Majayjay

Majayjay Mayhay Mayhay
Municipality
Municipality of Majayjay
Clockwise from the top: Taytay Falls, Saint Gregory the Great Parish Church, Town Proper, Ancestral House, Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Portería (Ermita).
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Mahayhay, Majay, Mayhay
Map of Laguna with Majayjay highlighted
14°08′47″N 121°28′22″E / 14.1463°N 121.4729°E / 14.1463; 121.4729
Country	Philippines
Region	Calabarzon
Province	Laguna
District	4th district
Founded	October 2, 1571
Barangays	40 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Romeo P. Amorado
• Vice Mayor	Juan Ariel A. Argañosa Jr.
• Representative	Maria Jamina Katherine B. Agarao
• Municipal Council	Members Gabriel A. Mentilla Celestino Norman O. Sotto Eulogio Wilson P. Amorado Felix U. Arnuco Juancho M. Andaya Anastacio U. Hernandez Maria Fe B. Cabonce Pia M. Ceria
• Electorate	20,280 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	69.58 km2 (26.86 sq mi)
Elevation	500 m (1,600 ft)
Highest elevation	2,173 m (7,129 ft)
Lowest elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	27,893
• Density	400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
• Households	7,026
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	3.12 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 118.3 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 218.1 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 96.3 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 54.54 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4005, 4006 (Botocan)
PSGC	043416000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)49
Native languages	Tagalog

Majayjay (Tagalog: [mɐhaɪ̯ˈhaɪ̯]), officially designated as the Municipality of Majayjay (Tagalog: Bayan ng Majayjay), is a 4th-class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 27,893 residents.^[3]

Geographically, Majayjay is situated at the base of Mount Banahaw; approximately 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level. It lies 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Manila and Manila, shares borders with Magdalena on the north-west, Lucban in Quezon province to the southeast, by Luisiana to the north-east, and Liliw to the west.

Etymology

The original name of Majayjay was Malay Barangay, but many residents assume that Spaniards found it difficult to pronounce, which may have led to early colonizers shortening it to Malay-ay until it became Majayjay.^{[citation needed]} Legends, however, say that it was the difficult journey to Majayjay which gave the town its name; tired travelers supposedly sighed, “Hay!” after scaling a cliff, “Hay!” after ascending a hill, and “Hay!” after crossing a raging river.^[5] Thus, guests referred to the place as “Mahayhay,” meaning many sighs, and the Spaniards then spelled this “Majayjay.”

History

In 1571, The Spanish colonial government made Majayjay into a town,^[6] which at the time was one of the most populated settlements in the newly founded province. It competed with Bay and Pagsanjan during the selection of the province's capital.

The popularity of the new town grew during the Spanish period, in part due to its location at the foot of the mountain, which gave it an abundant supply of fresh mountain spring water. Four rivers flowed through the town: Initian, Oobi, Olla, and Balanac (from the falls of Botocan) where all the rivers meet.^{[citation needed]}

Botocan Falls and the town's scenery were uniquely famous, which led to many Europeans and wealthy natives from Manila frequently visiting the town. However, the road to Malay Barangay was considered to be tough.^{[citation needed]} Guests have to be ferried from Manila through the Pasig River to Laguna de Bay. Land travel is done by mounting on horses through a path in the forest and then being be borne by natives in hammocks on the way up to Malay Barangay.^{[citation needed]}

Immediately after the conversion of the natives of Malay Barangay, a makeshift church was built near the May-it River,^{[citation needed]} but it was destroyed by a fire in 1578.^{[citation needed]} Believers built a new church made of bamboo and cogon thatch; however, another fire destroyed it again. A stone church was then built, which was also burned down.^{[citation needed]} In spite of the repeated incidents of fire, the image of their patron saint, San Gregorio Papa Magno survived.^{[citation needed]}

Through the efforts of Padre José de Puertollano, contributions enforced by parishioners, and forced labor of natives, a new church was built in 1730^{[citation needed]}, its construction taking nineteen years.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Majayjay is a geographically landlocked area situated in the southernmost part of the province of Laguna. It nestles at the foot of Mt. Banahaw, and due to its higher altitude at some 2,700+ ft above sea level, the town makes for a popular vacation destination during summer in the Philippines. It was once branded as the 'Summer Capital of the Philippines' 300–400 years ago during the Spanish era, when most of the prominent names in the Spanish colonial Philippines visited the area. Other sights along the streets include the remnants of the said era of Spanish-inspired houses that still stand at periodic key locations, mostly in the town square. Affluent families still have their ancestral houses maintained.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

Majayjay is classified as Am in the Köppen–Geiger climate classification, which refers to a tropical monsoon climate. There is significant rainfall in most months of the year, with the annual rainfall averaging 2,571 mm, and the precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month differing by 332 mm. The short dry season has little effect on the overall climate. The temperature here averages 25.8 °C, and during the year, the average temperatures vary by 3.2 °C. The warmest month of the year is May, with an average temperature of 27.4 °C. January has the lowest average temperature of the year, which is 24.2 °C.

Barangays

Majayjay is politically subdivided into 40 barangays,^[8] which is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines. Each barangay consists of puroks, or unofficial divisions within a barangay, and some barangays also have sitios, which are also another unofficial division in a barangay.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Majayjay was 27,893 people,^[3] with a density of 400 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,000 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy