Luisiana, officially the Municipality of Luisiana (), is a municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
It is known as the Little Baguio of Laguna because of its high elevation and cool climate akin to Baguio.
History
thumb|left|upright|National historical marker installed in 1998 at the municipal hall
During the 17th century, there was an area of land in Laguna known as Terreno De Nasunog or Lupain ng Nasunog, which was 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", which later became "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 of the Archbishop of Manila, with Don Marcos Bartolomé as its first interim parish priest. Because of the role of Don Luis Bernárdo, who 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.
In 1903, the towns of Cavinti and Luisiana were combined, 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, under the leadership of Don Blas Oración, through the Civil Commission, Cavinti separated from Luisiana and became an independent town.
Government
Elected officials
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:88%; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="7"| Luisiana Municipal Officials (2025–2028)
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:185px;"| Name
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="width:135px;"| Party
! colspan="2"| Term of office
|-
! Start
! End
|-
! colspan="7"| Municipal Mayor
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Jomapher "Mapher" U. Alvarez
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| PFP
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
! colspan="7"| Municipal Vice Mayor
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Jonieces "Engr. Joni" R. Acaylar
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Lakas–CMD
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
! colspan="7"| Member of the Municipal Council
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Hans Christian "Ian" R. Rondilla
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| NUP
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Romnick A. Racoma
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| AKAY
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Elaine E. Teope
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| AKBAYAN
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Eulogio "Oyong" D. Suario Jr.
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Lakas–CMD
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Marlon M. Oblinida
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| PFP
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Arnulfo "Bisaya" I. Abrejera
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| AKAY
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Marvin "Mr. Announcer" A. Padayhag
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| AKAY
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Raya Fe A. Gaela
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Lakas–CMD
| <br>2025
| <br>2028
|-
! colspan="7"| ABC Federation President
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Felicisimo "Felicing" B. Esperanza
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Nonpartisan<br>
| <br>2023
| <br>2028
|-
! colspan="7"| SK Federation President
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Duke Ezekiel A. Cuala
| style="background:; width:1px;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Nonpartisan<br>
| <br>2023
| <br>2028
|}
Geography
Luisiana is bounded on the north by Pagsanjan and Cavinti, on the west by Magdalena and Majayjay, on the south by Lucban and on the east by Sampaloc.
Luisiana is from the provincial capital Santa Cruz, from Manila and from Lucena.
Luisiana occupies on a plateau atop the Sierra Madre mountains.
Barangays
Luisiana is politically subdivided into 23 barangays, as indicated below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
- De La Paz
- Barangay Zone I (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone II (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone III (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone IV (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone V (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone VI (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone VII (Poblacion)
- Barangay Zone VIII (Poblacion)
- San Antonio
- San Buenaventura
- San Diego
- San Isidro
- San José
- San Juan
- San Luis
- San Pablo
- San Pedro
- San Rafaél
- San Roque
- San Salvador
- Santo Domingo
- Santo Tomás
Climate
The climate is cold, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26 °C (78.8 °F).
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Luisiana, Laguna, was 21,824 people, with a density of .
Economy
Luisiana is basically an agricultural town. At the poblacion, there are only a few commercial establishments which cater to the basic services of the people. Most of them still go to Santa Cruz to do their shopping or marketing and to avail themselves of other services not available in their town.
Income sources of the people of Luisiana mainly include agriculture, such as copra, pandan, palay, bamboo and bunliw, with a light industry base and service-sector economy. Piggery and poultry farming are also an additional income.
Education
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.
Primary and elementary schools
- Bonifacio Elementary School
- Dela Paz-San Pablo Elementary School
- Luisiana Adventist Elementary School
- Luisiana Central Elementary School
- San Antonio Elementary School
- San Buenaventura Elementary School
- San Isidro Elementary School
- San Rafael-San Roque Elementary School
- San Salvador Elementary School
- Sto. Domingo Elementary School
- UCCP Agape Child Development Center
Secondary schools
- 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
Sister cities
- Makati
- Malaybalay City
- Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur
- Baguio
Gallery
<gallery widths=200 heights=150 >
File:Luisiana,Lagunajf8321 12.JPG|Plaza with Municipal Hall in background
File:Luisiana,LagunaChurchjf8615 04.JPG|Luisiana Roman Catholic Church
File:Liceo_de_Luisiana.jpg|Liceo de Luisiana
File:Bonifacio_Elem_School.jpg|Bonifacio Elementary School
</gallery>
References
External links
- [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
- Philippine Census Information
- Local Governance Performance Management System