This is the wikipedia entry for San Pablo City as of 2008/09/17

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San Pablo City, Laguna

Location
Map of Laguna showing the location of San Pablo City.
Government
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Laguna
District	Third District of Laguna
Barangays	80
Income class:	1st class city; urban
Mayor	Vicente Belen Amante (NPC)
Cityhood	May 7, 1940
Physical characteristics
Area	197.60 km²
Population
Total (2007)	{{{pop2007}}}

The City of San Pablo (Filipino: Lungsod ng San Pablo), a first class city in the province of Laguna,Philippines, is one of the country's oldest cities. The City of San Pablo lies in the southern portion of Laguna province. This city is otherwise known as the "City of Seven Lakes" (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pitong Lawa) because it has seven lakes -- Sampalok, Palakpakin, Yambo, Bunot, Pandin, Muhikap, and Calibato. By Land Area, it is the largest in the province of laguna. By population, it ranks fifth in the province of Laguna. San Pablo City was once part of the Archdiocese of Lipa since 1910 but onNovember 28, 1967 it became an independent diocese and became as the Diocese of San Pablo.

[edit]History

San Pablo City's earliest historical record dates back to pre-Spanish times when four large barrios bounded by Mt. Makiling composed "Sampalok". In 1521, the first Spanish troops under Captain Juan de Salcedo arrived in the upland village of Sampaloc, which became a parish in 1586, and then a municipality in 1647, and was renamed "San Pablo de Los Montes" in honor of St. Paul, the First Hermit. In 1756 it was placed under the jurisdiction of Batangas Province but was returned in 1883 to Laguna. In 1899, a municipal government was established, with Inocente 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 ofLaguna. On May 7, 1940, the Charter Bill sponsored by Congressman Tomas Dizon was approved. The bill became known as the City Charter of San Pablo or Commonwealth Act No. 520. The city was inaugurated on March 30, 1941, with Dr. Potenciano Malvar as the appointed city mayor. Currently, Vicente "Vic" Amante is the mayor together with Frederick Martin A. Ilagan as the vice-mayor of the city until 2010.

[edit]Economic activities

"Sampaloc Lake", located behind the city hall, is the youngest crater lake in the San Pablo volcanic fieldand the largest of the city's seven lakes. The lake has 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.

However, at the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st century, economic development seemed to have left and completely ignored San Pablo. WhileSan Pedro, Biñan, Santa Rosa City, Cabuyao, 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 as a semi-developed residential community.

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. SM Prime Holdings is planning to open SM Supercenter San Pablo (a downsized SM mall) in 2008. This was shot down due to political pressure.However, just this July 2008, SM Prime Holdings was given go signal to push ahead for the establishment of SM City San Pablo . Construction starts late September 2008 and is expected to open after ten months at Riverina Commerial and Residential estates in Barangay San Rafael. Apart from this, the development of the Hacienda Escudero and nearby real estates is by far the largest planned community investment in the city. it is a joint venture with Landco.

San Pablo also claims the title "City of Buko Pie" (Coconut 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 as an invention of a Food Technologist from UPLB. 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 persons, the majority of them San Pableños. Various factors are blamed for this closure, including the conversion of big coconut farms into residential areas. ^[1]

Barangays

San Pablo City is politically subdivided into 80 barangays

City Officials

Population

According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 207,927 people in 44,166 households, but in 2005 Santa Rosa City surpassed it as the fourth largest city or town in Laguna, reducing it to fifth in rank after Calamba City, San Pedro, Biñan, and Santa Rosa City.

Events

San Pablo City hosts the Coconut Festival every year for a week in January, culminating on January 15. [1] The city also holds street dancing competitions. The city marks New Year's Eve with a fireworks spectacular over Sampaloc Lake.

School Districts

The Schools Division of San Pablo City is divided into seven school districts. Each is headed by a district supervisor:

• Ambray
• Dapdapan
• Del Remedio
• Fule-Almeda
• Lakeside
• San Francisco
• Santo Angel

Public Secondary Schools

San Pablo City has 12 functioning public high schools.

Private Schools, Colleges and Universities

San Pablo City has one university and several colleges and private schools.

University

• Laguna State Polytechnic University (San Pablo Campus)

Other Private Schools and Colleges

• The Laguna College: The first private school in the city and in the Province of Laguna
• San Pablo Colleges
• Canossa College
• STI (Systems Technology Institute)
• Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo (DLSP)
• MSC Institute of Technology
• Montessori Professional College (San Pablo Campus)
• San Pablo City Science High School
• West Greenville (Laguna) Colleges, Inc
• Saint Peter's College Seminary and Formation Institute
• St. Joseph School
• Liceo de San Pablo (Formerly Ateneo de San Pablo)
• Scoula dei Bambini Di Sta. Teresita
• Blue Danube School Inc.
• Academia de San Ignacio de Loyola

Hospitals

• San Pablo Doctors Hospital
• Community General Hospital
• San Pablo Colleges and Medical Center
• San Pablo City District Hospital
• Immaculate Concepcion Hospital
• St. Francis and Paul Hospital
• St. Gerard Hospital

External links

• San Pablo City ONLINE
• San Pablo News Magazine ONLINE
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• SanPabloUnlimited.com - The website dedicated to promoting and advancing San Pablo City as an alternative travel destination south of Metro Manila for the purpose of improving business activity within the city and the overall quality of life of its residents