Santa Cruz is situated on the banks of the Santa Cruz River 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.
Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Natural and Physical Characteristics
- 3 Economy
- 4 Barangays
- 5 Sister cities
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Municipality of Santa Cruz
Bayan ng Santa Cruz— Municipality —
SealMap of Laguna showing the location of Santa Cruz
Location in the Philippines
Municipality of Santa CruzCoordinates: 14°16′43″N 121°24′56″ECoordinates: 14°16′43″N 121°24′56″E Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A) Province Laguna District 4th District of Laguna Founded 1602 Barangays 26 Government - Mayor Domingo "Dennis" G. Panganiban Area - Total 38.59 km2 (14.9 sq mi) Population (2007) - Total 101,914 - Density 2,640.9/km2 (6,840/sq mi) Time zone PST (UTC+8) ZIP code 4009 Income class 1st
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 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 aside from the Laguna de Bay 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.[1]
Natural and Physical Characteristics
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, and reworked sandy tuffs, calcareous sandstone and partly tuffaceous shale.
Economy
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, 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.
Commercial Centers
- Sunstar Mall — First Mall of the town
- CENTRO Department Store — located near the old public market
- Goodwill Grocery — with a branch in Pagsanjan, Laguna
- Metrostar Department Store — 2nd floor, Sunstar Mall
- MOTORWORLD Sales Center— located at N. Tobias St.,a hardware shop with complete line in bicycle, motorcycle parts, agricultural and industrial engines, construction equipment, generators, water pumps, powertools, handtools, plumbing, electrical, pet accessories, lightings, cellphone/internet/game cards, complete line of eloads, dream satellite, electronics, computers, surveillance cameras, sound system, office supplies, household hardware, construction materials, sports equipment/accessories/gear, fishing supplies, praise music and many more
- SUKIKOGROCER (Wholesale and Retail) — located at 200 A Regidor St. Sta. Cruz, Laguna, where you can buy grocery items at a very low price. (Near UNITOP and beside Santisima Elementary School)
- 7-Eleven
- Chowking — 2 stores
- Dunkin Donuts
- Goldilocks Bakeshop
- Greenwich Pizza
- Jollibee — 2 stores
- Max's Restaurant — Sunstar Mall
- McDonald's
- Mercury Drug — 2 branches in the town
- Ministop — 2 stores along P. Guevara Ave: beside the Feliciano Columns and beside Mercury Drugs in front of the Provincial Capitol
- Mister Donut
- Mang Inasal — now open
- Unitop Department Store — now open (formerly Joy Shopping Center)
- Hap Chan — Sunstar Mall (now open)
- Center Point Builders Supply
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[1]
- AMA Computer Learning Center
- Capitol View Christian School
- Don Bosco High School
- Immaculate Conception Catholic School
- Laguna University
- Laguna Santiago Educational Foundation Inc.
- Laguna State Polytechnic University
- Our Lady of Maulawin Educational Foundation, Inc
- Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School - Alumni
- Philippine Women's University
- STI College
- St. Therese Martin of Lisieux School and Business High School
- United Evangelical Church School
- Union College of Laguna
- University of the East — soon to rise
- Southbay Montessori School
- GOAL-DEN Learners Center
Hotel, Bar & Restaurant
- Asiablooms Hotel National Highway Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Traders HotelPagsawitan,Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Pleasant View Hotel — Barangay Patimbao HI-Way, Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Festival Gardens — Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Traveler's Hotel — Barangay Pagsawitan, Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Tres Palmas Bar & Restaurant — National Highway Barangay Bubukal, Santa Cruz, Laguna
- CPBS Lifestyle Bar/Cafe — Barangay Pagsawitan, Santa Cruz, Laguna
SPA and Beauty
- Kami no ishi, Facial, Massage and Spa Salon —The first professional spa in the town, L. Taleon St., Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Lynderm Facial & Derm Clinic — P. Guevara Avenue, Santa Cruz, Laguna
- Asian Derm Clinic — Regidor St., Santa Cruz, Laguna
- La Señora Total Body and Facial Care Center, 2/F AHS Bldg. A Regidor St. Sta. Cruz, Laguna
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 barangays.
- 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
Population Census of Santa Cruz Census Pop.
Rate 1995 86,978
— 2000 92,694
1.38% 2007 101,914
1.32%
