What is known now as Alcala was formerly a barrio of
Bayambang, formerly called "Dangla", a vernacular term referring to a medicinal shrub which grows abundantly in the place. As a barrio, it was subdivided into several smaller units called sitios, namely: Bugyao, Bacud, Cupi, Bitulao, Cabicalan, Patalan, Camanggaan and Sinabaan On April 1, 1873, the settlers established a community. They submitted a petition calling for the cessation of Dangla into a separate township, but it took more than two years for the Spanish Authorities to take notice of the settlers' demands. Finally, on September 20, 1875, Royal Decree No. 682 was issued to officially establish the Municipality of Alcala, the name of the town in Spain from where the then Governor of Pangasinan hailed. During the outbreak of the
Philippine–American War, the place was the site of the field headquarters of General Malone of the United States Army. When the Filipinos and Americans were fighting against the Japanese during
World War II, the place was the site for the American Field Headquarters under the command of General
Johnathan Wainwright. It was here that the first Guerrilla Combat Training School was established. The same school produced an Infantry Battalion composed mostly of Alcaleneans who played an important role in defending the whole of Northern Luzon from Japanese forces. ==Geography==