Majayjay

Majayjay (Tagalog: [mɐhaɪ̯ˈhaɪ̯]), officially as the Municipality of Majayjay (Tagalog: Bayan ng Majayjay), is a municipality in the most Southeast part of the province of Laguna bordering with the town of Lucban Quezon, According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 28,504 people.

History

Precolonial town

Majayjay was founded at the foot of a 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.

In 1571, Spanish forces, accompanied by Cebuano Visayan reinforcements, advanced toward the town from Liliw after sacking Nagcarlan. Upon reaching the Olla River, they withdrew upon encountering resistance from Majayjay’s defenders and instead proceeded through Panglan. They launched a pre-dawn attack using firearms and drums, prompting most of the residents to flee. Only a man named Liraw and a pregnant woman close to giving birth were left behind and subsequently captured. Following the assault, the town came under Spanish control.

Spanish rule

The popularity of the town grew during Spanish rule.[citation needed] 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,[citation needed] but it was destroyed by a fire in 1578.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] Despite the fires, the image of their patron saint, San Gregorio Papa Magno survived.[citation needed]

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[citation needed], with its construction taking 19 years.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

Majayjay is situated at the base of Mount Banahaw; approximately 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level. It is 62 kilometers (39 mi) from Santa Cruz, 107 kilometers (66 mi) from Manila, and 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) 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 2024 census, the population of Majayjay was 28,504 people, with a density of 410 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Majayjay

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

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, Marcelino Antonio Maralit, on December 6, 2024; it is the first in the said diocese to grant such designation.

• Taytay Falls: Also known as 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 a forested area.
• Puente de Capriccio: In José 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. 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 residents. 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.

• UV Express

Jeepney Routes

• San Pablo
• Liliw
• Rizal
• Nagcarlan
• Magdalena
• Luisiana
• Santa Cruz (via Nagcarlan, Laguna)
• Lucban

Infrastructure

Communication

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

Education

The Majayjay Schools District Office, led by PSDS Dr. Ginalyn B. Freo, governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Government

Elected officials

Notable people

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

External links

• 2012-05-23 at the Wayback Machine