| Region | Region 4-A - CALABARZON |
| Capital | Sta. Cruz |
| Land Area | 1823.6 sq. km. |
| Population | 2,473,530 (2007) |
| Governor | Emilio Ramon Ejercito |
| Dialect | Tagalog |
| Industry | Coconut, rice, corn, handicrafts |
| Nearby Provinces | Cavite |
| Official Homepage | www.laguna.gov.ph |
Laguna is one of the province in the CALABARZON, or Southern Tagalog, region of Luzon. Located south of Manila, it is a popular weekend getaway destination especially during the summer. The province was named after the Spanish word “lago”, which means “lake”, referring to the large body of water it surrounds, Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. The town of Bay was the first capital, hence Laguna de Bay literally means "Lake of Bay".
Laguna is primarily a terrain of tapered plains extending towards the western, southern and eastern shores of Laguna de Bay with a few elevated landscapes in the northwestern part. The skyline of the province is dominated by the peak of the famous Mt. Makiling. Hot springs and resorts dot the areas of Los Banos and Pansol at the foot of the mountain. The famed Pagsanjan Falls in the western town of Cavinti is another popular attraction. Lake Caliraya, a man-made lake atop a mountain, is recently becoming a popular venue for watersports such as windsurfing.
The people of Laguna are virtually all Tagalogs, with several minorities from the different parts of Luzon. The Tagalog dialect is the most widely spoken, along with Filipino and English. In addition, most Lagunenses are sweet-toothed, manifested in their famous delicacies, such as buko (coconut) pie, espasol (cylindrical rice cake with coconut milk), and puto Biñan (Biñan rice cake). The people of Laguna also celebrate various festivals, such as the Anilag Festival, Ana Kalang Festival, and Turumba Festival.
Today, Laguna is a bustling province of industrial, agricultural and tourism activities. The Department of Tourism in 2006 ranks Laguna as the second most visited province in the country among domestic travelers. Given its close proximity to Manila, Laguna offers a quick respite from the hustle and bustle of daily urban life.
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In general, the economy of the province of Laguna relies heavily on agriculture. However, there are small and medium-scale enterprises that engage in different industries such as handicrafts, textile, weaving, chemicals, automotive parts, ceramics, furniture, paper manufacturing, and food processing. Recently there has been a surge of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing plants in the industry and science parks in Calamba and the surrounding areas.
Laguna was conquered for the Spanish crown by Capitan Juan de Salcedo in 1571. The Spaniards soon established settlements, creating the towns of Bay, Caliraya, Liliw, Lumban, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Pangil, Pila, Santa Cruz, and Siniloan. It became a battleground during the Chinese revolts of 1603 and 1693. In the year 1678, a Spanish friar, Hernando Cabrera, established San Pablo de los Montes, the present-day San Pablo City, and built a church and a convent out of wood. It is considered to be one of the best and finest structures across the province.
The province soon became a hot spot of Philippine revolution. Because of this, Laguna, along with other seven provinces, was placed by the Spanish colonial government under martial rule. However, the inhabitants did not flinch and continued the revolution until the Spaniards fell back and were subdued. In fact, the country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal was born in Laguna and is considered to be its greatest son. The last Spanish garrison in the province was capture on August 31, 1898. After the revolution, Laguna actively supported the First Philippine Republic, which was proclaimed at Malolos, Bulacan in 1899.
During the Filipino-American War in 189901901, the province's defenses was led by Generals Juan Cailles and Paciano Rizal (brother of Jose Rizal). Upon surrendering, Cailles was named the first Filipino Governor of Laguna. Since then, the province has progressed rapidly due to establishments of schools, such as the University of the Philippines Los Banos, and the creation of major road and rail networks.
During the Second World War, brave inhabitants of Laguna fought the Japanese soldiers despite being a hub for Makapili, a group of Filipinos who collaborated with the Japanese forces.
Having Laguna de Bay as its witness, the province of Laguna testifies its role in the making of the Philippine history and the movement of its people for progress.
Laguna can be reached by Bus.
