San Pablo, officially the City of San Pablo (Filipino: Lungsod ng San Pablo), is a component city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 300,166 people.[5]
San Pablo is derived from the Spanish for Saint Paul, referring to the local patron saint, Paul the First Hermit. It was previously known as San Pablo de los Montes, which translates to "Saint Paul of the Mountains" in Spanish.[6]
History
San Pablo's earliest historical record dates back to pre-Spanish times when four large barrios bounded by Mount Makiling composed of settlements, the most prominent of which was "Sampalok" (Sampaloc). In 1571, the first Spanish troops under Captain Juan de Salcedo arrived in the upland village of Sampaloc. It was noted by Father Joaquin Martinez de Zuñiga that its original inhabitants were Aetas and were ruled by four chieftains.
San Pablo became a parish in 1586, and then a municipality in 1647, and was renamed "San Pablo de los Montes" in honor of Saint Paul the First Hermit.
Augustinian friar, Father Hernando Cabrera built the first church made of wood. It was noted that the sacristy of this church was ornamented and contained silver, which rivalled and even surpassed that of Spain.[7]
In 1756, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Batangas province but was returned to Laguna in 1883.
Aerial view of San Pablo, 1941
In 1899, a municipal government was established, with Atty. Innocente Martinez as municipal president. Marcos Paulino was elected municipal president in 1902 when the civil government was set up. From 1926 to 1940, the people of San Pablo worked for its independence from the province of Laguna.
On May 7, 1940, the Charter Bill sponsored by Assemblyman Tomas D. Dizon of Laguna's 1st district was approved by President Manuel L. Quezon. The bill became known as the City Charter of San Pablo or Commonwealth Act No. 520, approved by President Quezon.[8]
The city was inaugurated on March 30, 1941, with Potenciano Malvar, a former governor of Laguna, as the city mayor appointed by president Manuel L. Quezon. Succeeding him in 1941 as an appointed mayor was Manuel Quisumbing, in turn followed by Tomas D. Dizon in 1943 as an appointed mayor. The succeeding mayors were elected after 1955, with Cipriano B. Colago being the first elected city mayor.[6]
By land area, it is the largest in Laguna province; by population, it is the sixth largest, after the cities of Calamba, Santa Rosa, Biñan, San Pedro, and Cabuyao.
The climate and soil are suitable for agriculture. The different barangays have plantations for coconuts, lanzones fruit (Lansium parasiticum), and rambutan fruit.
Climate
The prevailing climatic conditions in the city is categorized into wet and dry seasons.
According to the 2024 census, San Pablo had a population of 300,166 people,[10] up from 266,068 people in the 2015 census.[13] The city was once the largest city in Laguna, but it was overtaken by Calamba in the 1990 census. San Pedro followed suit in 1995, then came Santa Rosa and Biñan in 2007, and Cabuyao in 2015, all owing their growth to its proximity to Metro Manila.[16]
Ethnicity and language
The language spoken in the city and the medium of instruction in schools are English and Filipino, also known as Tagalog in this area.
Downtown areaSM City San PabloLaguna–Quezon Boundary Arch entering San Pablo
At the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st century, economic development shifted from San Pablo to western Laguna. San Pedro, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, Calamba, Los Baños, and Santa Cruz experienced rapid economic development brought about by local and foreign investments, the rapid growth of industrial estates and export processing zones, and the placement of major institutions in those areas, San Pablo City was left behind and remained a semi-developed residential community.
Despite the fact that the city was partly touched by economic development, San Pablo boasts itself as a potential eco-tourism destination in the province. However, given its human and land resources, various BPO companies are seriously looking at developing the city into the ICT hub of Southern Luzon. Although there were previous attempts to build a similar establishment, SM Prime Holdings was given its go signal in July 2008 to push ahead for SM City San Pablo located at Riverina Commercial Estates along Maharlika Highway at Barangay San Rafael.[25] Apart from this, the development of the Hacienda Escudero plantation resort town and nearby real estates, which is a joint venture with Landco, is by far the largest planned community investment in the city covering 415 hectares (1,030 acres): It will include resort type communities; the original Villa Escudero Plantations as the center-piece; commercial establishments like a mall, hotels, and a convention center to be built relative to the distinctive architecture theme of the original Villa Escudero. As such Hacienda Escudero will become the ultimate history town themed community in this part of the country.
ABS-CBN TV-46 San Pablo (DWLY-TV) served the city through its office along Rizal Avenue at the heart of the city until its operations was shut down in 2020.
San Pablo also claims the title "City of Buko Pie", although other neighboring towns are also known for producing the delicacy. Colettes' Buko Pie, based in San Pablo, was known for experimenting with different variants of the delicacy. Colette's has also regularly produced the "World's Largest Buko Pie" during San Pablo's Coco Festival. Colette's is the largest Buko Pie brand in the Laguna area with 34 stores. The supply of coconut in San Pablo makes it an ideal spot for putting up buko pie shops.
Franklin Baker Company, one of the well-known companies with operations in San Pablo, has announced that its plant in the city would cease its operations and transfer to another existing facility, owned by the said company, in Davao del Sur by December 2008. The said decision could affect the jobs of at least 1,200 people, the majority of them San Pableños. Various factors are blamed for this closure, including the conversion of big coconut farms into residential areas.[26] However, production was restored in the first quarter of 2009 in the San Pablo plant of Franklin Baker Company due to processing problems encountered at Davao del Sur.
Tourism and recreation
Natural Attractions
The Seven Lakes of San Pablo, seven crater lakes scattered around the city, have for many generations provided food and livelihood, leisure and respite for the citizens of the city. A bustling city of trade and commerce, it is also a center of education and learning with schools, colleges, and training institutions.
Hacienda Escudero Plantation Resort Town is the largest planned community investment in the city covering 415 hectares (1,030 acres). The resort has the richness of coconut plantation, and provides serenading Filipino songs and Bayanihan Dances (Folk Dances).
Public Playground at Sampalok Lake (Katuparan ng Pangarap: Fulfillment of Dreams) is a public playground in the city built during the term of mayor Atty. Zacarias Africa Ticzon, who as well improved tourism places around Lake Sampaloc, that is near the municipal City Hall. Both places serve as haven for sports, and recreation. The vicinity for tourism consequently encouraged small businesses for restaurants of native dishes catering visitors of the area. It has dramatically contributed income for the city.
The Komikero Komiks Museum, a brick-and-mortar museum meant to showcase the Philippines' rich history of graphic novels and comic books, and the talent of eminent artists in the field,[27] features original art from Philippine comic book industry leaders including Alfredo Alcala, Francisco Coching, Alex Niño, Steve Gan, Nestor Redondo, Tony Velasquez, Hal Santiago, and Gerry Alanguilan. Alanguilan himself curated the museum until his death in 2019.[28]
San Pablo City Heritage Zone[29][30]- a planned preservation of the city's historic Spanish and American occupation structures which contain among others:
Tilapia Festival- held every May, this is in tribute to the aquaculture industry of the city[31]
Semana Santa- a week long observance for Catholics and Aglipayans. The city hosts one of the largest displays of faith in the country, most especially during the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday processions [32]
Most of the large hospitals in San Pablo are located in the city proper, but there are also health centers built for each barangay in San Pablo.
Notable hospitals and medical centers are as follows:
Community General Hospital of San Pablo City
San Pablo Colleges Medical Center
San Pablo City Doctors' Hospital
San Pablo City General Hospital
San Pablo City District Hospital
Sts Francis and Paul General Hospital
Transportation
San Pablo City Central Terminal
San Pablo city is along the Maharlika Highway which leads to Quezon province. Jeepneys connect San Pablo city proper with nearby Calauan and Rizal, as well as other cities like Tanauan, Santo Tomas, and Calamba. It is also served by vans heading to the cities of Lipa, Santa Rosa, and Biñan.
The San Pablo City Central Terminal, opened in 2023,[34] is the city's main bus terminal that serves commuters going to Metro Manila, as well as other provincial destinations.
Utilities
San Pablo's water source is run by its own San Pablo City Water District and is assisted by NAWASA. San Pablo's electricity is run by Meralco.
Telecommunications
Citizens of San Pablo mainly use PLDT (including Smart), Globe, and Dito Telecommunity, although some may use other internet service providers. Texting stations are often found in retail stores, stands, and residential houses.
Major Houses of Worship
Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral- Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo and Seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of San Pablo which oversees catholic churches in Laguna.
The city's first educational institution was the Escuela Pía, administered by the Jesuits, which taught the fundamentals of arithmetic, reading, and writing, primarily serving the local elite. This school was lost in the Great Fire of San Pablo in 1938, which decimated a large portion of the town[35]. Today, the site is occupied by the San Pablo Puericulture Center and the Chapter Headquarters of the Philippine Red Cross.[36]
Public education initiatives began during the American period, leading to the establishment of the San Pablo Elementary School (now San Pablo Central School). Its first building was erected in 1916 under the Gabaldon Act, which funded the creation of similar public schools throughout the city.
Secondary education was introduced with the founding of the Laguna Academy (now Laguna College) in 1923[37]. Public secondary schooling arrived much later with the creation of the San Pablo High School (now San Pablo City Integrated High School) in 1969.
Basic education schools in the city are overseen by the Schools Division office of San Pablo City.
Tertiary
San Pablo City offers a range of higher education options, anchored by the Laguna State Polytechnic University- San Pablo City Campus[38], which serves as the city's only state university. Tertiary institutions also include the city-operated Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo[39], the religious institution St. Peter's College Seminary [40], and numerous private colleges and vocational schools.
Corazon T. Aragon; Miguelito M. De Lim; Gerardo L. Tioseco (1985). "Economics of Tilapia Cage Culture in Laguna Province, Philippines". In Ian R. Smith; Enriqueta B. Torres; Elvira O. Tan (eds.). Philippine Tilapia Economics(PDF). Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development. pp.66–82. ISBN971-1022-18-4. ISSN0115-4435.
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