MUNICIPALITY OF PAKIL, LAGUNA, Historical Data of

About these Historical Data

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Report No. 44

1. Present official name – – – – – – Pakil

2. Former name Pakil derived from Pakilo–kilo river, (meaning crooked).

3. The first founder were the families of Gatmaitan and Panombalihan. Their eldest child was Gatsalian Maginto, husband of Catalina Putuñgan, sister of Rajah Soliman who had been the ruler of Manila.

4. The first ruler of the town was Capitan Diego Jorge in 1676–1677; Capitan Estanislao Macabasco and Cipriano Isoreng fixed the boundaries and built roads. Due to their energetic administration they were granted a medal of civil merit by the “Kgg.” Kapitan Heneral”. The last Kapitan who led in the revolution was Kapitan Nicolas Regalado who is still living. His successor was Lorenzo Macapanpan (1900–1901).

5. In 1901, in the reorganization of municipalities, Pakil was annexed to Pangil, a near–by town in the north. However, from 1901 to 1927, Pakil was lucky enough to have four presidents.

6. In 1927, Pakil was made an independent municipality through the Executive Order of then Governor General Eugene Gilmore.

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The first president elected was Mr. Belacio Galleros who worked hard for the construction of the Municipal Building. Unluckily he was not able to prolong his administration for he died after one year of his incumbency. The Vice President, Mr. Emiterio Ramos continued all the unfinished projects left by the late Galleros. The next president elected was Mr. Ciriaco Gonzales under the Commonwealth Government and so he became the first Municipal Mayor. Under his administration he was able to improve the Doña Aurora Swimming Pool. He was able to organize the barrio of Dorado. His successor was Mayor Gregorio Valera. He had done much improvements in the town. In 1940 Mr. Roman Maulawin was reelected Mayor but due to the tremendous days of World War II he was not able to accomplish much in the material construction of the town. In spite of all the hardships, the Mayor was able to maintain peace and order. The town became an evacuation zone for people from the city and other places. The people continued planting food crops. Our place was quite lucky enough not to suffer so much as our nearby towns were turned to ashes. The surviving people are grateful to the blessed Virgin and to the diplomatic administrators who had done much for keeping the town safe and sound.

7. As the town was not totally damaged there was not much to rehabilitate in our community. In spite of this, the civic spirited organizations tried to beautify our church and town plaza.

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Report No. 44

A short history of the town of Pakil, Laguna was taken from an old chronicle, with some information from the living folks of this place.

Long time ago, the first family of Gat Maitan and Panumbolihan had made a settlement at Inood, Matikiw, as far as Ginabihan Caya (Banilan). They had six children. The oldest was Gat Salian Maguinto who was married to Catalina Putuñgan, a sister of Rajah Soliman, the King of Maynila.

The young couple sought a new home. They crossed Laguna de Bay and soon settled near the bank of the Pakil River. The family grew big until a village was formed under the leadership of Gat Kalianga. The village became prosperous and soon a small town was founded. The place was named Pakil, which originated from the “pakilo–pakilo” river. The town was often destroyed by floods, so the people decided to move to the very spot where the poblacion is now located. The little town was annexed to Paete, a near–by town in the south.

Because of the rapid progress and the increasing number of population of the town, the old folks deemed it wise to be separated from Paete, and built a church of their own. In 1676, the separation of Pakil from Paete was effected. The Pakileños started in building a church under the management of Rev. Fr.

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Francisco Barajas, the first parochial priest. The Paeteños mocked the Pakileños. They made a vow that, if the Pakileños could build a church, they would fetch water with the use of a “salakab” a fish trap. But the Pakileños by their painstaking effort were able to build a good church. Because of the impossibility to fetch water by means of “salakab” the Paeteños go to Pakil every Friday to hear the mass in order to fulfill their vows. From that time on, many Paeteños go to Pakil every Friday to hear mass.

In 1901, in the reorganization of municipalities, Pakil was annexed to Pangil, a near–by town in the north. However, from 1901 to 1927, Pakil was lucky enough to have four presidents. In 1927, Pakil was made an independent municipality through the Executive Order of then Governor General Eugene Gilmore.

At present, the municipality of Pakil has a population of 3,085. Most of the people are farmers. The important products are rice, coconuts, fruits, and fish. One of the sources of income is the collection from the swimming pool. Thousands of people from the neighboring provinces visit the place during the “lupe” season in the months of April and May.