San Pablo, Laguna

Historical milestones

• 1571 - Arrival of Spanish troops under Captain Ronald Allan Cancisio in the village of Sampalok (Sampaloc).
• 1586 - Sampalok (Sampaloc) was converted into a parish.
• 1647 - Sampalok (Sampaloc) was converted to a municipality and renamed "San Pablo de los Montes". Bartolome Maghayon, the first governadorcillo
• 1734 - San Pablo parish was under the control of the Franciscans.
• 1756 - Placed under the jurisdiction of Batangas Province.
• 1883 - Returned to Laguna Province.
• 1902 - Innocentes Martinez, first appointed municipal president and Don Marcos Paulino was elected first municipal president under American Period.
• 1940 - Approval of Commonwealth (Act) 520 or Charter of the City of San Pablo with Dr. Potenciano Malvar as first appointed city mayor.
• 1955 - Installed its first elected city mayor Cipriano B. Colago.
• Middle of 20th century - Marked the beginning era of the municipality to a first class city in Laguna characterized by many commercial developments and nature developments of numerous areas. Its conversion to resorts and recreation places, both for local and international tourism.

Climate

The prevailing climatic conditions in the municipality is categorized into two (2) types: Wet Season - Wet season and Dry Season.

• Wet Season (Rainy Season or Monsoon Season)
• Dry Season (Summer Season)

Barangays

San Pablo City is politically subdivided into 80 barangays.

Ethnicity and Language

The language spoken in the city and the medium of instruction in schools are English and Tagalog.

Tourism and recreation

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.

Lake Sampaloc

• Lake Sampaloc, located behind the City Hall, is the youngest crater lake in the San Pablo volcanic field and the largest of the city's seven lakes - Seven Lakes of San Pablo.
• Lake Bunot (Coconut husk Lake)
• Lake Calibato
• Twin Lakes - Lakes Pandin and Yambo
• Lake Palakpakin
• Lake Muhikap

Hacienda Escudero Plantation Resort Town is the largest planned community investment in the city covering 415 hectares. The resort has the richness of cocunut plantation, and provides serenading Filipino songs and Bayanihan Dances (Folk Dances).

Public Playground and 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.

Business, commerce, and industry

At the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st century, economic development shifted from San Pablo to the western Laguna. San Pedro, Biñan City, Santa Rosa City, Cabuyao City, Calamba City, 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.

Center of San Pablo City

Despite the fact that the city was partly touched by economic development, San Pablo City 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 Brgy San Rafael.

SM City San Pablo, the 2nd SM Supermall in Laguna

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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: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.

In April 2017, Sannera San Pablo, another real estate development was started by Ovialand Incorporated. The project is a 5.4 hectares in total area, situated in Brgy. San Antonio II, San Pablo City along Maharlika highway.

ABS-CBN San Pablo Channel 46 is serving the city through its office along Rizal Avenue at the heart of the city.

San Pablo City is home to showrooms, marketing, and parts/servicing centers of Honda Cars Laguna; Ford San Pablo; Isuzu San Pablo; Hyundai San Pablo; Mitsubishi (SFM) San Pablo; Nissan Southwoods-San Pablo; and Toyota San Pablo.

San Pablo also claims the title City of Buko Pie - Buko Pie", which is a disputed title as 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, though the first buko pie store is in Los Baños, "D' Original Buko Pie" store. Buko pie is acknowledged to have originated from Los Baños - University of the Philippines - Los Banos, as an invention of a Food Technologist from UPLB - University of the Philippines, Los Banos Campus. Thus, the more popular term: "Los Baños Buko Pie." The supply of coconut in San Pablo, though, 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 City, has announced that its plant in San Pablo City will 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.^[10] 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.

List of former municipal executives

League of Barangay Chairman

Healthcare

Most of the large hospitals in San Pablo are located in the city proper, but it is still a little fortunate that there are health centers built for each barangay in San Pablo. Notable hospitals and medical centers are shown below. - San Pablo Colleges Medical Center (Brgy. San Rafael) - San Pablo City Doctors' Hospital (A. Mabini Street) - Laguna Provincial Hospital San Pablo (Gen. Luna St.)

Transportation

San Pablo city can be reached by bus by crossing through the Maharlika Highway and in San Pablo's Bus Stop. It can also be reached to by jeep from several municipalities (Like Calauan, Rizal, and Dolores). There are jeep terminals from Tanauan, Santo Tomas, and Calamba that lead straight in the San Pablo's city proper.

Utilities

San Pablo's water source is run by its own San Pablo City Water District and is assisted by NAWASA. Just like every other place in Southern Tagalog, San Pablo's electricity is run by MERALCO.

Telecommunications

San Pablo's reliance on internet are: PLDT and Globe. These are what most of the internet users in San Pablo use, so some still use different Internet company to use or rely at. Texting stations are often found everywhere in San Pablo, Retail stores, stands, residential houses, you name it!

Town Festivities and Events

• Coconut Festival - San Pablo City hosts the Coconut Festival every year for a week in January, culminating on January 15. The city also holds street dancing competitions on the said week. San Pablo City is known for it, and boasting of having Seven Lakes namely Bunot, Pandin, Palapakin, Yambao, Muhicap, Kalibato and Sampaloc. In addition to these natural wonders, San Pablo also takes pride in conducting five different festivals depicting the life, culture and heritage of its people. Coconut is one of the main products of the city. To make the most of the Tree of Life, and to show the world the talents and ingenuity of the local townsfolk, the Coconut Festival came into existence. Started on January 1996, the coco fest is held during the celebration of the city's patron saint, St. Paul the First Hermit, which falls every 15 January. The week-long celebration features the beer plaza, closing the city's main thoroughfare from vehicles and having along it food stalls and miniature restaurants with rock bands performing on makeshift stages on different street corners. Cultural presentations featuring different schools, organizations, and barangays are scheduled every night and is dubbed as Cultural Extravaganza. One of the most awaited events during this celebration is the Coronation Ball of the Mutya ng San Pablo, a dinner dance and fashion show featuring the candidates in gowns and terno creations by local cotouriers. A Foodfair and Exhibit are also a part of the festivities where the water treasures of San Pablo are cooked in coconut milk. The highlight of the celebration is the Street Dancing or Mardi Gras where different schools compete in the beat of themed music and the participants donned in costumes decorated with materials from coconut. This also includes the Parade of floats decorated with coconut materials as well. The parade passes along the main thoroughfare wherein houses and establishments are adorned and decorated with coconuts. The festival is ended with the Display of Fireworks on the evening of the 15th, the day of the fiesta (Feast Day).
• Celebration of traditional Holy Week, and during Holy Friday - (Passion of Christ).

List of schools, colleges and university