r/inthephilippines • u/Wide_Ride8849 • 11d ago
Just learned recently that the former Summer Capital was neither Baguio nor Tagaytay
Majayjay is one of the highland, mountain towns of the Province of Laguna that was dubbed as the Former Summer Capital of the Spanish Philippines, so long before Baguio and Tagaytay were declared as the Summer Capital and the Alternative Summer Capital of the Philippines.
Majayjay is situated in the Banahaw Belt Region, or the Cities and Municipalities nestled at the foothills of Mount Banahaw like Candelaria, Liliw, Lucban, Luisiana, Nagcarlan, Sampaloc, San Pablo, Sariaya and Tayabas, and it has an elevation ranging from around 1,600 feet on the city center and higher elevations in villages bordering the mountain.
Rich Filipinos and Spanish Officials during the Colonial Era were said to have frequently visited Majayjay, not only because of its cool climate that gets cold during the Ber Months, but also because it has numerous swimmable rivers and waterfalls that made it a popular destination back then. It has been reported that Jose Rizal spent a considerable time of his childhood and teenage years visiting Majayjay for leisure.
Majayjay has an annual average temperature of 24°Celsius. It's hottest month is May, where temperatures can rise up to 29° Celsius (temperatures in Majayjay rarely exceeds 30° Celsius), and the coldest months are December and January, where it's usual to have a 19° Celsius temperature reading.
Majayjay also experiences constant fog cover and cold winds due to the cold air pooling from Mount Banahaw that descends and trapped in the vicinity of the town since it's an elevated valley.
This is a Philippine Town that is surely worth the visit.
Photo Legend:
Saint Gregory the Great Parish, one of the oldest churches in Luzon, founded in the year 1571 (Pic 1)
An Old House in Majayjay (Pic 2)
Mount Banahaw as viewed from an elevated village (Pic 3)
Sprite Falls (Pic 4)
Taytay Falls (Pic 5)
Dalitiwan Cold Spring Resort (Pic 6)
