Laguna, officially known as the Province of Laguna (Filipino: Lalawigan ng Laguna; Spanish: Provincia de Laguna), is a provincein the Philippines, located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon.

•  Its capital is Santa Cruz and the province is situated southeast of Metro Manila, south of the province of Rizal, west of Quezon, north of Batangas and east of Cavite. Laguna hugs the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. As of the 2015 census, the province’s total population is 3,035,081. It is also currently the seventh richest province in the country.
• Laguna is notable as the birthplace of Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero. It is also famous for attractions like Pagsanjan Falls.
• Let’s talk about the tourist capital of Laguna.

 

“PAGSANJAN”

officially the Municipality of Pagsanjan, (Tagalog: Bayan ng Pagsanjan), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 42,164 people.

 

• Pagsanjan is the tourist capital of Laguna and the home of the Bangkero Festival. The bangkeros are tour guides, who steer the tourists’ boats. They are the boatmen who shoot the 14 rapids between rocks and boulders all the way to the Pagsanjan Falls (or Magdapio Falls), for which the town is well known but are actually located in the neighboring municipality of Cavinti. The Bangkero Festival is celebrated in the month of March.

• Pagsanjan was originally a barrio of Lumban. In 1668, eight Japanese and Chinese traders who were highly impressed by the strategic location of the barrio at the juncture of Balanacand Bumbungan rivers founded the town. They established a trading settlement and engaged in the betelnut 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, the then Governor, General Juan Manuel de la Peña Bonifaz, issued a gubernatorial decree elevating its status from barrio to a town. In 1688, Pagsanjan replaced Bay as the capital of the province. It remained such until 1858, during which it bloomed as the cultural and commercial center of the province.

Things to Do in Pagsanjan‎

The town of Pagsanjan in the province of Laguna is dubbed as the Tourist Capital of the province. Its main attraction is Pagsanjan Falls, one of the most well-known waterfalls in the country. According to history books, the beauty of Pagsanjan Falls was already being appreciated as far back as the Spanish period. The town itself is also a town with a rich history and heritage, being almost 350 years old. There is more to Pagsanjan than just the falls and our top 9 things to do in Pagsanjan will show you what else you can discover about the town.

• Shoot the rapids to Pagsanjan Falls

Pagsanjan Falls is one of the most popular attractions when thinking about Laguna. Some people thought that this waterfalls is the highest in the country because of its popularity. However, in reality, there are six other waterfalls higher than Pagsanjan.

Pagsanjan Falls is known locally as Magdapio Falls and it is probably among the most visited day trip destinations in the Philippines. Although most people know it as “Pagsanjan,” it is actually located in Cavinti, which is an adjacent town next to Pagsanjan. The officials of Cavinti Municipal tried changing its name to “Cavinti Falls” in 2009. However, their proposal was rejected by the province’s local government.

There are plenty of activities that you can do around the area.You can book for a day-trip package from reputable tourist agencies to avoid haggling with boatmen and also to relieve yourself from stress.

Here are some of the remarkable activities that you can do in Pagsanjan:

• Gastronomic Adventure

Filipinos are known for their love of food and eating. Of course, you cannot deny yourself with some of the best delicacies in the province. Make sure to experience eating every food in the place. Explore every nook of the area to be able to get yourself a treat. Some people prefer taking food with them to save time. You can actually take out food from Binalot sa Dahon—a restaurant that serves native delicacies that are packed in banana leaves.

Go Boat Riding

Boat riding is definitely one of the best activities that you can do while in the town. There are a number of skilled and accredited boatmen in town. If you booked through a tourist agent, you would probably be offered with boat ride packages featuring the scenery at Magdapio River before reaching Pagsanjan Falls. You will see a lot of trees, local wildlife and natural rock formations during the ride.

• Brave the falls and enter Devil’s Cave

You can also have a side trip to Devil’s Cave. This is a cave just behind the Pagsanjan Falls. You can ride a bamboo raft while touring inside the cave. There is not so much to do once inside the cave because it’s quite dark, but you are allowed to take a rest, swim, and eat snacks while inside.

Once you reach the third drop of the falls and the pool at the foot of the falls, you need to ask yourself if you are brave enough to enter Devil’s Cave. It is actually the cave behind the falls and you can reach this by riding a bamboo raft that is pulled by the boatmen. You will feel the pressure of tons of water raining down on your head and back as you go through it. Some liken it to having a back massage. The cave itself is dark but you can try out how the cavern echoes any sound it picks up.

• Explore Pagsanjan’s heritage: Arco Real and the Municipal Hall

Pagsanjan’s rich history can be seen in some of the town’s architecture. The Arco Real for example, is the historic town gate which was built in 1878 and completed in 1880. It is an expression of thanks from the people of the town to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who according to local lore marked the exact spot with her sword to ward off a group of bandits. To this day, the gate stands on Rizal Street, one of the town’s main roads. The Royal coat of arms of Spain with two Castilian lions are found on top of the arch, as it was originally designed.

Another place of historic interest is the Municipal Hall Building also on Rizal Street. Currently it houses the seat of government in the locality, but this building has a lot of history. It was built in the 1850s and first housed the Tribunal Court established by the Spaniards. After which it housed the first public elementary school, and also the first public high school. During the Philippine revolution, it became headquarters of revolutionary forces. The building bears a historical marker marking it as an important historic site.

•  Explore Pagsanjan’s Heritage: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

The church is the only Roman Catholic Church in the town of Pagsanjan. Like many churches established by the Spanish colonizers, Our Lady of Guadalupe is more than three centuries old. It was designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2012, and it holds two sacred images of the patroness, whose main basilica is found in Mexico City, where images of the Blessed Virgin were recorded. The church’s facade is of early Renaissance style and it features a three-story high bell tower. A small chapel on the side also features a mini-museum of church relics.

• Try local food: dine at Calle Arco

Calle Arco is one of the recommended food spots in town, as mentioned in many food

blogs and other reviews. The restaurant is housed in an old Spanish-style house that was previously owned by the Jardin family. It was converted into the Calle Arco Hotel and Restaurant. A descendant of the Jardin family is one of the owners. Aside from the restaurant on the first floor, there is also a cafe and two rooms for guests. Because the owners did not change the interiors of the old house that much, diners still feel as if they are enjoying a meal in an ancestral house. The restaurant serves Filipino dishes family style. Their best seller is the Sinigang na Baka (Beef in Sour Broth), Garlic Chicken and Crispy Pata (Deep Fried Pork Knuckles). It’s a popular place so it is recommended you go early or make a reservation.

Around Pagsanjan:  Pueblo El Salvador Nature Park

If you are on a budget and you want to go to the falls without the boat ride, it can be done through the Pueblo El Salvador Nature Park in the nearby town of Cavinti, Laguna. The park was established in 2007, in the village of Tibatib, Cavinti. Through this route, visitors will approach the falls from above, through trekking and rappelling via metal ladders. The only boat ride you will need to do is when you reach the falls and ride the raft to Devil’s Cave. There are two sections for rappelling, with treks in between and it usually takes between 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the falls. Take note that you will have to exit the same way as you came in, so it means climbing and rappelling back up to the park.

 Around Pagsanjan: Bumbungan Eco Park

Bumbungan Eco Park is located in the same village as Pueblo El Salvador. Under the auspices of the Cavinti Tourism Office, this small park features an interesting man-made falls on Bumbungan River. The park is found near the area where the river was dammed and a spillway was created. The spillway became a wet bridge along the Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Road, but when another bridge was constructed, the area near the spillway was converted to an eco-park with picnic huts and bathroom facilities. Visitors can wade or bath at the overflow area.

Around Pagsanjan: Kalakal-Pandan Sambalilo Weaving Center

If shopping for local products is your thing, this is the place for you. The weaving center can be found in Cavinti, Laguna, under a covered basketball court right before you reach the town center. Operated by a local cooperative, it has women weavers who make pandan leaves into summer hats, bags and mats. If you want to catch some of the weavers in action, it is best that you arrange it with the Cavinti Tourism Office. You will catch a glimpse of the pandan leaves as they are processed from raw materials to the final product. You may also buy finished products at the center.

Around Pagsanjan: Japanese Garden near Caliraya Lake

The Japanese Garden is so named because it is a memorial park built by the Japanese government in the 1970s in memory of the Japanese soldiers who died during World War 2. There is a memorial shrine in the park where Japanese usually make offerings and prayers for the soldiers. The garden reportedly occupies 11 hectares (27.2 acres) of land located next to Caliraya Lake in the town of Cavinti. For less than 1 USD, you can spend the day strolling around the park, having a picnic in one of the many picnic huts and go up a flight of stairs to see a magnificent view of Caliraya Lake.

Come to Pagsanjan for different kinds of adventures

Pagsanjan is only a few hours drive from Manila, so a day trip is quite possible for you to try out old and new things to do in town. In Pagsanjan, adventure also begins when you open your mind to discover local culture and history.

How to get to Pagsanjan Laguna

The province of Laguna is about two hours south of Manila via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). To get to the town of Pagsanjan, take the Calamba exit and turn right at the Calamba junction. Pagsanjan comes after the town of Sta. Cruz.