Luisiana

Luisiana, officially the Municipality of Luisiana (Tagalog: Bayan ng Luisiana), is a municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 21,824 people.^[5]

It is known as the Little Baguio of Laguna because of its high elevation and cool climate like Baguio.^[6]

During the 17th century, there was an area of land in Laguna known as Terreno De Nasunog or Lupain ng Nasunog, it is a part of Majayjay, Laguna.. The name "Luisiana" was given in honor of Don Luis Bernardo and his wife Doña Ana Esperanza, who fought for the Independence of Luisiana

In 1825, Don Luis Bernardo, one of Nasunog de Majayjay's principales, initiated the move to establish it as a town and parish separate and independent from Majayjay. However, it was only in 1832 when Nasunog de Majayjay was elevated to a visita which was later called Visita de Luisiana.

The original Name is "Luis y Ana" And later became the town of Luisiana. It was only on April 3, 1854, that ecclesiastical independence was granted to San Luis by the Governor-General (the Marqués de Novaliches) with the corresponding approval from the Archbishop of Manila, having Don Marcos Bartolomé as its first interim parish priest. Because of the role of Don Luis Bernárdo, which was then regarded as the Father of Luisiana, and his wife Doña Ana, the town was named 'Luis y Ana', later changed to 'Luisiana'. The town's Catholic church, which is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, was established in 1854 but burned down in 1872 before being rebuilt.^[7]

In 1903, the towns of Cavinti and Luisiana were combined,^[8] Pedro Villanueva of Cavinti was elected mayor and it was during his term that the Aglipay Church was founded in April 1904. The Romana family funded the construction of a couple of Protestant churches. However, in 1907, during the leadership of Don Blas Oración, through the Civil Commission, Cavinti separated from Luisiana and became an independent town.^[9]

In 1948, Visita de Luisiana gained civil independence from Majayjay. Today Luisiana is still a progressive Town and yearly Celebrates "Pandanan" Festival. The Town was Called "Little Baguio of Laguna" Because of its climate and "Pandan Capital of Laguna" Because of the Pandan Trees all over Luisiana

^[10]

Luisiana is bounded on the north by Pagsanjan and Cavinti, on the west by Magdalena and Majayjay, on the south by Lucban, and Sampaloc in the east.

Luisiana is 22 kilometres (14 mi) from provincial capital Santa Cruz, 109 kilometres (68 mi) from Manila, and 34 kilometres (21 mi) from Lucena.

Luisiana occupies 8,096.33 hectares (20,006.5 acres) on a plateau 1,400 feet (430 m) atop the Sierra Madre mountains.

Luisiana is politically subdivided into 23 barangays, as indicated below. ^[11] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The climate is cold, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26 °C (78.8 °F).

In the 2024 census, the population of Luisiana, Laguna, was 21,824 people,^[18] with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometer or 780 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of Luisiana

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]}

Luisiana is basically an agricultural town. At the población, there are only a few commercial establishments which cater to the basic services of the people. Most of them still go to Santa Crúz to do their shopping or marketing and to avail themselves of other services not available in their town.

Sources of income of the people of Luisiana are mainly focused on agriculture such as copra, pandan, palay, bamboo and bunliw, with light industry base and service-sector economy. Piggery and poultry farming are also an additional income.

The Luisiana Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[27]

• Liceo de Luisiana
• Luis Bernardo Memorial High School
• Luisiana Integrated National High School (Formerly San Buenaventura National High School - Annex)
• San Buenaventura National High School

• Makati
• Malaybalay City
• Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur
• Baguio

• Plaza with Municipal Hall in background
• Luisiana Roman Catholic Church
• Liceo de Luisiana
• Bonifacio Elementary School

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System