San Pablo City : Coconut: Community Profile

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San Pablo also claims the title “City of Buko Pie” (Coconut Pie) which is a disputed title as other neighboring towns are also known for producing the delicacy. Well-known for this is the “Colettes’ Buko Pie”, San Pablo's best, for experimenting on variants of the delicacy,. The first buko pie store is in Los Baños, “D’ Original Buko Pie” store. Buko pie is acknowledged to have originated from Los Baños as an invention of a Food Technologist from UPLB, thus the more popular term; “Los Baños Buko Pie.” The supply of coconut in San Pablo, though, makes it an ideal spot for putting up buko pie shops.

San Pablo City's earliest historical record dates back to pre-Spanish times when four large barrios bounded by Mt. Makiling composed "Sampalok". In 1571, the first Spanish troops under Captain Juan de Salcedo arrived in the upland village of Sampaloc, which became a parish in 1586, and then a municipality in 1647, and was renamed "San Pablo de Los Montes" in honor of Saint Paul the First Hermit. In 1756 it was placed under the jurisdiction of Batangas province but was returned in 1883 to Laguna province.

In 1899, a municipal government was established, with Innocentes Martinez as municipal president. Marcos Paulino was elected municipal president in 1902 when the civil government was set up. From 1926 to 1940, the people of San Pablo worked for its independence from the province of Laguna. On May 7, 1940, the Charter Bill sponsored by Assemblyman Tomas D. Dizon was approved by Philippine president - Manuel L. Quezon. The bill became known as the City Charter of San Pablo or Commonwealth Act No. 520 - approved by the second Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon.

The city was inaugurated on March 30, 1941, with Dr. Potenciano Malvar as the appointed city mayor, who was a former governor of Laguna province. Dr. Potenciano Malvar was appointed by the second Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon. Suceeding him 194I as an appointed mayor is Dr. Manuel Quisumbing. Followed by Tomas D. Dizon, 1943 as an appointed mayor. The succeeding mayors were elected after 1955.
COLETTE'S BUKO PIE

San Pablo's Special Pasalubong
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HOW TO GET HERE. By Bus - Several Bus Liners (Jac, Jam, Lucena Lines, DLTBCo) with sign Lucena can bring you direct to San Pablo City, Laguna. Bus terminals are located in Cubao, Kamias, Pasay and Buendia. Fare ranges from P120-P140 from Manila to San Pablo.

By Car- Take South Luzon expressway (SLEX) exit at Calamba passing through Sto. Tomas, Batangas turn left at the intersection and follow the Maharlika highway passing Alaminos, Laguna until you hit San Pablo City.

Another way is SLEX exit also at Calamba passing the towns of Los Baños, Bay, Calauan and then San Pablo.

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