Santa Cruz, Laguna

History

Spanish colonial period

During the last decade of the 16th century, Santa Cruz was once a well populated barrio of the present municipality of Lumban, as well as other contemporary towns like Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Paete and Pangil. On September 6, 1602, Santa Cruz separated from Lumban and became a pueblo with its church and local government. For being in an unhealthy state, the center of the town was moved in 1608 to where it is today.

Since its foundation in 1602, the town 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 and the assault of the tulisanes (bandits) during the Spanish period.

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 aside from Laguna de Bay itself. Since those early days, water is the principal mode of transportation.

World War II

The Filipino guerrillas and irregular forces also came from the town and was involved in the Second Battle of Santa Cruz on January 26, 1945.

Modern period

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.

Geography

Situated at the central portion of Laguna province along the south-eastern coast of Laguna de Bay, Santa Cruz lies 87 km 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 north-west by Laguna de Bay, on the north-east by Lumban, on the east by Pagsanjan, on the southeast by Magdalena, on the south by Liliw, and on the south-west 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.

It is situated on the banks of the Santa Cruz River which flows into the eastern part of 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 in the west. It is 88 km from Manila via Calamba and Los Baños. It is accessible by land from Metro Manila passing through Rizal Province via Manila East Road or via South Luzon Expressway

• Land Area: 3,860 hectares
• 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

Geology

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

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.

| access-date = 11 May 2020 }}

Barangays

Santa Cruz is politically subdivided into 26 barangays, as indicated below. The town is composed of five barangays in the Poblacion area and 21 classified urban barangays.

• Alipit
• Bagumbayan
• Bubukal
• Calios
• Duhat
• Gatid
• Jasaan
• Labuin
• Malinao
• Oogong
• Pagsawitan
• Palasan
• Patimbao
• Poblacion I
• Poblacion II
• Poblacion III
• Poblacion IV
• Poblacion V
• San Jose
• San Juan
• San Pablo Norte
• San Pablo Sur
• Santisima Cruz
• Santo Angel Central
• Santo Angel Norte
• Santo Angel Sur

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Santa Cruz was 126,844 people, with a density of {{sigfig|126,844/38.59|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Santa Cruz is considered as the service and commercial center on the eastern part of the province. Although relatively far from the immediate urbanizing influence of Metropolitan Manila, Santa Cruz continues to progress. It is now classified as municipality. 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 north-eastern 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.

Commerce

The provincial capital of Laguna, Santa Cruz serves as service center of the province particularly for the municipalities on its north-eastern part.

Trade and commerce 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, Lucban, Lucena 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.

Santa Cruz has many establishment that contribute to its development. 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 a concentration of business establishments at the section of the national highway/expressway especially Barangay Gatid where a 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. Along P Guevarra Avenue, several establishments are also located such as Hospitals, Meralco office, PLDT office, Red Cross, several Banking Institutions, and Executive Eminent Lending Company. There is also SL Agritech Corporation, in Barangay Oogong, Santa Cruz, Laguna.

Tax collection

Annual local government collection:

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

Tourism

Points of interest

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.

• Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church (Catholic)
• Cathedral of the Our Lady of Maulawin (Aglipayan Church)
• Emilio Jacinto Shrine Burial Site
• Villa Valenzuela
• Santa Cruz Town Plaza
• Provincial Capitol of Laguna

Events

Santa Cruz hosted the Palarong Pambansa from May 4–10, 2014.

;Festivals

• Kesong puti Festival — April 4–11
• Anilag Festival — March 8–17

Government

List of Mayors

Elections

2022 Santa Cruz local elections

2019 Santa Cruz local elections

2016 Santa Cruz local elections

2013 Santa Cruz local elections

2010 Santa Cruz local elections

Education

The Santa Cruz, Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

• Bagumbayan Elementary School
• Bubukal Elementary School
• Calios Elementary School
• Capitol View Christian School
• Duhat Elementary School
• Gatid Elementary School
• GOAL-DEN Learners Center
• iExcel Learning Hub
• Laguna Santiago Educational Foundation
• Little Javannah Montessori School
• Maranatha Christian Academy
• Mind Builders Academy
• Oogong Elementary School
• Our Lady of Maulawin Educational Foundation
• Pagsawitan Elementary School
• Palasan Elementary School
• Patimbao Elementary School
• Rabbi Excellent Christian School
• San Jose Elementary School
• Santa Cruz Central Elementary School (The Central School of Santa Cruz)
• Santisima Cruz Elementary School
• Santo Angel Central Elementary School
• Santo Angel Norte Elementary School
• Santo Angel Sur Elementary School
• SHARPMINDS Tutorial Center
• Silangan Elementary School
• Southbay Montessori School
• United Evangelical Church School

Secondary schools

• Basic Christian International School and Special Education Center
• Immaculate Conception Catholic College
• Laguna Senior High School
• Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School
• St. Therese Martin of Lisieux School and Business High School

Higher educational institutions

• ACTS Computer College
• AMA Computer University
• AMA Computer Learning Center
• Laguna State Polytechnic University
• Laguna University
• Philippine Women's University
• STI College
• Union College of Laguna

Healthcare

Hospitals

Private Hospitals: 4 Rural Health Units: 2 Government Hospital: 1 ;Health Centers: 26

• Laguna Medical Center
• Santa Cruz Laguna Polymedic, Inc.
• Laguna Doctors Hospital
• Laguna Holy Family Hospital
• Jesus the Saviour Hospital

Transporation

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, Lake Caliraya, Liliw, Paete and Nagcarlan.

Vehicle

• Jeepney
• UV Express
• Tricycle

Bus lines

• HM Transport
• JAC Liner
• Lucena Lines
• DLTBCo

Laguna Province Capital Bus lines

• Pascual Liner
• Worthy Transport Inc. (Shuttle)

Gallery

File:4070San Juan, Santa Cruz, Laguna 38.jpg|Emilio Jacinto Shrine Burial Site File:Pila & Sta Cruz Laguna.JPG|Aerial view with Santa Cruz in the centre and Pila in the foreground File:Laguna Provincial Capitol, Dec 2023 (1).jpg|Laguna Provincial Capitol File:Rizal Monument, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Dec 2023.jpg|Rizal Monument File:Santa Cruz Laguna.jpg|Santa Cruz Public Market viewed from Regidor Street near Santisima Elementary School File:Pedro Guevarra Street.jpg|Pedro Guevara Avenue, in front of the Iglesia ni Cristo church. File:Pedro Guevara Avenue.jpeg|Pedro Guevara Avenue. At left is the Spanish-era Escuela Pía building. The bell tower of the Church of the Immaculate Conception can be seen at the background.

Notable people

• Gen. Juan Cailles - first Filipino Military Governor of Laguna, teacher, soldier, and public servant
• Gen. Agueda Kahabagan - first Filipino female General of 1st Republic of the Philippines
• Rustico de los Reyes Jr. – Member of the Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986 and former member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa--
• Pedro Guevara - soldier, legislator, lawyer and writer
• Eduardo Quisumbing - National Scientist of the Philippines for Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Morphology
• Emil Q. Javier, National Scientist of the Philippines for Agriculture, and 17th President of the University of the Philippines
• Nena Saguil - modernist and abstract art painter
• Socorro Ramos – entrepreneur and co-founder of National Book Store, the largest bookstore chain in the Philippines
• Carmina Villarroel - actress, TV presenter
• Gov. Felicisimo T. San Luis - former Provincial Governor of Laguna (1960–1992)
• Rodolfo S. San Luis - former Mayor and Representative of the 4th District of Laguna--
• Edgar San Luis - former Mayor (2019–2025) and Representative of the 4th District of Laguna (2007–2013)

Sister cities

• Philippines Makati, Philippines

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. Rivera, DJ. (January 22, 2021). "Kesong Puti and Whare to Find it in Sta. Cruz".
3. Huerta, Felix, de. (1865). "Estado Geografico, Topografico, Estadistico, Historico-Religioso de la Santa y Apostolica Provincia de San Gregorio Magno". Imprenta de M. Sanchez y Compañia.
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070831172312/http://www.culbertsonmansion.com/Lawton/Laguna-Report/01report-main.htm Report of an Expedition to the Province of La Laguna, Luzon, Philippine Islands, April 8th to April 17th 1899], Major General H.W. Lawton.
5. (October 24, 2013). "Laguna wins Palaro hosting bid". SunStar.
6. At this time, after the [[1986 EDSA Revolution]], President [[Corazon Aquino]] forced the resignation of all local government unit heads and appointed officers in charge in their place
7. Appointed OIC Mayor
8. Appointed OIC Vice-Mayor
9. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".