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Welcome to Municipality of Kalayaan, Laguna
 

A marker posted in the municipal building of Kalayaan reads:

"On this side grew a coconut tree with three branches interpreted by our forebears as the future site of our municipal building; three branches being San Juan, Longos and San Antonio."

Today, the belief had been realized. But digging through historical records, it seems that the place is still made up of the three original visitas of Babaye (now Longos), Abacao (now San Juan) and San Pablo (now San Antonio).

Babaye got its name when the Spaniards came and found women washing clothes in the brook. When the Spaniards continued their aim to conquer the land and a little north of Babaye, they saw a place where people dried abaca and named the place Abacao. The Spaniards claimed the mountains east of Babaye and named the village found there in honor of San Pablo.

In 1577, Francisca priest arrived, Some settled in Laguna. The two priests assigned in Laguna were Father P. San Juan de Placencia and Father Diego Oropesa. They started their mission to Christianize the Filipinos in this part of the country. The three visitas were initially ruled by the Spaniards from Lumban under the leadership of Don Juan Tinawin, a Paeteñno. In 1590, the leadership was given to Don Pable Caodpod who hailed from Babaye. Then in 1600, by the order of Rev. Father Juan de Cliver, the three visitas were ruled by native leaders, Don Agustin Gatan as Presidente and Don Antonio Hubid as the Vice-Presidente.

In 1669, after the long ardous work of Don Pedro Banay-banay with the help of Father Juan Bautista the town of Longos composed of Babaye, Abacao and half of San Pablo was established. The other half of San Pablo remained under the political jurisdiction of Paete. The first Parish Priest was Rev. Fr. Lucas Sarro.

Came 1755, the residents of San Pablo presented a resolution to the Governor General advocating its separation from Paete and Longos, and the establishment of their own town which was renamed San Antonio.

 

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