Pakil

Municipality of Pakil Bayan ng Pakil
Municipality
Official seal of Municipality of Pakil Seal
Map of Laguna showing the location of Pakil
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Laguna
District	4th District of Laguna
Founded	1676
Barangays	13
Government
• Mayor	Vipops R. Martinez
Area
• Total	46.50 km2 (17.95 sq mi)
Population  (2007)
• Total	20,242
• Density	440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4017
Income class	5th

Population Census of Pakil

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1995	15,663	—
2000	18,021	+3.05%
2007	20,242	+1.62%

Pakil is a 5th class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 20,242 people in 3,698 households.

Barangays

Pakil is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.

• 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 why Pakil has two territories on the eastern and western sides of the lake.

When the Spaniards came to the place in 1571, this colony was under the leadership of Gat Paquil 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.

In 1602, Pakil was attached to Paete as a "Visita". Padre Francisco Barajas, exerted efforts to separate this town from Paete, and Don Diego Jorge became the first Capitan Barangay on May 12, 1676.

Pakil was named as an independent town during the Spanish regime with the Capitan at the helm of the local government, the last of whom was Capitan Nicolas Regalado.

With the change of government from Spanish to American, and the organization of the Civil Government in the country in 1901, Bernardo Gonzales was appointed the first Municipal President until November 25, 1903, and by Public Law No. 1009, Pakil was fused with Pangil. On October 1, 1927, by virtue of Executive Order No. 77, Pakil was restored to being a separate town.

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied in Pakil, Laguna.

In 1945, the liberated from the Philippine Commonwealth forces entering in Pakil, Laguna with the Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese forces during the Second World War.

In 1954, the sitio known as Casa Real was converted into a barrio.

Cultural Heritage

Music was formally initiated in the town of Pakil by San Pedro Bautista (1856) 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.

This is how music got started in the town. 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 with their family of excellent musicians who helped form the first brass band in Pakil.

The elderly Tacio Celis helped train children to read musical notes and play instruments. He fed and billeted them in his house. They became good enough to have engagements in various town fiestas.

Many original Pakil musicians attained prominence in their respective instruments. Johnny Valero who plays the trombone and Nemesio Regalado who plays the clarinet were dubbed the ‘Tommy Dorsey’ and the ‘Benny Goodman’ of the Philippines, respectively. Jun Regalado was crowned The Best drummer in Asia Janette Basco, who also has her roots in Pakil, became a popular Philippine singer. The Professors Paulino Cadsawan, Julian Balita and Agapito Celis are esteemed music teachers while Ceferino Pasang, Luis Vito and Maria Regalado-Yusi are renowned pianists and Anne Asinas became a world-renowned violinist.

The small town of Pakil was better known by some as “The Little Milan” of the Philippines because of the many good musicians it produced up to this day with two brass bands called ‘Banda Uno’ and Banda ‘Dos’(Band One and Band Two).

Many of the young musicians finished College on scholarships playing in their school bands.

Because Pakil became known for excellence in music, the International Choral Festival was held in the town with the appearance of UP’s Cherubim and Seraphim Choral Group under Prof. Elena Mirano who heads a project honoring Prof. Marcelo Q. Adonay as Philippines’ “Prince of Church Music.”

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.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information