She was originally built as USS PCE-891, a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II.

[11] On 14 October 2003 while conducting patrol operations along the Philippine-Malaysian border, Pangasinan apprehended a motor launch carrying some R3.5 million worth of smuggled goods off Tawi-Tawi.

[14] In August 2019, the ship transported relief goods for victims of the twin Earthquakes that happened in July 2019 in Itbayat, Batanes.

[15] There were slight difference between the BRP Pangasinan as compared to some of her sister ships in the Philippine Navy, since her previous configuration was as a patrol craft escort (PCE), while the others are configured as rescue patrol craft escort (PCER) and minesweepers (Admirable class) ships.

During its overhaul and refit between 1990 and 1991,[4] the Philippine Navy removed her old anti-submarine weapons and systems, and made some changes in the armament set-up.

This made the ship lighter and ideal for surface patrols, but losing her limited anti-submarine warfare capability.

The ship was powered by two GM 12-278A diesel engines with a combined rating of around 2,200 bhp (1,600 kW) driving two propellers.