Important Culutral Properties
SAN PABLO CITY CATHEDRAL
Construction of the bricks and stones church started in 1680 and finished in 1721. The detailed affluent, ecclesiastical ornamentation were made by artist Juan de los Santos under Father Hernando Cabrera’s direction (1618-1629) who mandated that all payments and tributes to the church be made in the form of gold, silver and other metals. It was used as prison /garrison during the second world war by the invading Japanese forces between 1941-1945.
FARCON RESIDENCE
Constructed in the early 1950s. Design is a fusion of Hispanic and American-Colonial building styles. Home of Municipal President (1945) Don Alfonso Farcon.
THE CITY PLAZA
*Rizal Monument was installed in 1911
*Plaza fountain was constructed between 1916-1918 during the term of Don Feliano Exconde
*Lamp posts in the plaza circle and islands along Rizal Ave. were erected by Mun. President Crispin Calabia (1928-1931)
*The Mango Tree was believed to have been there since 1899.
SAN PABLO CITY HALL
It represents the prevailing architectural characteristics and design during the American Colonial period when the structure was built.
The building was designed by Architect Antonio Toledo, one of the government Architects during
the American Colonial period, show cases the popular design of the same period. Other buildings
designed by Architect Toledo include: City Hall of Manila (1941), Dept. of Agriculture and Commerce
(now Tourism Building), Department of Finance (now National Museum), Leyte Capitol (1920s), Cebu Provincial Capitol
(1937), Manila Customs House, UP College of Medicine Annex (Padre Faura Campus), UP University Library
(Padre Faura Campus), Women’s Dormitory of the Philippine Normal School.
HAGDANG BATO
Constructed in 1915 under MP Marcial Alimario. It has five sections with a total of 89 steps. It serves as an access to Sampalok Lake from the view deck/Bonifacio Shrine. The lot was part of Dona Leonila Park which was donated by Cabesang Sixto Bautista.
CASA REAL/OLD CFI BUILDING
Casa Real was the first public building build by the Spanish friars in 1810 – 1814 under Father Cabrera; Rebuilt in 1905-1907 during the American regime under the supervision of the Philippine Commission. It served as the local government administrative building/old munisipyo until March 30, 1940; house the Court of First Instance from 1940 till late 1980s. After its rehabilitation in 2008-2009, it is used as the Department of Education Library Hub to present. The right wing of the second floor House the Family Court since 2017.
SAN PABLO CENTRAL SCHOOL
As the first public school, the San Pablo Central School paved the way for the education of most San Pableños.
Early professionals and local leaders were educated in the institution, under the American teachers.
The site was acquired between 1908 and 1910.
By virtue of the Gabaldon Act, the first public school building was constructed in 1916 and was named
Thomas Jefferson Building, now Mabini building. Intermediate classes were held there (grades 4-7) while primary grades
were held at Escuela Pia. In 1913, 18 students, the first graduates of grade 7 received their diplomas; 1918 Lincoln
Building now Bonifacio was constructed; 1925 Rizal Building was constructed; 1929 when the Minerva Shrine was installed,
a donation of the graduates of that year; 1931 when the school’s iron gates and fence were completed; 1940 Quezon building
was constructed; 1941 when the public high school opened. The Boys High was housed at the Rizal Building while the Girl’s
High was at the Bonifacio Building. In 1944, the buildings were damaged by the bombs of the Japanese invading forces.
By virtue of the Rehabilitation Act of 1946, the buildings were restored.
PRUDENCIA FULE ACESSTRAL HOUSE
Built in the 1890s.
This ancestral house was used as hide-out of General
Miguel Malvar when he was in Laguna to confer with the Katipuneros in the late 1890s.
The property was donated by the heirs of Ms. Prudencia Fule to the city government to be used for educational
purposes only.
DR. JOSE RIZAL MONUMENT
The Jose Rizal monument is a reminder of the martyrdom of our national hero, who sacrificed his life for Philippine Independence. The books he wrote exposed the malpractices and hidden motives of the Spaniards to keep the Filipino people subdued, indolent and blind followers.
The original monument is believed to be the first Rizal monument with the statue of the hero in the Philippines which was installed in June 11, 1911. It was replaced in 1969 by the martyr’s statue.
PINAGLABANAN SHRINE
The Battle of Sta. Isabel was the first Fil-Am uprising in the city of San Pablo against the invading Japanese Imperial Army. Nine (9) Filipino Guerillas died on the spot while three (3) were missing in action.
The battle of Sta. Isabel Shrine was erected in November 22, 1979 to commemorate the event on the historic spot on November 22, 1944. Filipino-American Guerilla unit under Col. Gertrudo San Pedro valiantly fought the invading Japanese imperial Forces during WWII.
APOLINARIO MABINI SHRINE
The Apolinario Mabini Shrine, the only one in the city of San Pablo and strategically located at the center island of the city main street is a reminder to everyone of the very important role that Apolinario Mabini played in the achievement of freedom and independence of the country from foreign invaders.
ANDRES BONIFACIO MONUMENT
The Bonifacio monument is a reminder of the heroic deeds of Andres Bonifacio in the quest for Philippine Independence. It is strategically located at the upper west bank of Sampalok Lake, against a panoramic view of the lake from that view deck. It was inaugurated in November 30, 1997 in time for the hero’s 134th birth anniversary.
Sculptured in concrete cement by Conrado Balubagan of Sta. Cruz, Laguna. It is located at the elevated western bank of Sampalok Lake. The monument was inaugurated in November 30, 1997 in time for the 134th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, Founder of Katipunan.
SAN PABLO RAILROAD STATION
The coming of the railroad system to San Pablo City in 1908 revolutionized the transport of coconut- the city’s primary product, to Manila and ports where they are loaded and exported to various countries in the west and Europe, capitalizing on the high demand for coconut products abroad. This tremendously boosted the economy of San Pablo. In 1912, the Bureau of Public Works Publication mentioned that the most prosperous community in the Philippines was San Pablo (Juan B. Hernandez, San Pablo delos Montes).
TRECE MARTIRES SHRINE
The Trece Martires monument is a reminder of the martyrdom of the 13 Filipinos who were part of the quest for
Philippine Independence.
It is located at the intersection of a street which was named in their behalf.
Located just a few meters from the shrine of Andres Bonifacio. Constructed in honor of the thirteen martyrs of Cavite who were executed by musketry in September 12, 1896, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The shrine was erected through the initiative of Attorney Teofila Sahagun, First woman President of the Association de Diaconiza dela Iglesia Filipina Independiente on June 30, 1916.
GUERILLA SHRINE
The Battle of Mt. Kalisungan was the last Fil-Am uprising in the city of San Pablo against the Japanese Imperial Army in March 29, 1945. San Pablo City was finally liberated from the Japanese invaders on April 3, 1945
The battle of Mt. Kalisungan/WW II Memorial Shrine was inaugurated in August 27, 2000 to commemorate the event on the historic spot on March 29, 1945. Guerillas and American forces fought hard to drive away Japanese forces from the city during WWII.
LINA BUILDUING
The Spanish Administration Building for Controlled Merchandise was constructed in 1814, of wood & light materials. It was burned in 1824 & was reconstructed the following year with stonewalls and tiled roofing under the supervision of Capitan Buenaventura de los Reyes with the assistance of church prior Apolinario Hernandez. The structure was damaged during the war, along with other buildings in the city proper/ Rizal Avenue.
DOÑA LEONILA PARK
Doña Leonila Park is the only park in the city today. Between 1968 to 1972, Mayor Cesar Dizon spearheaded the beautification of the park by installing the promenades, lake view deck and colonial lamp posts. It has not undergone any major rehabilitation and improvement for several decades till now.
FRANKLIN BAKER COMPANY
Franklin Baker came to San Pablo (1922) under the name of Philippine Food Company, merged with Diehl Anderson Coconut Company. By 1923, Franklin Baker’s desiccated manufacturing and the Calamba Sugar Estate were competing for the premier industrial position in Laguna. The FB Company was one of the institutions which helped in development of the City’s coconut industry, employed thousands of coconut famers and contributed in the city coffers in terms of taxes, and socio-civic activities. To date, Franklin Baker Company is the largest coconut manufacturing plant in Asia, and distributes processed coconut products around the world.
