Lumban

Last updated
Lumban
Municipality
Municipality of Lumban
Lumbang Church, Laguna, Aug 2025 (1).jpg
Saint Sebastian the Martyr Parish Church of Lumban
Lumban Municipal Hall, Laguna, Aug 2025.jpg
Lumban Municipal Hall
Brgy. Sto. Nino, Lumban, Laguna, Aug 2025.jpg
Lumban Town Proper
Flag of Lumban, Laguna.png
Flag
Lumban Laguna.png
Seal
Nickname: 
Embroidery Capital of the Philippines [1] [2]
Lumban Map Locator.png
Map of Laguna with Lumban highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Lumban
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Lumban
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°17′49″N121°27′32″E / 14.297°N 121.459°E / 14.297; 121.459
Country Philippines
Region Calabarzon
Province Laguna
District 4th district
Founded September 22, 1578
Barangays 16 (see Barangays)
Government
  [3]
 • Type Sangguniang Bayan
 •  Mayor Belen B. Raga
 •  Vice Mayor Ireneo R. Baldovino
 •  Representative Benjamin Agarao Jr.
 •  Municipal Council
Members
  • Modesto B. Abadier
  • Mark Anthony L. Lagrosa
  • Johndell A. Samonte
  • Rodolfo F. Castillo Jr.
  • Benson A. Del Valle
  • Cristine Rosales P. Landayan
  • Reden R. Rivera
  • Katelyn Ubatay Ferrer
 •  Electorate 23,274 voters (2025)
Area
[4]
 • Total
40.53 km2 (15.65 sq mi)
Highest elevation
724 m (2,375 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [5]
 • Total
32,793
 • Density810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
 •  Households
8,535
Economy
 •  Income class 3rd municipal income class
 •  Poverty incidence
8.97
% (2021) [6]
 •  Revenue ₱ 189.2 million (2022)
 •  Assets ₱ 188.3 million (2022)
 •  Expenditure ₱ 159 million (2022)
 •  Liabilities ₱ 51.44 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityFirst Laguna Electric Cooperative (FLECO)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4014
PSGC
0403413000
IDD  :  area code  +63 (0)49
Native languages Tagalog

Lumban, officially the Municipality of Lumban (Tagalog : Bayan ng Lumban), is a municipality in Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 Census, its population numbered 32,330. [7]

Contents

Lumban, one of the oldest towns in Laguna lies approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Santa Cruz, 94 kilometres (58 mi) southeast of Manila and 55 kilometres (34 mi) north of Lucena. It derives its name from Aleurites moluccanus, a tree locally known as 'Lumbang'. [8] The province's capital town, Santa Cruz, as well as Cavinti and Pagsanjan, were once part of Lumban. The Bumbungan river, where the Laguna Copperplate Inscription was found, runs through the town.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (key) is inscribed with small writing hammered into its surface. It shows significant Indian cultural influence (by way of Srivijaya) in the Philippines before European colonization in the 16th century. Laguna Copperplate Inscription.gif
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (key) is inscribed with small writing hammered into its surface. It shows significant Indian cultural influence (by way of Srivijaya) in the Philippines before European colonization in the 16th century.

Lumban is home to Lake Caliraya, an artificial lake popular with nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. It is known as the "embroidery capital of the Philippines," [2] where fine jusi and piña cloth are hand-embroidered, with the finished product used for the barong tagalog worn by men and the saya (skirt) worn by women in a baro't saya outfit. Lumban is also known for its diverse range of footwear, like sandals, slippers, and step-in designs made from local materials.

History

Spanish colonial period

Lumban was founded on September 22, 1578, by Fray Juan de Plasencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa, who planted a holy cross in the area. The first church, dedicated to San Francisco and made of bamboo and nipa, was burned in 1586. With the collaboration of Governor Don Santiago de Vera and a local Tagalog chief named Burlon, construction began on a new stone church and was completed in 1600. Lumban was formally organized as a town on September 22, 1590. [9] [10]

The Church of Lumban is claimed to be the first Franciscan building in the Philippines outside Manila. [10]

During the early Spanish period, Lumban was a large town that included the modern-day towns Santa Cruz, Cavinti, and Pagsanjan. Santa Cruz was separated from Lumban in 1602, followed by Cavinti in 1619, and Pagsanjan in 1668. [9]

Geography

Barangays

Lumban is politically subdivided into 16 barangays, as indicated below.  [11] Each barangay consists of puroks, and some have sitios.

Barangay map of Lumban Lumban Barangay Map.png
Barangay map of Lumban
  • Bagong Silang
  • Balimbingan (Poblacion)
  • Balubad
  • Caliraya
  • Concepcion
  • Lewin
  • Maracta (Poblacion)
  • Maytalang I
  • Maytalang II
  • Primera Parang (Poblacion)
  • Primera Pulo (Poblacion)
  • Salac (Poblacion)
  • Santo Niño (Poblacion)
  • Segunda Parang (Poblacion)
  • Segunda Pulo (Poblacion)
  • Wawa

A dispute exists regarding the Caliraya Watershed on the eastern half of Barangay Caliraya between the municipalities of Kalayaan and Cavinti. The dispute relates to land and water include illegal settlements, land tenure rights, hydropower generation, recreation and tourism, and aquaculture production, among others. [12]

A territorial dispute of Cavinti, Lumban, and Kalayaan on the map of Laguna Caliraya Dispute on Cavinti, Lumban, and Kalayaan, Laguna.jpg
A territorial dispute of Cavinti, Lumban, and Kalayaan on the map of Laguna

Lake Caliraya

Lumban is home to Lake Caliraya, a man-made lake created in 1939 that has become a popular spot for water sports and outdoor recreation, including fishing. The surrounding area features numerous tourist-friendly resorts and vacation homes, which are common due to the local scenery and climate.[ citation needed ]

Caliraya Dam

Caliraya Dam is an embankment dam in Lumban, located in the Sierra Madre range. The reservoir created by the dam, Lake Caliraya, initially supplied one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in the Philippines and later became a recreational area for water sports and fishing. Work on the dam began in 1939, and a small hydroelectric plant was operational by 1942.[ citation needed ]

Lake Caliraya was later connected to Lumot Lake, another man-made lake, via a 2.3 km (1.4 mi) underground penstock to increase water supply. Subsequently, the dam and lake were used as the upper reservoir for the Kalayaan Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric plant located west of Lake Caliraya, with Laguna de Bay as the lower reservoir.

Climate

Climate data for Lumban, Laguna
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)26
(79)		27
(81)		29
(84)		31
(88)		31
(88)		30
(86)		29
(84)		29
(84)		29
(84)		29
(84)		28
(82)		26
(79)		29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)22
(72)		22
(72)		22
(72)		23
(73)		24
(75)		25
(77)		24
(75)		24
(75)		24
(75)		24
(75)		24
(75)		23
(73)		23
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)58
(2.3)		41
(1.6)		32
(1.3)		29
(1.1)		91
(3.6)		143
(5.6)		181
(7.1)		162
(6.4)		172
(6.8)		164
(6.5)		113
(4.4)		121
(4.8)		1,307
(51.5)
Average rainy days13.49.39.19.819.122.926.624.925.021.416.516.5214.5
Source: Meteoblue [13]

Demographics

Population census of Lumban
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 3,905—    
1918 4,288+0.63%
1939 5,954+1.58%
1948 7,516+2.62%
1960 9,719+2.16%
1970 13,289+3.17%
1975 14,842+2.24%
1980 17,360+3.18%
1990 19,773+1.31%
1995 21,996+2.02%
2000 25,936+3.60%
2007 28,443+1.28%
2010 29,470+1.30%
2015 30,652+0.75%
2020 32,330+1.13%
2024 32,793+0.34%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

According to the 2020 census, the population of Lumban was 32,330, [19] with a density of 800 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Government

Elected municipal officials (2025–2028)
PositionNameParty
MayorBelen B. Raga PFP
Vice mayorIreneo R. Baldovino PFP
CouncilorsModesto B. Abadier PFP
Mark Anthony L. Lagrosa NUP
Johndell A. Samonte PFP
Rodolfo F. Castillo Jr. Lakas
Benson A. Del Valle Lakas
Cristine Rosales P. Landayan Lakas
Reden R. Rivera PFP
Katelyn Ubatay Ferrer PFP

Economy

Poverty incidence of Lumban

2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
2000
14.18
2003
13.27
2006
6.90
2009
7.16
2012
8.68
2015
7.85
2018
2.29
2021
8.97

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

Culture

The town fiesta is held every January 20 in honor of San Sebastian, the town's patron saint. The Lupi festival is held every last Sunday of January.

Feast of San Sebastian

The San Sebastian Festival [28] features a procession on the Lumban River, where the icon of the patron saint San Sebastian, along with hundreds of devotees, is placed on a fleet of large boats.

The San Sebastian Festival originated after the people adopted Saint Sebastian the Martyr as their patron saint in the 18th century. This annual celebration, observed every fourth Sunday of January, includes religious and cultural activities alongside the town fiesta.

The Moro-Moro, [29] a type of “Komedya,” is performed the evening before the festival, showcasing local talents with colorful costumes.

The “Paligong Poon” takes place at the Lumban River, with the icon of San Sebastian and hundreds of devotees on the boats while holding lit candles and performing rituals across the river, known as “Lupi.”

Civic and religious organizations, as well as local bands, participate in the event. The icon is paraded around the town while locals take turns dousing the saint and devotees with water. Spectators include people from the municipality and neighboring towns.

During the feast, each barangay of Lumban features its icon of the patron saint on a float, accompanied by the nine-day novena of the Hermanas of the town.

Townspeople participate in a water-throwing ritual symbolizing purification and blessings by the ritual ceremony of the patron saint of Lumban.

Burdang Lumban Festival

The Burdang Lumban Festival is an annual cultural event held in the municipality of Lumban, Laguna, Philippines, during the third week of September. [30] The festival celebrates the town’s traditional craft of hand embroidery, which has long been associated with Lumban’s identity and economy. [31]

Lumban is recognized for producing traditional Filipino formal wear such as the barong Tagalog and embroidered wedding gowns, and it is often referred to as the "embroidery capital of the Philippines." [32] The festival serves both as a cultural showcase and as a tourism promotion initiative for the municipality. [32]

One of the main highlights of the Burdang Lumban Festival is a street dancing competition featuring schoolchildren dressed in colorful costumes inspired by the barong Tagalog and embellished with intricate embroidery motifs. [33]

References

  1. ↑ "Department of Tourism - The Philippines Ultimate Travel Guide for Tourist". www.visitmyphilippines.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  2. 1 2 "Provincial Government of Laguna".
  3. ↑   Municipality of Lumban | (DILG)
  4. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Philippine Native Trees 101: Up Close and Personal. Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy (Organization), Hortica Filipina Foundation, Inc, Binhi Project (Philippines). 2012. pp. 307 pages. ISBN   9789719546900.
  9. 1 2 Huerta, Felix, de (1865). Estado Geografico, Topografico, Estadistico, Historico-Religioso de la Santa y Apostolica Provincia de San Gregorio Magno. Binondo: Imprenta de M. Sanchez y Compañia.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 "Laguna Churches - Ofm Philippines". ofmphil.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  11. ↑ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Castillo, Judith F; Codtiyeng, Samson K.; Palma-Torres, Vanessa M.; Castañeda, Tricia Joy E; Rodriguez, Biverly C.; Sasi, Adrian Pablo V.; Tercero, Mario U. (2024-05-01). ""Resource use conflicts in the Caliraya-Lumot Watershed Forest Reserve, Philippines"". The ECOSYSTEMS & DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL. 13 (2): 1.
  13. ↑ "Lumban: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  15. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  17. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  18. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  19. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  22. ↑ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  23. ↑ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  24. ↑ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  28. ↑ Baraoidan, Kimmy (2017-01-27). "Be ready to get wet in this Laguna town fest in honor of Patron Saint of cops, soldiers". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  29. ↑ "Moro-moro | History, Themes, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  30. ↑ "The Hand Embroidery of Lumban, Laguna". Narra Studio. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  31. ↑ Baraoidan, Kimmy (2017-03-05). "Legacy embossed in Lumban embroidery". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  32. 1 2 Region 4A (2023-12-31). "Heritage in Stitches: Celebrating Embroidery the FashioNoble Way". Department of Trade and Industry Philippines. Retrieved 2025-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ↑ "Burdang Lumban Festival: Celebrating Lumban's Legacy as the Embroidery Capital of the Philippines | The Beauty of the Philippines by Mariano Sayno". 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
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