Thankfully, through the steadfast efforts and dedication of the young mayor, actor Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito III, Pagsanjan has slowly recovered and is back on its former glory.

Although, as Mayor ER has said, "there’s a lot more to do for our beautiful town, but we’ve done something to put it in the map again, as the tourist capital of Laguna and hopefully to make it the premier world-class tourist destination in the Philippines."

Through the recently concluded "Pagsanjan Bangkero Festival," the young mayor had another opportunity to show off his town’s beauty and potential as a must-see tourist destination to some guests who graced the annual festive occasion for the people of Pagsanjan, among them Senator John Osmeña, who’s seeking reelection; MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and wife Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando (they had a shoe caravan that participated in the event), actors Efren Reyes, Rez Cortez and Niño Muhlach, some Department of Tourism peopled by the efficient and hardworking Cecile Villareal (who brought along a bunch of tourism writers from various newspapers and TV crews from GMA 7, ABS-CBN and IBC 13). Mayor ER’s cousin, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito was also there.

Helping Mayor ER entertain the guests and take turns with the mayor and his assistant Michael to emcee the program was Erwin Maceda, one of the five sons of former Senator Ernesto "Mr. Expose" Maceda who’s running for congressman of the 4th District of Laguna. Erwin, who has various business concerns in Pagsanjan, his abode for the past nine years now, is also the head of the Pagsanjan Tourism and Cultural Development Office.

The "Bangkero Festival," now on its sixth year, is becoming more vibrant and colorful with its line-up of exciting events like the traditional boat race (regatta), fluvial and land parade and the best river and land float competition, now incorporated with street dancing, drum & lyre band competition, chorale fest, cultural night, trade fairs, sports events, singing and modern dance contests, on-the-spot painting contest, dart tournament, cook fest, bangkero games, and the search for "Lakan at Binibining Pagsanjan" (now on its third year); "Ginoong Pagsanjan Bangkero" (also on its third year), initiated by Mayor ER, and the "Festival of Folk Dances" (on its second year), which had for guest performers the world famous Bayanihan Dance Company. Previously, no less than Lisa Macuja was special performer.

The "Pagsanjan Bangkero Festival" is inspired by and dedicated to Pagsanjan’s beloved patroness Our Lady of Guadalupe to whom Mayor ER is so devoted to he even named his and wife Maita’s youngest child Maria Guadalupe. "Our Lady has really been miraculous to me," Mayor ER confessed.

"Bangkero" is the Tagalog word for boatman. In Pagsanjan, the bangkeros expertly paddle and maneuver upstream a banca against wild rapids and amidst a pristine panorama of lush, virgin forest and gorge in a two-hour boat ride to the world-famous Pagsanjan Falls. These dexterous and skilled boatmen spend most of their time in the river. They are natural navigators and tour guides as they safely steer the tourists’ bancas in an exhilirating, spine-tingling, adrenaline-pumping shooting-the-rapids experience.

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