Lucena City

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City of Lucena

Location
Map of Quezon showing the location of Lucena City
Government
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Chartered city in Quezon
District	2nd district of Quezon
Barangays	33
Income class:	1st class city; highly urbanized
Mayor	Ramon Y. Talaga Jr. (Lakas-CMD)
Founded	June 1, 1882
Cityhood	August 19, 1962
Physical characteristics
Area	83.15 km²
Population      Total (2000)      Density	196,075 2,358/km²
Coordinates	13°56' N, 121°37' E

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.

It is included in the 2nd Congressional District of the province. Nearby towns of Lucena are Pagbilao (east), Tayabas (north) and Sariaya (west).

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Metro Lucena 4 Quick Facts as of 2005 5 Events 6 External links

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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):P 3,259,550,000.00

[edit] Events

• The Feast of San Isidro Labrador occurs on May 15. It is the feast day celebration of the farmer's patron saint, a thanksgiving for a year-long bountiful harvest. The celebration involves hanging all sorts of fruits, candies, food crops and multi-colored kiping on bamboo poles.
• Pasayahan sa Lucena (May 27-29) is a three day celebration highlighted by dancing, singing & merry-making on the street a la Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro & New Orleans
• Ugat Lucena (May 29) is celebrated on the eve of the fiesta, Ugat Lucena rekindles the spirit of every Lucenahin, especially those who have long settled in other places here and abroad, to come home and retrace familial origin, old acquaintances and camaraderie.
• City Fiesta - May 30 (St. Ferdinand). Feast day celebration in honor of Saint Ferdinand, the Patron Saint of Lucena.
• Santacruzan - May 31. A traditional Philippine celebration, it draws many spectators, flooding the main street of the City. It showcases the talents of Lucena's coturiers and artists on aesthetics and fashion design via a religious setting.
• Lucena Foundation Day - August 20
• Panunuluyan - December 16

[edit] External links

• Welcome to Lucena City
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Lucena gov.ph site
• Lucena Official Website @MozCom
• Lucena Official Website by MSEUF e-advocacy

Coordinates: 13°56′N 121°37′E