Editing Majayjay (section)

==History==

===Luzonian town===

Since time immemorial, Majayjay had been a Luzonian town of Tagalog citizens. It was founded at the foot of the mountain, which gave it an abundant supply of fresh spring water. Four rivers flowed through the town: Initian, Oobi, Olla, and Balanac (from the falls of Botocan) where all the rivers meet. Botocan Falls and the town's scenery were uniquely famous, attracting wealthy citizens from other towns to become guests at Majayjay. By 1571, Majayjay was one of the most populated towns around Laguna de Bay and near the capital of the [[Kingdom of Luzon]] in Manila.

The road to Majayjay was considered to be tough. Guests often had to be ferried from Manila through the [[Pasig River]] to [[Laguna de Bay]]. Land travel was through the intermunicipal highway and then by being transported in either palanquins or hammocks on the way up to the town.

In 1571, Spanish warriors with Cebuano Visayan reinforcements moved towards the town from Liliw after having sacked Nagcarlan. Upon reaching the river Olla while going through the intermunicipal highway, they stopped and retraced their steps back upon the sight of Majayjay town guards. They went through the main road at Panglan instead. They attacked in the dark before dawn with guns and drums. The citizens fled from the attack as though fleeing pillage, leaving no one but a man named Liraw and a pregnant woman nearing labor whom the Spaniards captured. The town was then held by warriors of the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies.

===Spanish rule===

[[File:Mahayhay PHC historical marker.jpg|thumb|left|upright|National historical marker installed in 1971]]

The popularity of the town grew during Spanish rule.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Botocan Falls went on to lead European travellers, besides wealthy Filipinos, to also frequently visit the town. Land travel also started being aided by horses.

After the conversion of the citizens of Majayjay, the Spanish priests ordered the building of a provisional church near May-it River,{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} but it was destroyed by a fire in 1578.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} A new church made of bamboo and [[cogon]] thatch was built; however, another fire destroyed it again. A stone church was then built, which was also burned down.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Despite the fire incidents, the image of their patron saint, San Gregorio Papa Magno survived.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Through the efforts of the Spanish priest Padre José de Puertollano, contributions enforced by parishioners, and forced labor of Filipinos, a new church was built in 1730{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}, with its construction taking 19 years.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

[[File:Puente De Capricho.jpg|thumb|left|The old Puente de Capricho, an unfinished bridge built in the 1850s]]