City of San Fernando, Pampanga

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For the city in La Union, see San Fernando City, La Union. For other uses, see San Fernando.

City of San Fernando Lakanbalen ning San Fernando Lungsod ng San Fernando
The city hall of San Fernando in the province of Pampanga, on the left is the plaque of the city seal.
Flag Seal
Nickname: Christmas Capital of the Philippines The Nerve Center of Central Luzon
Motto: Magsilbi Tamu (Let's Serve)
Map of Pampanga showing the location of City of San Fernando Coordinates: 15 00 N, 120 38 E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Pampanga
Districts	Third District of Pampanga
Barangays	35
Founded	August 16, 1754
Cityhood	February 4, 2001
Government
- Mayor	Oscar Samson Rodriguez (2004-Present Lakas-CMD)
- Vice Mayor	Edwin D. Santiago (Lakas-CMD)
Area
- Total	67.74 km² (26.2 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	269,365
- Density	3,977/km² (10,300.4/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Zip code	2000
Area code(s)	45
Income Class	2nd Class
Classification	Component City; Partially Urban
Website: Official Website of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga

The City of San Fernando, (Kapampangan: Lakanbalen ning San Fernando/Siudad ning San Fernando; Filipino: Lungsod ng San Fernando) is a second-class, component city in the Philippine province of Pampanga. It is the capital city of Pampanga and the regional center of Central Luzon (Region III). The city is well known for its giant lanterns and is also popularly known as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines." The annual Giant Lantern Festival is hosted by the city every December.

According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 221,857 people in 43,649 households. It is located 67 kilometers north of Manila, 50 kilometers east of Subic Bay in the Zambales province, and 16 kilometers south of Clark Field in Angeles City. The city is positioned at the crossroads of Central Luzon. The city is named after Fernando VI of Spain and placed under the patronage of San Fernando, King of Castile and Leon, whose feast is celebrated every 30th of May.

[edit] History

The town of San Fernando was founded in 1754 from the towns of Bacolor and Mexico. The first church was built in 1755 with wooden walls and nipa roofing. The municipal tribunal was erected later in the year in front of the town plaza using durable materials and thatched nipa roofing. Don Vidal de Arrozal served as its first gobernadorcillo that year.

In 1796, after serving as gobernadorcillo the previous year, Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda retired to Barrio Saguin, from where he started setting up his hacienda in Barrio Culiat. The barrio was separated from San Fernando on the December 8, 1829 as the new town of Angeles, with the Los Santos Angeles Custodios as titular patrons.

An expediente requesting the transfer of the provincial capital of Pampanga to San Fernando was signed on the August 6, 1852. Real Cedula 745, approving the transfer of the provincial capital of Pampanga from Bacolor to San Fernando, was signed on September 11, 1881. The said transfer would not materialize.

In 1878, moves were made to create the town of Calulut. This new town would be composed of Calulut and the neighboring barrios of Bulaun, Malpitic, Sindalan, La Paz, Lara, Saguin, Telabastagan, Balete, Malinao, Pulung Bulu, Panipuan, Macabacle and the caserio of Pau in San Fernando, and Panipuan, Acle, Suclaban and the sitio of Gandus in Mexico. This plan did not materialize due to strong opposition from the parish priest of San Fernando.

Governor-General Eulogio Despujol and Manila Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda inaugurated the San Fernando railroad station, together with the Bagbag-Mabalacat stretch of the Manila-Dagupan Railroad, on February 23, 1892. The station was second only to Manila in revenues that year, and was thus the most important provincial station of the Manila-Dagupan Railroad. On June 27 of the same year, National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal made a stop-over in the town as part of his mission to recruit members to the La Liga Filipina.

On September 1, 1896 the town was declared in a state of war despite the peaceful situation. Brigadier General Diego de los Rios arrived on December 2 to calm the revolution that started in Manila on August 30. General Ruiz Serralde took over the post of General Rios on June 26, 1897 to maintain the peace in San Fernando. The revolution was not yet at its height with occasional exchanges of fire in some places in Pampanga.

On June 26, 1898, representatives from all Pampanga towns, except Macabebe, gathered in San Fernando to swear allegiance to Gen. Maximino Hizon who was the provincial military governor and representative of General Emilio Aguinaldo. On October 9, General Emilio Aguinaldo together with his cabinet visited the town and was welcomed with so much applause and enthusiastic cheering from the public. He proceeded to the convento which was served as the military headquarters at that time.

On May 4, 1899, Philippine revolutionary troops led by General Antonio Luna burned the casa municipal, the town church and several houses to render them useless to the approaching American forces. On June 16, due to the strategic location of the town, President Aguinaldo himself led Filipino forces in the Battle for San Fernando. The plan to retake the town proved unsuccessful. Calulut fell to American forces on August 9.

On August 15, 1904, the Pampanga provincial government was finally transferred to San Fernando from Bacolor, by virtue of Act No. 1204 signed on July 22, 1904. This was during the term of Governor Macario Arnedo and Municipal President Juan Sengson. The town of Minalin became part of San Fernando that same year. It will later regain its political independence in 1909.

On January 2, 1905, the town of Santo Tomas was consolidated with San Fernando by virtue of Act 1208.

On August 12, 1904, US Secretary of War William H. Taft visited the town to get first hand information and gather ideas for the governance of Pampanga. Due to the short notice, a bamboo pavilion was hastily constructed for his visit where he was welcomed with a banquet for 200 people. Taft would later be elected President of the United States.

In 1921, the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (PASUDECO) sugar central began its operations. The company was formed in 1918 by large-scale planters such as Jose de Leon, Augusto Gonzales, Francisco Liongson, Tomas Lazatin, Tomas Consunji, Francisco Hizon, Jose Henson, and Manuel Urquico in the San Fernando residence of Governor Honorio Ventura as part of a plan to construct a locally financed central.

In 1932, the Socialist Party of the Philippines was founded by Pedro Abad Santos. Two years later, he created and headed the Aguman Ding Madlang Talapagobra (AMT). The Abad Santos compound in Barangay San Jose became the focal point of the peasant movement.

On February 14, 1939, Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon proclaimed his social justice program before a gathering of farmers in front of the Municipal Government building.

In 1941, forces of the Japanese Imperial Army occupied the town and placed the municipal government under its supervision. The next year, thousands of Filipino and American POWs walked from Bataan to the San Fernando Train Station in what will be know as the Bataan Death March.

In 1952, the town of Santo Tomas was separated from San Fernando.

In 1986, Mayor Paterno Guevarra was sworn in as officer-in-charge of the town after the successful People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship that same year. He was later elected municipal mayor.

In 1990, Philippine president Corazon C. Aquino inaugurated the Paskuhan Village, the first Christmas village in Asia and the third of its kind in the world. The next year, Mount Pinatubo erupted after over 600 years of dormancy hurling a layer of ash and volcanic debris on the town.

On October 1, 1995, Typhoon Sibyl (Mameng) struck the town. It unleashed floodwaters and mudflows from Mount Pinatubo into the town. The Barangays of Sto. Nino, San Juan, San Pedro Cutud and Magliman were severely damaged by lahar. The citizens of San Fernando rallied to save the town by raising funds to build the St. Ferdinand People's Dike. The Pampanga Megadike was constructed the next year, thus preventing further damage to the town.^[1]

[edit] Mayors

This is the list of the mayors of City of San Fernando.^[2]

[edit] Cityhood

On January 6, 1997, Mayor Rey B. Aquino and Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the campaign for cityhood. On April 27th of that same year, Rep. Oscar Rodriguez filed House Bill No. 9267 creating the City of San Fernando.

In 2000, House Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella and Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimintel signed the approved city charter of San Fernando on December 4 and 13 respectively.

The town officially became a component city on February 4, 2001 following the ratification of Republic Act 8990 authored by Rep. Oscar Rodriguez in a plebiscite from the previous day. Dr. Rey B. Aquino was the city's first mayor. The ratification of Republic Act 8990 made the City of San Fernando the 99th city of the Republic of the Philippines.

[edit] Barangays

The City of San Fernando is politically subdivided into 35 barangays.

[edit] Economy

SM City Pampanga East Wing in Mexico, Pampanga

Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Olongapo-Gapan Road) and MacArthur Highway intersection in Barangay Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The elevated road is the Olongapo-Gapan Road.

Strategically located at the heart of the province, the City of San Fernando is home to two public markets, thirty nine banks, forty eight lending institutions (investors), thirty eight pawnshops, seventeen gasoline stations, three movie houses, thirty nine public and private schools, seven hospitals, thirteen dental offices, nine hotels, twenty eight drug stores, seven disco clubs, six foreign exchange firms, fifteen garment factories, twenty four groceries, seven supermarkets, forty two insurance companies, sixteen security agencies and seventy restaurants and fast food chains such as Jollibee, McDonald's, Mr. Donut, Greenwich, Shakey’s, and Chowking. In addition to being the Provincial Capital of Pampanga, almost all Philippine banking institutions, military and governmental agencies have regional offices in City of San Fernando. ^[3]

[edit] Manufacturing

San Fernando serves as one of the agricultural processing center of Central Luzon. It is a major rice-producing region and an important sugar-producing area. The Pampanga Sugar Development Company (PASUDECO), was once the largest private employer in Pampanga. It is a major sugar processing plant in the region. Other manufacturing companies with offices in the city include Universal Robina Corporation, Zuellig Pharma Corporation, Nestle Philippines, Petrophil, Mondragon Industries, Asia Brewery, and Del Monte Corporation. Major bottling companies such as the San Miguel Corporation Complex, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, Cosmos and Metrobottling are located within the city.

Every year during the Christmas season, the city becomes the hub of a thriving industry centered on handcrafted lanterns called parols. What distinguish the San Fernando lantern from the ordinary parol are the intricate designs and the illusion of dancing lights, which focuses on the vibrant colors of the lantern.

[edit] Infrastructure

The City of San Fernando has four TV stations - KTV Channel 12, Infomax Channel 8, CLTV 36 and ABS-CBN TV46 Pampanga. There are also two radio stations, the 5 Kilowatt RW 95.1 of the Radio World Broadcasting Corporation of the Philippines and the 2.5 kilowatt Power 92.7 of the Love Radio Network. Several local newspapers are published in the city which includes SunStar Pampanga, The Probe, Coffee Punch, Pampanga Times and the Observer. ^[4]

[edit] Tourism

The tourism industry of the city is fueled by two major events, the annual Good Friday Lenten Rites in San Pedro Cutud and the Giant Lantern Festival in December. Both events draw thousands of tourists from around the country and the world.

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges and universities

• University of the Assumption, a Catholic Archdiocesan University in the Pampanga. Though bearing the same name, this university in San Fernando is not, in any way, related to the Assumption College in Manila.
• East Central Colleges, formerly the Toledaño Vocational School of San Fernando, was established by the late Ciriaco Toledaño in the 1940s. The first establishment was located at the B. Mendoza Street and later, another branch was built in Mexico, Pampanga to house the high school students. As of today, East Central Colleges has two branches. One near the Iglesia ni Cristo for college students and one in Mexico, Pampanga for the high school students. The two are being managed and administered by the children of Ciriaco Toledaño.
• DATA College, formerly known as RM DATA Center
• Mother of Good Counsel Seminary
• AMA Computer College San Fernando
• STI College San Fernando
• Harvardian College
• Central Luzon College of Science and Technology, formerly known as CLIT
• New Era College
• Systems Plus College Foundation
• St. Nicolas College
• Asian College of Science and Technology

[edit] Secondary Schools

• St. Scholastica's Academy (SSA)
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Center of Studies and Schools (SLRCSS)
• Assumpta Technical High School (ATHS)
• University of the Assumption (UA-HS)
• Pampanga High School (PHS)
• Information and Communication Technology High School (ICTHS)
• Proverbsville School Inc. (PSI)
• Sindalan High School (SHS)
• Christ in You Faith Christian Academy (CIYFCA)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe School (OLGS)

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Festivals and Local Events

• January 31 - Pedro Abad Santos Day
• February 4 - Cityhood Anniversary
• Good Friday - San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites
• May 7 - Jose Abad Santos Day
• First Saturday of May - El Circulo Fernandino
• May 30 - San Fernando City Fiesta
• September 10 - San Fernando Women's Day
• First Week of October - Piestang Tugak San Fernando Frog Festival
• First Week of December - Sinukwan Festival
• December 11 - Aldo ning Kapampangan
• Saturday before Christmas Eve - Giant Lantern Festival

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] WOW Philippines Hilaga

Formerly known as the Paskuhan Village.

Located at the mouth of the San Fernando Toll Exit along the North Luzon Expressway, North Philippines Hilaga was transformed into a cultural, historical, tourism, trade, and entertainment village by former Secretary Richard J. Gordon in 2003. Its design and concept make it a virtual window to the cultural and historical heritage of the four regions of the North Philippines as well as a showcase for their indigenous products, and arts and crafts. The star-shaped pavilions at the center pays tribute to the skilled lantern makers of San Fernando, Pampanga which produces the biggest lanterns in the world. The complex features a 1,000-seat capacity air-conditioned pavilion for conventions and special events, an open-air amphitheater for outdoor activities, air-conditioned exhibit halls, trade booths, garden restos and an 60-seat capacity conference hall.

[edit] Archdiocesan Museum and Archives

The Archdiocesan Museum and Archives of the Archdiocese of San Fernando is housed at the University of the Assumption, and includes antiques and exquisite works of art depicting Pampanga’s rich cultural heritage. It contains numerous ecclesiastical artifacts ranging from a huge churchbell to paintings; ivory and wooden statues of all shapes and sizes, vestments worn by priests during Mass and chalices, monstrances, reliquaries and ciboriums made of gold, silver and precious gems, some dating back to the 17th century.

[edit] World's Largest Christmas Lantern

The city is also the home of the world's largest Christmas lantern. The 26.8-meter in diameter structure was built and turned on in December 24, 2002. The lantern was built at a cost of P5,000,000 or $122,249.387.

[edit] The City of San Fernando Heritage District

The City of San Fernando Heritage District covers the historic core of San Fernando, including Barangay Santo Rosario and parts of Barangays San Jose (Panlumacan), Santa Teresita (Baritan), Lourdes (Teopaco), Del Pilar, Santa Lucia and Santo Niño. These important sites are broken down under Heritage Houses, Historic Government Buildings, Schools, and Hospitals, and Historic Industrial Structures and Sites^[5]

[edit] Churches and Other Religious Structures

Metropolitan Cathedral of City of San Fernando, Pampanga

• Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando
• Church of San Vicente Ferrer (Barangay Calulut) – heavily damaged by renovations
• Virgen de los Remedios Church (Barangay Baliti) – damaged by recent renovations
• Jeosay Shinhongkong Temple (Barangay San Jose)

[edit] Heritage Houses

Hizon-Singian House

Lazatin House

• Hizon-Singian House (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Henson-Hizon House (V. Tiomico Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Lazatin House (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Dayrit-Cuyugan House (MacArthur Highway, Barangay Dolores)
• Consunji House (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Tabacalera House (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Hizon-Ocampo House (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Santos-Hizon House (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Pampanga Hotel (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Archdiocesan Chancery (A. Consunji Street, Barangay San Jose)

[edit] Historic Government Buildings, Schools, and Hospitals

• City Hall of San Fernando (A. Consunji Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Pampanga Provincial Capitol (Capitol Boulevard, Barangay Santo Niño)
• Presidio (Artemio Macalino Street, Barangay Sto. Niño)
• Provincial High School Building (Capitol Boulevard, Barangay Santo Niño)
• Pampanga High School Building (High School Boulevard, Barangay Lourdes)
• San Fernando Elementary School (B. Mendoza Street, Barangay Santo Rosario)
• Old St. Scholastica’s Academy (Pedro Abad Santos Road, Barangay Sta. Teresita)
• Pampanga Provincial Hospital (Barangay Dolores)
• Virgen de los Remedios Hospital (A. Consunji Street, Barangay San Jose)

[edit] Industrial Heritage Structures and Sites

PASUDECO Sugar Central

• San Fernando Train Station (Barangay Santo Niño)
• PASUDECO Sugar Central (Capitol Boulevard, Barangay Santo Niño)
• PASUDECO Staff Houses and Commissary (Capitol Boulevard, Barangay Santo Niño)
• San Fernando Water Reservoir (Barangay Lourdes)
• The Sugar Pugons (Greenville Subdivision and Barangay Quebiawan)
• Calulut Train Station (Barangay Calulut) – heavily damaged by informal settlers
• Baluyut Bridge (Gen. Hizon Avenue, Barangay Santo Rosario)

[edit] Commercial Structures

• The Arcaded Shop Buildings of Consunji Street - 1950s (Barangay Santo Rosario)

[edit] Lantern Factories

Several lantern factories can be visited in Unisite Subdivision, Barangay Del Pilar, as well as in Barangays Santa Lucia, San Jose and Dolores.

[edit] Shopping Malls

• SM City Pampanga - (its west wing spans in Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Olongapo-Gapan Road), Barangay San Jose in City of San Fernando; on the other hand, the eastern wing of the mall lies at the same highway (Olongapo-Gapan Road) this time at the nearby town, particularly at Barangay Lagundi, Mexico, Pampanga.
• Robinsons Starmills Pampanga - located right in front of SM City Pampanga. Its particular location is in Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Olongapo-Gapan Road), Barangay San Jose, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

[edit] Notable Fernandinos

• Jose Abad Santos, a former Chief Justice (featured in PHP1000 bill)
• Pedro Abad Santos, a former assemblyman and founder of the Socialist Party
• Sotero J. Baluyut, a former senator and cabinet secretary
• Vivencio Cuyugan, first Socialist mayor in the Philippines
• Amando G. Dayrit, a renowned pre-war newspaper columnist
• Conrado Dayrit [1], a cardiologist, virgin coconut oil proponent and President of the National Academy of Science and Technology (1992-1999)
• Nicolasa Dayrit, a revolutionary hero
• Zoilo Hilario, an assemblyman and poet
• Fernando H. Ocampo, a founder of the UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts
• Honesto N. Ongtioco, bishop of Cubao
• Tony Perez, a playwright

[edit] Television Networks

• InfoMax 8 (cable)
• MBC-TV Natin: Channel 12
• CLTV 36
• ABS-CBN TV46 Pampanga

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• City of San Fernando Official Website
• More photos and information on City of San Fernando, Pampanga
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Philippine Tourism Authority Official Website
• Profile of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez
• Central Luzon TV 36 Official Website

	Cities and Municipalities of Pampanga
	Cities:	Angeles | San Fernando
	Municipalities:	Apalit | Arayat | Bacolor | Candaba | Floridablanca | Guagua | Lubao | Mabalacat | Macabebe | Magalang | Masantol | Mexico | Minalin | Porac | San Luis | San Simon | Santa Ana | Santa Rita | Santo Tomas | Sasmuan