Majayjay Explained

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Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:penguins
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Native Name:Mahayhay
Other Name:Mayhay
Nickname:Mahayhay, Mayhay
Anthem:Himno ng Majayjay
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:October 2, 1571
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Romeo P. Amorado
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Juan Ariel A. Argañosa Jr.
Leader Name2:Maria Jamina Katherine B. Agarao
Leader Title3:Municipal Council
Leader Title4:Electorate
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:2173
Elevation Min M:27
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Households
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:, 4006 (Botocan)
Demographics Type1:Economy
Demographics1 Title2:Poverty incidence
Demographics1 Info2:%
Demographics1 Title3:Revenue
Demographics1 Title4:Revenue rank
Demographics1 Title5:Assets
Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics Type2:Service provider
Demographics2 Title1:Electricity
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
Blank1 Name Sec1:Native languages
Blank2 Name Sec1:Crime index
Blank1 Name Sec2:Major religions
Blank2 Name Sec2:Feast date
Blank3 Name Sec2:Catholic diocese
Blank4 Name Sec2:Patron saint

Majayjay (in Tagalog mɐhaɪ̯ˈhaɪ̯/), officially as the Municipality of Majayjay (Tagalog: Bayan ng Majayjay), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. As of the 2020 census, the municipality has a population of 27,893 residents.

Geographically, Majayjay is situated at the base of Mount Banahaw; approximately 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level. It is 62km (39miles) from Santa Cruz, 107km (66miles) from Manila, and 12km (07miles) 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.

Etymology

The original name of Majayjay was Malay Barangay, but many residents assume that Spaniards found it difficult to pronounce, which may have led to early colonizers shortening it to Malay-ay until it became Majayjay. Legends, however, say that it was the difficult journey to Majayjay which gave the town its name; tired travelers supposedly sighed, “Hay!” after scaling a cliff, “Hay!” after ascending a hill, and “Hay!” after crossing a raging river.[1] Thus, guests referred to the place as “Mahayhay,” meaning many sighs, and the Spaniards then spelled this “Majayjay.”

History

In 1571, The Spanish colonial government made Majayjay into a town,[2] which at the time was one of the most populated settlements in the newly founded province. It competed with Bay and Pagsanjan during the selection of the province's capital.

The popularity of the town grew during the Spanish period, in part due to its location at the foot of the mountain, which gave it an abundant supply of fresh mountain 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, which led to many Europeans and wealthy natives from Manila frequently visiting the town. However, the road to Malay Barangay was considered to be tough. Guests have to be ferried from Manila through the Pasig River to Laguna de Bay. Land travel was done by mounting horses through a path in the forest and then being borne by natives in hammocks on the way up to Malay Barangay.

After the conversion of the natives of Malay Barangay, a makeshift church was built near May-it River, but 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 Padre José de Puertollano, contributions enforced by parishioners, and forced labor of natives, a new church was built in 1730, with its construction taking 19 years.

Geography

Majayjay is a geographically landlocked area 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.

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,[3] 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.

Barangay NameBarangay Chairman[4] Philippine Standard
Geographic Codes Code
Urban/RuralPopulation
(2020 Census)
AmonoyOnofre O. Barba043416001Rural150
BakiaCarlos P. Evanoso Jr.043416002Rural512
BalanacDigna R. Breganza043416004Rural51
BalayongRyan Emmanuel C. Conejos043416005Rural73
BaniladRicarte O. Solison043416007Rural204
BantiMatias M. Palentinos043416008Rural82
BitaoyFederico R. Borines043416010Rural196
BotocanRoman T. Bojabe043416011Rural931
BukalNestor J. Cube043416003Rural745
BurgosGenaro A. Villaraza043416012Rural147
BurolAriel M. Argañosa043416013Rural43
CoralaoMauro V. Bravante043416014Rural495
GagalotCrisostomo U. Mercurio043416015Rural923
Ibabang BangaRosana C. Marquez043416016Rural835
Ibabang BayucainOrlando S. Patron043416017Rural172
Ilayang BangaSuela Josephine A. Mauricio043416018Rural1,187
Ilayang BayucainAlan G. Expression043416019Rural84
IsabangMylyn R. Comendador043416020Rural150
MalinaoBeny P. Trovela043416021Rural752
May-ItCrispin F. Rivera043416022Rural159
Munting KawayanNicanor T. Esteba043416023Rural744
OllaDindo B. Arasa043416025Rural1,009
OobiLeonida P. Gripo043416024Rural730
Origuel (Poblacion)Quennie Grace N. Macam043416026Urban1,446
PanalabanFrancisca G. Mirano043416027Rural67
PangilJeffrey E. Zornosa043416029Rural817
PanglanEladio J. Codera043416028Rural441
PiitMarianito T. Rondilla043416030Rural700
PookRomeo G. Gripo043416031Rural121
RizalJuan V. Borines043416032Rural301
San Francisco (Poblacion)Juliana E. Oates043416033Urban2,899
San IsidroJoel S. Bomuel043416034Rural613
San Miguel (Poblacion)Guillermo T. Valderrama043416035Urban4,132
San RoqueRitche B. Garcia043416036Rural110
Santa Catalina (Poblacion)Onofre G. Andaya043416037Urban2,042
SubaYolando U. Lagon043416038Rural2,099
TalortorArcadio A. Ernieta043416041Rural1,105
TanawanCelso R. Rubiales043416039Rural85
TaytayBonifacio R. Consebido043416040Rural415
Villa NogalesMario Arnildo M. Sobreviñas043416042Rural126

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Majayjay was 27,893 people, with a density of NaN27,893/69.58.

Economy

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

Tourism

1. Saint Gregory the Great Parish Church: Majayjay is home to one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines, the Saint Gregory the Great Parish Church. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Bukal Falls: Popular to most tourists as the Enchanted Falls
6. 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.
7. Ermita Church: Then, a tribunal. This holy place houses the image of Nuestra Señora de la Portería.
8. 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:

  1. Liceo de Majayjay (High School)
  2. Sta Catalina National High School (Barangay San Miguel, Main Campus and Barangay Bakia, ext.)
  3. Suba National High School (Barangay San Isidro, Main Campus and Barangay Gagalot, ext.)

Elementary schools:

  1. Liceo de Majayjay (Elementary)
  2. Majayjay Elementary School
  3. Sta Catalina Elementary School
  4. Bakia-Botocan Elementary School
  5. Paaralang Elementarya ng Gagalot - Taytay
  6. Suba Elementary School
  7. Bucal Elementary School
  8. Munting Kawayan Elementary School

Government

See main article: Sangguniang Bayan.

Elected officials

The current municipal council of Majayjay (2022-2025)

+First Amorado Cabinet (2022-2025)NamePositionParty
Mayor
Romy AmoradoMayorNP
Vice Mayor
Ariel ArgañosaVice MayorAksyon
Councilor's
Gab Mentilla1st CouncilorAksyon
Angel Sotto2nd CouncilorPDP
Kulot Amorado3rd CouncilorNP
Felix Arnuco4th CouncilorIndependent
Jhun Andaya5th CouncilorNP
Tacio Hernandez6th CouncilorPDP
Maria Fe Cabonce7th CouncilorPDP
Pia Ceria8th CouncilorPDP

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: majayjay executive summary 2014.
  2. Ahlborn . Richard . The Spanish Churches of Central Luzon (I) . Philippine Studies . 1960 . 8 . 4 . 802–813 . 42719618 . 0031-7837.
  3. Web site: Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) | Philippine Statistics Authority.
  4. Web site: Official COMELEC Website :: Commission on Elections.