San Pablo City Guide: What You Need To Know About

Article Source: http://www.expatforum.com/articles/cities/san-pablo-city-guide.html
 by MoveForward on August 17, 2007

The City of San Pablo, or Lungsod ng San Pablo, is a second-class income city found at the southern portion of the Laguna province in the South Luzon region of the Philippines.  It is located 82 kilometers from Manila, sprawled among the foothills of Mount Cristobal and Mount Banahaw with a total land area of 197.60 km².

It is otherwise known as the “City of Seven Lakes” because it is bequeathed with the seven crater lakes of Sampalok, Yambo, Calibato , Muhikap, Palakpakin, Pandin, and Bunot.  These lakes have figured prominently in the people’s livelihood ideal grounds for fresh water fishing and  fish-raising.

Aside from fishing and tourism industries, San Pablo is also a major industrial center that  primarily manufactures coco-based food products such as buko pie, buko juice, macapuno and nata de coco preserves, desiccated coconut, and coconut cooking oil.  Other industries include the manufacturing of processed meat products, bottled water, coco lumber, stainless kitchenware, and steel bodies for jeepneys.

Residential Places in San Pablo

Almost all the  80 barangays that politically subdivides San Pablo City consists of residential neighborhoods.  Some of these residential neighborhoods are found within gated communities locally referred to as subdivisions and villages.  These are the most often preferred residence of middle to upper class families as they often feature walled perimeters with guarded gates to provide limited access.  Most common featured amenities in these gated communities include lighted streets, centralized water distribution system, and garbage management.

Some of San Pablo City’s subdivision and villages include Metropolis South, Monte Lego Nature Estates, Aranville Heights, Buenaville Heights Subdivision, and miramonte subdivision.
Hospitals and Universities of San Pablo

Universities of San Pablo

San Pablo City’s tertiary education system is composed of a state-owned university and several colleges that provide training and instruction in various fields of study.  These are the    Laguna State Polytechnic College-San Pablo City National School of Arts and Trades in Barangay Del Remedios, Canossa College at the Lakeside Park Subdivision, Laguna College in Paseo De Escudero, Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo in Barangay San Jose, STI Computer Science and Technology-San Pablo on Lopez Jaena Street, Saint Peter’s College Seminary along Schetelig Avenue, Montessori Professional College, and San Pablo Colleges.

Commercial Places in San Pablo

Three of the city’s major commercial centers are the San Pablo City Shopping Center at the corner of  Rizal Avenue and Bonifacio Street, Ultimart Shopping Plaza on  M. Paulino Street, and the Centro Park Department Store and Supermarket.  Found in all three establishments stores and boutiques for most general commodities, service shops, and eating establishments that range from casual sit-down restaurants to prominent fastfood outlets.

San Pablo is yet to have a large, modern shopping mall in its locality with the construction of SM City San Pablo on Rizal Avenue.  Upon its completion, the mall will be a branch of the country’s largest chain of supermalls owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings.  It will feature the usual SM anchor stores, such as the SM Department Store, SM Cinema, SM Foodcourt, and SM Supermarket.  In addition, it will carry several retail and service shops, entertainment halls, and dining establishments.

The city’s major shopping center is the SM City-San Pablo which stands along the Rizal Avenue.  It is a branch of the country’s largest chain of supermalls owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings.

Most certainly, San Pablo’s prime recreational centers are the numerous hotels and resorts found in the city’s most scenic spots. These establishments often feature recreational facilities and restaurants amidst the breath-taking backdrop of nature.  The city’s finest hotel/resorts include the Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort , Dioko Resort & Butterfly Farm, Palaisdaan at Kamayan sa Ilog Restaurant & Resort in Barangay San Ignacio, Bato Spring in Barangay San Cristobal, Siesta Residencia de Arago at the Green Valley Subdivision, Tierra De Oro Resort-Hotel along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Antonio, Cresta Monte Resort and Countryside Spring Resort  in Barangay Sto Angel, Star Lake Resort and Mohicap Lake Resort in Barangay San Buenaventura, Bukid Rest Resort in Barangay Concepcion, Kay Inay Resort on C. Colago  Avenue, and San Rafael Swimming Pool in Barangay San Rafael.Service Establishments of San Pablo

Service Establishments of San Pablo

Electricity in the city is supplied by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO).  Formerly known as the Manila Electric Rail and Light Company, it currently holds a central franchise on 22 cities and 89 municipalities making it the larges electric power distributor in the Philippines. Applications for service and bill payments may be done by visiting the MERALCO San Pablo branch office on M. Paulino Street.

Telecommunication companies servicing the city are the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications.  Both companies provide traditional fixed telephone services and internet access via dial-up and digital subscriber line (DSL). Internet service providers in San Pablo are MOZCOM and SmartBro of Smart Communications, a subsidiary of PLDT.  The latter provides wireless internet service via broadband.

Cellular service providers in San Pablo City are the Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Sun Cellular of Digitel Telecommunications, and Next Mobile.  All companies offer differing  subscription packages for all income brackets.
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I was born in San Pablo City but there still so many things I need to know in this beautiful city of San Pablo. Hope you were also informed well.

P.S. I just choose the part of the article which I think the reader needed most, for the complete article go to
http://www.expatforum.com/articles/cities/san-pablo-city-guide.html