San Pedro, Laguna

Municipality of San Pedro
Location
Map of Laguna showing the location of San Pedro
Government
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Laguna
District	1st District of Laguna
Barangays	20
Income class	1st
Founded	January 18, 1725
Mayor	Calixto Cataquiz
ZIP Code	4023
Physical characteristics
Area	24.05 km²
Population      Total	281,808

San Pedro is a first class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. San Pedro is Laguna's gateway to Metro Manila since it lies on the boundary with Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila's southernmost city. This position makes San Pedro a popular suburban residential community, where many residents commute daily for work in Metro Manila. According to the latest census, it has a population of 281,808 inhabitants in 48,341 households.

Aside from being a primarily suburban community, San Pedro also hosts a large number of factories. Among them include Kimberly-Clark, Alaska Milk Corporation and General Milling Corporation.

With a total land surface area of 24.05km², San Pedro is the smallest town of the first district of Laguna and the 3rd smallest in the entire province. However, it is the town with the highest population density in the province due to its ranking as the 2nd most populous town after Calamba City.

Built up area

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the city is now included in Manila built up area which reaches Lipa City in its southernmost part.

Popular Celebrities, Artists and Entertainers

Some Filipino Artists also grew up or resided in San Pedro, Laguna

• Charice Pempengco, International singing sensation,
• Erick A. Fabian Sr., singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and member of synth-rock band CERUMENTRIC
• Jamilla Obispo, PBB Teen Edition Housemate,
• Jan Manual, also known as Pacboy of the Showbiz Industry, a discovery of StarStruck,
• Kristine Hermosa, a famous drama actress,
• Pocholo Bismonte, young singer from sugar pop
• Julia Clarete, Eat Bulaga regular host,
• Mark Redito, Los Angeles-based composer and electronic musician known as Spazzkid
• Rico Blanco, former vocalist of Rivermaya,
• Nikki Valdez, actress,
• Paw Diaz Star Circle Teen Questor / actress

Barangays

San Pedro is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

History

San Pedro became a town on January 18, 1725, when the Spanish King, Charles II, decreed that the town, formerly known as "Tabuko", be a separate town from "Kabullaw", now known as Cabuyao. By virtue of the last will of Philip V of Spain, Rodriguez de Figueroa or "Don Esteban", a group of Augustinian Fathers gained the ownership of the Tunasán Estate. Later on, San Pedro became an hacienda of Colegio de San José, a group of Jesuits friars who took over the property which now is known as "San Pedro Tunasán". "Tunasán" came from "Tunás" a medicinal plant, abundant on shoreline area. During that period, agriculture, fishing, duck raising, fruit trees, sampaguita were the main source of income of its residents. This period was highlighted by the growing tenant/landlord dispute. The tenants of Hacienda San Pedro Tunasán fought for their birthrights over their ancestral lands. This struggle took almost 423 years of unsuccessful resistance to Colegio de San José, and in 1938, the government bought the homesites of the San Pedro Tunasán Hacienda from the Colegio for re-sale to its tenants. This event laid to rest the tenants/landlord problem in the town.

From the Spanish time until after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the scenario did change a bit, when on August 30, 1945 beginning to the Philippine Commonwealth forces against the Japanese, President Ramón Magsaysay signed at the historic town plaza the Land Tenancy Act. By virtue of this law, farm lots of the hacienda were bought by the Philippine Government to be sold at cost to the tenants or occupants of the farm lots in Bayan-Bayanan under the Narra Settlement Project of the Magsaysay Administration.

Government

Municipal Government Officials: Municipal Government Officials:

• Mayor: Calixto R. Catáquiz
• Vice-Mayor: Celso Ambayec
• Councilors:
  • Allan Villena
  • Marlon A. Acierto
  • Raffy Campos
  • Raul I. Olivarez
  • Michael M. Casacop
  • Leslie E. Lu
  • Reynaldo B. Hermoso
  • Edgardo M. Berroya
  • Raul Abulencia (LIGA ng mga Barangay President)

Commercial Center

• Centro Pacita/Pacita Commercial Center (second commercial area)
• San Pedro Wet and Dry Market (chief commercial area)
• San Pedro Town Center

Sampaguita Festival - February 22

A week long festival which includes various activities ranging from cultural to sports, trade fairs, amateur singing contest, parades, historical exhibits, social & religious gatherings, tribal dance & sports exhibitions. The highlight of the festival is the Coronation Night of the "Hiyas ng San Pedro". The festival aims to promote tourism in San Pedro & to promote & revitalize Sampaguita industry in the locality.

External links

• Municipality of San Pedro official Website
• Councilor Michael M. Casacop Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information

Coordinates: 14°21′53″N 121°3′20″E / 14.36472°N 121.05556°E / 14.36472; 121.05556