Santa Cruz, Laguna
Encyclopedia
Santa Cruz is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Laguna
Laguna province
Laguna is a province of the Philippines found in the CALABARZON region in Luzon. Its capital is Santa Cruz and the province is located southeast of Metro Manila, south of the province of Rizal, west of Quezon, north of Batangas and east of Cavite. Laguna almost completely surrounds Laguna de Bay,...

, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

. It is also the capital town of the province of Laguna. According to the latest census, it has a population of 101,914 people in 19,627 households and with a growth rate of 1.37%). Projected population for 2009 is 104,615.

Santa Cruz is situated on the banks of the Santa Cruz River
Santa Cruz River (Philippines)
The Santa Cruz River is a river system in Santa Cruz, Laguna on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.It is one of 21 River tributaries of Laguna de Bay, contributing about 15% of the total water in the lake. It is thus regularly monitored by the Laguna Lake Development Authority through one...

 which course its way along the eastern part of the famous Laguna de Bay. The town is bounded by the Bay on the north, by Lumban and Pagsanjan towns in the east,
Pagsanjan and Magdalena towns in the south, and Pila and Liliw towns in the west. It is approximately 87 kilometers from Manila via Calamba and 105 km via Pililla, in the province of Rizal. It is accessible by land from the nearby 28 municipalities and by water through Laguna de Bay from Manila and some Rizal towns.

Santa Cruz is considered as the service and commercial center on the eastern part of the province. The town is composed of five
barangays in the Poblacion area and 21 classified urban barangays. Although relatively far from the immediate urbanizing influence of Metropolitan Manila, Santa Cruz continues to progress. It is now classified as first class municipality. The present administration is headed by the Honorable Mayor Dennis Panganiban. Santa Cruz is also the seat of the provincial government since 1885, giving the municipality an additional administrative function over the entire province. It also functions as the service center for transportation, commerce, health, education, and other social services for the predominantly rural northeastern municipalities of the province. Boosting the economy of the municipality are the incipient and fast growing agribusiness industries such as livestock raising, horticulture and aquaculture. The town is composed of twenty-six (26) urban barangays. All barangays are being classified as urban.

The development of Santa Cruz as the administrative, commercial, and service center of Laguna makes it accessible for all private/public vehicles going to nearby places particularly Pagsanjan
Pagsanjan, Laguna
Pagsanjan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 35,944 people in 7,274 households. It is situated about 92 kilometers south of Manila. The main tourist spot of Pagsanjan is the Pagsanjan Falls or...

, Lake Caliraya
Lake Caliraya
Lake Caliraya is a man-made lake situated in the municipalities of Lumban, Cavinti, and Kalayaan in Laguna province, Philippines.-Creation of the dam:...

, Liliw
Liliw, Laguna
Liliw is a 4th class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is one of the highland towns forming the southern extremity of the province. According to the latest census, it has a population of 32,727 people in 6,205 households....

, Paete
Paete, Laguna
Paete is a 4th class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 24,696 people in 5,101 households....

 and Nagcarlan
Nagcarlan, Laguna
Nagcarlan is a 2rd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 63,551 people in 10,708 households. It is 16 kilometers northeast of San Pablo City, or 103 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines...

.

History

During the last decade of the 16th century, Santa Cruz, the premier town of Laguna was once a well populated barrio of the present municipality of Lumban, as well as other contemporary towns like Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Paete and Pangil. In 1602, Santa Cruz separated from Lumban and became a pueblo with its church and local government.

It is a town which since its foundation in 1602, had been ravaged by calamitous forces such as fires, typhoons, floods and human vandalism during the Philippine Revolution of 1896-1899, the war of the Philippine Independence (1899–1902), Battle of Santa Cruz
Battle of Santa Cruz (1899)
For the WWII battle of the same name see: Battle of the Santa Cruz IslandsThis Battle of Santa Cruz was a battle fought in the early stages of the Philippine-American War during General Henry W. Lawton's Laguna de Bay Campaign.-Background:...

 the assault of the Tulisanes (bandits) during the Spanish times, and the beginning to the Filipino troops of the pre-war 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and recognized guerrillas from the Second Battle of Santa Cruz on January 26, 1945. Santa Cruz survived all these disastrous calamities , for it is patiently resilient as the durable bamboos and as indestructible as the Rock of all Ages.

Characterized by fertile flat lands situated along the coastal plains of Laguna de Bay, the economic base of the town had been traditionally anchored on two primary industries, namely agriculture and fishing which still remain up to the present. In view of the strategic location of Santa Cruz relative to the other coastal settlements about the lake, trading activities have likewise rooted on the town during those early settlement days. The town proper which has always been the focal point of activities used to be accessible to the other lake-shore areas due to the navigable Santa Cruz River
Santa Cruz River (Philippines)
The Santa Cruz River is a river system in Santa Cruz, Laguna on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.It is one of 21 River tributaries of Laguna de Bay, contributing about 15% of the total water in the lake. It is thus regularly monitored by the Laguna Lake Development Authority through one...

 aside from the Laguna de Bay
Laguna de Bay
Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines and the third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia after Tonle Sap in Cambodia and Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia. It is on the island of Luzon between the provinces of Laguna to the south and Rizal to the north...

 itself. Since those early days, water is the principal mode of transportation.

Today, Santa Cruz serves as the capital of Laguna and is considered as the business and commercial center on the eastern part of the province.

Geographic Location and Land Area

Situated at the central portion of Laguna province along the southeastern coast of Laguna de Bay, the Municipality of Santa Cruz lies approximately 87 kilometers southeast of Metro Manila via Calamba and is geographically located at approximately 14 degrees 17' latitude and 121 degrees 25' longitude. The municipality is bounded on the north and northwest by Laguna de Bay, on the northeast by Lumban, on the east by Pagsanjan, on the southeast by Magdalena , on the south by Liliw,, and on the southwest by Pila. It has 26 barangays and covers approximate land area of 3860 hectares which comprises about 2% of the total land area of Laguna Province.
  • Land Area: 3,860 Hect.
  • Residential: 381.97
  • Commercial: 35.96
  • Institutional: 92.17
  • Functional Open Space: 31.27
  • Roads: 157.73
  • Total Built-up: 696.10
  • Agricultural: 3,048.57
  • Special Use: 115.33

Climate

Like most areas in the province of Laguna, the climate of Santa Cruz is characterized by two pronounced seasons: dry from January to April and wet during the rest of the year. The municipality has annual temperature of 27.2 degree Celsius and annual rainfall of 1962.7mm. Northeasterly winds with an average wind speed of 9 knots prevail in the municipality.

Hydrogeologic Characteristics

The two types of rocks found in Santa Cruz are alluvium and clastic rocks. Clastic rocks are located at the eastern portion of the municipality specifically in Barangay Alipit , San Jose, Oogong, Jasaan, San Juan, Palasan, and portions of Barangays Pagsawitan, Patimbao, Bubukal, Labuin and Malinao. These rocks consist of inter-bedded shale and sandstone with occasional thin lenses of limestone, tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...

, and reworked sandy tuffs, calcareous sandstone and partly tuffaceous shale.

Annual Income

  • 2008 — 160,196,679.38
  • 2007 — 135,792,097.46
  • 2006 — 128,812,429.41
  • 2005 — 117,351,293.14

Commerce

Being the provincial capital of Laguna, Santa Cruz serves as service center of the province particularly for the municipalities on its northeastern part. As such, the town is expected to continue to fulfill this established role in the years to come.

Trade and commerce shall remain to be one of the primary economic activities in the locality. The presence of jeepney services plying Lumban, Paete, Siniloan, San Pablo, Pila, Victoria, Cavinti-Caliraya, Luisiana, Majayjay, Calumpang, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, and Calamba has further enhanced the municipality's role as a commerce and trade center.

The center of business activities is in the poblacion specifically at Barangay V where the four (4) buildings of Public Market is situated. Within this vicinity are the MOTORWORLD Sales Center, Joy Supermarket, Centro Department Store, and Goodwill Supermarket. Development in this vicinity has been a quasi-residential commercial type as manifested by the proliferation of structures which are used both for business and residential purposes by the proprietors/owners. There is also concentration of business establishments at the section of the national highway/expressway especially Barangay Gatid where the Sunstar Mall is located, and the abandoned PNR Railway (road) while a strip pattern of commercial development is noticeable along the Quezon Avenue and along the old highway and Pedro Guevarra Avenue.

Santa Cruz has many establishment that contribute to its development.

Sterling Paper Group of Companies
Sterling Paper Group of Companies
Sterling Paper Products Enterprises is a school and office supply manufacturing company founded by Lim Seh Leng, father of Henry Lim Bon Liong, the brainchild of the most sought hybrid rice in the country....

, which started as maker of photo albums and stationery is now a conglomerate of a successful business ranging from greeting cards, school and office supplies, toys to real estate and agri-business.

Educational Establishments

Elementary
(Primary &
Intermediate):
Public: 16 - Private: 11

High School: Public: 2 - Private: 6

College: Public: 2 - Private: 8

Vocational: Public: 1 - Private: 2

Kindergarten School: Public: 35 - Private: 10

Students:

Elementary — 15,291

High School — 8,155

Tertiary — 10,914
  • Basic Christian International School and Special Education Center, Inc.
  • ACTS Computer College
  • AMA Computer University
    AMA Computer University
    AMA Computer University , formerly AMA Computer College, was the first ICT University in Asia. The University serves as the flagship brand of the AMA Education System....

    http://www.ama-university.com
  • AMA Computer Learning Center
  • Capitol View Christian School
  • Immaculate Conception Catholic College
  • Laguna Santiago Educational Foundation
    Laguna Santiago Educational Foundation
    Laguna Santiago Educational Foundation is a college school located in Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines.It was established in 1947 and currently led by Dr.. Abenir C. Garanzo....

     Inc.
  • Laguna State Polytechnic University
    Laguna State Polytechnic University
    The Laguna State Polytechnic University is a state university in the Province of Laguna, Philippines. It has four regular campuses in three municipalities and a city of the province: LSPU-Main Campus in the capital town of Santa Cruz, LSPU-Host Campus in Siniloan, LSPU-San Pablo City Campus, and...

  • Our Lady of Maulawin Educational Foundation, Inc
  • Pedro Guevara
    Pedro Guevara
    Pedro Guevara , was a Philippine soldier, lawyer and legislator who became Resident Commissioner from the Philippine Islands during the American colonial administration.-Biography:...

     Memorial National High School - Alumni
  • Philippine Women's University
    Philippine Women's University
    The Philippine Women's University is a non-sectarian academic institution for men and women in the Philippines, founded in 1919 as the Philippine Women's College by Filipino women who envisioned a school that would prepare young women for leadership and service...

  • STI College
    STI College
    Systems Technology Institute College is the largest network of for-profit information technology-based colleges in the Philippines. This private college system offers a curriculum including business studies, computer science, education, engineering and health care.STI uses a trimestral calendar as...

  • St. Therese Martin of Lisieux School and Business High School
  • United Evangelical Church School
    Accelerated Christian Education
    Accelerated Christian Education is an American educational products company which produces the Accelerated Christian Education school curriculum. The home office is in Nashville, Tennessee, with a customer service and distribution center in Lewisville, Texas. According to a study, by 1980 there...

  • Union College of Laguna
    Union College of Laguna
    The Union College of Laguna is a college institution that is located at Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines. The Union College was founded in 1947 by veteran educator Dr...

  • University of the East
    University of the East
    The University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...

     — soon to rise
  • Southbay Montessori School
  • GOAL-DEN Learners Center

Hospitals

Private Hospitals: 5
Rural Health Units: 2
Government Hospital: 1
Health Centers: 26
  • Laguna Doctors Hospital
  • Laguna Provincial Hospital
  • Laguna Holy Family Hospital
  • Jesus the Saviour Hospital

Activities

Santa Cruz may not have natural tourist spots and no wide areas to develop but one thing the townsmen of Santa Cruz are proud of are the local foods available in the town. Santa Cruz boasts of the famous white cheese or kesong puti, freshly made from carabao's milk.
  • Kesong Puti Festival — March 19-27, 2011
  • La Laguna Festival (formerly Anilag Festival) — April 10–17, 2010

Barangays

Santa Cruz is politically subdivided into 26 barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...

s.


  • Alipit
  • Bagumbayan
  • Bubukal
  • Calios
  • Duhat
  • Gatid
  • Jasaan
  • Labuin
  • Malinao
  • Oogong
  • Pagsawitan
  • Palasan
  • Patimbao

  • Barangay I (Pob.)
  • Barangay II (Pob.)
  • Barangay III (Pob.)
  • Barangay IV (Pob.)
  • Barangay V (Pob.)
  • San Jose
  • San Juan
  • San Pablo Norte
  • San Pablo Sur
  • Santisima Cruz
  • Santo Angel Central
  • Santo Angel Norte
  • Santo Angel Sur


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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