City of Lucena Lunsod ng Lucena
Seal
Map of Quezon showing the location of Lucena City Coordinates: 13°56' N, 121°37' E
Country	Philippines
Region	Region IV-A - CALABARZON
Province	Quezon
Districts	2nd district of Quezon
Barangays	33
Incorporated (town)	June 1, 1882
Incorporated (city)	August 20, 1961
Government
- Mayor	Ramon Y. Talaga Jr. (Lakas-CMD/Kampi)
- Vice Mayor	Philip M. Castillo (Lakas-CMD/PDSP)
Area
- Total	83.15 km2 (32.1 sq mi)
Elevation	15.2 m (50 ft)
Population (2007)
- Total	236,390
- Density	41,014/km2 (106,225.8/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	45
Website: http://www.lucenacity.gov.ph

The City of Lucena (Filipino: Lunsod ng Lucena) is a first class highly urbanized medium sized city in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Quezon and belongs to the 25 most competitive cities of the Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 236,390 people in 45,902 households. Nearby towns of Lucena are Pagbilao (east), Tayabas (north) and Sariaya (west).

History

Lucena City 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. Spanish records mention the existence of cottas (Tagalog: kuta) along the coast of Lucena, particularly in Cotta itself and in the Barrio of Mayao, though these structures are no longer extant. Finally, on November 5, 1897, pursuant to an Orden Real Superior Civil, the community was named 'Lucena.' It became an independent municipality on June 1, 1882, coinciding with the growth of local maritime trade facilitated in the Cotta port and with the final defeat of Moro pirates plying the Luzon and Visayan waters.

Popular knowledge attribute the origin of the name 'Lucena' to the town of Lucena, Andalucia where the late Reverend Mariano Granja, the Franciscan pioneer parish priest was said to have earlier served (some even say that he was from this town). But according to the monumental work (Catalogo Biografico de los Religiosos Franciscanos de la Provincia de San Gregorio Magno de Filipinas), of a fellow Franciscan, Eusebio Gomez Platero, Fr. Granja was born in Paredes de Nava, diocese of Palencia, distant from Andalucia. Records also show that he had no previous post as priest of Lucena, Andalucia.

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 the establishment of a civil government in the Province of Tayabas by the Americans on March 12, 1901, Lucena was made capital of the province after a bitter debate between Tayabas-born and Lucena-based officials. The decision to make Lucena as capital was primarily based on its strategic location. Unlike the former capital town (Tayabas), Lucena has access to the sea.

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 Filipino & American troops 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. 20, 1962 after the occasion of the 84th birth anniversary of the late Pres. Manuel L. Quezon during Aug. 19.

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.

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.

Government

City officials

• Mayor: Hon. Ramon Y. Talaga Jr.
• Vice Mayor: Hon. Philip M. Castillo
• Councilors:
  • Ramil C. Talaga
  • Clarinda S. Cabana
  • Atty. Ferdinand N. Talabong
  • Benito J. Brizuela
  • Danilo B. Faller
  • Michael C. Dalida
  • Felix F. Avillo
  • Americo Q. Lacerna
  • Simon B. Aldovino Jr.
  • Wilfredo F. Asilo, Ph.D.
  • Marcelo G. Magadia -ABC PRESIDENT
  • Mikael Sandino T. Andrey - SK FEDERATION PRESIDENT

NOTE: Although Lucena City is a highly-urbanized city, its charter permits its citizens to vote for provincial elective officials (provincial governor, vice governor, and board ).

Barangays

Lucena is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

Economic Activities

Economic activities in Lucena are heavily concentrated in the poblacion and other sub-urban barangays where the highly densed 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 at 10 suburban barangays where both retail and wholesale trade, including other essential services, are being engaged in. Big commercial depots and warehouses in these suburban barangays 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.

Nestled amidst 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.^{[citation needed]} Car assembly/manufacturing plants have also established in the city turning out quality vehicles and accessories while Manila-based car shops are starting to put up some branches.

Road network provides access from all key cities and towns in the island of Luzon to this highly urbanized capital. 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 Quezon Convention Center, Kalilayan Civic Centre, Sentro Pastoral Auditorium, Alcala Sports Complex a two time host of a Palarong Pambansa, Manuel S. Enverga Gymnasium, and Sacred Heart College Gym and Marcial Punzalan Gymnasium

Transportation

Lucena City has a central transportation hub aptly called the Grand Central Terminal located in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, just midway through the Bicol Region and back. 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.

Lucena City also has a wide network of jeepney routes, all emanating from the city center (Bayan) and reaching out to the major barangays of the city, as well as nearby towns.

Education

In 2006, the city has a literacy rate of 98.6 percent. It has eight tertiary and 14 secondary schools including public and private.

External links

• Population
• Official Fashion Store Of Lucena City
• Barangay Directory Of Lucena City
• Official Website of the City of Lucena
• Hanapbuhay ng mga Lucenahin
• Welcome to Lucena City
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Lucena City Government site
• Lucena City association in Canada
• Lucena City Properties
• Quezon Province Online Community

Coordinates: 13°56′N 121°37′E / 13.933, 121.617

Article is licensed under GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from Wikipedia.org Original article is here.

http://www.napoli-pizza.net/ @CallCenter