PAGSANJAN RELIVES ITS RIVER HERITAGE
LAGUNA’S PAGSANJAN FALLS IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST iconic spots and among the most memorable travel images when the tourism industry was still in its infancy. “Shooting the rapids” on the way to and from the fabled waterfall, also known as Magdapio Fa
This adrenaline-pumping activity, which has appeared in countless posters and postcards, remains on top of the bucket list of visitors.
To relive its old glory, the town of Pagsanjan celebrated the Lagaslas Bangkero Festival this month as part of its 349th municipal founding day and patronal feast of the Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Themed “Romantikong Lagaslas, Kaligayahang Wagas,” the festivity was a tribute to the bangkeros or boatmen who skillfully navigate and shoot the rapids all the way to the picture-perfect falls.
According to Pagsanjan mayor Maita Javier-Ejercito, the festival showcases the town’s road to progress over the years due to its tourism promotional efforts and good governance programs.
She said that the town was declared by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as the “Tourist Capital of Laguna” more than a decade ago because of the volume of visitors who do the Pagsanjan rapids tours.
The 16th edition of the award-winning fest kicked off with a sagwan (paddle) and river control painting contest, tricycle float competition and trade fair.
The highlight of festivities was the regatta and fluvial parade with brightly-decorated floats.
Spicing up the weeklong celebration were the Lutong Pagsanjan cooking contest, entertainment shows, SMB Bandigmaan, native games, photo contest, Ginoong Bangkero pageant for boatmen and the Lakan at Binibining Pagsanjan, drum and lyre tilt, and a host of fringe events.
Ejercito said that in between the events, guests can visit the town’s heritage spots such as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe whose first church was founded in 1687. In its Chapel of the Tilma is enshrined the stone where the Virgin Mary is believed to have made an apparition in Mexico.
Another postcard image is the Arco Real or Spanishera Royal Arch, built in 1878 to mark the town’s declaration as the provincial capital of Laguna. It is also believed to be the site where the Lady of Guadalupe appeared and protected the townsfolk from pirates in the late 1800s. The town takes pride in its well-preserved ancestral stone houses, most notable of which is the 1910 mansion of Don Telesforo Ejercito which has survived the ravages of time.
Pagsanjan is an emerging culinary tourism destination with its cozy home-grown themed restaurants which draw foodies from various parts of Laguna and even from Metro Manila.