Welcome to Liliw in Laguna, and welcome to Anthro on Foot's walking tour! This is a self-paced
walking tour
that features key heritage sites and cultural highlights in the area. We hope you enjoy this tour as
much as we
enjoyed curating it!
Nestled at the base of the renowned Mount Banahaw, Liliw boasts an agricultural landscape that
serves as a fitting backdrop to its charming and enigmatic streets.
Mount Banahaw is considered a sacred and mystical mountain with a rich cultural and religious
history.
One legend revolves around the mountain being the dwelling place of spiritual beings, commonly
referred to as "diwatas" or fairy-like entities. According to local folklore, these diwatas inhabit
the sacred slopes of Mount Banahaw, and the mountain is believed to be a portal connecting the
earthly realm to the divine.
The legend also tells of the mountain as a place of healing and purification. Pilgrims and devotees
often embark on journeys to the mountain, engaging in rituals and practices to cleanse their spirits
and seek blessings from the diwatas.
Today, the mountain is part of the Mounts Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape, established to
conserve its natural resources and promote sustainable tourism.
Present-day Liliw was established on August 29, 1571 by Gat Tayaw.
Legend has it that the town derived its name from a bird. According to the tale, Gat Tayaw and his
followers erected a bamboo pole, intending to name the town after the bird that would land at the
top within four days. Surprisingly, a crow was the first bird to alight on the pole, which was
considered inauspicious. Consequently, Gat Tayaw and his group relocated south and set up another
bamboo pole. This time, a splendid bird landed on the pole and sang, "Liw, Liw, Liw." Thus, the town
acquired the name Liliw.
