The highlight of the town’s history happened during the Japanese Occupation and the American Liberation in the Philippines. This can be attributed to the fact that this municipality was the base of operations of the fightingest guerilla organizations. The town happened to be the scene of the pierce combats that transpired along the Villaverde Trail meandering through the Caraballo Mountains, between the Japanese Imperial Forces under the command of Lt General Tomoyuki Yamashita and the famed US Army 32nd Infantry Division’s 127th Infantry Regiment Under the command of Maj Gen William H. Gill, aided by Filipino guerillas and Igorot men.
The men of the 32nd Infantry Division advanced along the Villaverde Trail beginning on January 30, 1945. Igorot laborers were employed to carry supplies and evacuate wounded as the rough terrain on the trail made it impossible for vehicles to support the battle. Victory for the town was attained in January 26, 1945.
In 119 days of almost constant fighting, the 32nd lost 1,051 killed, 3,201 wounded, 14 missing—4,266 in all. The division killed 9,000 Japanese soldiers and took 50 prisoners..
The Villaverde road cuts through the mountainous terrain of Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya. It starts from the easternmost portion of San Nicolas, the vegetable basket of Eastern Pangasinan, ascends the Caraballo Mountain range, skirts around the bald and pine-clad hills, dips into lush valleys and climbs again to dizzy heights for a kiss with the clouds. At this point the travelers get a sampling of a real temperate climate while their eyes feast on the vast lowland picture of unequalled beauty of nature.
An aerial view of the Villaverde Road taken in 1968
In 1968, under the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the national government opens the road for travel between Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya. The opening of the road is expected to hasten the development of the two provinces and the realization of the founding of MARCOS CITY somewhere along the road between San Nicolas,Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya*.
(*Eleuterio P. Sanchez, San Nicolas Town Fiesta Souvenir Program, 1968)
Sources:
Sherwin Bartolome Soria
http://snml.weebly.com/municipality-of-san-nicolas-history.html
A Pangasinan Folio’70 : a historical document
2007 San Nicolas Town Fiesta Souvenir Program
2005 San Nicolas Town Fiesta Souvenir Program
1968 San Nicolas Town Fiesta 1968 Souvenir Program