Mulanay, officially the Municipality of Mulanay (Tagalog: Bayan ng Mulanay), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,576 people.

This place is situated on the Bondoc Peninsula; its geographical coordinates are 13° 31′ 20″ North, 122° 24′ 15″ East, and its original name was Malunay. Mulanay is 149 kilometers (93 mi) from Lucena and 279 kilometers (173 mi) from Manila.

The town proper, with her plain landscape, is a coastal town facing the Tayabas Bay. The municipality is being considered to be listed in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription due to its architectural marvels, notably its baroque church, its preserved ancestral houses, and the Limestone tombs of Kamhantik, a highly-significant Tagalog archaeological site and dambana, in the Buenavista Protected Landscape.

Some legends would relate Mulanay to have derived its name from the Tagalog word Malunay, which means "Plenty of Lunay". Lunay is the vernacular term for Pili wax, which was abundant in the area.

Churches

San Pedro Apóstol Parish (est. 1835)

Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish (est. 2006)

History

The archaeological exploration and excavation at the Mt. Kamhantik Archaeological Site, led by Dr. Eusebio Z. Dizon from the National Museum of the Philippines, revealed that Mulanay was inhabited by an organized Austronesian-speaking community from 500 to 1300 AD, descended from Austronesians who migrated from Taiwan.

Carbon dating of teeth from burial No. 5 at the site revealed a date of 890 AD, while artifacts from a 2015 excavation included Neolithic stone tools and pottery similar to early Huynh-Kalanay styles from Taiwan and Vietnam, dating between 1000 BCE and 200 AD. Ceramics from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) were also discovered. These findings suggest that the ancestors from Mt. Kamhantik participated in trade networks between 500 and 1300 AD.

The evangelization of Mulanay by the Franciscan Missionaries was in 1600, while its civil foundation as a municipality was effected in 1745 through the approval of the King of Spain. During the Spanish regime, Mulanay was composed of the municipal territories of what is now San Narciso, San Francisco, Catanauan and San Andres, which was as big as the province of Bataan. In 1755, Catanauan became a separate municipality followed by other remaining municipalities. Mulanay's territorial jurisdiction was reduced to 42,000 hectares (100,000 acres). The original town of Mulanay composed of six (6) barangays was raided by the Moro pirates that led the town's executive together with the barangay heads to transfer the town site to the so-called Mayordomo, a sitio of Barangay Latangan. After several years, raids along coastal areas were lessened. The people returned to the town site, however, few barangay heads disagreed and left for Bantuin, Marinduque and Mindoro.

In 1938, barrios Bondo, Cawayan, Inabuan, Ilayang Tayuman, Ibabang Tayuman, Kasay, Mañongon, Pagsangahan, and Silongin were separated from Mulanay to form the newly established municipality of Bondo (present-day San Francisco).

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority Census Calendar Year 2010, it has a population of 50,826. The first town head of Mulanay during the Spanish Regime was Alcalde Mayor Eustaquio Manlangit, while the first town mayor during the American Occupation was Mayor Atanacio Ojeda.

Mulanay is politically subdivided into 28 barangays, four of which comprise the poblacion. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Population census of Mulanay

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	2,149	—
1918	3,404	+3.11%
1939	3,957	+0.72%
1948	5,149	+2.97%
1960	9,859	+5.56%
1970	23,481	+9.05%
1975	28,011	+3.60%
1980	31,701	+2.50%
1990	38,659	+2.00%
1995	43,617	+2.29%
2000	45,903	+1.10%
2007	48,538	+0.77%
2010	50,826	+1.69%
2015	53,123	+0.85%
2020	55,576	+0.89%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

The populace of Mulanay is composed of different ethnic groups like Tagalogs, Visayans and Bicolanos.

Poverty incidence of Mulanay

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2006 66.30 2009 31.49 2012 39.69 2015 34.28 2018 21.14 2021 20.34 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

The municipality is an agricultural town where farm crops like coconut, garlic, bananas, rice, corn, peanuts, mongo, ginger, squash, and other vegetables are abundantly harvested. Mulanay lies along the coast of Tayabas Bay, an abundant fishing ground.

Municipal council (2022 - 2025):

• Mayor: Aris Aguirre
• Vice-Mayor: Jay E. Castilleja

Councilors

• Tinan Aguirre-Adao
• Alex Morales
• Emmanuel De Luna
• Andy Baronia
• Vicky Sarapat
• Antonio Rodelas
• Marcel Diaz
• Rodil Rogel

Source: GMA News

Amuguis Falls

Amuguis Falls are located in Barangay Amuguis, Mulanay. With its own distinct and unique characteristics, waterfalls are undeveloped tourist destination. They are surrounded by forest trees and big rock formation where local folks usually go for picnics and gathering.

Malaking Bato

The century-old legendary boulder along the coast of Barangay Santa Rosa which had been famous as a unique picnic spot among the residents and visitors alike.

Buenavista Protected Landscape

A protected area situated in Barangay Buenavista that preserves a major watershed forest.

Limestone tombs of Kamhantik

A thousand-year-old limestone-curved burial site of ancient people declared as a certified historical site by the National Museum of the Philippines. It is located within the Buenavista Protected Landscape. The site is a high-level dambana to Anitism adherents.

• Mulanay Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System