View source for Pagsanjan Arch

{{Infobox building
| name                = '''Pagsanjan Arch'''
| native_name         = ''Arco Real''
| native_name_lang    = 
| former_names        = 
| alternate_names     = Puerto Real
| etymology           = 
| status              = Complete
| image               = Pagsanjan Stone Arch, Laguna, Aug 2025 (2).jpg
| image_alt           = Pagsanjan Arch
| image_size          = 240px
| caption             = Western facade of the Arco Real
| pushpin_map         = Philippines Laguna#Luzon mainland#Philippines
| pushpin_map_alt     = 
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| altitude            = 
| building_type       = [[Triumphal arch]]
| architectural_style = [[Ancient Roman architecture|Roman]]
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| material            = [[Adobe]], [[Lime (material)|Lime]], [[Carabao]] [[milk]]
| cost                = 
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| location            = 
| address             = Rizal St.
| location_town       = [[Pagsanjan, Laguna|Pagsanjan]], [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]]
| location_country    = [[Philippines]]
| coordinates         = {{coord|14.273283|N|121.449060|E|region:PH-00_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date = 
| construction_start_date = 1878
| completion_date     = 1880
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}}

'''Pagsanjan Arch''' also known as '''''Puerto Real''''' or '''''Arco Real''''' is a historic town gate of [[Pagsanjan, Laguna]], [[Philippines]] built from 1878 to 1880 under the supervision of Fray Cipriano Bac. The arch was built by the people of Pagsanjan to express gratitude to their patroness, the [[Our Lady of Guadalupe]], from protecting the town from bandits in 1877.

== Location ==
The arch is located at the western entrance of the town along the National Highway.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Pagsanjan in History and Legend|last = Zaide|first = Gregorio|publisher =Social Studies Publications |year = 1975|url = https://books.google.com/books?ei=D2YbVKOFJ43G7AbEs4DwDA&id=NIQeAAAAMAAJ|chapter = Restoration of the Historic Town Gate|chapter-url = http://www.pagsanjan.org/hometown/historychap6_pg7.html}}</ref> It leads to Rizal Street (formerly ''Calle Real'') of the town.

== History ==

=== Bandits and the Virgin of Guadalupe ===
Bandits (termed ''tulisanes'') were rampant in [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]] during the last years of [[History of the Philippines (1565–1898)|Spanish colonization]]. Even the ''[[Guardia Civil#Philippines|Guardia Civil]] ''at that time cannot control the acts of the ''tulisanes. ''At midnight of December 8, 1877, a group of bandits led by a certain ''Tangkad'' (literally, “tall”) who had already plundered the nearby town of [[Majayjay, Laguna|Majayjay]], were at the western edge of Pagsanjan. As the bandits approached the town, they saw a beautiful lady in white brandishing a shining sword, with which she drew a line in the ground, proclaiming the town to be under her protection. The terrified bandits immediately fled to the mountains; a man named ''Mang'' Juan, a ''[[Cockfighting|sabungero]] ''who lived nearby, saw the whole event because of his [[insomnia]]. He told the event to the Spanish [[Parish|parish priest]] who reported it to sceptical authorities. On investigating the site, they saw the mark of the Virgin's sword, and believed. To express their gratitude to their [[Patron saint|patroness]], the [[Virgin of Guadalupe]], they built a stone gate on the exact site where the Virgin drew the line with her sword.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Pagsanjan in History and Legend|last = Zaide|first = Gregorio|publisher = Social Studies Publications |year = 1975|url = https://books.google.com/books?ei=D2YbVKOFJ43G7AbEs4DwDA&id=NIQeAAAAMAAJ|chapter-url = http://www.pagsanjan.org/hometown/historychap3_pg2.html|chapter = Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Bandits}}</ref>

=== Construction and restoration of the Arch ===
Under the supervision of the Franciscan Cipriano Bac and ''Don'' Manuel de Yriarte, Pagsanjan Arch was built from 1878 to 1880 by the townspeople through forced labor or ''[[polo y servicio]]''.<ref name=":0" /> It was also known as ''Puerta Real ''or Royal Gate during the Spanish era and [[History of the Philippines (1898–1946)|American occupation]].

During the Japanese liberation of the town, municipal authorities vandalized the historic gate by having it painted a gaudy pink, including the coat-of-arms and the two Castillan lions. The word '''''Pagsanjan''''' and the years of its construction, '''''1878–1880''''', written below it on the upper part of the gate's western façade were defaced and replaced with the greeting, "''Welcome''", and on the eastern side, ''"Thank U, Come Again"''. Historian [[Gregorio F. Zaide]], a native of the town, started a project to restore the historic gate through Pagsanjeños in Manila who generously gave ₱5,000. Upon obtaining permission from the National Historic Institute (now [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]]), the restoration process commenced under the supervision of Engr. Tito Rivera and was completed on May 25, 1975. A large copper plaque was placed on the wall of the first arch to commemorate thr donors.<ref name=":0" /> Today, the Arch still straddles a main thoroughfare of the town.

== Architectural style ==
Pagsanjan arch is well known for its three Roman arches<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=31&sobi2Id=1197&Itemid=56|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006090203/http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=31&sobi2Id=1197&Itemid=56|url-status = usurped|archive-date = October 6, 2014|title = Biyahero: Towns and Cities - Pagsanjan|access-date = June 21, 2014}}</ref> or gates made of adobe stones, lime and carabao milk. On top of the arch is the Royal coat-of-arms of Spain (or escutcheon) in gold and yellow guarded by two red Castillan lions.<ref name=":0" />

==Heritage designation==
[[File:Puerta Real ng Pagsanjan NHCP Historical Marker.png|thumb|Historical marker]]
The arch was declared as a national landmark by the [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]] on December 6, 2018. A [[Historical markers of the Philippines|historical marker]] was unveiled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pagsanjan’s gate declared national landmark |url=http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056120 |access-date=9 December 2018 |agency=Philippine News Agency |date=8 December 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church (Pagsanjan)|Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe]]

== References ==
<references />

{{Calabarzon attractions}}

[[Category:Marked Historical Structures of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Spanish Colonial architecture in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Triumphal arches in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1880]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Laguna (province)]]
[[Category:19th-century architecture in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Spanish era monuments in the Philippines]]