Pagsanjan, Laguna Etymology
- Feb 15
- 4 min read
Pagsanjan is located in the riparian delta, formed by the confluence of the Balanac and Bumbungan rivers. Originally called Pinágsangahán ("branching" or "juncture"), early Spanish colonists shortened it to "Pagsanjan" because they found the name very difficult to pronounce.
Special credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagsanjan_Arch
Church in town: 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 (𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐧)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church, designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, of the Diocese of San Pablo, is the only Roman Catholic church in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines. It is the oldest church in the country under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose image was a gift from Mexico.
A former visitor of Lumban, the parish church of Pagsanjan was founded on November 12, 1687, by Franciscan missionary Father Agustin de la Magdalena as its first pastor (parish priest). The first church was originally made of light materials like bamboo, nipa, and wood in 1688 by natives of Pagsanjan under forced labor. A larger and more solid church constructed from adobe with a red-tiled roof was built in 1690 with the help of Chinese Miguel Guan Co and chief alguacil alferez Alonzo Garcia to replace the original church.
Further renovations were conducted from 1847 to 1852 under Father Joaquin de Coria, who engineered the stone belfry and Romanesque dome. In 1872, the church added a transept under the direction of Father Serafin Linares and Father Cipriano Bac.
The church was heavily damaged by American and Filipino military bombers on March 15, 1945, during World War II. A replica of the church was constructed over its ruins, without the original dome, with the help of Manila Pagsanjan's under the leadership of Engr. German Yia and Dr. Rosendo Llamas. Serious restoration efforts after the war took place in 1965 under Lipa Archbishop Alejandro Olalia. On April 6, 1969, Bishop Pedro Bantigue blessed the rebuilt church and consecrated the main altar. Due to the devotion of the people of Pagsanjan and nearby towns, the Diocese of San Pablo declared Pagsanjan Church the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2012. Under Monsignor Castillo's tenure from 2013 to the present, further renovations were carried out, including the church patio and the construction of the choir loft and the church gate.
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
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 so until 1858, when it bloomed as the cultural and commercial center of the province.
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐧:
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church
- Pagsanjan Falls
- Amesha Garden Villa
- Pagsanjan Falls Lodge & Summer Resort
- Pagsanjan River Cruise
- La Casa Remedios Restaurant
- Elsa Beach
- Balai Angelica Nature Farm and Resort
𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐧:
- Gregorio F. Zaide (was a Filipino historian, author, and politician from the town of Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines. A multi-awarded author, Zaide wrote 67 books and more than 500 articles about history, and is known as the "Dean of Filipino Historiographers." He was one of the founders of the International Association of Historians of Asia (IAHA), and president of the Philippine Historical Association for three terms.)
- Francisco Benitez (Benitez was editor of the magazine. In 1929, he was awarded a "University Medal" from Columbia University for his introduced improvements in the education of the UP. In 1935 was Benitez one of the members of the Education Commission established by president Manuel L. Quezon that the education system in the Philippines had to take a closer look. After the Second World War, he was appointed by President Sergio Osmeña to the Ministry of Education. At the end of his period as a Minister, in May 1946, he was Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy.)
-Pedro Pelaez (educator, priest, and is considered the “Father of Filipinization of the Church” and “The Godfather of the Philippine Revolution”)
-Severino Taiño (Brigadier General, friend of Paciano Rizal)
𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐧:
- Leandro H. Fernandez (educator, author, and historian)
- Vicente F. Fabella (educator, economist, civic leader, and first
Filipino certified public accountant)
- Virginia Llamas (Queen of Manila Carnival in 1922 and wife of Carlos P. Romulo)
- Emilio Ramon “Jorge Estregan, Jr (” Ejercito a.k.a. ER Ejercito – actor and former governor of Laguna, famous for the movie Asiong Salonga and El Presidente)
- Girlie “Maita” Javier Sanchez Ejercito (former actress, current mayor of Pagsanjan, and wife of former Laguna Governor Jorge E.R. Ejercito III)
- Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada ( originally born in Tondo, Manila, but considered himself a true son of Laguna because his ancestors originated in Pagsanjan.)
- June Lazarte (a famous Filipino animal trainer who became famous for his dog named Saver)
- Ernesto Maceda (former councilor of Manila, former senator, columnist, and lawyer)
- Mario Montenegro (Pinoy actor)
- Abner Afuang (mediaman, former police officer, and former mayor of Pagsanjan)
- Louie Ignacio (TV director)
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