Pagsanjan Falls

Known for its majestic cascading waterfalls, Pagsanjan is considered as the tourism center of Laguna. In its continuous effort to further promote Pagsanjan to the rest of the country and of the world, the town recently concluded its grandest and exhilarating celebration of annual Bangkero festival held at the town's main tourist attraction.

The five-day festival three weeks ago was all wet, oozing, wild and worth it with all the impressive line-up of events on water and land, which included the traditional boat race, colorful fluvial parade, and best float competition. The festival also boomed the streets of Pagsanjan with some thunderous street dancing, drum and lyre competition, choral fest, cultural night, trade fairs, and sports events (palarong bangkero). This year, the organizers of the festival added some delightful attractions to its tourists with its first ever search for Lakan at Binibining Pagsanjan featuring the town's loveliest women and good looking men.

This year's event was in its true grandiosity since the first Bangkero festival in May 1999. Through the concerted efforts of local officials of Pagsanjan and the initiative of then mayor Abner Afuang, the first-ever Pagsanjan River Festival was conceptualized to feature the best of Pagsanjan and its boatmen (bangkeros). These skillful bangkeros are those who expertly navigate the roaring rapids using a banca and let tourists smell the lush virginal tropical forest scent and experience the pristine scenery amidst the downpour of enchanting waterfalls. Tracing the town's history, originally, Pagsanjan was a barrio of Lumban, Laguna. In 1668, eight Japanese and Chinese traders who were highly impressed by the strategic location of the barrio at the juncture of Balanac and Bumbungan rivers founded the town. They established a trading settlement and engaged in the betel nut industry. In due time, the barrio became the flourishing trading center of eastern Laguna and attracted native families from the surrounding communities of Cavinti, Pila, and Sta. Cruz. On December 12, 1678, then Governor General Juan Manuel dela Peña Bonifaz issued a gubernatorial decree elevating its status from barrio to a town. In 1688, Pagsanjan replaced Bay as the capital of the province. It remained as such until 1858 during which time it bloomed as the cultural commercial center of the province.

Located approximately 101 kilometers southeast of Manila, Pagsanjan in Laguna has been the province 's main tourist destination through its magnificent 70-foot tall Pagsanjan Falls which lured nature lovers and adventurers to navigate in its cascading sparkling falling water.

The exciting boatride is as must-experience for tourists. Two or three passengers are treated to a thrilling boatride starting from the still headwaters of the river, then to the exhilarating rapids maneuvered upstream by two skilled boatmen against the growing current, who steer the banca downstream at breathtaking speed through the wild rapids, huge rocks, and strong current.