 4th year. It has now 348 students, with 4 buildings, 8 classrooms and 12 teachers. Torres High School was nationalized on September 8, 1988 with Mrs. Natividad A. Aquino as the first Teacher-in-Charge and currently Principal I.
Barangay Torres has its own waterworks system built during the term of Gov. Aguedo Agbayani and Mayor Loreto Q. Aquino in 1979 and finished in 1980. The multi-purpose cooperative was organized to help the people in their financial problems. It started as a credit union in 1973 but it was moved at the Mapandan Town Plaza after several years.
