Folk etymology attributes the name "Bolinao" or this remote
fishing enclave from the fish piece "monamon" but commonly called
"Bolinao" by the Tagalogs, Bicolanos and the Visayans. A theory also
points out that once upon a time "pamulinawen" trees grew luxuriantly
along its shores, thus, the Ilocano migrants who crossed the Lingayen Gulf
named it phonetically similar to the name of the tree. Nowadays, however, such
tree does not exist anymore.
This town formerly included the neighboring town of Anda, but Anda became an
independent municipality on May 26, 1849.
