Pagsanjan Municipal Hall Explained

Pagsanjan Municipal Hall
Status:Historic Site (Level II)
Image Alt:Pagsanjan Municipal Building
Map Type:Philippines Laguna#Luzon mainland#Philippines
Building Type:Government Center
Material:Stones, Bricks and Wood
Owner:Local Government Unit of Pagsanjan
Location:Pagsanjan Municipal Building
Address:JP Rizal Street, Poblacion Uno (Calle Real)
Location Town:Pagsanjan, Laguna
Location Country:Philippines
Coordinates:14.2726°N 121.4558°W
Renovation Date:1951-1955
Destruction Date:1945

The Pagsanjan Municipal Hall is a mid-19th century building located on J.P. Rizal Street in Poblacion Uno (Calle Real), Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines. It was home to the first public elementary school in Laguna Province from 1864 to 1911 as well as its first public high school from 1903 to 1907. The building currently houses the seat of the local government unit of the municipality of Pagsanjan.

History

The building was first constructed during the middle of the 19th century and was used to house the Tribunal del Gremios de Naturales (Tribunal Court for the Local Government for Natives), a tribunal court of one of Pagsanjan's local government unit formed by the Spanish authorities during the 1600s.[1] It served as quarters of the Filipino revolutionary forces under the leadership of Gen. Taino during the Philippine Revolution of 1898 and the American Expeditionary Forces during the Philippine–American War from 1899 to 1903. From 1903 to 1907, it housed the first public high school in Laguna under the American teachers known as Laguna High School before it was transferred to Santa Cruz. It also housed the first public elementary school from 1864 until 1911 pursuant to the Educational Decree of 1863 signed by Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain. It then became the seat of the government of Pagsanjan before it was destroyed during World War II on March 20, 1945. It was rehabilitated and reconstructed from 1951 and completed in 1955.[2]

References

  1. Book: Zaide, Gregorio. PAGSANJAN, In History and Legend. 1975. Chapter 5: The Pageant of Pagsanjan History.
  2. Web site: Old Houses Galore: Pagsanjan. June 27, 2014.