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Pagsanjan
Municipality in Laguna, Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pagsanjan (pronounced PAG-sang-han), officially the Municipality of Pagsanjan (Tagalog: Bayan ng Pagsanjan), is a municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 45,602 people.[5]
Pagsanjan
Pinagsangahan | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Pagsanjan | |
Pagsanjan Arch Pagsanjan Municipal Building Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church Pagsanjan Town Proper Balanac River | |
 Flag  Seal | |
Nicknames:
| |
| Motto: I ❤️ PagsanJAN! | |
 Map of Laguna with Pagsanjan highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Pagsanjan | |
.svg)  Pagsanjan Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 14°16′N 121°27′E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Calabarzon |
| Province | Laguna |
| District | 4th district |
| Founded | December 12, 1668 |
| Barangays | 16 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Januario Ferry G. Garcia |
| • Vice Mayor | Rod H. Fernandez |
| • Representative | Benjamin Cueto "Benjie" Agarao Jr. |
| • Municipal Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 33,055 voters |
| Area | |
• Total | 26.36 km2 (10.18 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 149 m (489 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 492 m (1,614 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 45,602 |
| • Density | 1,730/km2 (4,481/sq mi) |
| • Households | 11,404 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 3rd municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 8.5 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 230.2 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 290.7 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 205.3 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 87.96 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | First Laguna Electric Cooperative (FLECO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 4008 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)49 |
| Native languages | Tagalog |
| Website | www |
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It is known as the tourist capital of Laguna and is the home of the Bangkero Festival held every March. The bangkeros are tour guides who steer boats along the river to Pagsanjan Falls (also called Magdapio Falls), for which the town is well known but is actually in neighboring Cavinti.[6][7]
The municipality was the capital of the province of Laguna for 170 years (from 1688 to 1858) during which the town prospered as the commercial, cultural and learning center of the province.[8]
Etymology
Pagsanjan is located in the riparian delta formed by the confluence of the Balanac and Bumbungan rivers. Originally called Pinágsangahán ("branching" or "juncture"), this was shortened to "Pagsanjan" by early Spanish colonists because they found the name very difficult to pronounce.
History
In 1668, eight Japanese and Chinese traders, who were highly impressed by the strategic location of the barrio at the juncture of Balanac and Bumbungan, rivers founded the town. They established a trading settlement and engaged in the betel nut industry. In time, the barrio became the flourishing trading center of eastern Laguna and attracted families from the surrounding communities of Cavinti and Pila. On December 12, 1668, then-Governor-General Juan Manuel de la Peña Bonifaz issued a decree elevating its status to a town. In 1688, Pagsanjan replaced Bay as the capital of the province. It remained such until 1858.[9]
List of mayors
- Juan L. Fabella[10]
- Fidelino C. Agawin (1959–1963)[11]
- Quintin Cabrera (1963–1971)[12][13]
- Gregorio F. Zaide (1971–1975)
- Adelina Becina Gabatan
- Hernando Zaide (1986–1987)[14]
- Augusto Kamatoy (1988–1998)[15][16]
- Abner L. Afuang (1998–2001)[17]
- Girlie Yulatic Javier-Ejercito (2010-2019)
- Peter Casius Trinidad (2019–2022)[18]
- Cesar V. Areza (2022–2025)
- E. R. Ejercito (2001–2010 and 2025)
Geography
Pagsanjan has a land area of 26.4 square kilometres. It is bounded on the east by the Balubad Mountain; on the west by the capital town of Santa Cruz; on the north by the San Isidro Hill and Laguna de Bay; on the north-east by the town of Lumban; on the southeast by the towns of Cavinti and Luisiana; on the south by Mount Banahaw; and on the south-west by the town of Magdalena.
Situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Santa Cruz, 91 kilometres (57 mi) southeast of Manila, and 52 kilometres (32 mi) from Lucena, this town is reached via Manila East Road or SLEX.
Barangays
Pagsanjan is politically subdivided into 16 barangays, as indicated below and in the image herein. [19] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
| Climate data for Pagsanjan, Laguna | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
26 (79) |
29 (84) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
23 (74) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58 (2.3) |
41 (1.6) |
32 (1.3) |
29 (1.1) |
91 (3.6) |
143 (5.6) |
181 (7.1) |
162 (6.4) |
172 (6.8) |
164 (6.5) |
113 (4.4) |
121 (4.8) |
1,307 (51.5) |
| Average rainy days | 13.4 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 19.1 | 22.9 | 26.6 | 24.9 | 25.0 | 21.4 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 214.5 |
| Source: Meteoblue[20] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 6,361 | — |
| 1918 | 7,538 | +1.14% |
| 1939 | 8,865 | +0.78% |
| 1948 | 9,282 | +0.51% |
| 1960 | 10,691 | +1.18% |
| 1970 | 14,556 | +3.13% |
| 1975 | 16,188 | +2.15% |
| 1980 | 19,489 | +3.78% |
| 1990 | 25,024 | +2.53% |
| 1995 | 28,999 | +2.80% |
| 2000 | 32,622 | +2.56% |
| 2007 | 35,944 | +1.35% |
| 2010 | 39,313 | +3.31% |
| 2015 | 42,164 | +1.34% |
| 2020 | 44,327 | +1.06% |
| 2024 | 45,602 | +0.68% |
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[21][22][23][24][25] | ||
In the 2024 census, the population of Pagsanjan was 45,602 people,[26] with a density of 1,700 inhabitants per square kilometre or 4,400 inhabitants per square mile.
Government
| Position | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Januario Ferry G. Garcia | AKAY | |
| Vice Mayor | Rod H. Fernandez | PFP | |
| Councilors | |||
| John Paul J. Ejercito | Independent | ||
| Allan Q. Arroyo | Independent | ||
| Dennis Dale V. Gonzales | PFP | ||
| Noel L. Cabella | PFP | ||
| Nathanael C. Bernales II | KANP | ||
| Ronie S. Leron | PFP | ||
| Melvin B. Madriaga | Independent | ||
| vacant | |||
Economy
Culture
Pagsanjan March
The official song of the town is the "Pagsanjan March". The anthem was composed by Rogel Taiño, a native of Pagsanjan.
Bangkero Festival
Also known as "Pagsanjan Bangkero Festival", celebrated in a five-day annual event held every April in honor of The Patron of the town and the skilled local boatmen called Bangkeros. The festival features colorful boat races, street dancing, float parades, trade fairs, concerts, and sports events. Taking place in Bumbungan or Balanac Rivers to the famous Pagsanjan Falls using Bangkeros skills.
Education
The Pagsanjan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[35]
Primary and elementary schools
- Anibong Elementary School
- Caesar Z. Lanuza Elementary School
- Dingin Elementary School
- Dr. Augusto E. Hocson Elementary School
- Francisco Benitez Memorial School
- Good Beginnings Foundation Learning Center
- Jose A. Gallardo, Sr. Elementary School (Magdapio Elementary School)
- M. Z. Lanuza Elementary School
- Maulawin Elementary School
- Pagsanjan Academy
- Pinagsanjan Elementary School
- Sampaloc Elementary School
- San Isidro Elementary School
- Unson Elementary School
Secondary school
- Liceo de Pagsanjan
- Pagsanjan National High School
- Stand Alone Senior High School No. 3
- Unson National High School
Higher educational institutions
- Angelita V. Del Mundo Foundation
- AVM Foundation (Sampaloc)
- Paete Science and Business College
Notable personalities
- Benjo Agarao – politician, digital creator of Facebook
- Jam Agarao – women nursing, politician
- Pedro Pelaez – educator and priest, considered the "Father of Filipinization of the Church" and "The Godfather of the Philippine Revolution"
- Gelia Tagumpay Castillo – National Scientist of the Philippines for Rural Sociology[36]
- Gregorio F. Zaide – historian and author, "Dean of Filipino Historiographers"
- Leandro H. Fernandez – educator, author and historian
- Conrado Benitez – First Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of the Philippines, educator and author, one of the drafters of the 1935 Constitution.
- José Fabella – physician and public health advocate, Father of Public Health and Social Welfare in the Philippines.
- Ernesto Maceda – former councilor of Manila, former senator, Senate president, columnist and lawyer
- Mario Montenegro – actor
- Louie Ignacio – TV director
- Dan Fernandez – Actor, Mayor of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Board Member, 9th Vice Governor of Laguna and Member of the House of Representatives from Laguna's 1st District
- E.R. Ejercito – Actor, 17th Governor of Laguna and Mayor of Pagsanjan
- Maita Sanchez – Actress, Mayor and Vice Mayor of Pagsanjan[37]
- John Amores – basketball player[38]
