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Paete

Paete
Municipality
Paete Church
A Street in Paete Bird's eve view of Paete
Three Crosses
Official seal of Paete
Seal
Nickname(s): Woodcarving Capital of the Philippines
Map of Laguna showing the location of Paete
Map of Laguna showing the location of Paete
Paete is located in Philippines
Paete
Paete
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°22′N 121°29′E / 14.367°N 121.483°E / 14.367; 121.483Coordinates: 14°22′N 121°29′E / 14.367°N 121.483°E / 14.367; 121.483
Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Laguna
District 4th district of Laguna
Founded 1602
Barangays 9
Government
 • Mayor Rojilyn Q. Bagabaldo
Area
 • Total 55.02 km2 (21.24 sq mi)
Population (2015)
 • Total 23,523
 • Density 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone PST11:30am (UTC+8)
ZIP code4016 4016
Dialing code09499691207 49
Income class 4th
Website www.paete.gov.ph

Paete is a fourth class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 23,523 people.

The town, is located at the north-eastern part of Laguna, along the shores of picturesque Laguna de Bay. It was founded in 1580 by Spanish friars Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa of the Franciscan Order. It is believed that the earliest inhabitants were of Malay lineage, coming all the way from Borneo in their swift and sturdy boats called "Balangay".

Paete is politically subdivided into 9 barangays:

The name of Paete is derived from the Tagalog word paet, which means chisel. The proper pronunciation of the town's name is believed to be "Pa-e-te", but the natives call it Pī-té, long i, short guttural ê, sound at the end. The town's residents use the first mentioned pronunciation rather than the second only when conversing with non-residents. The town was referred to as "Piety" by the American Maryknoll Missioners when they came to the town in the late 1950s.

Before the Spaniards came, Paete was said to be a village under Gat Lakampawid,a native ruler from the ancient village of Lihan,a relative to Gatmaitim,Gat Silayan,Gat Pakil the rulers of old town of Pakil.These native rulers from Old Lihan (now Malolos Bulacan) was scattered along the suburbs of Kingdom of Tondo in the south and settled there. The Spanish friars had a tradition of naming towns they built in honor of saints. Paete was an exception. Legend has it that there was once a young Franciscan priest who was tasked by his superior to visit their newly founded settlements alongside Laguna de Bay. The priest knew little about the terrain so he asked a native the name of the place. The latter misinterpreted the young friar, thinking that the former wanted to know the name of the tool he was using. He answered, Paét (chisel) --thus, the name Paete.

Sargento Mayor Juan de Salcedo was the first Spaniard to set foot in Paete. He was on his way to explore the gold-rich region of Paracale in Bicol. His men first encountered some resistance from the settlers of what is now Cainta in Rizal Province, but as expected, easily defeated the lightly armed natives. Then he ventured to the lakeside barangays of Laguna de Bay on his way to Bicol.


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Wikipedia

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