Lucena, officially the City of Lucena (Filipino: Lungsod ng Lucena), is a first

class highly urbanized city and it is the capital city of

the province of Quezon, Philippines and the only first class Highly Urbanized
City located in the Calabarzon Region. According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 266,248 people making the most populous area in the province.
For statistical and geographical purposes, Lucena City is grouped with Quezon but
governed administratively independent from the province.

History
Early history
In the 1570s, Capitan Juan de Salcedo first explored what was the province of Tayabas.
The Franciscan priests Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa between 1580 and
1583 founded its town, also named Tayabas. Tayabas was organized by the Spaniards
through the Franciscan missionaries and Lucena was just one of its barrios.
The Spaniards of the 16th century called the area "Buenavista" because of its scenic
beauty; several years later, the barrio was renamed "Oroquieta". A century later,
Muslim pirates began terrorizing the entire Philippine coastline, and Oroquieta was not
spared from the notorious raids. The barrio folks built forts along the seashores to
defend it against the attacking pirates along the coast, particularly in the present-day
Cotta and in Barangay Mayao, though these structures are no longer extant. Hence, the
place became known as Cotta, the Spanish form of the Tagalog "kuta" ("fort"). The
growth of local maritime trade facilitated in the Cotta port and the final defeat of Moro
pirates plying the Luzon and Visayan waters, afforded the growth of Lucena as a town
which eventually led to its being the capital of Tayabas province in 1901.
Finally on November 5, 1879, the Orden Superior Civil officially adopted the name
"Lucena" in honor of a Spanish friar by the name of Father Mariano
Granja in Andalucia, Spain. Fr. Granja was responsible for the development of the
barrio that became a Parish in 1881. Lucena became an independent municipality on
June 1, 1882.
During the 1896 Philippine Revolution, the people of Lucena showed their brand of
patriotism. Jos Zaballero led the local revolutionists who were under the barrage of
Spanish muskets. Later, Miguel Arguilles with Jose Barcelona as President formed a
revolutionary government in Lucena.
After Aguinaldo proclaimed the nation's independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit,
Cavite, Gen. Miguel Malvar, as Commanding General for Southern Luzon, took over
Tayabas Province on August 15, 1898. Don Crisanto Marquez became Lucena's first
elected Municipal president during the first Philippine Republic.

Modern history
Lucena's fertile soil became soaked with the blood of many Filipinos and
Americans at the outbreak of the Filipino-American War in 1899. The foreigners
established a civil government in the country, and on March 12, 1901, the provincial
capital was transferred from Tayabas to Lucena.
During the Second World War, the Japanese Imperial Force occupied Lucena on
December 27, 1941, 19 days after they set foot on Philippine soil. But the underground
resistance movement was so tenacious in Lucena that by January 25, 1945 (even
before the Americans have returned), the Hunters ROTC guerrillas penetrated into the
town and successfully drove out the Japanese. The rest of Quezon Province (new name
of Tayabas Province) had to wait for the American Liberation forces and the Philippine
Commonwealth troops to hand freedom on April 4 of that same year.
On June 17, 1961, by virtue of Republic Act No. 3271, Lucena was made into a
Chartered City through the efforts of then Congressman Manuel S. Enverga. It was
officially inaugurated on August 19, 1962, during the 84th anniversary of Manuel Luis
Quezon. On July 1, 1991, Lucena became a Highly Urbanized City.
In May 2014, the Lucena City Public Market was razed by fire while festivities were
being held for the culmination of Pasayahan sa Lucena a few blocks away. The whole
block of the public market building was burned down. Through the cooperation of
firefighters from Sariaya, Tayabas, Pagbilao and Lucena. In October 2016, a new state
of the art Public Market building was opened to the public. The 2-storey building, which
reportedly cost 99 million pesos to build, was financed through loans. According to the
article, the Lucena Public Market was also burned down in 1965 along with huge parts
of the city.

Geography

Iyam River in Cotta

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
Cotta
Gulang-Gulang (Pob.)
Dalahican (Pob.)
Domoit
Ibabang Dupay (Pob.)
Ibabang Iyam (Pob.)
Ibabang Talim
Ilayang Dupay
Ilayang Iyam
Ilayang Talim
Isabang
Market View (Pob.)
Mayao Castillo
Mayao Crossing
Mayao Kanluran
Mayao Parada
Mayao Silangan
Ransohan
Salinas
Talao-Talao

Climate
Lucena falls under Type III of the Coronas climatic classification system. It is
characterized by no pronounced wet and dry seasons. Generally, the wet season is
from June to November and sometimes extends up to December when the southwest
monsoon is predominant. The dry season is from January to May but is sometimes
interrupted by erratic rainfall. The annual mean temperature is 27 C (81 F), with
February as the coldest month with temperatures dropping to 20 C (68 F), and May as
the warmest month with temperatures reaching up to 35 C (95 F). Habagat monsoon
winds pass through the province from June to October while northeasterly winds
or Amihan blows through the islands from December to February.
[hide]Climate data for Lucena
Mon Ma Au
Jan Feb Mar Apr Jun Jul Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
th y g
Aver
age 31 30.2
28 28 30 32 32 32 31 31 30 29 28
high (88 (86.3
(82) (82) (86) (90) (90) (90) (88) (88) (86) (84) (82)
C ) )
(F)
Aver
age 24 23.3
22 22 23 24 24 24 24 23 23 23 23
low (75 (73.7
(72) (72) (73) (75) (75) (75) (75) (73) (73) (73) (73)
C ) )
(F)
Aver
age
146 118 89. 75. 170 188 258. 19 227 373. 425. 483. 2,751
rainf
.2 .9 1 6 .8 .7 9 3.3 .3 7 3 6 .4
all
(5.7 (4.6 (3.5 (2.9 (6.7 (7.4 (10. (7. (8.9 (14. (16. (19. (108.
mm
56) 81) 08) 76) 24) 29) 193) 61) 49) 713) 744) 039) 322)
(inc
hes)
Aver
age
rain 22 16 14 10 16 18 20 20 21 24 26 26 233
y
days
Source: World Weather Online[6]

Demographics

Population census of Lucena

Year Pop. % p.a.

1970 77,006

1975 92,336 +3.71%

1980 107,880 +3.16%

 1990 150,624 +3.39%

1995 177,750 +3.15%

2000 196,075 +2.13%

2007 236,390 +2.61%

2010 246,392 +1.52%

2015 266,248 +1.49%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10]

Economy
Commercial

Downtown M.L. Tagarao Street in Poblacion (Bayan)

SM City Lucena shopping mall in Ibabang Dupay

Economic activities in Lucena are heavily concentrated in the poblacion (bayan) and
other sub-urban barangays where the highly dense and constricted central business
district (CBD) is home to a large cluster of different business enterprises. As population
grows in tandem with new and promising business prospects, business activities spill
over adjoining barangays, thus forming mini satellite commercial areas.
Other commercial strips are located in the poblacion and suburban barangays where
both retail and wholesale trade, including other essential services, are being engaged
in. SM City Lucena is the biggest mall in the city located in Ibabang Dupay, which is one
of the first SM Malls in Luzon. Other Shopping Centers Include: SM Savemore Agora,
Super Metro Lucena, Pacific Mall Lucena and many more.

Industrial
Big factories and warehouses are present in these suburban barangays like San Miguel
Brewery, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., PepsiCo Philippines, Inc., Asia Brewery,
Inc. Nestl Philippines, and Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. (formerly La Tondea Distillers
Inc.), do business in sales, distribution, and transport of assorted business products in
bulk.
Of the total 8,316.90 hectare land area of Lucena City, 19 percent or 1,651.77 hectares
cover the existing built up area. Almost 3% of this or 46.62 hectares cover the industrial
section, located in different barangays of the city. These areas are home to significant
industrial and manufacturing activities.
Industry in Lucena produces a sustainable amount of agro-industrial based products,
dried and smoked fish, distilled liquors, bamboo and rattan furniture, ornamental
flowers/plants, vegetable as well as meat products.
Lucena is also known as the "Cocopalm City of the South". Nestled midst a wide
expanse of coconut lands, Lucena has coconut oil mills which produce oil-based
household products like cooking oil, soap, lard, margarine, and oil based medicines.
The well known JnJ Oil, Exora Cooking Oil and Vegetable Lard, Miyami Cooking Oil are
proudly made in this city.[11] Tantuco Industries, JNJ Oil Industries and Monaco Oil
Company are some coconot oil companies in the city.
Car assembly and manufacturing plants have also established in the city, while Manila-
based car shops are starting to put up some branches like Isuzu-Lucena, SFM-Lucena,
and Foton Motor.

Places of interest

Quezon Convention Center

Road network provides access from all key cities and towns in the island of Luzon to
this highly urbanized city. Well-paved radial and by-pass routes criss-crossing in and
out of the city facilitate the transport of unlimited assortment of merchandise, supplies,
and raw materials to and from the city on a round-the-clock basis.
Over the years, it was observed that a growing number of visitors from other places
come to Lucena. Travelers of various types and sizes are drawn to Lucena because of
modern facilities and good amenities that could be found in the city such as the Quezon
Convention Center when the City of Lucena hosted the 2004 SEABA Under-18
Championship qualifying tournament for the 2004 FIBA Asia Under-18
Championship in India, Kalilayan Civic Centre, Sentro Pastoral Auditorium, Alcala
Sports Complex a two time host of a Palarong Pambansa (1976, 1989), Manuel S.
Enverga University Foundation Gymnasium, Sacred Heart College Gymnasium, and
Marcial Punzalan Gymnasium.

Religious landmarks

Saint Ferdinand Cathedral

Saint Ferdinand Cathedral, Barangay V

Saint Jude Thaddeus Parish Church, Barangay Cotta
Our Lady of Carmelite Monastery, Barangay XI
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church, Barangay Ibabang Iyam
Our Lady of Peafrancia Parish Church Diocesan Shrine, Hermanas Capistrano
Subdivision, Barangay Gulang-Gulang
St. Alphonsus Regional Seminary, Barangay Isabang
St. Andrew The Apostle Chapel, Camp Guillermo Nakar, Barangay Gulang-Gulang
Church of the Holy Face of Jesus, University Village (Site), Barangay Ibabang
Dupay
St. Raphael The Archangel Parish, Barangay Dalahican
St. Isidore Labrador, Barangay Ibabang Dupay
Holy Family Church, Centro Pastoral Compound, Barangay Isabang
Our Lady Of Miraculous Medal Chapel, Barangay IX
Historic landmarks

Quezon Provincial Capitol

Alcala Sports Complex (QNHS Compound)

Camp Guillermo Nakar (AFP Southern Luzon Command)
Lucena City Hall (Main)
President Manuel L. Quezon Monument (Perez Park)
Quezon Provincial Capitol
Quezon Convention Center

Natural attractions
Botanical Garden
Orchids Country Farm
Perez Park
Eco Park
Festivals

during the Pasayahan sa Lucena 2013 Street Dance Competition

Pasayahan sa Lucena was conceptualized to showcase the natural and ecological
interrelationship and independence between nature and man. It also promotes the ways
of life inherent among the people of Lucena. All these find exquisites and appreciative
expressions through a mammoth gathering of colors, outlandish costumes and symbolic
floats reminiscent of Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. Originally intended
as three days of spirited merrymaking in the streets, the event has become a weeklong
tourist attraction, culminating on May 30 in time for the celebration of the Feast of St.
Ferdinand, the patron saint of Lucena.
Another feast highlighting the entire celebration is the Chami Festival that would feature
Lucena's very own pansit delicacy. The traditional Chami Festival has a contest of who
can cook the most delicious chami. The contestants line up along Quezon Avenue, the
citys main road, armed with their cooking utensils and will be provided free chami
noodles, meat and other condiments for the cooking fest. All participants were also
given cash incentive, gift packs from various sponsors. After the cooking, the spectators
were given a chance to eat for free the different taste of chami. They wanted that
through this chami cooking festival this city will become a destination of our local and
foreign tourists every merry month of May.

Local government
Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local
Government Code of 1991,[12] the city government is to be composed of
a mayor (alkalde), a vice mayor(bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative
branch Sangguniang Panlungsod alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of
which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive
terms.
City Government of Lucena
(2016-2019)
Representative
Vicente "Kulit" J. Alcala (LP)
Mayor
Roderick "Dondon" A. Alcala (LP)
Vice Mayor
Philip M. Castillo (PDP-Laban)
Sangguniang Panlungsod Members
Anacleto A. Alcala III (LP) Nicanor G. Pedro Jr. (LP)
Rhaetia Marie C. Abcede-Llaga (LP) Danilo R. Zaballero (LP)
William M. Noche (LP) Benito J. Brizuela (LP)
Rey Oliver S. Alejandrino (Independent) Nilo Q. Villapando (UNA)
Ramil C. Talaga (UNA) Victor U. Paulo (LP)
ABC President
Jacinto A. Jaca (LP)
Former Mayors of Lucena City[edit]
Head of the Municipality during the Spanish Occupation:

Jorge Zaballero (1896) (Captain Municipal)

Crisanto Mrquez (First Municipal President of Lucena)
Municipal Presidents during the American Civil Government:

Gabriel Cord (19021903)

Gregorio Mrquez (19031904)
 Juan Carmona (19041906)
Venancio Queblar (19061910)
Feliciano Zoleta (19101912)
Fortunato lvarez (19121916)
Pedro Nieva (19161919, 19191922)
Jos Nava (19221925)
Venancio Queblar (19251928)
Domingo Gamboa (19281931)
Fernando Barcelona (19311934)
Mayors under the Commonwealth Government:

Federico V. Mrquez (19401943)

Jos Mendoza (19431944)
Teotimo Atienza (19441945)
Acting Mayors (After World War II):

Julian Zoleta (April 1945)

Federico Mrquez (May 1945)
Honorio Abadilla (October 1946)
Elected Mayors:

Amando Zaballero (19471952)

Honorio Abadilla (19521955)
Casto T. Profugo (19551960, 19611963)
Mario L. Tagarao (19631967, 19671971, 19711981,19811986)
Euclides Abcede (May 1986 November 1987) (appointed)
Romeo Mendoza (December 47, 1987) (appointed)
Julio T. Alzona (December 8, 1987 February 7, 1988) (appointed)
Cesar Zaballero (February 8, 1988 June 1992)
Ramon Y. Talaga, Jr. (19921995, 19951998)
Bernard G. Tagarao (1998 May 12, 2000)
Ramon Y. Talaga, Jr. (May 13, 2000 June 30, 2010)
Barbara Ruby C. Talaga (2010 October 2012)
Roderick Dondon A. Alcala (November 2012 June 30, 2013, 20132016, 2016
present)[13]

Infrastructure
Transportation
Lucena City has a central transportation hub aptly called the Lucena Grand Central
Terminal located in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, just midway through the Bicol Region and
back. New and modern buses ply the route Buendia/LRT1-Lucena, EDSA Pasay-
Lucena, Cubao/Kamias-Lucena and Alabang/Starmall-Lucena. It serves not
only Manila -bound buses but also buses going toward the upland and far-flung areas of
Quezon province, particularly Bondoc Peninsula towns. Bus companies such as JAC
Liner, Lucena Lines, JAM Liner, DLTBCo and N. Dela Rosa Bus Lines bring passengers
to Manila and Lucena back and forth. Lucena also has a wide network of jeepney
routes, all emanating from the city proper (Bayan) and reaching out to the major
barangays of the city, as well as nearby towns. Thousand of tricycles also roam the
streets of the city, bringing passengers right at their point of destination. These tricycles
usually are the mode of transport when night falls. The South Luzon
Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 4 (TR-4) Extension from Santo Tomas, Batangas will
end in Lucena City at the connection of Old Manila South Road. It will be finished by
2019.
There exists a Lucena Airport, but no commercial flights come to the city. Light aircraft
can, however, make use of the facilities.
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is on the process of rehabilitating the
existing Manila-Bicol and Baguio-Bicol Railway Line, which includes stops in Quezon
province, including PNR Lucena station, which traditionally then is a major loading &
pick-up point for passengers and cargoes alike when the railway system was once the
primary transportation mode going to Manila. Modern air-conditioned coaches will ply
this route.

The Passenger Ferry Terminal in Lucena has RORO vessels that transport passengers
across Tayabas Bay to Marinduque, Romblon and Masbate.
The Port of Lucena, located 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of Manila, is known as the
gateway and melting pot city of Southern Luzon. The port complex is built along the
fishing village of Barangay Talao-Talao, a kilometer away to the east of Dalahican
Fishing Port. The total port area of TMO Lucena is 5,174.75 square metres
(55,700.5 sq ft). Operational area of 576.00 square meters and commercial area of
4,598.75 square meters as delineated under Executive order No. 199 dated September
20, 1994 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. The port is accessible via the paved
provincial road connecting the Dalahican Road and a rough causeway leading to the
port. It is 27 nautical miles to Dalahican, and 57 nautical miles to Batangas City and sea
distance to Manila is 150 nautical miles. Passenger ferry services include Montenegro
Shipping Lines, Phil Nippon Kyoei, and Blue Water Jet[14]
Communication
Lucena City is served by landline and mobile phone companies like the Philippine Long
Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications (PLDT-Digitel).
Major mobile phone providers in the area include Globe, Smart, and Sun Cellular.
Hospitals
Lucena has private and public hospitals that are capable of providing most common and
advanced medical services, as well as in handling medical emergencies. Both types of
institutions are considered to provide the same standard of healthcare and services,
differing mainly with the medical and diagnostic facilities at hand.
These are staffed with qualified medical practitioners that are well-versed in English.
The doctors are graduates of the many top reputable medical schools in the Philippines;
most have pursued further studies and training in the United States. Likewise, the
nurses are the products of the many credible nursing schools in the country. These
same institutions have produced the many Filipino nurses working in the United
States, Europe, Middle East, and other parts of the world.

Lucena United Memorial District Hospital, 178 Merchan Street

Lucena MMG General Hospital, Maharlika Highway, Ibabang Dupay
Mt. Carmel Diocesan General Hospital, Allarey Extension
Lucena United Doctors Hospital, Barangay Isabang
St. Anne General Hospital, 51 Gomez Street
Quezon Medical Center (Quezon Memorial Hospital), QMC Compound, Quezon
Avenue
St. Mary's Hospital, Quezon Avenue
Quezon MMG Medical Plaza, Quezon Avenue

Education

The main building of Quezon National High School

In 2006, the city had a literacy rate of 98.6 percent. It has numerous number of tertiary
and secondary schools, including public and private. The tertiary education system in
Lucena provides instruction and training in fields of study, both for baccalaureate
degrees and vocational courses. Institutions offering degree programs including liberal
arts, arts and sciences, engineering, and information technology include ABE
International College of Business and Economics along Quezon Avenue, Philtech
Institute of Arts and Technology Inc. (PIAT), Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation,
City College of Lucena along the Maharlika Highway, Columbus College-Lucena,
Sacred Heart College (the oldest Catholic school in Quezon Province), Maryhill College,
Holy Rosary Catholic School. Aside from tertiary schools, the city also has an expanse
footprint on the pre-school, primary and secondary levels of education, both in public
and private schools. There are numerous day-care centers found all over the city.
Notable people
Proceso J. Alcala, 12th Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and graduate
of Luzonian University Foundation (now MSEUF).
Jessie Dellosa, 43rd AFP Chief of Staff and graduate of Quezon National High
School.
Jenny Miller, Filipina actress and graduate of Manuel S. Enverga University
Foundation.
Mau Marcelo, first winner of Philippine Idol talent search in 2006 and graduate
of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation.
Neil Sese, film and theatre actor at GMA Network.
Paz Mrquez-Bentez, Filipina short-story writer and graduate of Quezon National
High School.

Elected Officers of Domoit for the term of 2010-2013

Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Barangay Captain, Nardito R. Abastillas

Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 1, Rexon L. Abdon
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 2, Jose T Abdon
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 3, Ruel A Trinidad
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 4, Dennis S Bolaos
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 5, Felix S Abdon
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 6, Allan Paul S Jael
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, Kagawad 7, Edwin Pureza
Quezon, Lucena City (Capital), Domoit, SK Chairman, Kimberly Anne B Trinidad