Maria Magdalena Laguna, Philippines.

from the archive

        Magdalena is a fourth class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 22,976. Magdalena was formerly a barrio of Majayjay, Laguna. A petition from the residents of the barrio for the creation of a new town was presented on September 15, 1819. It was proclaimed a new town by Governor General Don Mariano Fernández de Folgueras on January 18, 1820, and was originally named "Magdalena de Ambling". The name was derived from its patron saint Maria Magdalena and the barrio of Ambling where it was established. The first Teniente Alcalde or Capitan (the highest political authority in a town) was Don Mauricio San Mateo.

      They first established a makeshift school in 1820, which was the very first requirement for it to be a town. The municipal hall was also constructed. A small chapel was also constructed and it gave way to the construction of a church in 1829. The church was made of stones and bricks and donations were solicited from the residents. The construction was finished in 1861. The construction of the concrete town hall and the church convent started in 1871, and was finished in 1884.

      The revolt against the Spaniards in this area started on November 13, 1896, when the male residents joined the revolutionaries from the province to form a bigger force. It was during one of the encounters that Emilio Jacinto was wounded and sought refuge at the Catholic Church.

      Emilio Aguinaldo, then, proclaimed the first Philippine Republic and the Spaniards finally surrendered on September 1, 1898, and celebrations followed.

      The arrival of the Americans, at the turn of the century, witnessed the evacuation of the townsfolk to the mountains for fear of being killed, later returned to the Poblacion seeing that the foreigners were well-intentioned.

The Americans enforced a new system of government. Election of government officials was conducted regularly. The first elected President Municipal was Don Victor Crisostomo. It was during this time that rebels, called tulisan, formed a force to oppose the foreign rule. They robbed the house of the residents. This made the Americans very strict on social life of the people, prohibiting them from leaving the Poblacion and talking to each other publicly. It was on June 15, 1929 that electricity was introduced in the municipality. Life continued under the American regime and to an extent, introduced their own culture to the Filipinos until the Second World War broke out in 1941.    

plaza!

      On 1945, Filipino troops of the 4th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary liberated the towns in Magdalena, Laguna, and helpful of the recognized guerrilla groups to attacking Japanese forces. The Japanese surrendered to the Filipino soldiers and guerrillas on May 25, 1945, thus, Magdalena, as well as the Philippines, was liberated from the Japanese army. After the war, the returned to the Poblacion and started their lives from what was left of the war.

      The Kawayan Festival

      Magdalena recently held its first Kawayan Festival to mark the town's 185th Foundation Day. The colorful festival celebrates the native bamboo and its role in the culture and livelihood of the town and to promote bamboo-based industries.

      Liga ng mga Barangay national president James Marty Lim was special guest at the festival, and together with Magdalena town officials led by Mayor Nieva Reodica, congratulated the Magdaleños for their initiatives to promote the local bamboo industry.

St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church

      Magdalena is the home of St. Mary Magdalene Church. This church was constructed in 1851-1871, and made of stones and bricks with a sandstone facade. The church is located at the town center or plaza, just across the municipal town hall of Magdalena. In February 1898, after being wounded in a battle with the Spaniards at the Maimpis River, Philippine revolutionary hero Emilio Jacinto sought refuge in this church. His bloodstains were found on the floor of the church.

The Bahay Laguna

look at our teeth!

      Bahay Laguna is a museum in Barangay Bungkol, Magdalena, that houses the memorabilia of Governor Felicisimo T. San Luis, who served as Governor of Laguna province for 33 years. During his time, he was known as the "Living Legend of Laguna." Aside from the memorabilia of the late governor, Bahay Laguna showcases the specialty crafts and signature products of Laguna towns such as woodcarving of Paete and bottled preserved fruits of Alaminos.

The construction of Bahay Laguna was finished in December 1995. The Dr. Floro Brosas Foundation donated a piece of its land for this repository

      Brief history and info lang yan, ni hindi ko binasa ang article tungkol sa bayan ng Magdalena. Ang hinahanp ko ay kung sinong nagpatayo nung plaza. Kaso kahit anong gawin kong search sa google ay walang ibang lumalabas kundi yung tungkol sa bayan mismo, siguro hindi sila magkaibigan ni google kaya ayaw syang isama sa results.

      Biruin mo, 4^th class lang pala ang Magdalena, buti may kumakandidato pa ditto na mga politico. Eh, wala kang susuwelduhin sa babaa ng klase ng kanilang bayan, may kalidad pa kaya ang serbisyo? Wala akong masyadong alam sa bayan nila, bukod sa ilan pangalan ng brgy. Drug rehab at bahay ng asawa ni benok, palagay ko wala na kong maidadagdag pa. siguro kung meron man, yung yung pinara kami ng kamay na may armalite “nasabi na sa roadrage”. Kaya kahit anong gawin kong isip para sa instant post na ito ay wala akong masasabi bukod sa nakita ko kaninang umaga.

      Noong panahon na may tindahan pa kami sa Liliw, Laguna. Halos araw-araw kong nadadaanan ang Magdalena, particular ang plaza nito sa likod ng simbahang romano na nasa tapat ng munisipyo na nasa ilalim ng kalawakan. Nagpapatawa lang ako. Pero ito ang tipikal na insprastraktura noong panahon ng kastila. Parang barkadahan na walang iwanan ang tatlo nay an. Isang pisa, kung asan ang isa andun ang isa. Siguro ginawa to para sa ganitong tagpo:

      2 Prayle na nasa municipyo:

P1: pare may magandang Filipina sa plaza, tara halayin natin.

P2: sige pre, eh san natin titirahin.

P1: dun sa simbahan, sa tore. Para pagkatapos ditso kumpisal na tyu sa baba kay padre.

P2:  rock and roll!

slide1

      Kaya nagging malaking tulong sa mga kastil ang pagpapakalat ng kanilang lahi sa ating bansa, di lang talaga nila kinaya sa Sagada, mountain provinces at sa Mindanao kung san ang mga maangas ay pinupugutan ng ulo.

      Maganda ang plaza nila pag tinitignan ko mula sa jeep na lagi kung sinasakyan patungong liliw. Kung anong ganda pala nito ay may tinatago pa pala itong mas kagandahan pa pag pinasok mo, parang inner beauty, kung tao to siguro masarap mapangasawa ang plaza ng Magdalena.

     

      Kaninang umaga ko lang mismong napasok ang nasabing lugar, kahit na ilang bese na ko nakapunta sa harapan ng plaza, ngayun ko lang nalibot ng buo ang lugar. Hanepasyet, may tennis court sa loob, gym na malinis, damong kulay green, malinis na pathway at mga estatwa ng hayop, sa puntong ito may pagka bias ang gumawa ng plaza, wala kasi akong nakitang dinosaur yun pa naman ang dinayo ko. Puro kalbaw, kalabaw na walang sngay, giraffe kabayo at balyena. Oo balyena, na pede kang pumasok sa loob at mag papicture pero di ko na pinapasok ang anak ko dahil baka mas malala pa kay jona ang abutin nya dahil sa baho. Tsk.

yeah

      

    Maganda ang plaza nila, may malaking slide, slide sa may tennis court “para pag nagkamali ang player pede ka magslide pababa at upakan ito”. Mga kubo, puno, santo, kubo “nasabi ko na ba to?” at marami pang kubo na pedeng tambayan ng kabataan at gawing lugar inuman. Di naman halata na kawayan festival ang kanila.

      

       4^th class lang sila pero ang ganda ng plaza nila, gym, at ang di ko talaga malimutan na tennis court. Pag pasok mo palang sa bayan nila, ang lamig nan a sasalubong sayo, kaliwat kanan na puno, probinsayng probinysa. Kasunod ang kliwan kanan din na sementeryo. Kasunod ang chapel, kung ililibing ka muna bago ka misahan ay di ko lang alam. Maganda ang bayan nila, kahit na pakitang taong linis ang ilang lugar, ay di ko parin maipagkakaila na namangha ako kanina.

     

smile

      Nakakalungkot man sabihin, pero may mga flaw din ang nasabing plaza, isa na jan ang vandalism.  vandalism na ikinahiya “binura yung pangalan ng jowa”, frat, at ang all time favourite na ANL. Ewan ba kung bakit kada may makikita na spasyo pedeng sulatan ay sulat ng sulat ang mga hinayupak na ito. Idagdag mo pa ang mga basura na nasa tagong lugar, sirang statwa at kupas na pintura. Saying yung ganda kundi mapapanatili ang kagandahan. Tulad ng nasabi ko na sa “lost”.

     

     

      Pero kahit na ganito, masasabi ko na kakain ng alikabok ag bayan ko sa Magdalena, mababang klase man sila ng bayan, hanepasyet naman nag recreation nila. Na eenjoy ng taong bayan at higit sa lahat ng mga batang aratan. Wala man silang Jollibee, Greenwich at chowking, may masagang damuhan naman sila na pedeng takbuhan, gulungan at kainin kung nagugutom na. idagdag mo ang simbahn nila na kasama sa jubilee churches noong taong 2000.

      Hidni ko alam kung may maintenance, janitor o taga-alaga ang plaza nila, kung may pang ayos o may budget pa ba na naka laan para mapanatili at patuloy na magamit ng taong bayan, sana lang, abutan pa ito ng mga susunod na henerasyon at kung makakabalik pa kami ditto, sana bagong pintura na at ayus na ang mga sira sirang statwa, wala ng basura o mabahong amoy na sayo ay magpapasuka at higit sa lahat. Sana may dinosaur na.