Lucena

Lucena City
The City of Lucena (Filipino: Lunsod ng Lucena) is a first class highly urbanized medium sized city in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Quezon and belongs to the 25 most competitive cities of the Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 236,390 people in 45,902 households. Nearby towns of Lucena are Pagbilao (east), Tayabas (north) and Sariaya (west).

History
Lucena City was originally a barrio of Tayabas town, then the capital of the Province of Tayabas (now Quezon) which was explored by Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1571 & 1572. The town was founded by the Franciscan fathers, Juan de Plasencia & Diego de Oropesa between 1580 & 1583.
It was then called by the Spaniards "Buenavista" (beautiful scenic spots) because of its awe-inspiring scenic beauty.
It was then changed to "Oroquieta" in honor of the Spanish Gov-Gen. Oroquieta. Then in the 17th Century it was changed to "Cotta" meaning a strong fort because forts or cottas were built to defend it from Muslim piratical raids. Spanish records mention the existence of cottas (Tagalog: kuta) along the coast of Lucena, particularly in Cotta itself and in the Barrio of Mayao, though these structures are no longer extant. Finally, on November 5, 1897, pursuant to an Orden Real Superior Civil, the community was named "Lucena." It became an independent municipality on June 1, 1882, coinciding with the growth of local maritime trade facilitated in the Cotta port and with the final defeat of Moro pirates plying the Luzon and Visayan waters.
Popular knowledge attribute the origin of the name "Lucena" to the town of Lucena, Andalucia where the late Reverend Mariano Granja, the Franciscan pioneer parish priest was said to have earlier served (some even say that he was from this town). But according to the monumental work (Catalogo Biografico de los Religiosos Franciscanos de la Provincia de San Gregorio Magno de Filipinas), of a fellow Franciscan, Eusebio Gomez Platero, Fr. Granja was born in Paredes de Nava, diocese of Palencia, distant from Andalucia. Records also show that he had no previous post as priest of Lucena, Andalucia.
During the Philippine Revolution in 1896, the captain municipal of Lucena, Jose Zaballero, led the local revolutionaries. However, the local revolutionary government was organized by Manuel Argüelles, with José Barcelona as president. After the declaration of Philippine Independence, Gen. Malvar took over Tayabas Province on Aug. 15, 1898. Don Crisanto Marquez was elected municipal president during the first elections.
Lucena was the site of bloody struggles at the outbreak of the Filipino-American War in 1899. Upon the establishment of a civil government in the Province of Tayabas by the Americans on March 12, 1901, Lucena was made capital of the province after a bitter debate between Tayabas-born and Lucena-based officials. The decision to make Lucena as capital was primarily based on its strategic location. Unlike the former capital town (Tayabas), Lucena has access to the sea.
During WW II, Lucena was not spared from the grim realities of war at the hands of the Japanese who occupied the city on Dec. 27, 1941. Fortunately, however, the city was not devastated by the war. The Hunter ROTC guerillas succeeded in driving out the Japanese on January 25, 1945. Quezon Province was formally liberated by the Filipino & American troops on April 4, 1945.
On June 17, 1961 by virtue of Republic Act No. 3271, sponsored by Cong. Manuel S. Enverga & Cong. Pascual Espinosa, Lucena became a chartered city. The City of Lucena was inaugurated on Aug. 20, 1962 after the occasion of the 84th birth anniversary of the late Pres. Manuel L. Quezon during Aug. 19.
Today Lucena is home to a population of 220,834 people (as of 2005) and is fast flourishing as an urban community and planning to build an Economic Zone.

[edit] Geography
The city proper is wedged between two rivers, Dumacaa River on the east and Iyam River on the west. Seven other rivers and six creeks serve as natural drainage for the city. Its port on the coast along Tayabas Bay is home to several boat and ferry lines operating and serving the sea lanes between Lucena and the different points in the region and as far as the Visayas.
There exists a Lucena Airport, but no commercial flights come to the city. Light aircraft can, however, make use of the facilities.
Being the provincial capital, Lucena is host to most of the branches of governmental agencies, businesses, banks and service facilities in the Southern Tagalog region.

[edit] Government

[edit] City officials
Mayor: Hon. Ramon Y. Talaga Jr.
Vice Mayor: Hon. Philip M. Castillo
Councilors:
Ramil C. Talaga
Clarinda S. Cabana
Atty. Ferdinand N. Talabong
Benito J. Brizuela
Danilo B. Faller
Michael C. Dalida
Felix F. Avillo
Americo Q. Lacerna
Simon B. Aldovino Jr.
Wilfredo F. Asilo, Ph.D.
Marcelo C. Magadia -ABC PRESIDENT
Mikael Sandino T. Andrey - SK FEDERATION PRESIDENT



Transportation
Lucena City has a central transportation hub aptly called the Grand Central Terminal located in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, just midway through the Bicol Region and back. It serves not only Manila-bound buses but also buses going toward the upland and far-flung areas of Quezon province, particularly Bondoc Peninsula towns.
Lucena City also has a wide network of jeepney routes, all emanating from the city center (Bayan) and reaching out to the major barangays of the city, as well as nearby towns.

Education
In 2006, the city has a literacy rate of 98.6 percent. It has eight tertiary and 14 secondary schools including public and private.

Barangay

Lucena is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

Barangay Urban/Rural 2007 Population Barangay 1 (Pob.) Urban 3,564 Barangay 2 (Pob.) Urban 2,044 Barangay 3 (Pob.) Urban 1,432 Barangay 4 (Pob.) Urban 3,761 Barangay 5 (Pob.) Urban 3,350 Barangay 6 (Pob.) Urban 834 Barangay 7 (Pob.) Urban 2,413 Barangay 8 (Pob.) Urban 4,060 Barangay 9 (Pob.) Urban 4,706 Barangay 10 (Pob.) Urban 5,094 Barangay 11 (Pob.) Urban 1,548 Barra Urban 3891 Bocohan Urban 4,279 Mayao Castillo Urban 2,734 Cotta Urban 19,596 Gulang-Gulang Urban 26,550 Dalahican Urban 21,302 Domoit Urban 3,468 Ibabang Dupay Urban 25,355 Ibabang Iyam Urban 22,753 Ibabang Talim Urban 2,878 Ilayang Dupay Urban 1,723 Ilayang Iyam Urban 11,914 Ilayang Talim Urban 1,508 Isabang Urban 9,676 Mayao Crossing Urban 8,904 Mayao Kanluran Urban 8,243 Mayao Parada Urban 3,100 Mayao Silangan Urban 7,969 Ransohan Urban 1,451 Salinas Urban 1,445 Talao-Talao Urban 3,125 Market View Urban 11,720

Economic Activities

Economic activities in Lucena are heavily concentrated in the poblacion and other sub-urban barangays where the highly densed and constricted Central Business District (CBD) is home to a large cluster of different business enterprises. As population grows in tandem with new and promising business prospects, business activities spill over adjoining barangays, thus forming mini satellite commercial areas.

Other commercial strips are located at 10 suburban barangays where both retail and wholesale trade, including other essential services, are being engaged in. Big commercial depots and warehouses in these suburban barangays do business in sales, distribution, and transport of assorted business products in bulk.

Of the total 8,316.90 hectare land area of Lucena City, 19 percent or 1,651.77 hectares cover the existing built up area. Almost 3% of this or 46.62 hectares cover the industrial section, located in different barangays of the city. These areas are home to significant industrial and manufacturing activities.

Industry in Lucena produces a sustainable amount of agro-industrial based products, dried and smoked fish, distilled liquors, bamboo and rattan furniture, ornamental flowers/plants, vegetable as well as meat products.

Nestled amidst a wide expanse of coconut lands, Lucena has coconut oil mills which produce oil-based household products like cooking oil, soap, lard, margarine, and oil based medicines.The well known JnJ Oil, Exora cooking oil and Vegetable lard, Miyami Cooking Oil are proudly made in this city.^{[citation needed]} Car assembly/manufacturing plants have also established in the city turning out quality vehicles and accessories while Manila-based car shops are starting to put up some branches.

Road network provides access from all key cities and towns in the island of Luzon to this highly urbanized capital. Well-paved radial and by-pass routes criss-crossing in and out of the city facilitate the transport of unlimited assortment of merchandise, supplies, and raw materials to and from the city on a round-the-clock basis.

Over the years, it was observed that a growing number of visitors from other places come to Lucena. Travelers of various types and sizes are drawn to Lucena because of modern facilities and good amenities that could be found in the city such as Quezon Convention Center, Kalilayan Civic Centre, Sentro Pastoral Auditorium, Alcala Sports Complex a two time host of a Palarong Pambansa, Manuel S. Enverga Gymnasium, and Sacred Heart College Gym and Marcial Punzalan Gymnasium

Education

In 2006, the city has a literacy rate of 98.6 percent. It has eight tertiary and 14 secondary schools including public and private.

Location Bounded on the north and northeast by the Municipality of Pagbilao, on the south and southeast by the Tayabas Bay, on the southwest by the Municipality of Sariaya, and on the northwest by the municipality of Tayabas, Lucena City at the Southeastern part of Quezon Province is approximately 137 kilometers southeast of Manila via the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway. As one of the busiest fishing ports and a major domestic passenger seaport in Luzon, Lucena has become a gateway to Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila and other parts of Mainland Luzon from the Bicol region and the island provinces of Marinduque, Masbate, Palawan, and Romblon. The City is linked to its neighboring towns, cities, and provinces through various transport networks--roads, railways, sea and air. Land Area The land area of Lucena is small--approximately 8,315.73 hectares. This represents 0.95% of the provinces and 15% of the district total land areas. About 97.9% of the total land area of Lucena belongs to barangays outside the city proper. The biggest five of which are Mayao Castillo, Ibabang Iyam, Isabang, Mayao Silangan, and Ibabang Dupay that makes up almost 40% of the City’s total land area. Topography Lucena is situated on a flat terrain with slightly rolling hills. The greatest part of the land has a slope of 0 to 3%. Slope of 10 to 20% comprise only a little portion of the land. Nine rivers and six creeks serve as natural drainage for the city. The City is wedged between two big rivers, the Dumacaa River in the eastern part, which abounds with boulders, and Iyam River in the west which has an abundant deposit of gravel and sand. There are few marshes along the seacoast, because most of them have been converted into fishponds. Political Subdivision

Climate The climate in Lucena is characterized as no dry season with a pronounced maximum rain period. The maximum rain period occurs from October to January (for 33 year record of rainfall). The average annual precipitation is 349.44 mm. Temperature ranges from 17.5 degrees Centigrade to 35 degrees Centigrade. The average sea level pressure is 1009.65 millibars.

Soil Fertility There are six soil types in the city, namely: Buguey Loamy Sand, Guadalupe Clay Loam, Ibaan Loam, Ibaan Silt Clay Loam, Macolod Clay Loam, and the Hydrosoil. Of these six types, five could be planted with different crops, including coconut and rice varieties. There are six soil types in the city, namely: Buguey Loamy Sand, Guadalupe Clay Loam, Ibaan Loam, Ibaan Silt Clay Loam, Macolod Clay Loam, and the Hydrosoil. Of these six types, five could be planted with different crops, including coconut and rice varieties. The Buguey Loamy Sand yields the highest for coconut trees at 3,400 nuts per hectare per year. The Ibaan Loam yields the highest average for rice ranging from 30 to 50 cavans per hectare. The hydrosoil found along the city coasts could be planted with mangrove and nipa. A great portion of these areas is submerged at high tide. Other portion have been converted into fishponds. Natural Resources

Hydrological and Ecological Condition Generally, the soil and atmosphere conditions, temperature, light, water, (except in some barangays where the water facilities are not satisfactory) and other geological factors in Lucena, form a favorable environment, which provides conditions suitable for the maintenance of life and for carrying its activities.

Forestry Although Lucena has no more forest zone, there is a three-hectare man-made forest known as the Botanical Garden within the compound of the Enverga University Foundation site. The City also maintains a one-half hectare Ecology Park at Brgy. Isabang.

Fishery and Aquatic Resources Tayabas Bay is one of the excellent fishing grounds in Quezon Province. In 1996, Lucena City had a recorded quantity of fish caught be commercial fishing vessels totaling to 11,841,180 kgms; 14,933,641 kgms. in 1997; and 12,919,155 kgms. in 1998 and 122,800,266 kgms. in 1999.

Mother Tongue Tagalog is the predominant dialect spoken by 95.71 percent of the population as Lucena is situated in one of the largest Tagalog speaking provinces in the Southern Tagalog Region. Bicol follows this with 1.64 percent and Masbateño with .33 percent, both are neighboring provinces of Quezon. There are other 25 dialects being used and they represent the people that migrated to this city. They came from as far as Pangasinan (.2%), Ilocos (.18%), Maranao (.13%) and China (.12 %)

Transportation Lucena City has a central transportation hub aparently called the Grand Central Terminal and is located in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, just midway through the Bicol Region and back. It serves not only Manila -bound buses but also buses going toward the upland and far-flung areas of Quezon province, particularly Bondoc Peninsula towns. Among the bus lines that serve the Manila-Lucena route and are housed in the Grand Central Terminal are: Jac Liner (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias) AB Liner (enroute from Guinayangan to Alabang and Pureza in Sampaloc) Barney AutoLines (enroute from Guinayangan to Alabang and Cubao) Lucena Lines (sister company of Jac Liner, bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias) Jam Transit (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias) Grand Star (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias) N. Dela Rosa Transport (bound to Alabang and Lawton) Tritran (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias)

Lucena City Guide

The City of Lucena, or Lungsod ng Lucena, is the capital city of the province of Quezon found in the southern Luzon region of the Philippines. This first-class, agricultural based urban city is locked between two big rivers--the Dumacaa River on the east and Iyam River on the west. It has 7 more rivers and 6 creeks that serve as natural drainages for the city. Its terrain is characterized by flat plains and slightly rolling hills with an elevation ranging from 0 to 20%. Bordering the city is the Municipality of Pagbilao to the north and northeast, the Tayabas Bay to the south and southeast, the Municipality of Sariaya to the southwest, and the city of Tayabas to the northwest. It is approximately 137 kilometers away southeast of Manila and accessed by the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway. The city has a total land area of 83.15 km², of which 57.42% is dedicated for agriculture. The city’s major agricultural products include rice, coconut, corn, bananas, vegetables, root crops, citrus, and mangoes. Approximately 3% of this land area is used for industrial and manufacturing industries, which includes the processing of agro-industrial based products, manufacturing coconut-based products, the manufacture and assembly of cars and jeeps, and garment manufacturing for export. Like most locations in the Philippines, the recorded history of Lucena started with the arrival of Capitan Juan de Salcedo in 1571 in Quezon province, which was then called Tayabas. The Franciscan priests founded the Tayabas town between 1580 -1583, with Lucena as one of its barrios. The name “Lucena” was derived from the town of Lucena in Andalucia, where the barrio’s Franciscan pioneer Father Mariano Granja had originated. On June 1, 1882, Lucena became an independent town. Lucena had its share of bloody battles at the outbreak of the Philippine revolt against Spain in 1896. Leading the local revolutionaries against Spanish troops was the town’s captain municipal, Jose Zaballero. After which, a revolutionary government was instituted by Manuel Argüelles, instating José Barcelona as president. Gen. Miguel Malvar then took over the whole province after Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite. The Philippines faced a new set of invaders when the United States occupied the country after its defeat of Spain. It was during the American occupation that the provincial capital was moved from Tayabas town to Lucena. During the Second World War, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Lucena on December 27, 1941. The guerilla movement adamantly resisted the Japanese forces, that on January 25, 1945 they were able to liberate the town even before the American troops had returned to liberate the province. In the following years after the war, the Philippines gained its independence and Lucena steadily grew in importance as the provincial capital. On August 19, 1962, Lucena was inaugurated as a chartered city. Residential Places in Lucena Through the years, Lucena city has seen the conversion of vast coconut plantations into residential developments to provide its growing population a variety of choices in residence. One of the city’s recent and most premiere residential development is the Ridgewood Park Nature Estates. Suitably located far from the busy streets of Quezon Avenue and the Diversion Road and yet easily accessible from the city proper, this first-class residential development was designed to create a community whilst preserving the different plant and animal species found in the area. This highly exclusive residential estate offers only 250 prime lots that may range in sizes of 250 to 500 sq. m. It features state-of-the-art amenities and facilities, such as theme parks with picnic grounds, a clubhouse, a junior Olympic-sized and kiddie swimming pools, two tennis courts, and a fully-covered basketball court. There are other residential developments found in the city. Often called subdivisions and villages, they often feature common amenities such as lighted streets, centralized water supply system, and garbage management. They may however, vary in other featured facilities such as recreational and leisure facilities. Some of the city’s subdivision and villages include Santa Veronica Village, Puerto del Mar Subdivision, CUESTA VERDE Executive Village, Pantoc Subdivision, Welmanville, Capitol Homesite, Villa Aurea, Andaman Village, Campo Subdivision, Employees Subdivision, North Employees Subdivision, La Milagros Subdivision, Marilag Subdivision, Orgas Subdivision, Saint Peter Subdivision, Zaballero Subdivision, Alpsville Subdivision, University Village, Better Living Subdivision, Maharlika Subdivision, Firenze Subdivision, Green Meadows Subdivision, and Bestland Homes. Hospitals and Universities of Lucena Lucena has both private and public hospitals that are capable of providing most common and advanced medical services, as well as in handling medical emergencies. Both types of institutions are considered to provide the same standard of healthcare and services, differing mainly with the medical and diagnostic facilities at hand. These are staffed with qualified medical practitioners that are well-versed in English. The doctors are graduates of the many top reputable medical schools in the Philippines, with most have pursued further studies and training in the United States. Likewise, the nurses are also the products of the many credible nursing schools in the country. These same institutions have produced the many Filipino nurses working in the United States, Europe, Middle East, and other parts of the world. Listed below are the hospitals and clinics found in Lucena City: Lucena City Hospitals and Clinics Name Address Telephone Lucena United Memorial District Hospital 178 Merchan Street - Lucena MMG General Hospital Maharlika Highway, Ibabang Dupay 373-5925 Mt. Carmel Diocesan General Hospital Allarie Extension 712-576 Lucena United Doctors Hospital Barangay Isabang 373-6161 or 373-6163 St. Anne General Hospital 51 Gomez Street 710-2218 or 710-3506 Quezon Memorial Hospital QMH Compound, Quezon Avenue 373-7619, 710-3944, 710-4023 or 710-0113 St. Mary's Hospital Quezon Avenue - Educational Facilities The tertiary education system in Lucena provides instruction and training in various fields of study, both for baccalaureate degrees and vocational courses. Institutions offering degree programs in various fields including liberal arts, arts & sciences, engineering, and information technology are the ABE International College of Business and Economics along Quezon Avenue, Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc. and City College of Lucena along the Maharlika Highway, Columbus College-Lucena, and the Catholic institutions of Sacred Heart College on Merchan Street, Maryhill College at Ciudad Maharlika in Iyam, and the Baptist Voice Bible College on Edano Street. The Inter-Global Maritime College in Barangay Bocohan provides programs in the maritime sciences, while the St. Anne College in Barangay Gulang-gulang offers degrees in the allied medical sciences. The AMA Computer College -Lucena on M.L. Tagarao Street in Iyam and STI College at the corner of Enriquez and Profugo Streets are institutions for higher education that provide computer-related courses. Commercial Places in Lucena Lucena boasts of three large, modern shopping malls which serve as the city’s major commercial centers. These are the Pacific Mall situated at the LandCo Business Park on M.L Tagarao Street, SM City-Lucena which stands at the corner of Maharlika Highway and Dalahican Road in Barangay Ibabang Dupay, and the Ocean Palace Mall along the Quezon Avenue. The largest amongst the three, the Pacific mall boasts of a three-level structure that houses 127 stalls of shops and boutiques. It carries the anchor stores of Metro Gaisano Supermarket and Department Store, four state-of-the-art cinemas, an entertainment hall, and several dining establishments which range from cafes and restaurants to prominent fastfood chain outlets. Likewise, the SM City-Lucena and Ocean Palace Mall also carry shops and boutiques for most common commodities, service shops, cinemas, and dining establishments. In addition to these, SM city-Lucena carries the usual SM anchor stores of SM Supermarket and Department Store. Dining Establishments Aside from the restaurants and fastfood chains found in the three aforementioned shopping centers, Lucena has several notable restaurants found all over the city. The most common restaurants found in the city serve Filipino cuisine that makes use of the abundance of fresh ingredients available in the locality. Some of the city’s prominent restaurants include Buddy's Restaurant which stands at the corner of Quezon Avenue and L Guinto Street, Apple & Peach Restaurant along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Kanlurang Mayao, Zymursy Cafe & Lounge on Bonifacio Street, Hacienda Inn Restaurant along Quezon Avenue, Smallwillies at the corner of Smallwillies And Zamora Streets, Barrio Fiesta on GRANJA Street, and Isabel's Restaurant at the corner of Abellanosa and Tagarao Streets. Alternatively, the hotels and resorts found in the city also host notable dining establishments as well as recreational features. Some of the city’s finest hotels and resorts include the Diamond Mansion along the Maharlika Highway, Lucena Fresh Air Hotel in Barangay Isabang, Ouans Worth Farm on Diversion Road In Barangay Mayao Kanluran, Queen and Margarette Court on Diversion Road in Barangay Domoit. Service Establishments of Lucena The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) supplies the electricity in the city and its rural barangays. The company has 100% electrification coverage of all of Lucena’s 33 barangays. Applications for service and bill payments may be done by visiting the MERALCO Lucena branch office on Doña Aurora Boulevard in Barangay Gulang-Gulang. The telecommunication companies servicing the city are the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications. Both companies provide traditional fixed telephony and internet access via dial-up and digital subscriber line (DSL). An alternative internet service provider is SmartBro of Smart Communications, a subsidiary of PLDT. It provides wireless internet connection via broadband. The latter, together with Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular of Digitel Telecommunications, provide the cellular network services in the city. Globe has put up 2 cell sites in the city, while Smart and Sun Cellular has put up 4 cell sites each. These companies offer both postpaid and prepaid subscriptions. The Quezon Police Provincial District is headquartered in the city. Its office is located in Camp Guillermo Nakar and may be reached through the numbers 373-7051 or 660-8656. In addition, the Lucena City Police Station is found on Allarey Street and may be reached at 373-7294 and 373-7344. Sub-stations and police community precincts are located in every barangay. Embassies in Lucena There are no foreign embassies and consular offices located in Lucena City. These diplomatic missions to the Philippines have their offices mostly located in the cities of Makati and Manila at the National Capital Region.