Majayjay

Majayjay is situated in southeastern Laguna. It nestles at the foot of Mt. Banahaw, and due to its higher altitude, the town is a popular summer vacation destination 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 remnants of Spanish-inspired houses that still stand at periodic key locations, mostly in the town square. Affluent families still maintain their ancestral houses.^{[citation needed]}

Majayjay is situated at the base of Mount Banahaw, approximately 300 meters (980 ft) 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, Quezon, which it borders to the southeast. Other bordering towns include Magdalena to the northwest, Luisiana to the northeast and Liliw to the west.

In the 2024 census, the population of Majayjay was 28,504 people,^[14] with a density of 410 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of Majayjay

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]}

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

• 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 during the early era of propagating Christianity. The church underwent fire incidents in 1576, 1606, and 1660, but was subsequently reconstructed and rehabilitated. A view of Laguna de Bay can be seen from the church roof. On January 25, 2025, Pope Francis designated it as a minor basilica, after a petition letter from the Bishop of San Pablo, Marcelino Antonio Maralit, on December 6, 2024; it is the first in the said diocese to be designated as such.

• 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 mentioned an old Spanish stone bridge built in 1851. It was a one-arch bridge since it was not finished. Early natives built 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 labor 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 after 1851. The bridge still stands 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 only way to travel to the mountain. Many European elites visited the town for Mount Banahaw.
• Bukal Falls: Popular among 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 are held at times. It is a small tourist destination for religious excursionists.

The town can be accessed by four entry points: Magdalena-Majayjay 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 as local jeepneys and tricycles, are modes of public transportation in the municipality.

• UV Express

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.^[24]

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