Cabuyao

Cabuyao (), officially the City of Cabuyao (), is a component city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 355,330 people.

It used to be known as the "richest municipality in the Philippines" because of the large populace of migrants working in the town's industrial estates. Nestlé Philippines, Asia Brewery, Inc., San Miguel Corporation, Tanduay Distillers, Inc., Wyeth Philippines, Inc., Procter & Gamble Philippines, Light Industry and Science Park of the Philippines and Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna have established factories or are located in Cabuyao.

By virtue of Republic Act No. 10163,Republic Act No. 10163 – Cabuyao City Charter
/ref> the municipality of Cabuyao was converted to a component city15th Congress – House Bill No. 4259 – Senate of the Philippines
/ref> after the ratification of a plebiscite held on August 4, 2012.Philippine Daily Inquirer – Cabuyao, Laguna, is newest city
/ref>Commission on Elections – Resolutions
/ref>

Etymology

Cabuyao was once the central part of Tabuco, a large territory that once included the modern-day cities of San Pedro, Biñan, Santa Rosa and Calamba. The name "Cabuyao" came from the ''kabuyaw'' tree, '' Citrus hystrix''.

The town of Tabuco was located near the corner of a river and the lake of Ba-i where bancas, or rafts, were the common means of transportation to the town of Tabuco. There were many trees of kabuyaw growing around the area, and the fruit of kabuyaw was used as shampoo. When the priest asked for the name of the place, the native women answered "kabuyaw", thinking that the priest was asking for the name of the trees growing around the wharf. From then on, the priests and other Spanish officials called the town of Tabuco Cabuyao.

History

Precolonial era

One of the biggest villages established in the western portion of the lake was "Tabuko" or "Hangganang Ilog" which means boundary in the native tongue. Tabuko had no definite boundary except for natural landmarks such as the mountain, hills and lake. The boundary of Tabuko reached the mountain range of Sungay on the west, Mt. Makiling on the south, the lake of Ba-i on the east, and the large track of quicksand at Tunasan on the north.Cabuyao Official Website – History
/ref>

Spanish era

In the summer of 1896, news spread over Cabuyao that the province of Cavite revolted against the Spanish government. Anticipating the disorder it would bring to the community, Lt. Isabelo Virtucio organized a volunteer group to fight against the Spanish government. He coordinated with the different leaders of the revolutionary groups, and his group joined the forces of Gen. Paciano Rizal, the brother of the Philippines' national hero, Jose Rizal. The group adopted guerrilla warfare in fighting the Spaniards such as ambush, surprise attack and putting up traps on the roads used by the enemy. It was almost two years before the Spanish armed forces surrendered in 1898.

American era

The next elected mayor of Cabuyao was Nicolas Limcaoco, who served from 1937 to 1940. The original 3-year term was amended by the constitution, which made the new term of elected mayor four years. His accomplishments included the construction of road from Poblacion to Barangay Marinig, which shortened the travel time going to the different barangays along the coastal area of the town, and the installation of water line from Matang Tubig at Casile to Poblacion. The project was completed in 1938 under the supervision of Jose L. Acuña who was elected as Mayor in 1941.

Japanese occupation

In Cabuyao, there was no direct military confrontation between the Japanese soldiers and Filipinos. Confrontation did occur between the Makapili, a pro-Japanese group, and the guerrillas. The known guerrilla leaders of Cabuyao were Col. Nicolas Soriano, Maj. Amado Garcia, Maj. Romulo Alcasabas, Maj. Raymundo Tanchico, Maj. Placido Aragon and Capt. Pablo Garcia.

Liberation period

On the morning of September 21, 1944, the people of Cabuyao were surprised to hear the sound of American airplanes flying to Manila for bombing operations. On January 1, 1941, that American forces, part of the 7th Army Corps under Gen. Krueger, arrived at Cabuyao. The first group of American soldiers was led by Capt. Brown, who made their camp at the church compound (Patio).

Before the arrival of joint American and Philippine Commonwealth army soldiers to Cabuyao, the town was under the control of guerrilla under the leadership of Col. Nicolas Soriano. Thus, no military encounter occurred. The Americans readily established provisionary government called the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU) where Mr. Enrique Hemedes was appointed as head. The office was responsible for the distribution of food and clothing to the needy people of Cabuyao but with priority to the evacuees coming from nearby towns.

After the arrival of the local Filipino troops of the 4th, 42nd and 47th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 4th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary in Cabuyao was taken from the town municipalities and aiding by the local guerrillas and the U.S. troops against the Japanese.

Emilio Tanchico replaced Mr. Enrique Hemedes. Mr. Tanchico was responsible for restoring the operations of the municipal government of Cabuyao such as the Office of the Treasurer, Office of Police, Postal Office and Communication and other offices. Mr. Nicolas Limcaoco then replaced him in the middle of 1946 and served until 1947.

The first thing Mr. Nicolas Limcaoco did was to establish peace and order in the locality. There were many loose firearms because of the recent war, which led to robberies, theft, killing and other criminal offenses. He hired 10 "terong" (toughies) coming from the mountainous areas of Cabuyao and appointed them as policemen. Criminality was lessened and peace and order was maintained during that time in Cabuyao.

Post World War II

When the Philippines gained its Independence on July 4, 1946, a presidential election preceded it where President Manuel Roxas was elected as the first president of the Third Republic. The president appointed Mr. Jose L. Acuña as mayor of Cabuyao.

Mayor Acuña restored the organizational set up of the Municipal Government of Cabuyao. He assisted the war veterans of Cabuyao in receiving their back pay, those whose properties were destroyed during the war in receiving war damage, and freed from jail people mistaken as Makapili or collaborators.

In 1947 local election, Mr. Lope B. Diamante was elected as mayor. Mayor Mauro H. Alimagno served for three terms: 1952–55, 1956–59 and 1960–63. Mr. Antonio Bailon served as mayor during the term 1964–67.

Mayor Alimagno again served during the period 1968–71, 1972–79 and 1980. However, he failed to complete his last term as mayor in 1980 as he was gunned down in Calamba. Vice Mayor Nicanor Alcasabas succeeded as mayor and served the remaining term. After the EDSA Revolution, Mr. Isidro T. Hildawa was appointed mayor of Cabuyao. However, he was later appointed as member of the Provincial Board of Laguna, so it was Mr. Constancio G. Alimagno, Jr. who was appointed as mayor on April 1, 1986.

Mayor Proceso Aguillo was elected mayor of Cabuyao in the 1988 local election. Mayor Constancio G. Alimagno, Jr. served as mayor in 1992–95. Mayor Proceso Aguillo serves as mayor starting 1995 up to 2004. Mayor Nila G. Aguillo, wife of Proceso Aguillo, assumed office until 2007. Mayor Isidro Hemedes, Jr. a relative of then Mayor Enrique Hemedez, ascended into office from 2007 to 2016

What is common to these elected mayors is their concern for the general welfare of their constituents and the continuous implementation of programs, projects and activities towards the attainment of their objective of a peaceful and progressive place. The legacy left by these chief executives of the old town paved the road towards its transformation into the status of a component city, a status it currently enjoys.

Cityhood

On December 6, 2010 Laguna 2nd District Representative Justin Marc S.B. Chipeco filed House Bill No. 03811, or an Act Converting the Municipality of Cabuyao into a Component City of the Province of Laguna. The bill was referred to the Committee on Local Government dated December 13, 2010, and substituted to House Bill No. 4259. The Municipal Mayor as well as the residents of the town fully supported the measure and they looked forward to Cabuyao to becoming a City since it was fully deserving and qualified. After the successful readings and committee hearings of the bill, both in the House of Congress and Senate, the bill was approved by the senate on January 16, 2012, the same date when Cabuyao celebrated its 441st Founding Anniversary.

On May 16, 2012, President Benigno Aquino III approved House Bill No. 4259 or the Cabuyao City Charter and signed into law by virtue of Republic Act No. 10163. On August 4, 2012, a plebiscite was held to ratify the conversion of the town into a city. A total of 24,670 Cabuyeños took part on the historical event, 22,132 voters or 89.71% of the total number of voters voted "Yes" while the remaining 2,538 or only 10.29% voted "No". The City of Cabuyao is the 142nd city in the Philippines and 5th component city in Laguna besides San Pablo City, Calamba, Santa Rosa City and Biñan.

Geography

Cabuyao is located southeast of Metro Manila, at the western portion of Laguna. It is bordered by Santa Rosa City to the north, Laguna de Bay, the country's largest lake, to the east, Calamba to the south, and Silang, Cavite to the east. Cabuyao is away from Santa Cruz, the provincial capital, and from the city center of Calamba, the chartered city and regional center of Calabarzon region.

The only lake found in Cabuyao is Laguna de Bay. Barangays situated along the lake are Bigaa, Butong, Marinig, Gulod, Baclaran and Mamatid. Types of fish found in the lake are ''kanduli, biya, talapia, ayungin, hito, karpa, mamale, bangus, dalag, papalo, kakasuhet'' and ''dulong''. The Cabuyao Fishing Port can be found on Barangay Marinig where many Cabuyeños and Cabuyeñas take zumba every Saturday and Sunday as the sun rises.

For rivers, Cabuyao has the following:
*Cabuyao River – Between the boundary of Santa Rosa and Cabuyao.
*Marinig River – Between the boundary of Barangays Bigaa and Marinig. The river was connected from Niugan-Sala river and the river flows directed to Laguna de Bay.
*Niugan-Sala River – The river flows along the boundary of Barangays Niugan and Sala.
*Tiway-Tiway River – The most famous river of the town. The river flows directed to Laguna de Bay.
* San Cristobal River – Between the boundary of Calamba and Cabuyao.

The ricefields or ricelands in Cabuyao are found in Barangay Bigaa, Butong, Marinig, Gulod, Baclaran, Mamatid, San Isidro, Pulo, Banay-Banay, Niugan and Sala. As of year 2004, the total area of riceland is 940.56 hectares (9.4056 in square kilometers) and 468 farmers as per data of the City Agriculture Office.

Narra Trees are planted along the Poblacion- Marinig Road and beside the compound of the City Hall of Cabuyao. Agricultural crops are palay, squash, garlic, watermelon, pineapple, coffee and other fruit bearing plants.

Barangays

Cabuyao is politically divided into 18 barangays - as indicated in the matrix below - which are all classified as urban. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Population

In the 2020 census, Cabuyao had a population of 355,330.
Thus, the city surpassed San Pedro City, making it the 4th largest Local Government Unit and city of Laguna. The city has a population density of .

The total number of households in Cabuyao as of 2020 is 100,875. The city has an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of +4.3% in the past 10 years (from 2010 to 2020).

Religion

Cabuyao is predominantly Christian of whom 93% are Roman Catholics, while the Members Church of God International claims 2%, and the Iglesia ni Cristo 3% of the Cabuyao populace. Evangelical churches are growing, including the prominent evangelical multi-site church, Victory Church Cabuyao and Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL). Other religious groups/sectors with smaller membership include Methodists, Buddhists, Lutherans, Jesus Is Lord Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Bible Baptist, Four Square Gospel, and Lamp Christian Fellowship Church.

Religious sites

The St. Polycarp Parish, in Barangay Uno, was built in 1763. Until this time Cabuyao is the only place in the Philippines where St. Polycarp is the patron saint.

A second church was constructed in Cabuyao after the first church situated in Barangay Marinig was destroyed by flood and tidal waves. The records of the church are intact from the 18th century to the present.

The Diocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer was then San Vicente Ferrer Parish built in 1946. It is located in Barangay Mamatid. It was in 2010 when the parish church declared a Diocesan Shrine dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer because of its numerous devotees from different towns, cities and provinces. A relic of Saint Vincent Ferrer is displayed in a museum behind the church.

Poor Clare Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament is a monastery of St. Clare of Assisi located in P. Burgos St., Poblacion I, Cabuyao in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo. It is one of the religious sites of the city, where large number of devotees come to offer eggs as they pray for the birth of a baby. The eggs are donated as food for the poor people. It is one of the monasteries visited by the relic of St. Clare during its visit in the country in 2012.

Economy

Cabuyao City is a growing manufacturing mega hub and enterprise city in South Luzon. In 2022, the city had an income of . It was once the richest municipality in the country and now is still among the richest city in the region outside of Metro Manila in terms of annual income.

Special economic zones and industrial parks in Cabuyao include:

* Light Industry and Science Park I (LISP I)
* Silangan Industrial Park

Industries and manufacturing

Dubbed the "Enterprise City," Cabuyao hosts one of the largest e-commerce operators in Southeast Asia, Lazada. It is also the location for the distribution hub of J&T Express Philippines, an Indonesian international delivery company, and Ninja Van, a Singaporean logistics company that has its fulfillment hub in Cabuyao, Laguna, to support small and medium enterprises. The Unilever Philippines has its mega distribution center warehouse in Cabuyao, the largest in the Philippines.

Food and beverages conglomerate Nestlé Philippines, which manufactures Bear Brand powdered milk, has a manufacturing facility in barangay Niugan. Asia Brewery, Tanduay Distillers, also have a plant in barangay Sala. A bakery chain Goldilocks Bakeshop, which produces and distributes Philippine cakes and pastries, has a plant in barangay Mamatid. NutriAsia, Del Monte Philippines, Procter & Gamble Philippines, San Miguel Brewery's factories, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines, Universal Robina Corporation, have a plant in LISP I barangay Pittland.

Coffee production and culture

Cabuyao's Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has been reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as one of the major producers of coffee in the country. The City Agriculture Office showed that as of 2017, 58.5 hectares have been planted with 51,638 Robusta coffee trees (38,400 bearing and 13,238 non-bearing) as well as Liberica coffee trees (4,140 bearing and 1,485 non-bearing) in Cabuyao. According to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), 82 families who are beneficiaries of the government’s land reform program owned the land planted with the two varieties of coffee, who also formed themselves into the Casile-Guinting Upland Marketing Cooperative (CGUMC) in 2011. CGUMC was awarded the most outstanding community-based cooperative in 2017.

Cabuyao’s coffee industry thrives on a mix of tradition, creativity, and community spirit.

= Establishments offering local Cabuyao coffee beans

=
* Cafe de Cabuyao: Known for its dedication to promoting Cabuyao's identity through coffee, Cafe de Cabuyao specializes in offering locally inspired coffee blends and beverages that reflect the city's rich cultural heritage.
*Kroos Coffee: Introduced the Cabuyao Coffee Signature Blend. This specialty blend features locally sourced beans and offers a unique taste that captures the essence of Cabuyao’s coffee culture.
*CO Avenue: A coworking space, library, art gallery, and coffee house known for its curated coffee experience, featuring locally sourced beans from the Casile Coffee Processing Center.

Government

Elected officials

Former Municipal Mayors

Municipal Hall

City seal

Anthem

The official anthem of the City of Cabuyao is "Cabuyao Hymn" or ''"Imno ng Kabuyaw"'', it is sung during flag ceremonies of all schools and government institutions along with the country's national anthem, ''Lupang Hinirang''. The anthem was composed by Vehnee Saturno, a native of Cabuyao. The "Cabuyao March" or ''"Martsa ng Cabuyao"'' is the official march of the city. The music is by Domingo A. Alconaba and lyrics by Domingo M. Batalla: both also natives of the city. It is sung along with "Calabarzon March", the region's official march.

Education

Cabuyao has a number of universities and colleges:

Infrastructure

Transportation

Cabuyao is serviced by South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Cabuyao Exit is located in the city, while the Eton City (Malitlit) Exit is located near its boundary with Santa Rosa. The city is also accessible through Silangan Exit in Calamba, which provides access to Carmelray Industrial up to Nuvali Circle.

A four-lane national highway from Alabang, Muntinlupa up to Calamba, Laguna passes through the city. Another road, Canlubang golf road, acts as the access/shortcut route for people going up to People's park in the sky and to Tagaytay from Nuvali and Silangan Exit.

Public transportation within the city, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys. Tricycles are also used for short distances. The city is served by two railway stations: Cabuyao and Mamatid.

Culture

Cabuyao Day

Since the City of Cabuyao was founded by Miguel López de Legazpi on January 16, 1571, the City Government of Cabuyao celebrates "Cabuyao Day" every 16th of January. It consists of a week-long celebration starting from a Parade of Floats of each barangay, in which the decorations of each float feature and showcase the way of living of the community of each barangay of Cabuyao. A Street Dancing Competition follows at the City Proper, in which all College and High Schools compete for the said competition. The celebration also includes different amateur shows like orchestra, music band and celebrity shows at the City Plaza. The highlight of the whole celebration is the official beauty pageant of the city, the "Mutya ng Cabuyao" and "Lakan ng Cabuyao" pageants.

Santo Niño de Cabuyao Festival

The City of Cabuyao and its people celebrate the feast of the Child Jesus or Santo Niño in the Philippines every third (3rd) Sunday of January. It starts from a Mass at the Cabuyao Church followed by a festival in which all Cabuyeños call it as "Santo Niño de Cabuyao Festival". It is a parade of all Santos Niños along the City Proper. The festivities and tradition was started in 1981 by Alimagno family (then Judge Constancio Sr. and wife Mely) as a gesture of thanksgiving as their son Kennedy survived a near fatal accident in last quarter of 1979.

Batingaw Festival

The Batingaw Festival is an event commemorating the legendary Kampanang Ginto, for which Cabuyao is known. The celebration always starts with the simultaneous ringing of church bells, which Cabuyeños believe brings a good agricultural harvest. The highlights of the five-day festival include the parade of the Kampanang Ginto, colorful street dancing, singing contest, trade fair exhibits, Mutya and Lakan ng Cabuyao and fireworks.

City Fiesta

The City Fiesta of Cabuyao is every 23rd day of February in honor of the city's Patron Saint, Saint Polycarp, a bishop and martyr.

Notable personalities

* Salud Algabre, Filipina revolutionary and leader of the Sakdal movement
* Anthony Villanueva, boxer, 1964 Summer Olympics silver medalist
* Mercedes Delfinado, acarologist
* Cielito Habito, economist, professor, and columnist
* Nila Aguillo, first female mayor of the city
* Teresita S. Lazaro, former Governor of Laguna
* Sabrina Man, child actress
* Charo Ronquillo, model
* Vehnee Saturno, composer, songwriter, and record producer
* Bojo Molina, actor
*Jake Zyrus (formerly Charice Pempengco), singer

Sister cities

Local

References

External links

Official Website of the City of Cabuyao
* Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census InformationLocal Governance Performance Management System

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Cities in Laguna (province)
Populated places established in 1571
1571 establishments in the Philippines
Populated places on Laguna de Bay
Component cities in the Philippines