Jalajala

Jalajala (; also spelled as Jala-jala), officially the Municipality of Jalajala (Template:Langx), is a municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 34,017 people, making it the least populated municipality in the province.Template:PH census

Etymology

What is now the town's Barangay Punta was the seat of an earlier settlement later known as Halaán. During the summer from April to May, the shores of Laguna de Bay along Punta would be filled with small shellfish locally known as halaán.

As is typical with many modern Philippine toponyms, the town's name supposedly resulted from miscommunication between early Spanish visitors and natives. The Spaniards enquired of some natives along the shoreline, "¿Como se llama este sitio?" ("What is the name of this place?") to which the latter replied, "halaán pò," thinking that the foreigners referred to the shells. The Spaniards accepted the response as the name of the place, and began calling it halaán, later corrupting it into Chimae then into Jalajala.

Another folk etymology is that Jalajala stems from an endemic breed of boar called berk jala, which is abundant in the wilds around the town and is depicted on its seal. As with the other story, a Spaniard asked the Tagalog-speaking natives the place's name, and the locals' interjection of "hala-hala” (possibly a hunting chant) was taken by the Spaniards to be their answer.

History

In 1610, it became part of Villa de Pila, an encomienda in La Laguna where locals were encouraged to raise livestock. On September 7, 1676, Jalajala was separated from Villa de Pila for civil and ecclesiastical administration. A bamboo church was built in 1678, followed by a stone church in 1733. The first map of Jalajala was drawn by Engineer Feliciano Marquez in 1767, titled “Islas de Jalajala.”

In 1786, Jalajala, initially a barrio, separated from Pililla to become an independent town, with the help of Don Julio Dollar. However, it was reverted to a barrio of Pililla in 1816. According to a Spanish historian, the development of Jalajala as a pueblo or town began as early as 1823.

The area became part of the Distrito delos Montes de San Mateo (later District of Morong) in 1853 and later Rizal in 1901. On October 12, 1903, it was returned to Pililla once again by virtue of Act No. 942. Jalajala was re-established as a chartered municipality on March 27, 1907 by virtue of Act No. 1720. Simeon Perez was elected as its first municipal president following the November 1907 election. It was auctioned in 1920 due to unpaid taxes, becoming the first Filipino-owned town.

From 1942 to 1945, during World War II, Jalajala was occupied by Japanese forces, and local guerrilla groups resisted occupation. The town was liberated in 1945. In 1979, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) supported infrastructure development, fostering growth in transportation, education, and agriculture.

Geography

File:Jalajala Rizal.JPG

Aerial view of Jalajala

Jalajala is on a peninsula located southeast of Manila in the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines, Laguna de Bay. It lies on the eastern part of the Rizal Province and has a land area of representing 3.77% of the total land area of the province. Jalajala's political boundary on the north is the Panguil River, wherein it shares the boundary with the town of Pakil in Laguna. On its southern, eastern, and western boundaries lies Laguna de Bay.

Mount Sembrano forms the boundary of Jalajala and Pililla.

Barangays

File:JALA-JALA, RIZAL POLITICAL MAP.png

Jala-jala, Rizal political map (subject to correction)

Jalajala is politically subdivided into 11 barangays (three urban, eight rural), as indicated in the matrix below and the image herein.Template:PSGC detail Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Bagumbong
• Bayugo
• Second District (Poblacion)
• Third District (Poblacion)
• Lubo
• Pagkalinawan
• Palaypalay
• Punta
• Sipsipin
• First (Special) District (Poblacion)
• Paalaman

Bayugo, Palay-Palay, and Sipsipin were elevated to barrios in 1956.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Jala-jala, was 34,017 people,Template:PH census with a density of .

Economy

File:Jalajal,Rizaljf0730 40.JPG

Jalajala Public Market

Government

Local government

The municipality is governed by a municipal mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

List of current government officials from June 30, 2022.

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022–2025)

Title	Name
Mayor	Elmer C. Pillas
Vice Mayor	Jarry V. Añago
Councilor	Charlott C. Angeles
	Gina H. Bonita
	Bill Bryan S. de Leon
	Johnny S.J. delos Santos
	Manolito M. Estrella
	Bayani M. Masicat Jr.
	Joselito K. Panguito
	Maria Salvacion A. Villaran
ABC / LNB President
SK President

List of mayors

No.	Mayor	Term	Party
1	Maximo Bellin	1945	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
2	Carlos dela Vega	1945–1951	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
3	Juan delos Santos	1952–1963	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
4	Agaton Gellido	1964–1967	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
5	Juan Vidallo	1968–1971	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
6	Alejandro Gellido	1972–1973	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
7	Arsenio Pillas	1973–1980	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
8	Voltaire B. Gellido	1980–1986	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
9	Alejandro Perez Jr.	1986–1987	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
10	Avelino Salgatar	1987–1988	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
(9)	Alejandro Perez Jr.	1988–1992	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
11	Walfredo M. dela Vega	1992–1995	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
12	Jose B. delos Santos	1995–2004	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
13	Elionor I. Pillas	2004–2013	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
14	Narciso S. Villaran	2013–2016	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
(13)	Elionor I. Pillas	2016–2019	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
15	Elmer C. Pillas	2019–2025	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color
16	Jarry V. Añago	2025–present	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Social services

Education

Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy

In July 2024, Hidilyn Diaz inaugurated her weightlifting academy in Jalajala, including the academy's training programs and the HDWLA Outreach Program. The single-storey training facility is built upon her lot in Sitio Manggahan, Barangay Second District. It is equipped with four platforms.

External links

• Jalajala Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Jalajala official website
• [[[:Template:NSCB detail]] Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System Template:Webarchive