Santa Cruz is a town, the capital of Laguna province. It is a transport hub for the rest of eastern Laguna.
Understand
[edit]The town was established from the barrios (or barangays in modern times) of then-larger Lumban by the Spaniards on 1602. It became the capital of Laguna in 1858. The town's history is filled with disasters, from typhoons, floods, and numerous battles. Santa Cruz has been a scene of battles during the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine–American War, and the Pacific War; the town has since recovered and is now the economic and transportation hub of eastern Laguna.
Orientation
[edit]The town center lies near the mouth of the Santa Cruz river and is bisected by it. There are two bridges crossing over the river in the downtown. The Calamba-Pagsanjan Road passes through the southern suburbs and forms a junction leading to downtown in Barangay Pagsawitan, where the bus terminals are located. All jeepney terminals, except those heading for Lucban, which is located in Pagsawitan Junction, are scattered in the town center. To alleviate traffic entering the downtown from Calamba, vehicles turn left at the junction in Barangay Bubukal, which is a secondary commercial hub, towards the provincial road heading to the Santa Cruz Bridge.
Get in
[edit]
By bus
[edit]Santa Cruz is well served by buses from the major provincial bus terminals in Metro Manila; travel times take about 2 hours (or more with traffic jams), including a major stop in Calamba.
- DLTB provides frequent half-hourly departure from the company's Buendia (Pasay) and Cubao (Quezon City) terminals.
- Jac Liner[dead link] (formerly Greenstar Express) provides 30-minute departures from their terminal at Taft/Buendia in Pasay.
- HM Liner and Worthy Transport has hourly departures to their terminal in Barangay Pagsawitan, Pagsanjan, beside the boundary with Santa Cruz; buses leave from Cubao or Alabang (South Station). Alabang-bound buses include two stopovers in Calamba: Mayapa and SM Calamba/Crossing.
Average fares are ₱40 from Calamba, ₱140 from Alabang, ₱170 from ﹰBuendia, and ₱190 from Pasay.
By jeep
[edit]As the provincial capital, Santa Cruz is a primary hub for jeepneys from all across Laguna. The following routes are in existence and also operate vice versa:
- Santa Cruz-Calamba
- Santa Cruz-San Pablo
- Santa Cruz-Pila
- Santa Cruz-Pagsanjan
- Santa Cruz-Lumban
- Santa Cruz-Siniloan (for those heading to Paete and other towns of northeast Laguna)
- Santa Cruz-Cavinti
- Santa Cruz-Luisiana
- Santa Cruz-Lucban, Quezon Province via Cavinti and Luisiana
- Santa Cruz-Majayjay
- Santa Cruz-Liliw
- Santa Cruz-Nagcarlan via Liliw
- Santa Cruz-Calumpang, (barangay of Nagcarlan)
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the primary means of getting around Santa Cruz, with fares starting at P20.
See
[edit]- 1 Laguna Provincial Capitol, Pedro Guevarra Avenue. 8AM-5PM. Houses the provincial government offices, some parks, and festival grounds. The neoclassical capitol building at the entrance is designed by American architect and urban planner William Edward Parsons.
- 2 Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Santa Cruz Church), Pio Valenzuela Street. Baroque church built in 1603 but destroyed during the liberation of the Philippines at the end of the Pacific War in 1945
- 3 Villa Valenzuela (Puting Kastilyo (White Castle)), Zamora Street corner Quezon Avenue, Barangay Santo Angel. Lying on the banks of the Santa Cruz River beside Santa Cruz Bridge, the mansion was built in 1919 for one of the town's leading families and resembles a castle. It is a closed private residence that looks abandoned and haunted, but its low fences allow pictures of its spiral staircases, ornate facades and windows to be taken from the outside, particularly when approaching from the bridge.
Do
[edit]- Kesong Puti Festival - Showcases the local product kesong puti (white cheese)
Sports
[edit]- 1 Laguna Sports Complex, Calumpang-Santa Cruz Road, Bubukal. Part of the Laguna University complex, it hosts major sporting events held in Laguna.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Sun Star Mall, ☏ +63 49 557-1490. 10AM-8PM. Has fast food chains and a Walter Mart supermarket.
Eat
[edit]Major fastfood chains (Jollibee, McDonald's, KFC, Mang Inasal, Chowking) can be found in multiple locations in Santa Cruz.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 San Victorina Pension House, Camachile Street. From ₱2,060.
Stay safe
[edit]Parts of the town center get flooded during the rainy season when the Santa Cruz River, Laguna de Bay or both overflow.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]You can take jeepneys to Pagsanjan, Nagcarlan or Liliw, a resort town showcasing a vibrant shoe and slipper industry.
| Routes through Pagsanjan |
| Calamba ← Pila ← | W  E
|
→ Pagsanjan |