San Fernando, La Union

San Fernando
Component City
City of San Fernando
Skyline of San Fernando, La Union
San Fernando Skyline

Seal
Nickname(s): The Prime Capital of Ilocandia
Botanical Garden City

Map of La Union with San Fernando highlighted
San Fernando
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°37′N 120°19′E / 16.62°N 120.32°E / 16.62; 120.32Coordinates: 16°37′N 120°19′E / 16.62°N 120.32°E / 16.62; 120.32
Country  Philippines
Region Ilocos Region (Region I)
Province La Union
District 1st District
Founded 1850
Cityhood March 20, 1998
Barangays 59 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
 • Type Sangguniang Panlungsod
 • Mayor Hermenegildo A. Gualberto
 • Electorate 66,197 voters (2016)
Area [2]
 • Total 102.72 km2 (39.66 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 121,812
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 2500
PSGC 013314000
IDD : area code  +63 (0)72
Climate type Tropical monsoon climate
Income class 3rd city income class
Revenue (₱) 681,363,863.32 (2016)
Native languages Ilocano
Tagalog
Website www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph

San Fernando, officially the City of San Fernando (Ilokano: Siudad ti San Fernando, Pangasinan: Siyudad na San Fernando, Filipino: Lungsod ng San Fernando), is a 3rd class component city in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 121,812 people.[3]

The city is bounded by San Juan to the north, Bauang to the south, Bagulin and Naguilian to the east, and the South China Sea to the west. It has a land area of 10,272 hectares (25,380 acres). [2]

San Fernando is the financial, industrial and political center of the province, as well as the regional center of the Ilocos Region (Region I) in the Philippines.

San Fernando became a city by virtue of Republic Act 8509 signed into law on February 13, 1998 and ratified on March 20, 1998 by a plebiscite.[4]

San Fernando is 269 kilometres (167 mi) from Metro Manila.

History

San Fernando was founded in 1786 and was named after Saint Ferdinand III of Castile. The city's original settlements, San Vicente de Balanac and San Guillermo de Dalangdang, were attacked by pirates and headhunters.

In 1759, Augustinian friar, Padre José Torres fused these 2 settlements to Pindangan (local word for a place to dry fish), where a church dedicated to San Guillermo the Hermit was. This church is now the Cathedral of St. William the Hermit. The massive 1860's earthquake destroyed the church which was later rebuilt.

It became the cabecera or provincial capital of La Union province in 1850.

From 1896 until 1898, during the Philippine Revolution, the Spanish garrison of San Fernando was attacked by Filipino insurgents under Manuel Tinio y Bundoc and Mauro Ortiz. The Spaniards were finally ousted.

In the Second World War, the last battle of San Fernando was fought during the Japanese occupation at Barangay Bacsil. The Bacsil Ridge Monument was built on the site in the city, the north-eastern portion of the town plaza. The victory enabled the establishment of the United States Army Base, Base M at Poro Point (a buildup area for the Japan invasion).[5] The town was liberated in 1945.[6]

Demographics

Population census of San Fernando
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 16,095—    
1918 19,881+1.42%
1939 23,366+0.77%
1948 28,742+2.33%
1960 37,836+2.32%
1970 52,597+3.34%
1975 61,166+3.07%
1980 68,410+2.26%
1990 84,949+2.19%
1995 91,943+1.49%
2000 102,082+2.27%
2007 114,813+1.63%
2010 114,963+0.05%
2015 121,812+1.11%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][7][8][9]

In the 2015 census, the population of San Fernando, La Union, was 121,812 people,[3] with a density of 1,200 inhabitants per square kilometre or 3,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

San Fernando is mainly agricultural (rice, legumes, leafy vegetables, root crops, fruit trees, corn and tobacco). But residents treat fishing in coastline and seashore areas as secondary means of livelihood. The natives also have inabel (hand-woven cloth), baskets, shell crafts, including foods, such as kilawen and papaitan, basi, sukang iloko and paslubong such as guapples, longganiza, honey and native rice cakes, puto, suman and bibingka.

Patopat is San Fernando's native delicacy, made from "agdapil" (sugarcane, a tall tropical Southeast Asian Grass (Saccharum officinarum).[10]

San Fernando has many class A hotels and resorts and night clubs.

Local government

The mayor and other elected officers hold office at the city hall of San Fernando. The Sangguniang Bayan is legislature, stationed in the Don Mariano Marcos Building, the Legislative Building in front of the city hall.

Barangays

San Fernando is divided into 59 barangays. [2]

  • Abut
  • Apaleng
  • Bacsil
  • Bangbangolan
  • Bangcusay
  • Barangay I (Poblacion)
  • Barangay II (Poblacion)
  • Barangay III (Poblacion)
  • Barangay IV (Poblacion)
  • Baraoas
  • Bato
  • Biday
  • Birunget
  • Bungro
  • Cabaroan (Negro)
  • Cabarsican
  • Cadaclan
  • Calabugao
  • Camansi
  • Canaoay
  • Carlatan
  • Catbangen
  • Dallangayan Este
  • Dallangayan Oeste
  • Dalumpinas Este
  • Dalumpinas Oeste
  • Ilocanos Norte
  • Ilocanos Sur
  • Langcuas
  • Lingsat
  • Madayegdeg
  • Mameltac
  • Masicong
  • Nagyubuyuban
  • Namtutan
  • Narra Este
  • Narra Oeste
  • Pacpaco
  • Pagdalagan
  • Pagdaraoan
  • Pagudpud
  • Pao Norte
  • Pao Sur
  • Parian
  • Pias
  • Poro
  • Puspus
  • Sacyud
  • Sagayad
  • San Agustin
  • San Francisco
  • San Vicente
  • Santiago Norte
  • Santiago Sur
  • Saoay
  • Sevilla
  • Siboan-Otong
  • Tanqui
  • Tanquigan

List of former chief executives

  • 1895-1898 — Paulino Alviar
  • 1899-1901 — Blas Tadiar
  • 1901-1903 — Urbano Martínez
  • 1904-1905 — Edilberto Aquino
  • 1906-1907 — Francisco Z. Flores
  • 1908-1909 — Angel Salanga
  • 1910-1911 — José Hidalgo
  • 1912-1914 — Anastacio Casuga
  • 1915-1918 — Juan Salanga
  • 1919-1921 — Ulpiano Flores
  • 1922-1928 — Pedro R. Flores
  • 1928 — Francisco Galvez
  • 1928-1930 — Evaristo Galvez
  • 1931-1933 — Gaspar Flores
  • 1934-1936 — Lauro Casuga
  • 1936-1939 — Paulino Flores
  • 1942-1944 — Juan Salanga
  • 1945-1946 — Modesto Aquino
  • 1946-1955 — Lorenzo L. Dacanay
  • 1956-1959 — Godofredo G. Rilloraza
  • 1960-1971 — Lorenzo L. Dacanay
  • 1972-1980 — Antonio Feraren
  • 1980 — Joaquin T. Ortega
  • 1980-1987 — Justo O. Orros Jr.
  • 1987 — Rufo T. Colisao
  • 1987-1988 — Angel Salanga
  • 1988-1998 — Manuel C. Ortega
  • 1998-2007 — Mary Jane C. Ortega
  • 2007–2016 — Pablo C. Ortega
  • 2016–present — Hermenegildo A. Gualberto

Elected officials

City hall

Elected officials (June 30, 2016 – 2019):[11]

  • Mayor: Hermenegildo A. Gualberto
  • Vice Mayor: Alfred Pablo R. Ortega
  • Councilors:
    • Jessie Miranda
    • Ferdinand Verzosa
    • Maria Rosario Eufrosina Nisce
    • Antonio Jucar
    • Ramon Melecio Gurion
    • Ramon Laudencia
    • Ramon Ortega
    • Francisco Paolo Ortega
    • Mario Lacsamana
    • John Orros
    • Arnel Almazan
    • Ernesto Rafon
    • Adrian Kenneth Fragante

Annual community events

Thunderbird Resort Poro Point

The city has a yearly fiesta, celebrated from January 28 to February 15, where a trade fair is opened near the city hall.

The following events happen annually: Annual City Fiesta, February 10; Bacsil Ridge Celebration, March 19; Pindangan Festival, March 20; Ma-tzu Festival, September 16.[12][13]

Tourism

  • Poro Point
  • The La Union Botanical Garden (8 kilometers from the city) – is a 10 hectare garden (Barangay Cadaclan), the home of various species of rare plants and a sanctuary of wild animals.
  • Battle of Bacsil Ridge Marker
  • Pindangan Ruins (Barangay Parian)
  • Hobbitat Forest Park
  • Poro Point Baywalk (Brgy. Poro)
  • Seven Hills
    • Capitol Hill (Barangay II) home of the Provincial Capitol
    • Pagoda Hill also known as Filipino-Chinese Friendship Park or Chinese Pagoda (Barangay II)
    • Heroes’ Hill & Freedom Park Stairway (153 steps) located at the eastern portion of Capitol Hill
    • Bethany Hill (Barangay II)
    • Mirador Hill (Barangay II)
    • Mariner's Hill (Barangay Catbangen)
    • Miracle Hill (Barangay Pagdaraoan)
  • Christ the Redeemer (25 foot statue, Reservoir Hill, Barangay I)
  • Poro Point Lighthouse
  • Moro Watch Tower (Barangay Carlatan)
  • La Union Science Centrum & Museum (LUSCM has 5 Galleries: Kadaklan Burial Site and Environmental Gallery, Museum, Dark Room, Main Science Gallery and Portable Planetarium (Barangay Cadaclan)
  • Ma-Cho Temple
  • Tomb of Unknown Soldier (Barangay Madayegdeg)
  • Cathedral of St. William the Hermit (Barangay II, Poblacion)
  • Kasay Marine Sanctuary: 30 hectares MPA, featuring the 50 years old Giant clam or Tridacna gigas (Barangay Canaoay)
  • Children’s Park (Barangay II, City Plaza)
  • 10.6 hectares Engineered Sanitary Landfill (Barangay Mameltac)[14]
  • La Union Trade Center (beside the City Hall)

Sister city

Naga, Camarines Sur

Valenzuela City

References

  1. ↑ "City". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Republic Act No. 8509 - An Act Converting the Municipality of San Fernando, La Union, Into a Component City To Be Known As the City of San Fernando". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. 13 February 1998. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Battle of San Fernando Marker in San Fernando (La Union)". Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "History". The Official Website of San Fernando City, La Union. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  9. ↑ "Province of La Union". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  10. ↑ Madrid, Myla B. (6 July 2010). ""PATOPAT", A Native Delicacy". The Official Website of San Fernando City, La Union. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Joint Oath-Taking and Inauguration of Newly-Elect Officials of the Province of La Union and City of San Fernando Archived 2014-06-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
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