LUCENA CITY

The 'City of Lucena' (Filipino: ''Lungsod ng Lucena'') is a first class highly urbanized medium sized city in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Quezon. According to the 2005 census, it has a population of 220,834 people in 44,952 households.
Nearby towns of Lucena are Pagbilao (east), Tayabas (north) and Sariaya (west).

Contents

Geography

Television Networks:

Radio Stations:

Education

Economic Activities

Transportation

History

City Officials

Metro Lucena

Quick Facts as of 2005

External links

Geography

The city proper is wedged between two rivers, Dumacaa River on the east and Iyam River on the west. Seven other rivers and six creeks serve as natural drainage for the city. Its port on the coast along Tayabas Bay is home to several boat and ferry lines operating and serving the sea lanes between Lucena and the different points in the region and as far as the Visayas.
There exists a Lucena Airport, but no commercial flights come to the city. Light aircraft can, however, make use of the facilities.
Being the provincial capital, Lucena is host to most of the branches of governmental agencies, businesses, banks and service facilities in the Southern Tagalog region.
Lucena is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

★ Barangay 1 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 2 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 3 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 4 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 5 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 6 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 7 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 8 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 9 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 10 (Pob.) ★ Barangay 11 (Pob.)

★ Barra ★ Bocohan ★ Mayao Castillo ★ Cotta ★ Gulang-gulang ★ Dalahican ★ Domoit ★ Ibabang Dupay ★ Ibabang Iyam ★ Ibabang Talim ★ Ilayang Dupay

★ Ilayang Iyam ★ Ilayang Talim ★ Isabang ★ Mayao Crossing ★ Mayao Kanluran ★ Mayao Parada ★ Mayao Silangan ★ Ransohan ★ Salinas ★ Talao-talao ★ Market View

Television Networks:

★ MBC-TV Natin: Channel 3

★ Conamor Broadcasting System: Star Channel 8

★ Studio 23: Channel 24

★ ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network: Channel 28

★ STV-6: Channel 6

★ ABS-CBN Lucena: Channel 24

Radio Stations:

★ The Edge Radio 90.3

★ Campus Radio 91.1

★ KissFM 95.1

★ Bay Radio 92.7

★ Sigaw 96.7

★ Big SoundFM 97.5

★ OneFM 98.3

★ Love Radio 100.7

★ Spirit FM 103.9

★ HotFM 105.3

★ DZAT AM Himpilan ng Katotohanan

★ DWLC AM Radyo ng Bayan

★ DZEL AM Radyo Aguila

★ DZRH AM Lucena

★ DZLT AM Phil. Radio

★ DZAQ AM

Education

Lucena City is home to many known colleges, schools, academies, universities and international schools.

★ 'Sacred Heart College'

★ 'Maryhill College'

★ 'Holy Rosary Catholic School'

★ 'International School for Better Beginnings'

★ 'Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation'

★ 'Calayan Educational Foundation Incorporated'

★ 'Quezon National High School'

★ 'Lucena City National High School'

★ 'St. Anne College'

★ 'AMA Computer University'

★ 'AMA Computer Learning Center'

★ 'Philippine Tong-Ho'

★ 'Lucena City College'

★ 'Infant Jesus Montessori Center'

★ 'Metro Lucena Computer College'

★ 'Columbus Maritime Institute'

★ 'Inter Global Maritime College'

★ 'K.S. International School'

★ 'United Computer Educational Institute'

★ 'STI College'

★ 'Magill Memorial School'

★ 'Scoula Gesu Bambino'

★ 'Quezon Technological Institute'

Economic Activities

Economic activities in Lucena are heavily concentrated in the poblacion and other sub-urban barangays where the highly densed and constricted Central Business District (CBD) is home to a large cluster of different business enterprises. As population grows in tandem with new and promising business prospects, business activities spill over adjoining barangays, thus forming mini satellite commercial areas. New business establishments are now common sights in other sub-urban barangays like 'Metro Gaisano' and 'Pacific Malls' in Barangay III and 'SM City' in Barangay Ibabang Dupay, And soon to rise 'FRC Grand mall' with 'FRC Grand Inn' in Brgy. Ilayang Dupay and 'La Suerte Mega Warehouse' at Kanlurang Mayao.
Other commercial strips are located at 10 suburban barangays where both retail and wholesale trade, including other essential services, are being engaged in. Big commercial depots and warehouses in these suburban barangays do business in sales, distribution, and transport of assorted business products in bulk. To mention a few, these big depots and warehouses are those owned by 'Ginebra San Miguel a Botling Plant' in Brgy. Gulang Gulang.,'Ginebra San Miguel Alcohol Depot' in Brgy. Barra, 'Coca-Cola Bottling Co.,' 'Nestle Philippines', 'San Miguel Corporation', 'Asia Brewery', 'Magnolia', 'Unilever', 'Procter and Gamble' ',Pepsi Bottling Co.' and 'Senbel Bio-Diesel Plant' in Brgy. Cotta.
Of the total 8,316.90 hectare land area of Lucena City, 19% or 1,651.77 hectares cover the existing built up area. Almost 3% of this or 46.62 hectares cover the industrial section, located in different barangays of the city. These areas are home to significant industrial and manufacturing activities.
Nestled amidst a wide expanse of coconut lands, Lucena has coconut oil mills which produce oil-based household products like cooking oil, soap, lard, margarine, and oil based medicines.The well known 'JnJ Oil', 'Exora cooking oil and Vegetable lard','Miyami Cooking Oil' are proudly made in this city. Car assembly/manufacturing plants have also established good business in the city, turning out quality vehicles and accessories some of these are 'Sarao Motors-Lucena', 'Alana II Motors' and 'Tony Cars', While Manila Based car shops are starting to put up some branches here like 'Toyota (Batangas) Cars' in Brgy Domoit, 'Mitsubishi SFM' in Red-V and the latest opening of 'Isuzu Cars.'. Industry in Lucena produces a sustainable amount of agro-industrial based products, dried and smoked fish, distilled liquors, bamboo and rattan furniture, ornamental flowers/plants, vegetable as well as meat products.
Over the years, it was observed that a growing number of visitors from other places come to Lucena. Travelers of various types and sizes are drawn to Lucena because of modern facilities and good amenities that could be found in the city such as 'Quezon Convention Center', Kalilayan Civic Centre, 'Centro Pastoral Auditorium', 'Alcala Sports Complex' a two time host of a Palarong Pambansa,Manuel S. Enverga Gymnasium, and Sacred heart College Gym. Also a wide Selection of hotel and lodging awaits and that can have a capability to host a large number of gatherings like 'Queen Margarette Hotel' was among the finest,Halina Hotel,Star Garden Tower hotel,Diamond Resort Hotel, 'South Waters Marina Country Club and Farm Inc'. for an options.The cost of food, board and lodging, hotel accommodation and entertainment in Lucena City is much cheaper compare to those found in other urban centers in Region IV. Budget-conscious travelers find Lucena as a well-suited destination for organized tours. In fact that this City was known as a ''Concert City'' and ''the Entertainment Capital' of South Eastern CALABARZON''. Some of the Big Concert and Events happened here are '"Sharon in Cocert", "Pops Fernandez Live in Lucena", "Michael B. sa ANECUL", Regine Velazquez, Nina Concert, Quezon's 100 Back to back with Nina,Mau Marcelo's come back Concert ,Sam Milby'sConcert, Ogie Alcasid Concert, David Pomeranz Live in Lucena', just to name a few.
Road network provides access from all key cities and towns in the island of Luzon to this highly urbanized capital. Well-paved radial and by-pass routes criss-crossing in and out of the city facilitate the transport of unlimited assortment of merchandise, supplies, and raw materials to and from the city on a round-the-clock basis.

Transportation

Lucena City has a central transportation hub aptly called the 'Grand Central Terminal' and is located in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, just midway through the Bicol Region and back. It serves not only Manila-bound buses but also buses going toward the upland and far-flung areas of Quezon province, particularly Bondoc Peninsula towns.
Among the bus lines that serve the Manila-Lucena route and are housed in the Grand Central Terminal are:

★ 'Jac Liner' (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias)

★ 'AB Liner' (enroute from Guinayangan to Alabang and Pureza in Sampaloc)

★ 'Barney AutoLines' (enroute from Guinayangan to Alabang and Cubao)

★ 'Lucena Lines' (sister company of Jac Liner, bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias)

★ 'Jam Transit' (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias)

★ 'Grand Star' (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias)

★ 'N. Dela Rosa Transport' (bound to Alabang and Lawton)

★ 'Tritran' (bound to LRT-Taft and Cubao-Kamias)
Lucena City also has a wide network of jeepney routes, all emanating from the city center (''Bayan'') and reaching out to the major barangays of the city, as well as nearby towns.

History

Lucena was originally a barrio of Tayabas town, then the capital of the Province of Tayabas (now Quezon) which was explored by Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1571 & 1572. The town was founded by the Franciscan fathers, Juan de Plasencia & Diego de Oropesa between 1580 & 1583.
It was then called by the Spaniards "Buenavista" (beautiful scenic spots) because of its awe-inspiring scenic beauty.
It was then changed to "Oroquieta" in honor of the Spanish Gov-Gen. Oroquieta. Then in the 17th Century it was changed to "Cotta" meaning a strong fort because forts or cottas were built to defend it from Muslim piratical raids. Finally, on November 5, 1897, pursuant to an Orden Real Superior Civil, the community was named "Lucena" as tribute to the late Reverend Mariano Granja, a Jesuit prelate of the town of Lucena, Province of Andalucia, Spain who was responsible for the development of the barrio. And on June 1, 1882 it became an independent municipality.
During the Philippine Revolution in 1896, the captain municipal of Lucena, Jose Zaballero, led the local revolutionaries. However, the local revolutionary government was organized by Manuel Argüelles, with José Barcelona as president. After the declaration of Philippine Independence, Gen. Malvar took over Tayabas Province on Aug. 15, 1898. Don Crisanto Marquez was elected municipal president during the first elections.
Lucena was the site of bloody struggles at the outbreak of the Filipino-American War in 1899. Upon establishment of a civil government in the Province of Tayabas by the Americans on March 12, 1901, Lucena was made capital of the province. During WW II, Lucena was not spared from the grim realities of war at the hands of the Japanese who occupied the city on Dec. 27, 1941. Fortunately, however, the city was not devastated by the war. The Hunter ROTC guerillas succeeded in driving out the Japanese on January 25, 1945. Quezon Province was formally liberated by the Americans on April 4, 1945.
On June 17, 1961 by virtue of Republic Act No. 3271, sponsored by Cong. Manuel S. Enverga & Cong. Pascual Espinosa, Lucena became a chartered city. The City of Lucena was inaugurated on Aug. 19, 1962 on the occasion of the 84th birth anniversary of the late Pres. Manuel L. Quezon.
Today Lucena is home to a population of 220,834 people (as of 2005) and is fast flourishing as an urban community and planning to build an Economic Zone.

City Officials

★ 'Mayor:' Ramon Talaga Jr.

★ 'Vice Mayor:' Philip Castillo

★ 'Councilors:'

★
★ Ramil Talaga

★
★ Clarinda Cabana

★
★ Atty. Ferdinand Talabong

★
★ Benito Brizuela

★
★ Americo Lacerna

★
★ Danilo Faller, M.D.

★
★ Michael Dalida

★
★ Felix Avillo

★
★ Simon Aldovino Jr.

★
★ Wilfredo Asilo, Ph.D.

★
★ Aurora Garcia ''(Ex-officio, Liga ng mga Barangay, until October 2007)''

★
★ Arjay Salamillas ''(Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, until October 2007)''
'NOTE:' Although Lucena City is a highly-urbanized city, its charter permits its citizens to vote for provincial elective officials (provincial governor, vice governor, and board members).

Metro Lucena

Metro Lucena has an estimated population of 700,000 w/c is mostly concentrated in the flat-south central portion of Quezon, which includes the city of Lucena, Sariaya, Candelaria, Tayabas, Lucban & Pagbilao . The people are characterized as friendly and hardworking.

Quick Facts as of 2005

★ Total Population : 220,834 (2005)

★ Population Density : 2,483 persons/sq.km.

★ No. of Households : 44,952

★ Ave. Household Size : 4.85 persons/household

★ Population Growth Rate : 2.12% per year

★ Literacy Rate : 98.6%

★ Day Care Centers : 59

★ Public Elementary Schools : 40

★ Private Elementary Schools : 21

★ Public High Schools : 2

★ Private High Schools : 10

★ Tertiary Schools : 8

★ Internal Revenue Allotment (2005) : P 220,336,233.00

★ LGU Income (2005) : P 403,116,448.49

★ Lucena City Tax Revenue Collection (2003) (Revenue District Office No. 60 covering Lucena City and all the towns in the First and Second Legislative Districts of Quezon Province) : P 3,259,550,000.00

External links

★ Welcome to Lucena City

★ Philippine Standard Geographic Code

★ 2000 Philippine Census Information

★ Lucena City Government site

★ Lucena City association in Canada

★ Lucena City Properties