Name: RJ Joshwen L.

Santos

Student Number: 2019-30349

Locality: City of San Pedro

Place of Residence: San Pedro, Laguna

According to Anastacio Olivares, the author of Kasaysayan ng Bayang San Pedro Tunasan (1574-1961):
“Ang pangalang San Pedro Tunasan ay nagsimula sa kanyang pagiging bayan nang mapahiwalay sa
bayan ng Tabuko noong taong 1725, at tinaglay niya ang pangalang iyan sa loob ng isang daan at
walumpu’t apat (184) na taon hanggang 1914 na nagging “San Pedro” na lamang. Ang pagbabago’y
naganap sa pamamagitan ng isang kapasiyahan ng Sangguniang-bayan (Consejo Municipal) dito sa San
Pedro Tunasan sa pagsusumikap ng noo’y punong-bayang si G. Francisco Amante, sa pagmamatuwid na
ang San Pedro Tunasan at napakahabang bigkasin, kaya’t hiniling sa noo’y Batasan ng Pilipinas
(Asemblea Filipina) na gawing “San Pedro” na lamang.”

1. Creative industries and occupations

a. Sampaguita garland making

- San Pedro is known as Sampaguita Capital of the Country, because of its abundant
source. It was the first industry to grow in the town’s history, the sampaguita garlands
were being sold to various provinces and cities including Manila. But because of the
housing developments and informal settlers, Sampaguita plantation is nearly gone,
although there are still a few garland makers who are thriving to keep the tradition
going. Although there are no organizations for this, the main source of income in most
of the households in Nueva, San Vicente and Magsaysay in San Pedro, Laguna are from
garland making.

b. Armar Ramirez

- A native of city of San Pedro, Laguna. He is a multi-awarded art director back in his ad
agency days, and winner of some national painting competitions. He has a 30-year
experience in Advertising, specializing on Print Ad layouts, storyboards, designs,
merchandising and collateral materials.

c. Tandang Seto

- Tandang Seto was known for being the first to pick the flowers of Sampaguita in front of
houses and strung them into garlands. He goes around house to house picking the buds
himself. As opportunity was seen in garland making, the people of San Pedro started to
cultivate Sampaguita plants, harvest the buds and sell them to Tandang Seto.
 d. Mang Maning

- He owns one of the largest and remaining sampaguita plantations near the town proper
of San Pedro. But this farm has been narrowed down rapidly because of the conversion
of large areas of plantations into residential areas.

2. Cultural Organizations

a. Banda 22

- Banda San Pedro 22 (BSP22) was established on the year 2003 directed by Maestro
Torvic Servas, who is a member of Banda Aragon, a well-known band in San Pedro,
Laguna back in the 70’s and the 90’s. The members of the BSP22 continued the legacy of
Banda Aragon up to this day, to relive and continue its mission.

b. Susi at Agnos Artist Group

- Susi at Agnos Artist Group is a band of creative artists based in San Pedro, Laguna. Its
members include award-winning professional and upcoming artists with exceptional
passion for excellence and creativity.

3. Rituals and Festivals

a. Sampaguita Festival

- The annual City Festival is celebrated in the second week of February. This week-long
festival includes various activities ranging from cultural to sports, trade fairs, amateur
singing contests, parades, historical exhibits, social and religious gatherings, tribal
dances, street dances, cheering and sport exhibitions. The highlight of the festival is the
coronation night of the "Hiyas ng San Pedro". The festival aims to promote tourism in
San Pedro and to revitalize Sampaguita industry in the community. The celebration was
formerly known as "Manok ni San Pedro Festival", which started in 1999 and was
renamed to "Sampaguita Festival" in 2002. The celebration kicked off with a grand
parade.

b. Christmas Festival

- Paskuhan Sa San Pedro is an annually celebrated festival in San Pedro City. It starts at
the beginning of December and runs to the end of the month. The opening is a grand
parade which is participated in by public and private schools in the city, local
government and other socio-civic organizations. The main event of the opening is the
lighting of the whole plaza, fireworks display, and various school performances. Every
 night a variety of shows are performed by the participants, which last up to midnight.
On 29 December of every year the cityhood anniversary of San Pedro is celebrated.

c. Feast of Lolo Uweng

- Lolo Uweng is an image of Jesus Christ in the tomb where His body was laid to rest after
being crucified. It was said to have been discovered by fishermen 180 years ago floating
on the shores of Landayan in San Pedro, Laguna. It became known to its nearby cities
and provinces because of its miracles of healing, conversion and the like. The devotion
day for Lolo Uweng is every Friday. The feast is held on the 29 th of May. According to the
Diocese of San Pablo, during this day, approximately 100,000 devotees are going to the
shrine to make petitions and to thank God for answered prayers.

4. Creative Spaces and Facilities

a. Salvador Laurel Museum

- It is located inside Laurel’s Garden in San Pedro, Laguna. The museum is made to honor
the memory of the late “Doy” Laurel, who is the Vice President of the Philippines from
year 1986 to 1992. This museum is a 4-hectare property in San Pedro, Laguna which
preserves and celebrates the professional and political achievement of the late
statesmen. But the Laurel experience is not complete, too, without arts — an emblem
attributable to Celia Diaz-Laurel, who is an established painter and artist. Thus, this
Holiday Hills property actually houses artifacts, i.e., paintings and sculptures from
National Artists like Vicente Manansala, Fernando Amorsolo, and Guillermo Tolentino.

b. San Pedro City Museum and Library

- It was opened last December 29, 2016 on the third anniversary of the cityhood of San
Pedro. It houses the historical and cultural artifacts and publications in which to
showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage and glorious history. But, according to City of
San Pedro’s tourism, the housing of the said publications is on-going, and hopefully by
the end of this year, the museum and library will be accessible to all the residents of San
Pedro and its nearby cities.

c. Renee grace Rose Villa School of Ballet and Performing Arts

- The Renee grace Rose Villa School of Ballet & Performing Arts was born at the spur of
the moment, not planned at all. It all started in 1982, when Renee grace, Renee rose
and Renee villa were invited to perform at the coronation night of the first Pacita
Complex Mutya ng Pacita. From that performance, mothers came to our home and
requested the sisters to teach their children. Very much aware of their limitations, the
sisters were hesitant to accept the offers. But because of unending requests, they then
 started teaching ballet to interested children, and interested mothers. This school is a
unique example of a successful combination of family enterprise and the arts.

5. Natural Heritage Sites

a. Laguna De Bay

- The Laguna De Bay is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the whole Southeast Asia,
providing source of foods and livelihood for its nearby provinces. Although we cannot
consider this as Natural Heritage Site, Laguna De Bay is surrounded by both cultural and
natural heritage sites such as: Angono Petroglyphs in Angono, Rizal; the home of Dr.
Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna; and the spot-billed pelican described to have been
common in Laguna de Bay, but now believed to be extinct since the last time it was
documented in the 1940s.

6. Cultural Heritage Sites

a. Santo Sepulcro Parish

- The Santo Sepulcro Parish was erected on September 29, 1969 under the patronage of
St. Michael the Archangel, but later became Santo Sepulcro due to the popularity of the
image of Jesus in the tomb. The architectural structure of the said Parish was made up
of bamboo and nipa. The Santo Sepulcro Parish houses the miraculous image of Jesus
lying in the tomb, known as “Lolo Uweng.” The devotion to Lolo Uweng propagated and
various religious activities were held, including the commemoration of the old church
bell that was inscribed with the year 1836 and some Spanish words which meant that
“the bell was dedicated to the Sepulchre of Sitio Landaian.”

b. San Pedro Apostol Parish

- The San Pedro Apostol Parish was erected in year 1725, with the supervision and
guidance of the Augustinian Priest and Jesuits. The whole structure was finished in June
2, 1846, with the help of the local community. But the church was rebuilt in the year
1898, due to it was destroyed by an earthquake. The church represents the strong faith
of people living in San Pedro, Laguna. The San Pedro Apostol Parish also houses the 100-
year-old image of San Pedro Apostol. In September 4, 2005, the relic of Santa Faustina
Kowalska was hereby bestowed to the said parish. Aside from these, it also houses the
Holy Cross of San Pedro Tunasan, that was believed growing miraculously.
 c. Old Sunico Bell

- The Old Sunico Bell is one of the original bells of San Pedro Apostol Parish Church.
According to the elders of San Pedro, Laguna, during the Japanese occupation in the
1940’s, the bell sounds can reach as far as neighboring towns of San Pedro. This bell
served as a warning tool for the so-called, “KABALYAS”, a known bad group from the
mountains of Cavite who are known also for stealing carabao and other livelihood crafts
from the locals of San Pedro.

d. Captain Remo Monument

- Abelardo “Captain Remo” Remoquillo, is a true-blue San Pedrense. He was born on

December 27, 1922, in the time of American colonization. He is a law student in the
University of the Philippines and was known for being a model student and an ROTC
Cadet, wherein he developed his skills in military combat. In 1942, the Imperial Japanese
army went to San Pedro Tunasan to build a puppet government which was called
“Support Company of People’s Peace.” Under the colonization of Japanese Army, a
group of guerilla youth were formed which was called the “Hunters ROTC” led by Col.
Eleuterio “Terry” Adevoso (PMA Class of 1944). This organization did a “hit and run
operations” against the Japanese Army in various parts of Luzon. Captain Remo was
tasked to spy on the Japanese Army inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City,
that was controlled by the Japanese at that time. Captain Remo helped in rescuing the
Prisoners of War in June 14, 1944, including Father James B. Reuter, S.J., which was one
of their biggest achievement at that time. Captain Remo died at age of 23, defending
our country from the Imperial Japanese Army. He was known the young hero of World
War 2.

REFERENCES

Anastacio Olivares, 1963. Kasaysayan ng Bayang San Pedro Tunasan (1574-1961)

Alas, Jose Mario, 2017. Captain Remo, The Young Hero: Anatomy of Abelardo Remoquillo, the Pride of
San Pedro Tunasan, La Laguna.

Diocese of San Pablo, Shrine of Jesus in the Holy Sepulcher. (2015, December 13). Retrieved from
(http://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va/content/gdm/de/mondo/porte-della-misericordia.event.shrine-
of-jesus-in-the-holy-sepulcher-diocese-of-san-pablo.html)
Sampaguita Festival, San Pedro Laguna. Retrieved from
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pedro,_Laguna)

Briones, Arlene (2014, June 9). Remembering an Unsung Hero in The Salvador H. Laurel Museum &
Library. Retrieved from (https://www.wheninmanila.com/salvador-doy-laurel-museum/)

Salvador Laurel Museum. Retrieved from http://www.salvadorlaurel.com/museum/

Laguna Lake. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/archive-seasia/ph/What-we-

do/Toxics/Water-Patrol/The-problem/Laguna-Lake/

Macuha Art Gallery (2015). Armar Ramirez Profile. Retrieved from (http://www.macuha-
artgallery.com/blog/armar-ramirez-profile/)

Tribiana, Chit (2012, February 26). Sampaguita Festival 2012. Retrieved from
(https://chitsblog.wordpress.com/tag/sampaguita-festival/)

Renee Grace Rose Villa School of Ballet and Performing Arts. Retrieved from
(http://reneegacerosevilla.faithweb.com/index.html)

Traveler on Foot, Lake Towns of Laguna De Bay (2008). San Pedro’s Sampaguita. Retrieved from
(https://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/san-pedros-sampaguita/)