Majayjay, Laguna

Majayjay (), officially as the Municipality of Majayjay (), is a municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. As of the 2020 census, the municipality has a population of 27,893 residents.

History

Luzonian town

Since time immemorial, Majayjay had been a Luzonian town of Tagalog citizens. It was founded at the foot of the mountain, which gave it an abundant supply of fresh spring water. Four rivers flowed through the town: Initian, Oobi, Olla, and Balanac (from the falls of Botocan) where all the rivers meet. Botocan Falls and the town's scenery were uniquely famous, attracting wealthy citizens from other towns to become guests at Majayjay. By 1571, Majayjay was one of the most populated towns around Laguna de Bay and near the capital of the Kingdom of Luzon in Manila.

The road to Majayjay was considered to be tough. Guests often had to be ferried from Manila through the Pasig River to Laguna de Bay. Land travel was through the intermunicipal highway and then by being transported in either palanquins or hammocks on the way up to the town.

In 1571, Spanish warriors with Cebuano Visayan reinforcements moved towards the town from Liliw after having sacked Nagcarlan. Upon reaching the river Olla while going through the intermunicipal highway, they stopped and retraced their steps back upon the sight of Majayjay town guards. They went through the main road at Panglan instead. They attacked in the dark before dawn with guns and drums. The citizens fled from the attack as though fleeing pillage, leaving no one but a man named Liraw and a pregnant woman nearing labor whom the Spaniards captured. The town was then held by warriors of the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies.

Spanish rule

The popularity of the town grew during Spanish rule. Botocan Falls went on to lead European travellers, besides wealthy Filipinos, to also frequently visit the town. Land travel also started being aided by horses.

After the conversion of the citizens of Majayjay, the Spanish priests ordered the building of a provisional church near May-it River, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1578. A new church made of bamboo and cogon thatch was built; however, another fire destroyed it again. A stone church was then built, which was also burned down. Despite the fire incidents, the image of their patron saint, San Gregorio Papa Magno survived.

Through the efforts of the Spanish priest Padre José de Puertollano, contributions enforced by parishioners, and forced labor of Filipinos, a new church was built in 1730, with its construction taking 19 years.

Geography

Majayjay is situated in the southernmost part of Laguna. It nestles at the foot of Mt. Banahaw, and due to its higher altitude at some 2,700+ ft above sea level, the town makes for a popular vacation destination during summer in the Philippines. It was once branded as the 'Summer Capital of the Philippines' 300–400 years ago during the Spanish era, when most of the prominent names in the Spanish colonial Philippines visited the area. Other sights along the streets include the remnants of the said era of Spanish-inspired houses that still stand at periodic key locations, mostly in the town square. Affluent families still have their ancestral houses maintained.

Majayjay is situated at the base of Mount Banahaw; approximately 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level. It is from Santa Cruz, from Manila, and from Lucban. It shares borders with Magdalena on the northwest, Lucban in Quezon to the southeast, Luisiana to the northeast, and Liliw to the west.

Climate

Majayjay is classified as Am in the Köppen–Geiger climate classification, which refers to a tropical monsoon climate. There is significant rainfall in most months of the year, with the annual rainfall averaging 2,571 mm, and the precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month differing by 332 mm. The short dry season has little effect on the overall climate. The temperature here averages 25.8 °C, and during the year, the average temperatures vary by 3.2 °C. The warmest month of the year is May, with an average temperature of 27.4 °C. January has the lowest average temperature of the year, which is 24.2 °C.

Barangays

Majayjay is politically subdivided into 40 barangays - as indicated in the matrix below - which is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines. Each barangay consists of puroks, or unofficial divisions within a barangay, and some barangays also have sitios, which are also unofficial divisions in a barangay.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Majayjay was 27,893 people, with a density of .

Economy

The town boasts a line of shanties of budding small enterprises mostly selling indigenous farm crops along its main road.

Tourism

* Minor Basilica and Parish of Saint Gregory the Great: Majayjay is home to one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines, the Minor Basilica and Parish of Saint Gregory the Great. It was built in 1575 through forced labor by the town folks. Inside the church are antique statues of saints brought by the Spaniards in the early era of propagating Christianity. The church underwent fire incidents in 1576, 1606, and 1660, but later underwent reconstructions and rehabilitation works. A view of Laguna de Bay can be seen atop the roof of the church. On January 25, 2025, Pope Francis designated it as a minor basilica, which stemmed from a petition letter of the Bishop of San Pablo, Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio Maralit, D.D. on December 6, 2024; it is the first in the said diocese to grant such designation.

* Taytay Falls: Majayjay is also home to the Taytay Falls. Others call it the Majayjay Falls or even Imelda Falls because ex-First Lady Imelda Marcos financed the promotion of tourism in this place. It is a two-story high fall located in remote scenery where forestry is abundant. To reach Taytay Falls, one has to go down the stone steps leading to a kilometer-long trail, constructed in 2008. Recently, the World Bank has sponsored the promotion of tourism in Taytay Falls.
* Puente de Capriccio: In Rizal's '' El Filibusterismo'', he spoke of an old Spanish bridge made of stone in the year 1851. It was a one-arch bridge since it was not finished, early natives put a bamboo footbridge to connect the opposite sides to make it accessible. Puente de Capriccio was initiated by Spanish Franciscan priest Victoriano del Moral. But the priest was cruel and autocratic, anyone who did not labour in the construction would be later punished by whipping the buttocks. The workers were reportedly not paid a single centavo. Because of his cruelty, the workers campaigned against him, thus, the bridge's construction never resumed since 1851. The bridge is still standing firm today crossing the Olla River. It is called ''Tulay ng Pige'' (Bridge of Buttocks) by modern Majayjayenos. The bridge now symbolizes the defiance of Filipino workers against the oppressive Spanish colonialists during the colonial period.
* Mount Banahaw: Majayjay is located at the foot of this mountain. In the early Spanish era, Mount Banahaw was called Monte de Majayjay, because it was the town the only way to travel to the mountain. Many European elites visited the town for Mount Banahaw.
* Bukal Falls: Popular to most tourists as the ''Enchanted Falls''
* Botocan Hydroelectric Power Plant and Dam: It is the first hydroelectric power plant constructed in the Philippines in the 20th century (1930). It is now owned by the CBK Power Company Limited.
* Ermita Church: Then, a tribunal. This holy place houses the image of Nuestra Señora de la Portería.
* Our Lady of the Gate Grotto: Situated along the Olla riverbank is a sacred place where masses at times are being held. It is a small tourist destination for religious excursionists.

Culture

Festivals

Majayjay Day is celebrated every year on October 2 as part of the celebration of the founding anniversary of the town. It brags off-farm and agricultural products produced primarily from the 40 barangays composing it. This day has been given a new life and breathing in its new brand name AniLinang Festival. The 1st AniLinang Festival was held on October 2, 2016, as an initiative of the local government to promote the town's laid-back, and peaceful way of life seen in its agricultural produce as well as in its indigenous cuisines.

SaGreMa Festival (San Gregorio Magno Majayjay), is a parochial festivity celebrated on September 3, the day when Saint Gregory, the town's patron saint, became a pope, and March 12, the day he died. In the festival, Majayjayenos honor the saint for the fortunes of their town.

Transportation

The town can be accessed by four entry points: Magdalena-Majayajay Road to the north, Liliw-Majayjay Road to the west, Luisiana-Majayjay Road to the east, and Lucban-Majayjay Road to the south. Public utility vehicles such local jeepneys and tricycles are modes of public transportation in the municipality.

Infrastructure

Communication

The town of Majayjay possesses different communication lines including PLDT, and cellular communications such as Globe, Smart, and DITO.

Education

Secondary schools:
# Liceo de Majayjay (High School)
# Sta Catalina National High School (Barangay San Miguel, Main Campus and Barangay Bakia, ext.)
# Suba National High School (Barangay San Isidro, Main Campus and Barangay Gagalot, ext.)

Elementary schools:
# Liceo de Majayjay (Elementary)
# Majayjay Elementary School
# Sta Catalina Elementary School
# Bakia-Botocan Elementary School
# Paaralang Elementarya ng Gagalot - Taytay
# Suba Elementary School
# Bucal Elementary School
# Munting Kawayan Elementary School

Government

Elected officials

Notable people

* Gustavo Tobler (1834-1875), merchant and coffee planter from Switzerland

References

External links

*Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census InformationLocal Governance Performance Management System

{{Authority control

Municipalities of Laguna (province)
1571 establishments in the Philippines