Situated 82 kilometers southeast of Manila, about 500 feet above the mean sea level, San Pablo City is a fascinating blend of natural beauties and timeless history. Known as the City of Seven Lakes, lies in the apex of the heart-shaped Province of Laguna, fanned by the swaying coconut breeze, nestling among the foothills of Mounts San Cristobal and Banahaw.
Archaeological diggings under-taken before World War II initiated by the late Don Arsenio M. Escudero reveals that it is a thriving community that had existed long before the coming of the Spaniards. From a big settlements (or barangay), Sampalok, of the town of Bay, the Augustinian fathers made it into a parish in 1596, then into a town or pueblo under a gobernadorcillo in 1647, and renamed it San Pablo delos Montes, after Saint Paul, The First Hermit, at first under the Province of Laguna, later under Batangas for 100 years, then back to Laguna before the outbreak of the Philippine-Spanish War. Through the untiring and determined effort of Assemblyman Tomas D. Dizon, it has blossomed into a city, created under Commonwealth Act No. 520 approved by President Manuel L. Quezon on May 7, 1940. Dr. Potenciano Malvar, a former governor, was appointed as first city mayor by Quezon. He was formally inducted into office on January 2, 1941.
An urban-agricultural community populated by 207,927 souls, divided into 44,166 families (NSO May 1, 2000 Census), San Pablo City has an area of 21,400 hectares (DENR-Land Management Bureau figure) bestowed by nature with seven (7) crater lakes, five rivers, and eight creeks, which in its water now abound with tilapia, carps, ayungin , dalag and prawn. The city is divided into 80 barangay, with 48 barangay consider as rural community, interconnected by a spiderweb road networks, almost 75% of the total land area are serve by the San Pablo City Water District, and all the 80 barangays are fully energized and electrified being serviced by Manila Electric Company.
Apparently, San Pablo City is fast becoming the seat or hub of regional operations for several government agencies and private enterprises. For the 2001 National and Local Elections, San Pablo City has 104,432 registered voters divided into 566 precincts or voting centers. (COMELEC Report)
Here is San Pablo City. Proud of its legendary and noble past, enjoying its challenging present. Hopeful of its future.
Land Area
:
21,400 hectares
Population
183,757 (census 1995)
Climate
dry season (Jan-April) wet season (rest of the year)
Dialect
Tagalog
No.of.Barangays
80
1571 - Arrival of Spanish troops under Captain Juan de Salcedo in the village of Sampalok.
1586 - Sampalok was converted into parish.
1647 - Sampalok was converted to a municipality and renamed San Pablo de los Montes.
1756 - Placed under jurisdiction of Batangas Province.
1883 - Returned to Laguna Province.
1902 - Don Marcos Paulino was elected first Municipal President under the Americans.
1940 - Approval of Commonwealth (Act) 520 or Charter of the City of San Pablo with Dr. Potenciano Malvar as first appointive City Mayor.
1955 - Installed first elected City Mayor Cipriano B. Colago.
San Pablo, the City of Seven Lakes, lies in the southern portion of Laguna province, Philippines. It is accessible by road via adjoining municipalities:
A 90 minute-drive from Manila and 60-minute-drive from Lucena City, San Pablo is favored with generous stretches of concrete pavements of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway.
Major bus companies ply the developed and well-maintained provincial roads daily to and from adjacent urban centers in the Philippine capital, Manila and in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon provinces.
Domestic and foreign tourists go to Manila by air, sea or land, before proceeding by land to San Pablo City.