Pagsanjan Arch, Stone city gate in Pagsanjan, Philippines.
Pagsanjan Arch is a city gate featuring three arched openings built from stone, lime, and traditional materials, topped with the Spanish royal coat of arms. The structure serves as a substantial entrance on the town's western edge along the main thoroughfare.
Local residents built the gate between 1878 and 1880 under the supervision of Fray Cipriano Bac and Don Manuel de Yriarte. This period marked when the town shaped its western boundary with an enduring stone structure.
The gate shows how Spanish colonists mixed local materials and traditional Philippine building methods with European architectural styles. This blend reflects how two cultures met in the town's physical form.
The gate is easy to reach since it sits directly on the National Highway and marks the entrance to the town's main street. You can visit the spot during daylight hours and get a good sense of the town layout from there.
The structure was built with unusual materials including lime mixed with carabao milk to strengthen the mortar. This traditional technique was a local innovation that helped the gate endure for generations.
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