Liliw, Laguna

Alamat ng Liliw

Liliw, is a town in Laguna well-known for its footwear industry. Colourful streets lined with local shoe shops is a common attraction for shopping tourists looking for cheaper but durable footwear. 

A local shoe shop in Liliw

The town of Liliw was known before as “Magguap”. It was established in 1571, 50 years after the Spaniards had set foot on the archipelago. Liliw’s location is relatively high, standing about 1,200 foot above the ground. Gat Tayaw was the one who established the town of Liliw. He has a monument now at the heart of the town.

Gat Tayaw is the eldest son of Gat Tapaya. He led the town for 34 years. In that span, he has divided the town into 4 barangays. He has appointed Bansalan to take charge of Ilaya, Barangay Oples to Mandig, and Little Liliw to Pascual Humanda and Liliw Grande to Don Juan Masulong.

Gat Tayaw's Monument
Source: www.exporetravellearn.blogspot.com

When the town was first established, Gat Tayaw has called for an assembly for the selection of the name of the town. The townspeople placed a bamboo pole at the center of the municipality and posted guards around. People can come to this outpost and suggest names. On the 7^th day, a bird perched at the bamboo pole and sang “ILIW, ILIW, ILIW”.  The oldest one among the guards shouted “Liliw, Liliw, Liliw”. The other guards repeated after him. And so, from then on, the town became known as Liliw.

Translated from Rene Alba's "Mga Alamat Pilipino (Para sa Mag-aaral)", published 1914 by Century Publications.