San Pablo, Laguna

San Pablo's earliest historical record dates back to pre-Spanish times when four large barrios bounded by Mount Makiling composed "Sampalok". In 1571, 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 Saint Paul the First Hermit. In 1756, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Batangas province but was returned in 1883 to Laguna.

Aerial view of San Pablo, 1941

In 1899, a municipal government was established, with Atty. Innocente 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 of Laguna. On May 7, 1940, the Charter Bill sponsored by Assemblyman Tomas D. Dizon of Laguna's 1st district was approved by President Manuel L. Quezon. The bill became known as the City Charter of San Pablo or Commonwealth Act No. 520 – approved by President Quezon.[5]

The city was inaugurated on March 30, 1941, with Potenciano Malvar, a former governor of Laguna, as the city mayor appointed by president Manuel L. Quezon. Succeeding him in 1941 as an appointed mayor was Manuel Quisumbing, in turn followed by Tomas D. Dizon in 1943 as an appointed mayor. The succeeding mayors were elected after 1955, with Cipriano B. Colago being the first elected city mayor.

San Pablo has a cool climate owing to its location. It is nestled in the foothills of three mountains: Mount Banahaw, Mount Makiling and the Sierra Madre Mountains. These mountains not only provide attractions for the tourism industry (such as waterfalls) and sources of many forest-based products, but also serve as stewards for the clean air. It is situated 82 kilometers (51 mi) southeast of Manila via Alaminos, 37 kilometers (23 mi) southwest of Santa Cruz via Calauan.

Its soil is suitable for those seeking opportunities in agriculture and horticulture given its richness and fertility. The different barangays have coconut plantation, lanzones fruit – Lansium parasiticum tree plantation and rambutan fruit tree plantation – Rambutan. The place is rich in orchid plants.

According to the 2010 census, San Pablo had a population of 248,890 people,[11] up from 237,259 people and 44,166 households in the 2007 census. The city was once the largest city in Laguna, but it was overtaken by Calamba in the 1990 census. San Pedro followed suit in 1995, then came Santa Rosa and Biñan in 2007, and Cabuyao in 2015, all owing their growth to its proximity to Metro Manila.[12]

Downtown area

SM City San Pablo

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

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 Barangay San Rafael.

[20] 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 (1,030 acres): 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.

ABS-CBN TV-46 San Pablo (DWLY-TV) served the city through its office along Rizal Avenue at the heart of the city until the Duterte government, shut down the operations of the broadcaster and revoked its franchise.

San Pablo City is home to showrooms, marketing, and parts/servicing centers of Ford, Geely, Hino, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia San Pablo, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota.

San Pablo also claims the title City of Buko Pie Buko Pie", although 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. Colette's has also regularly produced the "World's Largest Buko Pie" during San Pablo's Coco Festival. Colette's is the largest Buko Pie brand in the Laguna area with 34 stores. The supply of coconut in San Pablo 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, has announced that its plant in the city would 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.[21] 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.

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, 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

Panoramic view of Lake Sampaloc

Hacienda Escudero Plantation Resort Town is the largest planned community investment in the city covering 415 hectares (1,030 acres). The resort has the richness of coconut 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.

The Komikero Komiks Museum, a brick-and-mortar museum meant to showcase the Philippines' rich history of graphic novels and comic books, and the talent of eminent artists in the field,[22] features original art from Philippine comic book industry leaders including Alfredo Alcala, Francisco Coching, Alex Niño, Steve Gan, Nestor Redondo, Tony Velasquez, Hal Santiago, and Gerry Alanguilan. Alanguilan himself curated the museum until his death in 2019.[23]

• 
  Lake Sampaloc
• 
  Hagdang Bato
• 
  Tilapia Monument
• 
  Andres Bonifacio Monument

• Vicente B. Amante, politician.
• Cynthia Barker, English politician and former mayor of Hertsmere, England
• Alexander Gesmundo, 27th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Arturo Brion, 161th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
• Liza Maza, former Gabriela Partylist and Bayan Muna Partylist Representative
• Celso Al. Carunungan, writer, novelist, and film scriptwriter
• Gerry Alanguilan, a.k.a. "Komikero," comic book artist and writer best known for his graphic novels Wasted and Elmer
• Bayani Casimiro, tap dancer
• Edgar Calabia Samar, poet and fictionist
• Jay Arcilla, actor and StarStruck Avenger in the 5th season of StarStruck
• Jiggy Manicad, television news producer/reporter and newscaster
• Flor Contemplacion, domestic worker
• Sol Aragones, former news anchor reporter of ABS-CBN; politician
• Roberta Angela Tamondong, model, beauty pageant titleholder, and Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2022
• Flor Ramos Contemplacion,[24] Filipina domestic helper executed in Singapore after being convicted of murder.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Pablo, Laguna.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for San Pablo, Laguna.

• Official Website of San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines
• San Pablo City
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System