# Sampaloc, Manila

Sampaloc is a district of Manila, Philippines. It is referred to as the University Belt or simply called "U-Belt" for numerous colleges and universities are found within the district such as the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest extant university in Asia; the National University, the first private nonsectarian and coeducational institution in the Philippines; the Far Eastern University, known for its Art Deco campus and cultural heritage site of the Philippines; and the University of the East, once dubbed as the largest university in Asia in terms of enrollment. The district is bordered by the districts of Quiapo and San Miguel in the south, Santa Mesa district in the south and east, Santa Cruz district in the west and north, and Quezon City in the northeast.
Aside from being the "University Belt", Sampaloc is also known to Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces for its Dangwa flower market, located in Dimasalang Road, well known as the selling center for cut flowers from all over the Philippines, mainly Baguio. Sampaloc is also the location of a former colonial mansion, now called Windsor Inn, which is popular among backpackers and budget travelers.
Barangays 395 to 636 of the City of Manila would all have belonged to Sampaloc and comprise 241 barangays for the district. However, what are now known as barangays 587-636 became part of Santa Mesa when these areas were separated from Sampaloc after Santa Mesa became a separate parish in 1911. Santa Mesa is now a part of the 6th congressional district of Manila, while Sampaloc is the sole district comprising the 4th congressional district of Manila.
Many streets in Sampaloc, particularly in the northeast portion divided by España and Lacson Avenues and also street names in neighboring Quezon City, have names that are directly associated with the Philippine national hero José Rizal, either named after the places (e.g. Calamba, Dapitan), real-life people (e.g. Blumentritt), characters from his novels (e.g. Ibarra, Maria Clara) or his pen names (e.g. Laong Laan, Dimasalang).

## Etymology

"Sampaloc" or "Sampalok" is the native Tagalog word for the tamarind fruit; the place was likely named after tamarind trees that may have been prevalent in the area.

## History

The founding of Sampaloc as a town coincided with its establishment as a parish independent of Santa Ana de Sapa in 1613. At the time, it included what is now Pandacan which was separated from it in 1712. Sampaloc would comprise ten barangays ― Bacood, Balic-Balic, Bilarang Hipon, Calubcub, Manggahan, Nagtahan, San Isidro, San Roque, Santa Mesa, and Santol.

### Outbreak of the Philippine-American War

Following the Philippine Revolution against Spain and the Treaty of Paris of 1898 which seceded the Philippines to the United States, the subsequent arrival of American colonial troops shortly drew animosity between both American troops and Filipino troops.
On the evening of February 4, Private William W. Grayson fired the war's first shots at the corner of Sociego Street and Tomas Arguelles Street. A study done by Ronnie Miravite Casalmir places the event at this corner, not at Sociego-Silencio where they erroneously have the marker.

### American colonial era

In 1901, with the chartering of the city of Manila under the American-led Taft Commission, where most of Sampaloc, with the exception of barangay Bilarang Hipon, would be absorbed by the city of Manila when its borders were extended outside the walled city now known as Intramuros. The latter barangay would be incorporated into San Francisco del Monte town and later on Quezon City, being divided later into several villages itself under what is now its 4th district.
In 1911, Santa Mesa became a separate religious district (parish) out of Sampaloc when the first and oldest parish in the Philippines in honor of its Titular Patron, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was established. However, it remained politically part of Sampaloc.

### Contemporary period

In 1996, Ramon Bagatsing Jr., the then-representative of Manila's 4th district, launched a program called the "Sampaloc Experiment", which sought to implement the then-new subject of computer education within the district's public schools as a trial program for the rest of the country.

## Barangays

| Zone | Barangay |
| Zone 41 | Barangays 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, and 404 |
| Zone 42 | Barangays 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, and 416 |
| Zone 43 | Barangays 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, and 428 |
| Zone 44 | Barangays 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, and 449 |
| Zone 45 | Barangays 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, and 461 |
| Zone 46 | Barangays 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, and 471 |
| Zone 47 | Barangays 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, and 481 |
| Zone 48 | Barangays 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, and 491 |
| Zone 49 | Barangays 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, and 501 |
| Zone 50 | Barangays 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, and 511 |
| Zone 51 | Barangays 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, and 520 |
| Zone 52 | Barangays 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, and 531 |
| Zone 53 | Barangays 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, and 541 |
| Zone 54 | Barangays 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, and 554 |
| Zone 55 | Barangays 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, and 568 |
| Zone 56 | Barangays 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, and 580 |
| Zone 57 | Barangays 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, and 586 |
| Barangay | Land area (km²) | Population (2020) |
| Zone 41 |||
| Barangay 395 | 0.09723 km² | 1,222 |
| Barangay 396 | 0.04508 km² | 1,666 |
| Barangay 397 | 0.04119 km² | 4,175 |
| Barangay 398 | 0.02018 km² | 3,068 |
| Barangay 399 | 0.01569 km² | 1,068 |
| Barangay 400 | 0.02140 km² | 1,504 |
| Barangay 401 | 0.03689 km² | 2,333 |
| Barangay 402 | 0.02951 km² | 2,758 |
| Barangay 403 | 0.02284 km² | 630 |
| Barangay 404 | 0.07061 km² | 723 |
| Zone 42 |||
| Barangay 405 | 0.01624 km² | 999 |
| Barangay 406 | 0.009580 km² | 449 |
| Barangay 407 | 0.02898 km² | 1,571 |
| Barangay 408 | 0.02461 km² | 1,768 |
| Barangay 409 | 0.02941 km² | 1,921 |
| Barangay 410 | 0.04383 km² | 2,424 |
| Barangay 411 | 0.03153 km² | 1,903 |
| Barangay 412 | 0.03461 km² | 1,890 |
| Barangay 413 | 0.01720 km² | 1,702 |
| Barangay 414 | 0.01629 km² | 1,716 |
| Barangay 415 | 0.02361 km² | 884 |
| Barangay 416 | 0.02850 km² | 821 |
| Zone 43 |||
| Barangay 417 | 0.02397 km² | 2,011 |
| Barangay 418 | 0.03716 km² | 2,835 |
| Barangay 419 | 0.02194 km² | 1,696 |
| Barangay 420 | 0.03817 km² | 3,134 |
| Barangay 421 | 0.02966 km² | 1,474 |
| Barangay 422 | 0.02801 km² | 2,304 |
| Barangay 423 | 0.02861 km² | 1,307 |
| Barangay 424 | 0.03314 km² | 1,900 |
| Barangay 425 | 0.04870 km² | 2,087 |
| Barangay 426 | 0.03129 km² | 1,786 |
| Barangay 427 | 0.01922 km² | 495 |
| Barangay 428 | 0.02854 km² | 1,304 |
| Zone 44 |||
| Barangay 429 | 0.02294 km² | 2,814 |
| Barangay 430 | 0.01251 km² | 508 |
| Barangay 431 | 0.01430 km² | 700 |
| Barangay 432 | 0.05614 km² | 3,436 |
| Barangay 433 | 0.01235 km² | 464 |
| Barangay 434 | 0.02024 km² | 1,173 |
| Barangay 435 | 0.02564 km² | 592 |
| Barangay 436 | 0.02085 km² | 964 |
| Barangay 437 | 0.01779 km² | 899 |
| Barangay 438 | 0.01268 km² | 712 |
| Barangay 439 | 0.01790 km² | 1,052 |
| Barangay 440 | 0.01247 km² | 1,004 |
| Barangay 441 | 0.01277 km² | 856 |
| Barangay 442 | 0.01626 km² | 670 |
| Barangay 443 | 0.01608 km² | 1,382 |
| Barangay 444 | 0.01617 km² | 941 |
| Barangay 445 | 0.01278 km² | 931 |
| Barangay 446 | 0.01410 km² | 1,002 |
| Barangay 447 | 0.01303 km² | 1,454 |
| Barangay 448 | 0.01834 km² | 1,375 |
| Barangay 449 | 0.01657 km² | 1,402 |
| Zone 45 |||
| Barangay 450 | 0.03379 km² | 1,835 |
| Barangay 451 | 0.01954 km² | 1,027 |
| Barangay 452 | 0.02150 km² | 1,039 |
| Barangay 453 | 0.02001 km² | 1,492 |
| Barangay 454 | 0.01979 km² | 1,153 |
| Barangay 455 | 0.01870 km² | 1,274 |
| Barangay 456 | 0.02463 km² | 1,530 |
| Barangay 457 | 0.02456 km² | 2,445 |
| Barangay 458 | 0.03408 km² | 1,462 |
| Barangay 459 | 0.02050 km² | 752 |
| Barangay 460 | 0.03406 km² | 789 |
| Barangay 461 | 0.02214 km² | 863 |
| Zone 46 |||
| Barangay 462 | 0.02454 km² | 1,528 |
| Barangay 463 | 0.01329 km² | 830 |
| Barangay 464 | 0.02409 km² | 2,954 |
| Barangay 465 | 0.01296 km² | 762 |
| Barangay 466 | 0.01875 km² | 1,237 |
| Barangay 467 | 0.01241 km² | 1,160 |
| Barangay 468 | 0.01338 km² | 1,300 |
| Barangay 469 | 0.01414 km² | 1,956 |
| Barangay 470 | 0.2734 km² | 2,260 |
| Barangay 471 | 0.03693 km² | 1,415 |
| Zone 47 |||
| Barangay 472 | 0.01641 km² | 1,122 |
| Barangay 473 | 0.01745 km² | 1,383 |
| Barangay 474 | 0.02527 km² | 1,655 |
| Barangay 475 | 0.02593 km² | 1,664 |
| Barangay 476 | 0.03335 km² | 1,268 |
| Barangay 477 | 0.02281 km² | 1,045 |
| Barangay 478 | 0.02578 km² | 1,129 |
| Barangay 479 | 0.05030 km² | 2,307 |
| Barangay 480 | 0.01571 km² | 810 |
| Barangay 481 | 0.01875 km² | 1,004 |
| Zone 48 |||
| Barangay 482 | 0.01636 km² | 701 |
| Barangay 483 | 0.02301 km² | 1,369 |
| Barangay 484 | 0.01718 km² | 1,777 |
| Barangay 485 | 0.02250 km² | 1,337 |
| Barangay 486 | 0.01926 km² | 969 |
| Barangay 487 | 0.02273 km² | 1,457 |
| Barangay 488 | 0.02223 km² | 783 |
| Barangay 489 | 0.02261 km² | 1,142 |
| Barangay 490 | 0.02184 km² | 471 |
| Barangay 491 | 0.02193 km² | 813 |
| Zone 49 |||
| Barangay 492 | 0.03018 km² | 1,107 |
| Barangay 493 | 0.01972 km² | 1,170 |
| Barangay 494 | 0.04377 km² | 2,318 |
| Barangay 495 | 0.03750 km² | 1,906 |
| Barangay 496 | 0.02539 km² | 1,177 |
| Barangay 497 | 0.03781 km² | 1,489 |
| Barangay 498 | 0.02180 km² | 1,033 |
| Barangay 499 | 0.02142 km² | 1,498 |
| Barangay 500 | 0.04006 km² | 2,562 |
| Barangay 501 | 0.01886 km² | 845 |
| Zone 50 |||
| Barangay 502 | 0.01747 km² | 815 |
| Barangay 503 | 0.02621 km² | 1,183 |
| Barangay 504 | 0.02197 km² | 1,312 |
| Barangay 505 | 0.01845 km² | 1,200 |
| Barangay 506 | 0.01616 km² | 668 |
| Barangay 507 | 0.02460 km² | 1,532 |
| Barangay 508 | 0.01885 km² | 1,006 |
| Barangay 509 | 0.02192 km² | 1,260 |
| Barangay 510 | 0.01861 km² | 1,134 |
| Barangay 511 | 0.02167 km² | 1,338 |
| Zone 51 |||
| Barangay 512 | 0.05525 km² | 2,473 |
| Barangay 513 | 0.03467 km² | 2,033 |
| Barangay 514 | 0.03409 km² | 2,283 |
| Barangay 515 | 0.04291 km² | 2,166 |
| Barangay 516 | 0.01712 km² | 1,087 |
| Barangay 517 | 0.02402 km² | 1,029 |
| Barangay 518 | 0.03464 km² | 1,908 |
| Barangay 519 | 0.02183 km² | 1,311 |
| Barangay 520 | 0.03736 km² | 631 |
| Zone 52 |||
| Barangay 521 | 0.04435 km² | 2,244 |
| Barangay 522 | 0.01998 km² | 1,091 |
| Barangay 523 | 0.02492 km² | 1,115 |
| Barangay 524 | 0.02492 km² | 865 |
| Barangay 525 | 0.02641 km² | 1,784 |
| Barangay 526 | 0.01271 km² | 790 |
| Barangay 527 | 0.02057 km² | 2,134 |
| Barangay 528 | 0.02266 km² | 1,433 |
| Barangay 529 | 0.01523 km² | 935 |
| Barangay 530 | 0.02514 km² | 483 |
| Barangay 531 | 0.02490 km² | 956 |
| Zone 53 |||
| Barangay 532 | 0.01374 km² | 987 |
| Barangay 533 | 0.01261 km² | 913 |
| Barangay 534 | 0.01747 km² | 1,096 |
| Barangay 535 | 0.01312 km² | 1,035 |
| Barangay 536 | 0.01564 km² | 944 |
| Barangay 537 | 0.01673 km² | 1,085 |
| Barangay 538 | 0.01225 km² | 821 |
| Barangay 539 | 0.05418 km² | 1,846 |
| Barangay 540 | 0.02218 km² | 1,951 |
| Barangay 541 | 0.01377 km² | 485 |
| Zone 54 |||
| Barangay 542 | 0.01216 km² | 802 |
| Barangay 543 | 0.01214 km² | 822 |
| Barangay 544 | 0.01355 km² | 164 |
| Barangay 545 | 0.01082 km² | 883 |
| Barangay 546 | 0.01594 km² | 892 |
| Barangay 547 | 0.02791 km² | 1,059 |
| Barangay 548 | 0.01452 km² | 749 |
| Barangay 549 | 0.01393 km² | 867 |
| Barangay 550 | 0.01212 km² | 992 |
| Barangay 551 | 0.01229 km² | 959 |
| Barangay 552 | 0.01688 km² | 937 |
| Barangay 553 | 0.01052 km² | 1,430 |
| Barangay 554 | 0.02777 km² | 1,551 |
| Zone 55 |||
| Barangay 555 | 0.01732 km² | 1,138 |
| Barangay 556 | 0.01369 km² | 822 |
| Barangay 557 | 0.01225 km² | 1,262 |
| Barangay 558 | 0.01413 km² | 1,260 |
| Barangay 559 | 0.01413 km² | 1,285 |
| Barangay 560 | 0.01518 km² | 1,103 |
| Barangay 561 | 0.02157 km² | 2,332 |
| Barangay 562 | 0.02165 km² | 2,583 |
| Barangay 563 | 0.01348 km² | 1,526 |
| Barangay 564 | 0.01610 km² | 1,430 |
| Barangay 565 | 0.03230 km² | 2,464 |
| Barangay 566 | 0.02844 km² | 2,160 |
| Barangay 567 | 0.03523 km² | 2,318 |
| Barangay 568 | 0.02096 km² | 1,847 |
| Zone 56 |||
| Barangay 569 | 0.02068 km² | 2,086 |
| Barangay 570 | 0.03865 km² | 2,002 |
| Barangay 571 | 0.02203 km² | 2,097 |
| Barangay 572 | 0.01535 km² | 1,856 |
| Barangay 573 | 0.01571 km² | 947 |
| Barangay 574 | 0.01740 km² | 1,479 |
| Barangay 575 | 0.01489 km² | 1,007 |
| Barangay 576 | 0.03671 km² | 3,603 |
| Barangay 577 | 0.01196 km² | 985 |
| Barangay 578 | 0.02529 km² | 1,100 |
| Barangay 579 | 0.03000 km² | 1,703 |
| Barangay 580 | 0.02271 km² | 2,008 |
| Zone 57 |||
| Barangay 581 | 0.1806 km² | 2,461 |
| Barangay 582 | 0.01337 km² | 1,563 |
| Barangay 583 | 0.01091 km² | 1,278 |
| Barangay 584 | 0.1003 km² | 3,411 |
| Barangay 585 | 0.06817 km² | 1,090 |
| Barangay 586 | 0.1102 km² | 5,105 |

## Education

Education in Sampaloc is handled by the Division of City Schools – Manila. Sampaloc is also home to some universities and colleges part of the University Belt such as Far Eastern University, Informatics, Mary Chiles College, National University, Perpetual Help College of Manila, Philippine College of Health Sciences, Philippine School of Business Administration, University of the East, University of Manila, and University of Santo Tomas.
Sampaloc elementary-public education's Dr. Alejandro Mayoralgo Albert Elementary School along Dapitan Street, Barangay 521, Sampaloc, named after the first Filipino Undersecretary of Public Instruction (b. September 1, 1896) opened on April 8, 2024. The 10-story DDAES has 234 air-conditioned classrooms, a 334 seating capacity gymnasium, 72 comfort rooms, 28 offices, 10 elevators, library, roofdeck, outdoor basketball courts, football field and 364-seat capacity auditorium on the eighth floor.

## Transportation

Sampaloc is the hub of major national bus transportation carriers. Among the bus companies in Sampaloc with their terminal are: Fariñas Transit Company, GV Florida Transport, Victory Liner, Partas, Maria De Leon, RCJ Trans, RCJ Lines, Five Star Bus Company, Northern Luzon Bus Line and Dalin liner and other southern Luzon buses.
Sampaloc is served by two Philippine National Railways stations: Laon Laan and España station. It is also served by the Legarda station of the LRT Line 2 to the south.
Main thoroughfares in Sampaloc are S.H. Loyola (formerly Lepanto), Vicente Cruz, M. De La Fuente, P. Florentino, Blumentritt, Aurora Boulevard, Dapitan, Laon Laan, Dimasalang, Maria Clara, Maceda, Padre Campa, Padre Noval, Tomas Earnshaw (Bustillos), Legarda, Gastambide, Recto Avenue, Lerma, Nicanor Reyes (Morayta), Lacson Avenue and España Boulevard. The elevated NLEX Connector also cuts through Sampaloc with two exits in the district at España and Magsaysay.

## Notable people

* Juan Abad
* Mon Confiado
* Pilita Corrales
* Tirso Cruz III
* Lexi Gonzales
* Mon Gualvez
* Angeline Quinto
* Mikee Quintos
* Tuesday Vargas
* Sam Verzosa
* Mitoy Yonting