Pakil, Laguna

Pakil
Municipality
Seal
Nickname(s): Home of the Turumba Festival
Map of Laguna showing the location of Pakil
Pakil Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°23′N 121°29′E / 14.38°N 121.48°E / 14.38; 121.48Coordinates: 14°23′N 121°29′E / 14.38°N 121.48°E / 14.38; 121.48
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Laguna
District	4th district of Laguna
Founded	1676
Barangays	13
Government[1]
• Mayor	Vincent Soriano
Area [2]
• Total	46.50 km2 (17.95 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	20,659
• Density	440/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4017
IDD : area code	+63 (0)49
Income class	5th

Pakil is a fifth class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 20,659 people.^[3]

Its land area consists of two non-contiguous parts, separated by Laguna de Bay.

Barangays

Pakil is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. ^[2]

• Baño (Pob.)
• Banilan
• Burgos (Pob.)
• Casa Real
• Casinsin
• Dorado
• Gonzales (Pob.)
• Kabulusan
• Matikiw
• Rizal (Pob.)
• Saray
• Taft (Pob.)
• Tavera (Pob.)

History

The land from Punta Inuod to Guinabihan, Banilan is where the first settlers Gat Maitan and his wife Panumbalihan, and Gat Silayan Maginto and his wife Potongan first established themselves. After a series of raids by pirates and marauders, they moved to the present site of the Poblacion, leaving behind, Chief Maginoong Dalaga, who ruled the place. This accounts explain why Pakil has two territories on the eastern and western sides of the lake.Gat Maitan and Gat Silayan are one of the borne-leaders from the ancient town of Malolos which called by pre-colonial Chinese traders from Fujian as "Lihan" where Gats and Lacandolas abundantly resides along the shores of Manila Bay under the Kingdom of Tondo.Gat Silayan actually is one of the member of the ruling clan of Lihan whose names bearing prefix "gat" a royal title. Every members of the clan in Malolos called "Gat", and it became "Gatchalian",Gatmaitan,together with Lakandula and Gatbonton at the course of time^[4]

When the Spaniards Conquistadores together with the Augustinians stationed at Laguna came to the place in 1571, this colony was under the leadership of Gat Paquil a descendant of Gat Maitan whose name was used to name the settlement as "Paquil", which remained during the whole Spanish Regime and early part of the American period. It was changed to "Pakil" by Executive Order No. 77 in 1927.

When the Franciscan missionaries came in 1578 Order of Friars Minor (OFM) Pakil was attached to Paete in 1602 as its "visita". Padre Francisco Barajas, made efforts to separate this town from Paete, and Don Diego Jorge became the first Capitan Municipal or Gobernadorcillo on May 12, 1676 and finally Pakil was named as an independent town with the administration of "Capitan Municipal" at the helm of the local colonial government, the last of whom was Capitan Municipal Don Nicolas Regalado.

With the change of government from Spanish to American upon the total Occupation of the United States in the Philippines after the defeat of the Filipino Forces in Philippine -American War of 1898-1900, the Americans had to reorganize the pattern of the Civil Government in the country in 1901. It was Bernardo Gonzales was appointed the first Municipal President (Presidente Municipal) under American Period until November 25, 1903. Upon this reorganization,the Public Law No. 1009, of the Philippine Commission, the town of Pakil was merged with Pangil in order to reduced the number of existing towns whereas the weak towns to be merged with the stable one for the stabilization of local economy due to the damagees of the previous wars. After Nineteen years, On October 1, 1927, by virtue of Executive Order No. 77, Pakil was re-established into town thus the Municipality of Pakil was restored.

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied in Pakil, Laguna and in 1945, the liberated from the Philippine Commonwealth forces under the Philippine Army and Philippine Constabulary entering in Pakil, Laguna with the local recognized guerrillas against the Japanese forces during the Second World War.

In 1954, the sitios known as Casa Real, Casinsin and Kabulusan were converted into barrios.^[5][6][7] Durado followed suit in 1957.^[8]

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Pakil, Laguna, was 20,659 people,^[3] with a density of 440 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Cultural heritage

Music was formally initiated in the town of Pakil by San Pedro Bautista (1586) the Guardian of the Franciscan order. He established the only Music Academy in the country. The school started with 400 children from towns along the Laguna Bay. These students started as church choir members and were taught how to make musical instruments out of locally available materials like bamboo, cans, wood and coconut shells. These kids were called “Tiple” and they trained other younger children to become members of the church choir.

The entire population became involved in teaching their youth to sing and play instruments. This tradition was handed down from generation to generation. The Adonay family influenced the spread of musical interest and helped form the first brass band in Pakil.

The elderly Tacio Celis helped train children to read musical notes and play instruments. Since then, many young musicians finished college on scholarships by playing for their school bands.

Currently Pakil Music Program is helping out young students to continue the rich musical heritage of the town. Pakil Music Program (PMP) is providing music education through note reading and instrument performances by the help of some retired musicians. The current leader of the PMP is Roy Regalado.

St. Peter of Alcantara Parish

The St. Peter of Alcantara Parish, also the Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Turumba is Pakil's Roman Catholic Church and home to the Our Lady of Sorrows de Turumba.

• 
  Historical Marker of Pakil Church
• 
  Facade of Parochial Office
• 
  Original Painting of the Our Lady of Turumba
• 
  Retablo of the Turumba Chapel
• 
  Retablo-mayor
• 
  Facade
• 
  Pulpito
• 
  Minor retablo with crucified Christ

Our Lady of Turumba

Our Lady of Turumba

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba ("Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba") is the name for a specific statue of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows, enshrined in Pakil.

Liceo de Pakil

Originally built by the Maryknoll Fathers, it moved from leadership and school name. First, being the Maryknoll Fathers High School led by the Maryknoll Fathers. Later, the Maryknoll Fathers had to go to their mission in Davao, they left it under the leadership of the Maryknoll Sisters which changed the name into Maryknoll High School. Upon the termination of the mission of the Maryknoll Sisters in 1972, the Bishop Pedro N. Bantigue invited the Augustinian Recollect Sisters to administer the school. The name was changed again to Mary Immaculate Academy by the Augustinian Recollect Sisters. In 1982 the name was changed to Liceo De Pakil by the Diocese of San Pablo. The first batch to graduate under Liceo de Pakil was the batch of 1983 graduating class. In 1986, a new administration was born named the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese (MCST) led the school. Liceo De Pakil is currently led by the MCST and the Diocese of San Pablo.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pakil, Laguna.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System