LAGUNA

HISTORY OF LAGUNA

Laguna is a province of the Philippines located in the CALABARZON region in Luzon. Its capital is
Santa Cruz and it is found south-east of Metro Manila, southern province of Rizal, west of
Quezon, north of Batangas and east of Cavite. Laguna de bay, which is the largest lake in the
Philippines, is almost surrounded by the whole province of Laguna. The province got its name
from the Spanish word "lago", which means lake. Laguna is known as the birthplace of Jose
Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. Also known to tourists are the Pagsanjan Falls, Park
Town of Pila, Laguna, The Woodcarvings of men in Paete and Pakil, The Hot Springs of Los
Baños on the slopes of Mt. Makiling and the Hidden Valley Springs in Calauan.

History The Province of Laguna was named after Laguna de Bay, the body of water that forms
its northern boundary. Laguna de Bay, in turn, was named after the town of Bay (Laguna de Bay
is Spanish which means "Lake of Bay"), the first provincial capital. Captain Juan de Salcedo with
a band of one hundred Spanish-Mexican soldiers and many Bisayan allies conquered the
province and its surrounding regions for Spain in 1571. Seven years later, two Franciscan friars
started the work of Christianization.

In 1577, the Franciscan missionaries arrived in Manila, and in 1578 they started evangelizing
Laguna, Morong (now Rizal), Tayabas (now Quezon) and the Bicol Peninsula. Fathers Juan de
Placencia and Diego de Orepesa were the earliest Franciscans sent to these places. From 1580,
the towns of Bay, Caliraya, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Pangil and
Siniloan were founded. In 1678, Fray Hernando Cabrera founded San Pablo de los Montes (now
San Pablo City) and built a wooden church and convent considered as the best and finest in the
province.

In 1670, delimitation of borders were made between Lucban, Majayjay and Cavite. The
populous town at that time was Bay, the capital of the province until 1688, when the seat of
the provincial government was moved to Pagsanjan, and later, in 1858, to Santa Cruz. In 1754,
the Province of Laguna and Tayabas were divided, with the Malinao River separating the towns
of Majayjay and Lucban.

The province became a bloody battle ground for the Chinese during the two instances that
they rose in revolt against Spain. In 1603's, the Chinese made their last stand in the mountains
of San Pablo, and in 1639, they fortified themselves in the highlands of Cavinti and Lumban,
surrendering in Pagsanjan a year later.

The loyalty of the people of Laguna to the crown was tested during the British invasion (1762-
1764) when thousands of Filipinos rallied to its defense. When a detachment of British troops
under Captain Thomas Backhouse entered the province in search of the silver cargo of the
galleon Filipino, Francisco de San Juan of Pagsanjan led a band of volunteers that fought them
in several engagements in and around the town which was then the provincial capital (1688-
1858). Captain Backhouse plundered the town and burned its newly reconstructed church but
San Juan succeeded in escaping with the precious hoard to Pampanga where the treasure
greatly bolstered the defense effort of Simon Anda. For his heroism, San Juan was made a
brigade commander and alcalde mayor of Tayabas (now Quezon) province.
 The people's loyalty gradually degenerated into bitter hostility. Grave abuses by the
colonizers, including that of the clergy, caused the resentment of the natives to be fanned into
a rising flood of insurrection. In 1840 for instance, religious intolerance led the people of
Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Bay, and Biñan to join the revolt of Hermano Pule (Apolinario de la Cruz)
of Lucban, Tayabas.

Laguna was also exposed to the aspirations of its most famous son, Dr. Jose Rizal, who was
born in Calamba. The persecution of Dr. Jose Rizal and his parents toward the end of the
century further aggravated the situation, so that by 1896, thousands of patriotic inhabitants,
especially of Bay, Los Baños, Nagcarlan, Magdalena, Santa Cruz, and Pagsanjan had joined the
revolutionary Katipunan.

Laguna was one of the eight provinces to rise in revolt against the Spanish misrule led by
Generals Paciano Rizal of Calamba, Severino Taino of Pagsanjan, Agueda Kahabagan (woman
general) of Calauan, and Miguel Malvar of Batangas. The ill-equipped Filipino forces fought the
well-armed enemy until on August 31, 1898, when the last Spanish garrison surrendered to the
victorious patriots in Santa Cruz. The province was cleared of Spaniards. There had been only
one respite, the Pact of Biac-na-Bato on December 14 to 15, 1897.

Laguna actively supported the first Philippine Republic proclaimed at Malolos on January 23,
1899. Her two delegates to the Malolos Congress, Don Higino Benitez and Don Graciano
Cordero, were natives of Pagsanjan.

Upon the outbreak of the Filipino-American War (1899-1901), General Juan Cailles and
General Paciano Rizal led the defense of Laguna until June 30, 1901, when surrender became
inevitable. Cailles became the first Filipino Governor of Laguna under the American flag.

The Province of Laguna progressed rapidly in peace. Roads were built, schools were
established, and in 1917, the Manila Railroad Company extended its line to Laguna as far as
Pagsanjan.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942-1945), Laguna was a center of
Filipino resistance despite the presence of Makapili collaborators. Beginning in 1945, attacks by
the Filipino soldiers and Filipino guerillas against Japanese forces in Laguna increased in
anticipation of the Liberation of the Philippines by the Filipino & American forces.

Present-day Laguna shows a thriving economy. Peopled by 1,734,618 (1997 estimated

population) industrious citizens and possessing a total area of 1760 km² of land, Laguna
produces millions of pesos worth of coconuts, rice, sugar, citrus fruits, lanzones and other
products. Tourists flock to its beauty spots, especially Pagsanjan Falls, Los Baños Hot Springs,
Makiling National Park, Caliraya Lake and many others. Levels of development vary. The towns
near Metro Manila have become industrialized whereas the inner towns continue to engage in
agricultural production or pursue agri-based industries and cottage and small-scale industries.

Laguna was one of the first sites of the Philippine Revolution. Calamba City is the birthplace of
José Rizal, the country's national hero.
There are a lot of other homegrown arts and handicrafts unique to Laguna’s towns and
municipalities that we Filipinos should support and be proud of. Here are some of them:

1. Wood Whittling and Shaving, Pakil

Whittling
Whittling is the art of carving shapes typically out of raw wood or bone with a knife.
Whittling is typically performed with a light, small-bladed knife, usually a pocket knife.
Specialized whittling knives are available as well. They have thick handles which are
easier to grip for long periods allowing precise control and pressure. Occasionally the
terms "whittling" and "carving" are used interchangeably, but they are different arts.
Carving employs the use of chisels, gouges, and a mallet, while whittling involves only
the use of a knife. These days whittling is mainly a hobby and not as living as it used to
be before carving machines were invented.

The Municipality of Pakil, Laguna is proud of their delicate version of woodcarving. Kayas, or
the art of wood shaving and whittling, is meticulously done using three types of wood that are
known for its soft pliable texture and can only be found in Laguna. The folk artisans of Pakil
carve out interesting shapes with fine details, including angels, swans, and fans. To keep this
traditional art alive, they also encourage apprentices.

2. Wood Carving, Paete

Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a
chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a
wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object.
The "Carving Capital of the Philippines" - Paete is in Laguna. 70% of the town's livelihood comes
from their handicraft industry.

The art of woodcarving is an inherent skill of the locals even back in the Spanish era, so one is
assured of its quality. Another sculptor in Paete uses different materials to produce detailed
sculptures that are great home displays. Sculptor Glenn Cagandahan demonstrated how he
keeps his human sculptures look realistic yet raw by using his bare hands in adding details to
the hair and body Glenn's works were also found in Megamall, a testament of how distinct this
Paete native's works are that you'll easily recognize them.

3.Barong Tagalog Embroidery, Lumban

Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply
thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads,
quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on caps, hats, coats,
overlays, blankets, dress shirts, denim, dresses, stockings, and golf shirts. Embroidery is
available in a wide variety of thread or yarn colour.

Another intricate craft in Laguna is pagbuburda, or their embroideries. From the Traditional
Barong Tagalog, to saya, kimonos, gowns, and other tapestries, they create intricate patterns
on delicate fabrics by hand or machine to create wearable art pieces. Lumbeños are proud of
their craftsmanship, even celebrating “Burdang Lumban Festival” to showcase their best
embroidered pieces through a trade fair.

5. Water Hyacinth Products, Pila

Weaved bags and textiles are well-known products of our country, including the water hyacinth
crafts of RolyoLikha and Sarilikha of Pila, Laguna. Water hyacinth is a type of weed abundant in
this municipality, put into good use by the creative people of Pila. With the durable yet flexible
and easy to clean features of water hyacinth fiber, they created home and fashion products
that are highly sellable to local and international market. Some of these products are handbags,
chairs, baskets, mats, mirror frames, home decors, etc.

6. Footwear Making, Liliw

Making slippers is one of the town's most famous traditions and the slipper-making business of
Liliw contributes greatly to its economy. Its other cottage industries such as uraro biscuits and
lambanog distillery contribute as well. Be amazed at the products done by skilled shoemakers
and be a proud owner of the quality shoes and slippers that they produce. If you are a footwear
lover, this place is definitely one for you because you get shoes that are made of high quality
and yet are sold at a low price. Perhaps one pair of shoes or slippers that you buy in commercial
stores in Manila is already equivalent to more than three pairs of shoes in Liliw.

Slippers shop in Liliw | Photo from Iane Mance

Slippers and shoes here come in great variety and are made from different materials such as
genuine leather, synthetic, and some native raw materials. You may even be surprised because
the designs and styles of the shoes here are certainly the recent models because the
shoemakers really make an effort to know about the latest trends in order to keep up with the
competition in the market.

Being in the footwear business for about 50 years already, Liliw holds the Gat Tayaw Festival
during the month of April each year to feature and celebrate the town’s ingenuity and superior
craftsmanship. During this festivity, parades of large and colorful floats are witnessed by the
locals and their guests. Native foods are also available at this time as well as music, art, and
games.

Prepare materials for the following crafts:

How to sew simple Canvas Tote Bag with embroidery

How to make bedroom slippers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swPrYNu1kGM

http://www.anagonzales.com/2022/07/love-laguna-travel-destination-for.html

http://www.biyahenglaguna.com/adventures/pasalubong-adventure/woodcarvings-crafts/

http://lagunaphilippines.weebly.com/history.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embroidery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcHGe9Ddh00