San Pablo is a city of about 265,000 in the province of Laguna, known for its seven lakes.
Understand
[edit]Having existed since pre-colonial times, San Pablo passed back and forth between Laguna and Batangas before becoming firmly part of the former province during the Spanish era. Its fertile volcanic soil proved beneficial for coconut farming, resulting in the entry of large corporations such as Franklin Baker during the American period. Due to its rapid economic development, San Pablo received its city charter in 1940, making it one of the oldest legally-designated cities in the Philippines. As of 2024, the city's population has reached 300,000. Since 1967, it has also been the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo, placing it at the heart of the Roman Catholic church in Laguna.
Orientation
[edit]San Pablo is a compact city that lies at the junction of the Maharlika Highway and to other major cities in Laguna and Quezon. It was also a major stop on the Philippine National Railways from Manila to Lucena and is expected to be so again once the railway reopens following rehabilitation works.
Unlike the other major cities of Laguna, which are located along Laguna de Bay's flatlands, San Pablo has a relatively cooler climate on account of its higher elevation, forested surroundings and seven lakes. It is also surrounded on nearly all sides by volcanic mountains and hills that form the Laguna Volcanic Field. On a clear day, it is possible to obtain panoramic views of Mount Makiling, Mount San Cristobal, Mount Banahaw, Mount Manabu and Mount Kalisungan.
Downtown San Pablo lies at the southern shore of Sampaloc Lake, the largest of the city's seven lakes. The city hall and other civic buildings lie near the promontory leading down to the lake, while the town plaza and San Pablo Cathedral are located shortly to the south. The main thoroughfare is Jose Rizal Avenue, a four-lane boulevard that runs east to west and around which jeepney terminals, heritage buildings and commercial buildings congregate. At its eastern edge sits San Pablo Cathedral and Plaza Rizal, a key junction. Werner Schetelig Avenue leads northeast towards towns at the slope of Mount Banahaw such as Liliw and Lucban, Quezon while further west, Rizal Avenue becomes Colago Avenue and meets with Cosigo Avenue leading to Calauan and the rest of Laguna before merging with Maharlika Highway leading to Batangas and Manila. South of the Plaza, a road leads to Maharlika Highway for those heading to Tiaong and the rest of Quezon Province.
Get in
[edit]From Manila, the fastest route by road is through the STAR Tollway exiting at Santo Tomas exit in Batangas, from there, enter the Maharlika Highway and follow the road signs leading to Alaminos and then San Pablo.
By bus
[edit]Bus companies running frequent services between Manila and Lucena stop at San Pablo, as well as some of those from Bicol and the interisland buses. Designated stops are at the Central Terminal, SM City San Pablo, San Rafael (near the junction of Maharlika Highway and Cipriano Colago Avenue) and at Franklin Baker (between railroad crossing and Unson Street at San Anton and Ambray), all along the highway.
By car
[edit]Maharlika Highway (Asian Highway 26/Route 1) is the main highway through San Pablo, as well the Calauan-San Pablo Road (Route 67). It is 82 km (51 mi) from Manila, 54 km (34 mi) from Lucena, and 23 km (14 mi) from Los Baños.
Construction is continuing for an extension of the South Luzon Expressway to Lucena, with an exit in San Pablo.
By jeepney
[edit]Jeepneys connect San Pablo with the nearby towns of Alaminos, Calauan, Rizal, Dolores, and Tiaong, and travel as far as Liliw via Rizal on Werner Schetelig Avenue, Santa Cruz via Calauan, Tanauan (in Batangas) and Calamba via Bay. Only the routes from Tanauan, San Calamba, Santa Cruz, and Liliw routes routes are run by licensed vehicles, with the route from Dolores run by unmarked and unlicensed vehicles with private vehicle license plates. Terminals are at the city proper or at SM City San Pablo
By train
[edit]- 1 San Pablo station. Served by the Bicol Express and Mayon Limited (both suspended since 2015). Unloading only for northbound trains.
The nearest operational train stations are at Calamba and Los Baños, served by some commuter trains.
There is also a regional service to San Pablo from Lucena, but it is suspended as of March 2022.
Get around
[edit]
Tricycles and jeepneys running from the city center to outlying barangays are the main form of transport within the city.
Downtown and the Maharlika Highway can get very congested during rush hour. During the holidays, queues of vehicles entering the STAR Tollway in Batangas heading to Manila can reach San Pablo.
See
[edit]Unlike other cities in the Philippines with a similar population, San Pablo retains a sizeable number of heritage buildings, mostly dating from the American period. Many of them are concentrated along the Capital Compound, Plaza Rizal and along Jose Rizal Avenue, which retains its original lamp posts, traffic islands and colonnaded footbridge. An effort is underway by heritage advocates, volunteers and the city government to formally establish a San Pablo Heritage Zone. For a full list of designated heritage sites in the city, see [1].
- 1 Komikero Komiks Museum, 29 Marasigan St., cor Azcarate Circle, [email protected]. M-F 1-5 PM by appointment. A museum dedicated to comic strips featuring the collection of comic artist Gerry Alanguilan, whose works include domestic and international publications such as Marvel and DC Comics.
- 2 Lake Sampaloc (Behind the city hall). The largest of San Pablo's seven lakes, of volcanic origin. Around the lake are Dagatan Boulevard, a lakefront park, and floating cottages.
- 3 Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral (San Pablo Cathedral), A. Flores Street, Poblacion. An adobe Romanesque Roman Catholic cathedral that forms the center of San Pablo and serves as the seat of the namesake Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo which oversees the entirety of Laguna. Built in 1714, it was damaged during World War II, and its façade been restored to its original. Its dome is a landmark of the city.
- 4 Doña Leonila Park, Trece Martires Street co. Dagatan Boulevard (Beside Old City Hall). A tree-filled park filled with fountains and neoclassical and Filipino-themed statues, it is a favorite recreation hub among residents. It sits on a promontory overlooking Dagatan Boulevard and provides views of Sampaloc Lake.
- 5 Trece Martires Shrine, Trece Martires Street.
- 6 Andres Bonifacio Monument, Trece Martires Street.
- 7 Fule-Malvar Mansion (White House), Jose Rizal Avenue (beside San Pablo Central School and the ornate, white painted stone pedestrian footbridge, across the street from the red-brick Philamlife building and a gasoline station.). A prominent landmark, the mansion was built in 1915 in the beaux-arts and Art Nouveau style that was typical of the American period for the first city mayor of San Pablo, Potenciano Malvar, and his wife, Eusebia Fule, both of which came from prominent families. Visiting presidents and dignitaries were often hosted here. Since then the house has changed ownership multiple times and as of 2025 is being used as a civic center by the city government.
- 8 Doña Prudencia D. Fule Ancestral House, Prudencia D. Fule Memorial National High School, Maharlika Highway, Brgy. San Nicolas (By Jeep: Take the one running from the city center to Brgy. San Nicolas and ask the driver to drop you off at Prudencia. By other vehicles: Beside an under-construction overpass connecting two schools on both sides of the highway. The house lies directly along the highway and is a landmark in the barangay.). Museum for Industrial Arts and Economics: Open M-F during school hours. Otherwise ask caretakers for permission.. A Spanish-era bahay na bato last inhabited by a scion of the Fule family known for her devotion to the education sector. In the 1930s, she donated the house and the adjoining plot to build a high school that now bears her name. The house was at times used as a school building before falling into neglect and becoming inhabited by squatters claiming to be Doña Prudencia's heirs. Following a legal battle to remove aforementioned squatters, the house was restored in 2019 and now contains a school museum. On the other side of the highway, at the elementary school also named after Prudencia, is one of the few Gabaldon school bungalows in the Philippines that dates back to the American period.
To avoid confusion with the Fule-Malvar Mansion, Prudencia is located outside downtown, on the highway running between the city and Alaminos, and is painted in strips of ocean-green and white with a red roof. - 9 Old San Pablo City Hall (Capitol, Kapitolyo), Capitol Compound, Trece Martirez Street (Beside Doña Leonila Park). M-F 8AM-5PM. Formerly the city hall and built in a neo-classical style, this imposing structure is one of the few surviving civic buildings in the Philippines from the pre-World War II era. It contains a small museum on the history of San Pablo.
- 10 Pio Conducto Ancestral House, 126 Werner Schetelig Avenue, Barangay III-E (between Villa Lozada Subdivision and Saint Peter's College Seminary). A private residence built for one of San Pablo's well-to-do residents in 1924, it became known as the setting of the 1988 classic Filipino horror film Tiyanak featuring a demon-baby from Filipino folklore and has since become a stereotype for a haunted house, lightened somewhat by the grotto of the Virgin Mary in the yard. Only the semi-cylindrical exterior and ornate window grills can be seen on the outside, but if one is lucky enough to be invited in, expect to see the interior of an American period house complete with custom-made furniture from that era. There are plans to restore the house, which has not been directly inhabited by its owners for some time, to its former glory.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]- 1 SM City San Pablo.
Eat
[edit]San Pablo is known for its buko pie, as well as espasol, ampaw, pinipig, kesong puti (white cheese) shing-a-ling and tamarind sweets.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Rockpoint Hotel, Spa & Conference Center, Km. 91 Maharlika Highway, San Antonio II, ☏ +63 42 6522007, +63 49 5736001. Rockpoint Hotsprings Resort-Hotel and Spa is located where refreshing hot spring water flows constantly at the foot of Mount Makiling. Cozy guest rooms complete with modern amenities, and facilities that include game rooms, karaoke bar and lounge, natural hot spring swimming pools, and the in-house Lava Grill and Restaurant and coffee shop. From ₱1350.
- 1 Ang Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel, Dagatan Blvd.
Stay safe
[edit]As with major population centers in the Philippines, beware of petty crimes and the occasional robbery.
Parts of the town can get flooded during the rainy season due to water flowing from the surrounding highlands or when the lakes overflow.
Not all of the Seven Lakes are fit for swimming, as the waters may be murky and others are heavily utilized for fishing purposes.
Cope
[edit]There is a Sikh temple along Colago Avenue, near the junction with Maharliika Highway.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through San Pablo |
| Santo Tomas ← Alaminos ← | N  S
|
→ Tiaong → Lucena |
| Bay ← Calauan ← | N  S
|
→ END |