Pagsanjan, (pronounced Pag-sang-han), 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.[3]
Situated about 92 kilometres (57 mi) southeast of Manila, 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.
The incumbent mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna is Girlie J. Ejercito, known as former actress Maita
Sanchez. She is also the wife of Emilio Ramon "Jorge Estregan, Jr." Ejercito, who served as mayor
from 2001–2010 and previous governor of Laguna.
For 170 years (1688–1858), Pagsanjan was the capital of the province of Laguna. During this long
period, the town prospered as the commercial, cultural and learning center of the province, and was
called the "Athens of Laguna".[4]

Pagsanjan is located in the riparian delta formed by the confluence of the Balanac and Bumbungan
rivers. Originally named Pinagsangahan, meaning "branching" or "juncture", the town was given
renamed Pagsanjan by early Spanish colonists, because they found it extremely difficult to
pronounce its polysyllabic name.

Pagsanjan has a land area of 26.4 square kilometres. It is located about 92 kilometres (57 mi)
southeast of Manila. 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.

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.

Pagsanjan residents[edit]
Like all people in the world, the Pagsanjeños are hospitable and friendly to all visitors, especially the
foreigners. They are warmhearted, fiesta-loving and witty. In time of peace, they are amiably
peaceful, civic-spirited, and cheerful; in time of war, however, they are brave, intensely patriotic, and
fight with fury. They are loyal and proud of their beloved town and ancestral heritage.
The people of Pagsanjan are also fortunate to have a resplendent cultural heritage. This culture is a
harmonious blending of the Asian, Hispanic, Mexican, and American civilization influences. It is
revealed in their rich folklore, customs and traditions, and colorful fiestas. During colonial times
Pagsanjan was a famous center of culture. Her people, according to Fray Felix de la Huerta,
Franciscan friar-chronicler, were "muy culto" (highly cultured). The Pagsanjeños then cherished
good education. They sent their children to the elementary school to learn the fours R's (reading,
writing, arithmetic, and religion). Children of the rich families studied in the homes of private
teachers. After acquiring the fundamentals of Spanish and Latin languages, they were sent to Manila
to obtain higher education at the Ateneo de Manila, College of San Juan de Letran, and in the
University of Santo Tomas. It is a fact that during the Spanish regime Pagsanjan among all towns in
Laguna had the highest percentage of illustrados (intellectuals).
This old tradition of acquiring a good education still exists among present-day Pagsanjeños. To
them, a college diploma is a status symbol. Today numerous Pagsanjeños study law, medicine,
education, nursing, engineering, and other college courses in the colleges and universities in Manila
and in foreign countries.
As a cultured people, The Pagsanjeños take pride in their fine homes with beautiful furniture, oil
paintings, pianos, and rugs; in their well-groomed lawns, and flower gardens; in their clean, beautiful
streets, and sidewalks; and in their attire and personal appearance. But because of the destruction
of their ancestral homes in Pagsanjan and the threat of the Huk movement in the towns and barrios
of Laguna province, many Pagsanjeño families evacuated their native town and moved permanently
to the Greater Manila area. This exodus of Pagsanjeño families mostly represented the elite of the
local population, including rich landlords and the talented intellectuals. A few prominent families
noted for their lineage and inherited wealth, however, remained in town and cooperated with the
common people in the rebuilding of their ruined town.
The rich Pagsanjeño families who left the town resided in Manila, Pasay, Makati, Caloocan City, and
San Juan, where they built their homes and reared their families. Some of them sold their ancestral
residential lots in Pagsanjan, for they had no intention of restoring their old homes in town. They
became absentee landlords, for they simply employed some persons called encargados to manage
their family rice farms and coconut plantations.

Notable Pagsanjeños[edit]

 Gregorio F. Zaide - famous historian and author, "Dean of Filipino Historiographers"

 Pedro Pelaez - educator, priest and is considered the "Father of Filipinization of the Church" and
"The Godfather of the Philippine Revolution"
 Leandro H. Fernandez - educator, author and historian
 Francisco Benitez - First Dean of UP College of Education, educator and author, husband
of Paz Marquez Benitez
 Vicente F. Fabella - educator, economist, civic leader and first Filipino certified public accountant
 Severino Taiño - Brigadier General, friend of Paciano Rizal
 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 - born in Tondo, Manila but considered himself as a true son of
Laguna because his ancestors originated in Pagsanjan
 Ernesto Maceda - former councilor of Manila, former senator, columnist and lawyer
 June Lazarte - a famous Filipino animal trainer who became famous for his dog named Saver
 Mario Montenegro - actor
 Abner Afuang - mediaman, former police officer and former mayor of Pagsanjan
 Louie Ignacio - TV director

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 Balanac and 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, Pila, and Santa Cruz.

On December 12, 1668, the then Governor, General Manuel Dela 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.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The Municipality of Pagsanjan is a town in the town fourth (4th) District of the Province of Laguna. It is
located 101 kilometers southeast of Manila, at the mouth of the great Lake Laguna de Bay where the rivers of
Balanac and Bumbungan meet and empty into the Bay. It is part of the Southern Tagalog Region
(CALABARZON). It is bounded on the North by the Municipality of Lumban; on the South by the
Municipality of Cavinti; on the East by the Grand Canyon (Pagsanjan Falls); and on the West by the
Municipalities of Magdalena and Santa Cruz. Pagsanjan has a total land area of 2,640 hectares (26.40 sq. km.)
classified into rural and urban which consists of sixteen (16) barangays.

Pagsanjan is the center and convergence area in the fourt (4th) District of Laguna with all major highways
strategically leading to the provinces of Rizal and Quezon; and is conveniently linked to about fifteen (15)
adjacent municipalities in Laguna, namely Sta. Cruz, Magdalena, Lumban Cavinti, Pila, Liliw, Kalayaan,
Luisiana, Victoria, Nagcarlan, Paete, Calauan, Majayjay, Pakil and Bay.
TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURE, CLIMATE & TERRAIN
Pagsanjan is the tourist capital of Laguna because of its main attractions – the exciting shooting the rapids
going towards the globally-famous Pagsanjan Falls. Pagsanjan experiences two (2) pronounced seasons dry
and wet. The dry season begins in March and ends June, the wet season last from July to October, the intruding
period from November to February are neither too dry or too wet.

Pagsanjan is situated on a plain land with slopes from 0 – 8% and above. The Poblacion area has a slope range
from 0 – 3% including the portion of Barangay Maulawin and Pinagsanjan.
Pagsanjan Falls is probably the most famous natural attraction in Laguna. However, it is actually
located in Cavinti, an adjacent town to Pagsanjan, and the falls' indigenous name is Magdapio
Falls. Pagsanjan, Laguna is the jump-off point to Pagsanjan Falls. You may rent a banca or
small boat to take you to the falls or "shoot the rapids." The standard rate is about PhP 1250-
1500 pesos per person which includes the round-trip boat ride, entrance fees, and use of life
vests. Be prepared to shell out extra for tips to boatmen; although there is a standard rate for
the boat ride, you are expected to give extra tip to the boatmen, about PhP 250 per person
(according to tourists who already went there).
Skilled and accredited boatmen will take you on a scenic boat ride at Magdapio River in order to
reach the main falls, the famous Pagsanjan Falls. They used to be wooden bancas, but
nowadays, the boats are made of fiberglass. On the way, you will be treated to the sight of other
minor falls (approximately 20 of them), lush vegetation, and natural rock formations. Some say
that monkeys occassionally appear and they throw branches or rocks to people, so you better
wear a helmet just in case. Once you reach the main falls, you can take a raft ride through the
falls and get a natural "back massage." You can also explore the Devil's Cave behind the falls,
famous for its reverberating echoes. For the raft ride, you have to pay an extra PhP 90 and tip
the boatmen. The highlight of this trip is the rapid descent downstream or what is known as
"shooting the rapids'". Be prepared for the thrill of a lifetime as the expert boatmen manuever
the boat skillfully through turbulent waters. It is interesting to know that a boatman is required to
undergo a rigid six-month training in order to acquire a license/accreditation for guiding tourists
on the ride to the falls.

Some tourists recommend visiting Pagsanjan Falls during the rainy season for a more exciting
experience - the rapids are more turbulent at this time. But a word of caution: some Korean,
Japanese, and local tourists were stranded between rock boulders when they went to
Pagsanjan Falls during the rainy season (August). Due to heavy rains, the water level in the
river rapidly rose and they were stranded for six hours. The tourists were rescued by local
policemen. Fortunately, none of them was seriously injured, sustaining only superficial wounds.
So if you plan to go to Pagsanjan Falls during the rainy season, make sure that the rains are
light.

Although I have lived in Laguna all my life, I have never been to Pagsanjan Falls. Blame that to
negative news in the 1990s about local boatmen robbing foreign tourists and even locals on the
way to the falls. However, at present, there has been much improvement in the tourism industry
in Pagsanjan; there are no more news about robberies and unscrupulous boatmen. There are
also local police officers devoted to the protection of tourists in Pagsanjan. But just the same, if
you plan on going to Pagsanjan Falls, pay extra attention and be careful. I might also consider
going to Pagsanjan Falls one of these days. Most probably, I will use an alternative route to
Pagsanjan Falls via Cavinti, Laguna (see section below for more details). See you there!

Reminders
To fully appreciate Pagsanjan Falls without the maddening crowd, do visit on a weekday. Also, it
is best to go there early in the morning to avoid other tourists and to have a more spectacular
view. In this regard, you may want to book an overnight stay in one of the resorts in the area so
you can have an early boat ride the next day. It is recommended that you make reservations
prior to your Pagsanjan trip. For safety reasons, in order to avoid unscrupulous boatmen, make
your bookings through reputable tourist agencies or resorts in Pagsanjan. The following are
some resorts offering boat trips to Pagsanjan Falls:
Nested at the foot of Mount Banahaw is the town of Cavinti in the province of Laguna,
home to at least five waterfalls including perhaps the most famous in the country
– Pagsanjan Falls or Magdapio Falls or Cavinti Falls.

Magdapio Falls (or Cavinti Falls or Pagsanjan if you are from Pagsanjan) is the third
and lowest level of the three-tier waterfalls along Cavinti River in Barangay Anglas and
Tibatib, Cavinti, Laguna.

The water drops from a height of 120 meters against a cave and into a deep natural
pool. The cave can be reached by riding a bamboo raft, rate is on tip basis. With its
grandeur, Magdapio Falls or Pagsanjan Falls as taught to us in school, is worthy of its
space in our textbooks.

It is popularly called as Pagsanjan Falls because the usual approach to this cascade is
by riding a boat and shooting the rapids upstream from the town of Pagsanjan. This
journey may be easy but costly at around P1,200 per person excluding tips. There is a
cheaper way of experiencing it however and that is by taking the foot trail from Pueblo
El Salvador in the town of Cavinti. The trail from Pueblo El Salvador is around 600
meters drop via steps and vertical rappelling that takes at least 20 minutes to complete.

Managed by the local government of Cavinti, Pueblo El Salvador charges only P270 per
person for entrance fee; use of harness, helmet and life vest; and guide fee. You have
an option to ride the boat going back for shooting the rapids experience for additional
P360 per person or take the same trail back to Pueblo El Salvador.

Not far from Magdapio Falls is a smaller offbeat waterfalls named Kipot, located
upstream from the river junction of Cavinti River.

Calle Arco Restaurant

Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo (Since 1933)

Hana Japanese

El Panchito's Fil-Mexicano Resto

661, Mabini

Balai Ilocos
ABRAM'S CUISINE

Emin & Milas Canteen

Titadels Fiesta Cuisine

Picos Restaurant

Pico's Resto Bar

Lolo Tuge Resort, Landing and Lodging

Da Pip Pagsanjan Music and Arts Bar

Terima Kasih Restaurant

Floresto Casanjeno Restaurant

Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo (Since 1933)

Binalot Sa Dahon Restaurant

La Vista Resort and restaurant

Hidden Garden Restaurant

Pagsanjan Riceland Resort and Restaurant